Friday, July 24, 2009
Giant Ear of Corn
July 15, 2009-- Gillette Children’s Hospital
Every Wednesday morning I volunteer at Gillette’s, this morning we made crowns. There were stickers and jewels for the kids to use. Things are always interesting when glue is involved in a craft project!
Festag Days
I was asked to appear at Festag Days in Minnesota Lake. I was so excited about this appearance because Vicki Kueppers, a former Miss Minnesota, was going to be my chaperone! We had a 3-hour drive ahead of us. Vicki and I can talk about anything, the first hour we talked about what we had been up to since the Miss Minnesota Pageant, then we moved to paperwork for Miss America, and then some fun ideas for my CD project.
Before we knew it we were 20 minutes away, and this giant ear of corn pulled in front of us. And when I say giant, I mean GIANT! It had to be heading to the festival where we were going. What I learned is that a truck carrying a giant ear of corn has to drive quite slowly. The 20 minutes turned into 40 minutes.
Thankfully we arrived on time, and I was able to visit with the committee before the Queen’s Tea. There were about 15 other festival queens at the tea along with the reigning Miss Festag Royalty and the candidates vying for the title. As I was chatting with them I told them about the Giant Ear of Corn I followed here and how fun it would be to ride on it in the parade.
After the Tea we headed over to the parade, my driver Ken has driven the past five Miss Minnesota’s in his red convertible. Right before we were about to start a truck drove by with a bunch of high school students. As they were passing one yelled out “Hey, I know you! You’re Miss Minnesota!” It came from a familiar face, and then it all clicked. When I was Miss Twin Cities I volunteered at the Mapleton’s Relay for Life which is just one town over form Minnesota Lake.
This familiar voice I heard was Niko, who was my “body guard” at the Relay for Life. He was excited and surprised that I won Miss Minnesota so we had to get a photo!
For a small town of 700, this parade brought in thousands. As we drove in the parade I was able to see the festival and all the rides. Half way through the parade we came to the announcers. As my car approached I could hear them telling the crowd that I was the newly crowned Miss Minnesota, and where I was from. The announcer then said: Brooke’s mission while at the Festag festival is to ride on the giant ear of corn! Now Vicki and I found this quite hysterical and I wondered why no one else was laughing. I later found out that while I was number 40 in the parade, the corn was number 100… which meant no one had seen the giant ear of corn yet! The crowd must have thought I was crazy!
After the parade the coronation of the Festag Royalty took place on a stage outside in the middle of the festival. I could not believe how many people were there, it looked like a mini state fair!
I sang for the crowd, and shared with them about the CD I am recording for Children’s Miracle Network. Since it was past 9 o’clock, the bugs were everywhere. My main goal during my song was to not have a bug fly in my mouth. While I achieved that, it did not prevent them from flying everywhere else. During the middle of the song I would have 4 or 5 bugs on my forehead. There is no gesture in the world that you can make “wiping bugs off your forehead” look natural while singing a song.
Congratulations to the new Miss Festag Royalty! Also thank you to the committee for welcoming me to their festival. I had a wonderful time.
I am so thankful to Vicki Kueppers who came along with me during the Miss Festag appearance. I am sure that riding in the car with me in the parade brought back many memories of her time as Miss Minnesota. She was so helpful and I could not have done it without her. Vicki took her job as chaperone very seriously even when she had to call and inform the committee that we might be late due to a large piece of corn! It is incredible that the Miss America Organization can introduce such amazing people into your life. Vicki Kueppers is one of those people.
July 16, 2009- Recording Studio
Another recording session for the Children’s Miracle Network CD with Darren, I spent about 3 hours singing. As a singer I had no idea that performing live, and recording were two completely different things. I am very grateful to have Darren, who has been very good at coaching me, and bringing out the best in my vocal abilities.
July 17, 2009- Miss Morris and Miss Midwest Pageant
Luggage travels 350 Miles.
My mom and I were up at 6:30 AM to head to Morris, Minnesota for the day. The Miss Morris/Miss Midwest committee had a packed day for me!
*Just a little side note here that the pink luggage has been cleaned from its trip to Boston and is taking this trip to Morris. My Mom cleaned the luggage with a stiff brush and this bar of soap that she uses for tough stains that my grandmother, who grew up in Ireland used on her clothes. I think we have had this bar of soap for 5 years now (a little goes a long way) and my Mom keeps it in a plastic my little pony cup in the laundry room. It did the job because the luggage looks like new.
At the brunch I gave a speech to the contestants, their families and the Little Princesses and Princes who were there to be crowned. I was able to tell them the amazing benefits of the Miss America Program and applauded them for entering this program. Whether you walk away with the crown or not you gain so much more from this pageant. The scholarship opportunities and the girls you meet will create lasting friendships. I enjoyed catching up with Angie and Quinn the current royalty. Angie was my roommate, and Quinn was my workout buddy during the week at Miss Minnesota.
