Queen Abbie
WYANET — For 18-year-old Abbie Buysse, her time as 2007 Miss Bureau County Fair Queen is nearly up, but the experiences she had and the memories she’s made will last much longer.
On Aug. 22, 2007, the Wyanet teen competed in the 2007 Miss Bureau County Queen Pageant and won Best Interview, Best Speech, Miss Swimsuit, Best Evening Gown and the 2007 Miss Bureau County Fair Queen crown.
Abbie said she enjoyed spending time at the 2007 Bureau County Fair each day, as she toured the grounds, visited the animal barns and exhibit halls, and introduced events such as the Blake Shelton concert and the demolition derby. She also enjoyed going to the horse show and helping with the nightly bake sale at the fair.
During her year as queen, Abbie has traveled to communities throughout Bureau and surrounding counties. She rode in the Atkinson parade, Princeton’s Christmas parade, and helped at the Festival of Trees at the Princeton Elks Club. She participated in the state fair queen pageant in January in Springfield.
This summer, she rode in the Sheffield Homecoming parade, and parades in both Walnut and Wyanet. She has attended the fair queen pageants of several surrounding counties this summer, as well.
When asked if she’s ready to give up her crown at the 2008 Miss Bureau County Queen Pageant, which will take place on Tuesday, Abbie said that while it may be time for her to give up her crown, she isn’t ready to leave many of the people she’s met as queen.
“There are a lot of people that I met that I probably won’t get to see on a daily basis, now that I won’t be the queen,” Abbie said. “I guess I’m ready to give it up, but I’m just not ready to leave the people behind. My pageant director (Sue Von Holten) is a wonderful lady, and I hope that we still stay in touch once I give the crown up because she’s just phenomenal.”
Abbie said she would recommend being in the pageant to other girls, even if they think they’re not the “pageant type.”
“A lot of people say the pageant’s not really their deal, but it wasn’t mine either,” Abbie said. “When my mom and aunt first told me to be in it, I was like, ‘You’re crazy.’ But it’s not like the pageant-type world that people think of like on pageants on television shows. It’s so fun and you meet so many people and have so many experiences. I would definitely recommend it.”
Abbie said she thinks the pageant judges are looking for a young woman who is confident and will act as a good ambassador for the fair and for Bureau County.
“They’re looking for a down-to-earth person who feels good about herself,” Abbie said. “You want somebody whose going to be herself all the time, not just during fair week. She needs to be open, not shy, and knowledgeable about the county.”
Abbie talked about her preparations for the state fair queen competition, which took place Jan. 12-16 at the Crown Plaza in Springfield. A practice tea was held at Bureau Valley High School before the state pageant to give Abbie an opportunity to practice.
“You spend about two and a half months getting ready for it (the state pageant),” Abbie said. “My mom and my aunt and my pageant director put on a beautiful tea for a practice run. It was gorgeous. My friends and family came, and I modeled all my stuff and gave my speech.”
This fall, Abbie will head to East Peoria to attend Illinois Central College and work on a nursing degree. This summer, she is working at Perry Memorial Hospital in Princeton as a technician in the emergency room. She will continue working at Perry Memorial during college, coming back every other weekend for a weekend shift.
Though she will miss many of the people she’s met during her time as the 2007 Miss Bureau County Fair Queen, Abbie said she is sure she will remember her experiences forever.
“I would say to make the best of it because it’s a really exciting experience,” Abbie said. “It’s definitely a once-in-a-lifetime thing because you meet so many people and you learn so much about the county. It’s a really good and fun experience, and it makes you a better person. I’ve learned a lot and I’ve matured a lot. I’m definitely glad I did it, and I loved every second of it.”