The Miss Kentucky County Fair Pageant began in 1956 as a way to bring all our local winners to a state competition, furthering their chance for prize money and representation of our local fairs.Each January, some 90 young women from across the state gather for the title.
To compete on the state level, contestants must be 16 years of age on October 31 and cannot be 22 on October 31 of the year when the local pageant is held. A complete set of rules can be found on this site.
Local winners must meet the state guidelines established by KAFHS and may also need to meet other criteria established by the local fair.
Contestants winning on the local level must complete a state application which is submitted to KAFHS along with a scanned and emailed birth certificate. The application is due to be filed with KAFHS 30 days following the local fair (and, under no circumstances, regardless of the local pageant date) no later than December 1.
Friends and family of the contestant are encouraged to attend the state pageant.Tickets for the pageant may be purchased on our website.
Contestants are advised to check with their local fair to see if a hotel room is included in their prize or if they need to make their own rooming arrangements for the pageant.
General questions about the pageant (paperwork, tickets, etc.) can be directed to our office at 270-590-0885 or info@kafs.net. Specific questions regarding wardrobe should be directed to Beverly Burcham at 859.586.5687 or bburchamkoi@yahoo.com
Only those fairs who are recognized as a bona fide fair by the KY Dept. of Agriculture can participate in this program. All dues and fees related to the pageant must be paid no later than April 1 of the year the pageant is held. In addition, a fair must continue its membership and beauty pageant participation for the coming year in order for their contestant to compete at the state level.
Miss Kentucky County Fair Rules
Q1 Contestants must meet the deadline requirements established by KAFHS. Candidates who fail to meet the deadlines will not be allowed to compete in the state pageant.
Q2 All information pertaining to wardrobe, scheduling, tickets, hotel accommodations and other information pertinent to the pageant will be sent directly to the contestant.
Q3 The contestant must be a natural born female, single, never married, never had a marriage annulled, and never had any children.
Q4 Contestant must be 16 years of age on October 31, and cannot be 22 on October 31 of the year when local pageant is held at the local fair.
Q5 Contestants may not compete in any other pageant system that would prohibit the fulfillment of responsibilities through the state during her reign as Miss Kentucky County Fair.
General Rules Applicable to All Pageant Programs
G1 In order to participate in pageant programs, a Fair Member desiring to enter a contestant must be a member of the Kentucky Association of Fairs and Horse Shows (KAFHS) and have paid all dues and pageant fees prior to the local pageant being held and the fair must be eligible for state aid through the Kentucky Department of Agriculture.
G2 A local Co. fair may conduct its local pageant by any rules or method they deem suitable to their particular situation, so long as the contestants selected to enter the KAFHS pageants meets the requirements set forth in these rules by said Association (KAFHS).
G3 No photo or internet contests / pageants are permitted for entry into any KAFHS state pageant program.
G4 (Removed)
G5 A contestant must be a winner or runner-up in the local pageant. (Runner-up only accepted should for some reason the winner becomes ineligible or unable to attend.) A contestant can only represent one local fair and must represent the first local fair that they win first place in during the calendar year. (Local fairs are urged to not accept contestants who have won at a member show during that calendar year.) In the event a pageant winner has not met the deadline to enter the state pageant, a runner-up will not be accepted.
G6 The local Fair Board or sponsor is not responsible financially for transportation, room, and reserved seating or responsible for making such arrangements. Association (KAFHS) is not responsible for these aforementioned arrangements as well.
G7 Each member association shall designate one person to receive all correspondence from the association. It shall be that person’s responsibility to see that all rules, forms and other information is delivered to the appropriate person(s).
G8 Anyone winning a KAFHS state title is not eligible to compete in that pageant thereafter.
G9 Local fairs are urged to not accept contestants with out of state residences.
G10 Winners of KAFHS pageants are expected to attend the other three KAFHS pageant programs in the coming year.