A tradition returns with an added twist to the Plumas Sierra County Fairgrounds, The Sweetheart of the Mountains contest. Yet fair manager John Stephanic says the cringe-worthy dated media coverage of past events which featured the contestant’s body measurements won’t have any part in this year’s event. Recognizing the need for change in the current era, the PSCF Foundation, the competition organizer, aims to shift the focus to highlight the intellect of participants rather than their physical attributes.
Tradition had it that for decades, young ladies would show off their talents and work tirelessly in their communities to be crowned Sweetheart of the Mountains. This year, the contest will open to young women and men in a competition to win scholarships for the best essay discussing “Why you should become involved in your county fair.”
The top two winners will receive one of two scholarships in the amount of 500 and 250 dollars from The PSCF Foundation, as well as the title of Sweetheart of the Mountains. The winners will still have duties including greeting visitors at the fair and representing the Plumas Sierra County Fair in at least the Fair Parade. Entrants must also agree to a code of conduct as a representative of the Fair.
The deadline for returning applications is April 30, 2024.
Applications can be found in each of the high schools and FRC. They are also available on the Fair website at www.plumas-sierracountyfair.net and the Fair office.
