Eight young women are participating in the 2018 Warren County Fair Queen Contest.The winner will be crowned Sunday, July 1, but the contestants have already been working in the community.The group toured Warren County government buildings June 14, where they met government workers and elected officials.Next is a dinner with their sponsors and then competition day.The competition is Saturday, June 30, at Creekside Place Church. The speech and talent program along with the evening gown competition will be open to the public starting at noon.Christy Bonstell, a former Fair queen candidate, has served on the Fair queen committee for several years as chairperson or co-chairperson.Bonstell said Fair queen contestants are judged on their interview skills, poise, personality, evening gown presence and a talent or speech.She said the contest judges are unknown at this point, even to the committee.“We usually have someone from outside the county get us judges (to avoid the appearance of bias),” she said.She added that interview topics are a surprise to everyone.“Judges come up with different things. There’s no way at all to prepare,” Bonstell said.There are benefits to running for Fair queen, she added.“It’s a great opportunity because the queen gets a $1,000 scholarship,” Bonstell said.Second- and third-place contestants will receive smaller scholarships.She said some women some sign up for the experience.“The girls enjoy doing it because they get to spend time with friends before they go off to college, or because they like to meet new people, or because they get to be active in the Fair,” Bonstell said.Despite the perks, Bonstell said interest in running continues to decline.“In the 2000s there were 15 to 20 candidates. In recent years, eight to nine is the least we’ve had,” Bonstell said.2018 Fair queen candidates will be in the parade Sunday, July 1. The parade starts at 2 p.m. The Warren County Queen Coronation starts at 7 p.m. that night on the main stage at Warren County Fairgrounds, 615 Fairgrounds Road in Warrenton. Bonstell said the ceremony is about an hour.Queen candidates are selling season passes to the Fair along with raffle tickets for 31 days of Thirty-One during July. They will attend the Fair each day.The 2018 Warren County Fair queen candidates are:• Madison Bergmeyer, sponsored by Warrenton Steel LLC. She is the daughter of Bud and Jennifer Burgmeyer. Madison is a graduate of Warrenton High School and will be a sophomore at the University of Central Missouri this fall. She is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in design and drafting technology.• Ana Russell, sponsored by Deerfield’s on Main. She is the daughter of Tom and Patty Russell. She is attending St. Charles Community College. She will graduate in May with an associate degree as an occupational therapist assistant.• Courtney Eckenfels, sponsored by Eckenfels Flatwork and Escavating LLC. Her parents are Bruce and Jennifer Eckenfels. She will attend Northwest Missouri State University starting this fall.• Logan Frye, sponsored by Nordwald Restoration. She is the daughter of Dean and Jennifer Frye. She is attending the University of Missouri at Columbia in the fall to study animal science.• Kayla Nelson, sponsored by Gastorf Chevrolet. Her parents are Dennis and Maria Nelson. Kayla graduated from Warrenton High School this year. She will attend John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Ark., in the fall.• Grace Owenby, sponsored by Main Street Real Estate. She is the daughter of Paul and Lisa Owenby. Grace graduated from Warrenton High School this year. She will attend the University of Missouri at Columbia this fall to study health science. Grace plans to work in health care as a health administrator.• Jordan Rugh, sponsored by Owenby Transportation. Her parents are Melody and Gene Rugh. She will attend Columbia College in Columbia this fall.• Abigail Thomas, sponsored by Shelter Insurance, agent Kelly Hill. Her parents are April Menne and Jimmy Thomas. She is a 2018 Wright City High School graduate. She will attend Lindenwood University in the fall, majoring in education and minoring in business.

Candidates for Warren County Fair queen visited the county jail Thursday, June 14. Pictured in the front row, from left, are Courtney Eckenfels, Grace Owenby, Abigail Thomas, Jordan Rugh and Ana Russell. Back row, from left, are Deputy Scott Schulze, Madison Bergmeyer, Kayla Nelson, Logan Frye and Queen Contest Committee Chair Ellie Stapleton. 

Record photo/Adam Rollins

Warren County Sheriff's Deputy Scott Schulze shows Fair queen candidates a fingerprint database machine during a tour of the county jail June 14. The queen candidates learned a some of what it's like to work at the jail or be held there as an inmate. 

Record photo/Adam Rollins

During tour day for the 2018 Fair queen candidates June 14, they toured CertainTeed, where they learned about the business and safety. 

Submitted photo