Beauty, grace & knowledge: Pageant contestants, fairgoers put knowledge of Missouri to the test

They know poise and composure, but when it came to geography and Missouri trivia, the contestants in the SEMO District Fair Pageant lacked a little confidence. Compared with the average fairgoer, the girls lost an informal Missouri trivia contest.

When asked four questions about Missouri, eight of the girls in the Preteen, Teen and Miss categories admitted they didn't know much about the state -- like the fact that it hosts the longest river in the United States.

Flowing in at 2,341 miles, the Missouri River beats the Mississippi River by about 40 miles.

"It starts way up there in Lake Itasca," said Randy Eggimann of Gordonville, Mo. Eggimann was showing his antique tractors Sunday at the SEMO District Fair.

"I remember doing that in government," said Kacey Shultz, 17, who was the only girl to choose the Missouri River over the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. She has lived in the same house in Jackson, her entire life.

Shultz was competing in the Miss SEMO Fair category Sunday. One of her fellow contestants was Alicia Carson, 17, of Sikeston, Mo. This was her first SEMO District Fair pageant.

"They're really good to get you up there and it helps build up your courage," she said. Carson has only lived in Missouri for five years, so wasn't upset when she timidly guessed six for the number of states that border Missouri.

"There's eight," Justin Johnson of Sikeston said later Sunday when asked the same question. "Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee."

Hillary Harris, working with Madison Ellsworth and Aimee Stockard, all 12 years old and contestants in the Pre-Teen SEMO Fair pageant, came up with almost a complete list.

"We named six," she said. "Those are about all the places I've been."

But then she added Nebraska to bring the total a little closer. Hillary could, however, describe the Missouri State flag in detail, describing the background of three red, white and blue strips and the state seal with two bears and stars surrounding them.

"The person who designed it is from Cape," Mary Dodd, 14, said after being asked to describe the flag.

Dodd has competed in SEMO District Fair pageants for four years. She was entered in the Teen Miss SEMO Fair.

"There's a bear," she added about the Show Me State's flag.

Her mother, Loretta Dodd, knew that Missouri was called the Show Me State because of a Missouri politician who said he was from the Show Me State and needed to be shown and not told.

Missouri U.S. Congressman Willard Duncan Vandiver, who served in the United States House of Representatives from 1897 to 1903, is credited with coining the phrase in a speech at a naval banquet in Philadelphia. He said, "I am from Missouri. You have got to show me."

Aside from Dodd, none of the people asked knew exactly why Missouri was the Show Me State.

Results were not available as of press time. Check www.semissourian.com today for a list of pageant winners.

charris@semissouiran.com

335-6611 extension 246