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Submitted By Anna Engelke
Danielle Burns of Newark, WV, the reigning 2002 Wirt county Fair Queen, was chosen for the top 15 spot at the State Fairs & Festivals Queen competition in Charleston, WV January 10-12th, 2003.
Danielle is the 18 year old daughter of Jeff and Chris Burns and is a student in the nursing program at West Virginia University of Parkersburg.
There were 70 Fairs and Festivals Queens from around the state, competing for the Queen of the State Fair next August in Fairlea, West Virginia. Danielle, along with the other contestants, competed in four phases; event promotion, street wear, personal interview, and evening gown.
Each judge picked their 15 favorites from each phase of competition and the 15 queens with the highest scores were announced.
The competition continued again in the final event of the evening with an on stage interview and evening gown presentation. One of Danielle's on stage questions was about her involvement with "Donkey" basketball. She had to explain how the game worked and why her donkey wouldn't "cooperate."
Daneille was stunning in her red lace Jovani evening gown, accented with rhinestones.
Jane Engelke, Wirt County Fair pageant director stated that, "Danielle's beautiful smile and engaging personality caught the judges attention. She was a standout on stage and her event presentation was outstanding." In the event promotion phase of competition each contestant does a thirty second advertisement for her fair or festival.
Jane also stated that, "Wirt County can be extremely proud of Danielle and her work this year as our fair's representative. In addition to the outstanding job this week-end, Danielle has represented our fair throughout the year in fine fashion by visiting other pageants, judging contests and participating in parades. Wirt County Fair won 1st place for their float in the Parkersburg Homecoming Parade and the Parkersburg Christmas parade."
Other local young women who competed and made the top 15 were: Parkersburg Homecoming, Queen Kassie Castranova; West Virginia Harvest Festival Queen, Leandrea Galang; West Virginia Black Walnut Festival Queen, Ashley Barnette; and West Virginia Interstate Fair Queen, Allison Spadaro.
Those attending the festival week-end from Wirt County included Chris Burns and her mother "Grandma Pat" Walker from Florida, Nancy, Jane and Anna Engelke, Gary and Shirley Jones, Debbie Hennen, Bobbie Moore, Kim Long, Jenny Baileys, and Richard and Nina Boice. A great time was had by all.
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