Some of the six North Thompson Fall Fair and Rodeo Ambassador Program candidates may have been a little nervous for the Speech, Talent and Fashion Show held on June 16 at the Lion’s Hall in Barriere; but once the girls were on stage they showed an amazing amount of self-confidence.
Hannah Allen, the 2011/2012 Fall Fair Queen, was the MC for the first part of the evening’s performance, telling the audience, “The candidates have been working very hard for the past few months to reach this point in the program where they deliver their speeches. They went to many speech-craft classes as well as preparing their own unique talents. Since our Banner Night in March, our candidates have been busy with a full schedule of educational programs and beneficial events.”
The candidates have also participated in community events such as the Lion’s Easter Egg Hunt and the Seniors Society Mothers Day Tea.
The girls have participated in ballroom dancing, self-defense and etiquette classes. During visits to the Wittner Sheep Farm and Rainer Dairy Farm, they have been introduced to some of the agriculture that takes place in the North Thompson Valley. All these activities give the candidates a well-rounded preparation to become an Ambassador.
As the candidates delivered the speech they had chosen for themselves, all displayed the confidence and expertise learned over the past few months. They showed courage in addressing difficult topics with confidence, and poise.
Committee member Diane Metz said, “It is amazing how the girls have improved since March. They show more confidence and greater ease in being the focus in public. We are certainly proud of them.”
The speech topics were intermingled with talent presentations from each candidate. These proved to be a real crowd pleaser; with each presentation demonstrating the individual’s imagination, skill, and a passion for their special aptitude. The talents offered a variety of art forms, as well as a well-choreographed dance performance that was a hit with the audience.
A fun-filled final staging was an imaginative Fashion Show, with the candidates appearing in the first round wearing their favorite western outfit, thus showing the audience their connection to western life. The second part of the fashion show involved a play on words.
The candidates had been asked to come up with a costume depicting a certain play on words. Amazingly they created apparel depicting sayings such as “moneybags”, and “hold your horses”.
This concluded the evening’s presentations, with both the audience and the participants commenting, “The event was a success on all counts.”