BEAUTY, BEASTS AT JACKSON HOMECOMERS

Taylor Feeney, 4, of Jackson, Mo., expressed her delight on a ride at the Jackson Homecomers Tuesday night.

JACKSON, Mo. -- As Miss Missouri, Arron Wendel welcomes having many new experiences in the coming year, including competing in the Miss America pageant Oct. 14 in Atlantic City. Tuesday evening, she conducted a band for the first time to kick off the 2000 Homecomers celebration.

Once she got the baton right side up, Wendel and the Jackson Municipal Band did fine.

Conductor Nick Leist took the baton for the rest of the band's performance, which was followed by the Mike Dumey production "Music, Music, Music."

Homecomers continues tonight beginning at 6:30 with a talent show for singers ages 13 through 21 and the Country Touch band.

Wendel followed Mayor Paul Sander to the stage and spoke of growing up in a much smaller town than Jackson, 2,000-population Lawson north of Kansas City, Mo. She studied dance at Southwest Missouri State University and after graduation moved to New York City to pursue a career in modern dance.

She returned home this year to compete for the Miss Missouri title.

The 23-year-old will spend the next year representing the state as Miss Missouri unless she becomes Miss America. Afterward, she plans to return to New York City and eventually get a master's of fine arts degree. She wants to be a dance critic.

During her stay in Jackson, Wendel visited West Lane Elementary School, where she told the children a story called "You Are Special."

Marybeth Williams, who runs the Miss Homecomers and Miss Jackson pageants, says Wendel is very down-to-earth compared to some pageant winners who become enamored with their titles.

Wendel just smiles at the compliment. "The crown doesn't make you any more special than anyone else," she says.

She doesn't have a boyfriend and hasn't dated in years. "I think I'll keep it that way for a while," she said.

With Atlantic City looming, Wendel says she feels a need to focus her energy. Writing in her journal is one way she does that.

Wendel began keeping a journal when she entered college. "I'm now on journal No. 23," she said.

At Atlantic City, Wendel will perform a modern dance to the Michael W. Smith contemporary Christian song "This is Your Time." The song is fitting because it suits her current situation, Wendel said.

"It's about embracing life."

West of the stage, another variety of beauty could be seen in a tent with a sign proclaiming exotic animals inside. At some carnivals, this would be a come-on to see a two-headed pig, but at Homecomers it is a chance to see and touch alligators, a tarantula, a sugar glider and pythons along with many other animals from the Jurrocks Park Zoo and Pet Shop in Cape Girardeau.

All of this comes with an anti-drug message delivered by tour guide Mary Rainey, who owns the zoo with her husband, Rocky. Some of the animals were confiscated during drug raids.

One small cage brims with iguanas -- 89 of them. A miniature kangaroo is scheduled to make an appearance at the tent tonight.

Rainey can kiss Job, the three-legged alligator, on the snout.

Try that, Miss Missouri.