Since I was in Morris for the day, the committee asked if I would sing the National Anthem at the horse show down at the fair grounds. I love any opportunity to sing, and I was hoping they might let me ride a horse during the event.
One of the things that I love about small towns is the way they give directions. In Eagan, we have to provide street names and house numbers. In Morris landmarks such as Pizza Hut or Dairy Queen are all the directions given. Thankfully my mom and I are quick learners because we found the horse show by following a horse trailer.
I was greeted by Jean who was in charge of the horse show, and also on the Miss Morris Committee. I took pictures with the volunteers, and then a few of the riders. One boy told me that he had 11 horses! Then he asked if I wanted one! I was quite tempted to take one horse and ride back to the pageant on it. Although I am not sure how my Dad would feel if I brought a horse home from this weekend. I already have a puppy and two cats that I need to take care of!
One of the riders was a young girl named Savannah. She had this awesome riding outfit with rhinestones and she was even wearing a crown! Her horse’s name was Sweetie, and I was able to talk with her for a bit before her competition. Later that evening I found out that she had a secret identity! Keep reading to find out ☺
Back to Sonia (the Miss Morris director) house for a home cooked meal. The committee hosted a dinner for the royalty and judges. Thank you to Sonia and everyone for the excellent food, my mom and I enjoyed not having to go to subway again.
I was so excited for the pageant; I sang the National Anthem and had a little back stage time before swim suit. Quinn had called me earlier in the week to tell me the details about what I would be asked to do at the pageant. She paused for a long time and said “Brooke, they want us to do swimsuit” Now I am thinking she means they want us to come out in our swimsuits and walk around! Thank goodness she just meant they wanted us to emcee swimsuit…
After the pageant while I was signing autographs, I was approached by royalty from a town nearby. They wanted to take a photo, and then I realized that their little princess was Savannah who I had met earlier at the horse show. This time she was wearing a beautiful gown, sash, and her crown. I could not believe that she was holding out on me when I saw her before!
Congratulations to the new Miss Morris Sarah Saugstad, and the new Miss Midwest Emily Wyman!
Did I mention that I have been Miss Minnesota for almost a month! Time is just flying by! It will soon be January and the Miss America pageant!
Always, Brooke
Every Wednesday morning I volunteer at Gillette’s, this morning we made crowns. There were stickers and jewels for the kids to use. Things are always interesting when glue is involved in a craft project!
Festag Days
I was asked to appear at Festag Days in Minnesota Lake. I was so excited about this appearance because Vicki Kueppers, a former Miss Minnesota, was going to be my chaperone! We had a 3-hour drive ahead of us. Vicki and I can talk about anything, the first hour we talked about what we had been up to since the Miss Minnesota Pageant, then we moved to paperwork for Miss America, and then some fun ideas for my CD project.
Before we knew it we were 20 minutes away, and this giant ear of corn pulled in front of us. And when I say giant, I mean GIANT! It had to be heading to the festival where we were going. What I learned is that a truck carrying a giant ear of corn has to drive quite slowly. The 20 minutes turned into 40 minutes.
Thankfully we arrived on time, and I was able to visit with the committee before the Queen’s Tea. There were about 15 other festival queens at the tea along with the reigning Miss Festag Royalty and the candidates vying for the title. As I was chatting with them I told them about the Giant Ear of Corn I followed here and how fun it would be to ride on it in the parade.
After the Tea we headed over to the parade, my driver Ken has driven the past five Miss Minnesota’s in his red convertible. Right before we were about to start a truck drove by with a bunch of high school students. As they were passing one yelled out “Hey, I know you! You’re Miss Minnesota!” It came from a familiar face, and then it all clicked. When I was Miss Twin Cities I volunteered at the Mapleton’s Relay for Life which is just one town over form Minnesota Lake.
This familiar voice I heard was Niko, who was my “body guard” at the Relay for Life. He was excited and surprised that I won Miss Minnesota so we had to get a photo!
For a small town of 700, this parade brought in thousands. As we drove in the parade I was able to see the festival and all the rides. Half way through the parade we came to the announcers. As my car approached I could hear them telling the crowd that I was the newly crowned Miss Minnesota, and where I was from. The announcer then said: Brooke’s mission while at the Festag festival is to ride on the giant ear of corn! Now Vicki and I found this quite hysterical and I wondered why no one else was laughing. I later found out that while I was number 40 in the parade, the corn was number 100… which meant no one had seen the giant ear of corn yet! The crowd must have thought I was crazy!
