Miss Montana's Outstanding Teen Program Nears

BY DENIECE SCHWAB Sidney Herald Lights! Camera! Action! Yes, you’ve got it – it’s the Miss Montana Outstanding Teen Pageant Scholarship Program June 13 at the Sidney Middle School auditorium. The theme is “Dancing with the Stars,” and it will be an evening to remember.

This year marks the fifth year running the pageant in Sidney. Production director Cara Nelson is very busy tying up loose ends for the 7 p.m. production.

“We’re so excited to include 12 young women from Montana for Sidney’s festivities,” Nelson said. “Wednesday, the contestants and their parents will arrive in town, and we’ll have a parents reception at the MonDak Heritage Center, hosted by the Sunrise Ambassadors of the Sidney Chamber of Commerce.”

Once the parents are welcomed and they are given schedules and directions, contestants are whisked away for an evening of workshops to help prepare them for the competition. Parents are free to roam about the community and area.

Contestants will be in workshops on Wednesday evening including relaxation tips from Cyndee Brown, owner of The Green Leaf Nutritionals and Body Therapy. Next is a public speaking workshop, followed by dietician June Lewis from the Sidney Health Center. “She will be giving the contestants nutritional tips, and then the contestants will prepare their own supper,” Nelson said.

After supper, reigning Miss Montana Outstanding Teen, Victoria Valentine from Missoula, will talk with the contestants about walking, turning and poise while on stage.

June 11 starts production practice as the contestants learn the opening and fitness numbers. The evening holds a treat for the young women as they will attend the Miss North Dakota preliminaries in Williston, N.D.

After returning from Williston, the entire party, contestants and parents will hold a reception for Miss America’s Outstanding Teen, Taylor Fitch, at the airport.

On June 12 at 9 a.m., everyone is encouraged to bring vehicles to the IGA parking lot for the contestant car wash. “Taylor Fitch and Victoria Valentine will be available for photo signings while the contestants work on vehicles,” Nelson said. “All proceeds from the car wash will go toward the scholarship fund, and IGA’s food trailer will be serving lunch as well.”

Later that afternoon, contestants will be fitted for style show designs chosen from participating Sidney businesses. Contestants will be back at the middle school for a photo shoot provided by Picture Perfect beginning at 5:30 p.m. The contestants will meet the Little Sisters, who are escorts for Big Sisters (contestants), and photos will be taken of the entire “court.”

Camille Clausen Photography will follow the contestants during the four-day period, to produce a souvenir CD for each contestant. Clausen will also video tape the production.

The style show, emceed by Cami Skinner, Wells Fargo, will be held June 13 at the Moose Lodge beginning at 10 a.m. and will include a full, sit-down, china brunch.

“The ladies at the Moose are pulling out all of the stops for us, and we want to thank them for all they do,” Nelson said.

A silent auction will include handbag selections from Head to Toe Salon as well as Planet Hair Salon and each contestant has been asked to bring a purse that shows off a little of their own personality. You will see some of these handbags used in the production pageant entertainment “purse-n-ality.” Nelson encourages businesses or individuals to donate a handbag for this event in which your name will be included in the program.

Fitch and Valentine will be at Veterans Memorial Park June 13 beginning at 2:30 p.m. for a “pink” social, along with handing out autographed photos.

Ticket packages are available at the Lucky Buckle, Farm Bureau Financial Services and the Sidney Area Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture. A STAR package includes the style show and pageant ($25). For individual tickets, the style show by itself is $15, and the production is $15, which includes a book. For children 5-13, ticket price is $8, and children 4 and under are free.

Miss Montana contestants will be escorted from Glendive by bus to walk the red carpet at 6:15 p.m. Saturday in front of the Middle School.

All of the hard work boils down to the June 13 pageant emceed by JD Nelson of Power 95-KEYZ and Deniece Schwab, Sidney Herald.

“The production has a lot of new things in it, so we’re looking forward to a great time together,” Nelson said.

Anyone wanting to help with the program can come to the Farm Bureau Financial building at 302 W. Main in Sidney Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. until production.

Assistance includes stage crew, dressing room help, concession help, ticket-takers, etc. Give Nelson a call at 488-8131/489-1515 or 433-4416 for more information. homespun@sidneyherald.com