Dildine crowned White County Fairest of the Fair

Maddux Dildine had watched fair pageants for years. She had just never been the one on the stage.

That changed Saturday night.

Competing in her first pageant, Dildine walked away with the White County Fairest of the Fair crown, beginning a year that will take her from representing the county at home to eventually carrying the White County name to the state competition.

“I was so excited and honestly in shock,” Dildine said of hearing her name called. “It didn’t even fully register in the moment that I had just been crowned Fairest of the Fair. It’s a moment I’ll never forget!”

The idea of competing, however, wasn't something that came out of nowhere.

Dildine grew up watching two of her aunts compete in fair pageants, and the experience had always interested her. This spring, with some encouragement from those closest to her, she decided it was finally time to give it a try herself.

“I’ve always been interested in doing it,” she said. “With the encouragement and support of my friends and family, I found the confidence to take that leap and go for it this year.”

Once she made that decision, there was no turning back.

“I was a little nervous, but I never had any second thoughts or doubts,” Dildine said. “Once I decided I was going to do it, I went all in!”

Preparation began with finding her dress before becoming more intensive during the final three to four weeks. Dildine attended workshops, found an outfit for the interview portion of the competition and practiced with family as pageant day approached.

By Saturday morning, it was the interview — not walking onto the stage later that evening — that had her most nervous.

Once that portion was behind her, the nerves began giving way to excitement.

“I was most nervous for the interview that morning,” she said. “Once that was over, I was just excited to walk the stage.”

And while the night ultimately ended with Dildine wearing the crown, she said there was plenty about her first pageant experience that she enjoyed before the winner was ever announced.

“My favorite part was definitely getting all dressed up, making new friends, and getting to see how beautiful all the other girls looked, too!” she said.

Dildine was crowned Fairest of the Fair, with Tegan Rittenberry named first runner-up. Isabelle Schalk finished as second runner-up, Autumn Birdwell was third runner-up and Isabella Carmichael was fourth runner-up. Autumn Reece was selected as Miss Congeniality.

For Dildine, Saturday's crowning was more than the end of her first pageant. It was the beginning of what will be a busy year representing White County.

She has not yet settled on a specific platform or charity for her reign, saying there are several causes she is passionate about and wants to find one that truly represents who she is while giving her an opportunity to make a positive impact locally.

Her first opportunities to represent the county will come close to home as the White County Fair gets underway, but her reign will also include community events throughout the coming year and, eventually, the state pageant in the spring.

“Being crowned Fairest of the Fair is such an honor, and I’m incredibly excited to represent White County over the next year,” Dildine said. “I’m looking forward to celebrating our community at the fair next week, being part of the events throughout the year, and representing White County at the state pageant. I hope to make my community proud and make memories that I’ll cherish for a lifetime.”