After the parade the coronation of the Festag Royalty took place on a stage outside in the middle of the festival. I could not believe how many people were there, it looked like a mini state fair!
I sang for the crowd, and shared with them about the CD I am recording for Children’s Miracle Network. Since it was past 9 o’clock, the bugs were everywhere. My main goal during my song was to not have a bug fly in my mouth. While I achieved that, it did not prevent them from flying everywhere else. During the middle of the song I would have 4 or 5 bugs on my forehead. There is no gesture in the world that you can make “wiping bugs off your forehead” look natural while singing a song.
Congratulations to the new Miss Festag Royalty! Also thank you to the committee for welcoming me to their festival. I had a wonderful time.
I am so thankful to Vicki Kueppers who came along with me during the Miss Festag appearance. I am sure that riding in the car with me in the parade brought back many memories of her time as Miss Minnesota. She was so helpful and I could not have done it without her. Vicki took her job as chaperone very seriously even when she had to call and inform the committee that we might be late due to a large piece of corn! It is incredible that the Miss America Organization can introduce such amazing people into your life. Vicki Kueppers is one of those people.
July 16, 2009- Recording Studio
Another recording session for the Children’s Miracle Network CD with Darren, I spent about 3 hours singing. As a singer I had no idea that performing live, and recording were two completely different things. I am very grateful to have Darren, who has been very good at coaching me, and bringing out the best in my vocal abilities.
July 17, 2009- Miss Morris and Miss Midwest Pageant
Luggage travels 350 Miles.
My mom and I were up at 6:30 AM to head to Morris, Minnesota for the day. The Miss Morris/Miss Midwest committee had a packed day for me!
*Just a little side note here that the pink luggage has been cleaned from its trip to Boston and is taking this trip to Morris. My Mom cleaned the luggage with a stiff brush and this bar of soap that she uses for tough stains that my grandmother, who grew up in Ireland used on her clothes. I think we have had this bar of soap for 5 years now (a little goes a long way) and my Mom keeps it in a plastic my little pony cup in the laundry room. It did the job because the luggage looks like new.
At the brunch I gave a speech to the contestants, their families and the Little Princesses and Princes who were there to be crowned. I was able to tell them the amazing benefits of the Miss America Program and applauded them for entering this program. Whether you walk away with the crown or not you gain so much more from this pageant. The scholarship opportunities and the girls you meet will create lasting friendships. I enjoyed catching up with Angie and Quinn the current royalty. Angie was my roommate, and Quinn was my workout buddy during the week at Miss Minnesota.
Since I was in Morris for the day, the committee asked if I would sing the National Anthem at the horse show down at the fair grounds. I love any opportunity to sing, and I was hoping they might let me ride a horse during the event.
One of the things that I love about small towns is the way they give directions. In Eagan, we have to provide street names and house numbers. In Morris landmarks such as Pizza Hut or Dairy Queen are all the directions given. Thankfully my mom and I are quick learners because we found the horse show by following a horse trailer.
I was greeted by Jean who was in charge of the horse show, and also on the Miss Morris Committee. I took pictures with the volunteers, and then a few of the riders. One boy told me that he had 11 horses! Then he asked if I wanted one! I was quite tempted to take one horse and ride back to the pageant on it. Although I am not sure how my Dad would feel if I brought a horse home from this weekend. I already have a puppy and two cats that I need to take care of!
One of the riders was a young girl named Savannah. She had this awesome riding outfit with rhinestones and she was even wearing a crown! Her horse’s name was Sweetie, and I was able to talk with her for a bit before her competition. Later that evening I found out that she had a secret identity! Keep reading to find out ☺
Back to Sonia (the Miss Morris director) house for a home cooked meal. The committee hosted a dinner for the royalty and judges. Thank you to Sonia and everyone for the excellent food, my mom and I enjoyed not having to go to subway again.
I was so excited for the pageant; I sang the National Anthem and had a little back stage time before swim suit. Quinn had called me earlier in the week to tell me the details about what I would be asked to do at the pageant. She paused for a long time and said “Brooke, they want us to do swimsuit” Now I am thinking she means they want us to come out in our swimsuits and walk around! Thank goodness she just meant they wanted us to emcee swimsuit…
After the pageant while I was signing autographs, I was approached by royalty from a town nearby. They wanted to take a photo, and then I realized that their little princess was Savannah who I had met earlier at the horse show. This time she was wearing a beautiful gown, sash, and her crown. I could not believe that she was holding out on me when I saw her before!
Congratulations to the new Miss Morris Sarah Saugstad, and the new Miss Midwest Emily Wyman!
Did I mention that I have been Miss Minnesota for almost a month! Time is just flying by! It will soon be January and the Miss America pageant!
Always, Brooke
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