There is no place like . . . Oak City

This past Friday, the Miss Millard County Royalty had the opportunity to participate in the Oak City Days Parade. Some of the girls had to cheer and dance at Fillmore's Blue and White Football Game, so we definitely missed them!

Oak City is a pretty special place and the town puts on some great events during this celebration. It is so much fun to have the opportunity to represent this County and attend so many different events. Thank you Oak City!

With the "Redneck Oak City Royalty"

I switched gears right after the parade and participated in the Oak City Day's Basketball Tournament. It made for a fun night!

Influence

One of the things I want most in life is to influence others; to have others say, "Because of you I wanted to improve my life and be better." It had always been my dream to be a key life changer in somebody else's life for the positive. Becoming Miss Millard County 2015 gave me the opportunity to start learning how to be a positive influence.

This past week, I had the opportunity to do FIVE different presentations on my platform "G.O.A.L.S.: Get Out And Live Strong." It was so much fun to be able to go share something I am so passionate about with others. Whether I was an influence to fifty kids or even just one, I hope that through hearing my platform, someone decided to become better.

These were my first presentations, and I learned A LOT! I had both good and bad experiences. I taught the kids and the kids taught me. But in the end I was able to share something I was passionate about, and that was something special. 

Mrs. Bliss's Class

These young 3rd grade students taught me a very valuable lesson: Excitement. Every one of the kids were so excited to share and tell me exactly what goals and dreams they had in their life. They didn't worry about failure or obstacle. They were purely excited and confident that they could accomplish their dreams, no matter how big. 

Why do we grow older and lose our excitement? Imagine how much more we would achieve and how much more we would enjoy the process if we had an attitude of excitement throughout the process! This was a great lesson for me to learn. I am going to strive to make each step of the journey EXCITING!!

Delta Middle School Students

Middle School is a time in each persons life where they care what their peers think of them. They care if they look cool or not. They want approval and are often scared of not getting that approval. So often when you set personal GOALS, others question you and ask why you would do that? Everyone is different and one thing I learned from these middle school students was that in order to reach YOUR own PERSONAL full potential you CAN NOT CARE WHAT OTHERS THINK! People will question you. People will tell you that you can't accomplish your goals. People will want you to be a certain way. BUT the moment you stop caring what others think, is the moment you set yourself apart to being different. That is the moment you truly begin to reach your own full potential.

Delta High School Volleyball Team

Verbally share your GOALS .. It commits you.

Without a VISION you lose motivation, work, desire, and commitment.

One thing that I have always thought about doing is becoming a high school athletics coach. I have had coaches that have literally changed my life, and I wanted to do that for someone else. Being able to present my platform to the DHS Volleyball Team was something I will never forget, because it was my first opportunity to get up in front of a team and try to spark their motivation (not always that easy). 

Their is something so special to me about being blessed enough to receive the opportunity to be an influence. It is not an opportunity that comes often or easily, but I truly believe that when that opportunity does come (and it will) you take COMPLETE ADVANTAGE of it. That is my purpose this next year. I want to make sure I am taking advantage of this opportunity to be an influence as Miss Millard County. I don't want to look back and think "I wish I would have been more influential."

 I AM GOING ALL OUT!

"A Taste of Millard County" .. 2014 County Fair

One of the biggest events of the year in Millard County is the Millard County Fair. And this year it was big! As the county royalty, we were in attendance the whole time! It was four long exhausting days, but it was also four of the most fun days I have had this summer! I loved every second of it! Whether it was juggling, jousting, hypnotizing, music, animals, or eating, it was a good time.

This year I participated in the fair and it made it that much more special for me! Monday I submitted cinnamon rolls, chocolate chips cookies, white chocolate chip pudding cookies, banana bread, caramel popcorn balls, a jean blanket, and a stitched pillow. BLUE RIBBONS ON ALL OF THEM! I also worked during the week at 4:30 AM, and usually got home from the fair at 11:00 PM .. the 5 hours in between that was filled with me cooking so that I could win the different contests. I took 3rd place in the Candy Contest with my caramel popcorn balls (thanks Natalie for the recipe) and 2nd place in the Choco-Bake Contest with my white chocolate chip pudding cookies. My pie and muffins.. well they didn't do so well. Yes it was a LOT of work with very LATE nights and very EARLY mornings! I wouldn't have had it any other way:)

Here is a picture recap of what went on during the fair week! I took a TON of pictures.. and wish I could have taken even more!!

DAY 1

Alan Roper is a County Commissioner

Brother Finlinson is in my ward. He has supported me for a
long time in all that I do.

With the Color Guard. All the men that protect our country have a special place in my heart.

This is my good friend Shalayne Johnson. She is one of a kind and teaches me so much.

Some of the fair exhibits are pretty awesome. I was impressed!

Betty Jo Western is in charge of the fair. She is FABULOUS at what she does. This woman is one that continually "Gets Out And Lives Strong"

These guys not only promote "RAD" but they are "RAD"!

Mariah is an awesome 1st Attendant. You should see her dance! She is incredible.

5K Glow Run was a blast! I took 5th overall in the Women's Category. 

DAY 2

This was such a creative exhibit at the fair!

Poor quality.. but one of my entertainment activities was a hula hoop contest! I even got my pageant director, Kelly Swallow, up on the stage.

Gardening 101 .. One incredible lady and gardener

I think I am going to have to make some GOALS to learn how to quilt and sew.

She is 89 years old and has been helping with the fair for 26. She was there EVERY single day for the WHOLE entire day!

All ages enjoyed the fair. Only 2 weeks old!

Mariah and I were just a little bit freaked out by the giant snake! We still got out of our comfort zone and held it though. So glad we did.
You can "Get Out and Live Strong" even in small daily actions.

Commissioners Barbeque

I won a drink cooler in the drawing. It pays to be an employee of Millard County!

DAY 3

Sheriff Robert Dekker 

The Bookmobile even visited the fair! So fun and brought back some good childhood memories! I love reading!!

Cutest little Beams girls! Love them!

Riding one of the Jousting horses. It was HUGE! I have long leg and even got stuck while getting off.

Norman not only played some music during the fair, but he is one of the folks that comes to the pool and water walks
in the mornings. I love seeing my pool friends outside of the pool. Norman's joke was, "It is nice to see you
with clothes on." Everyone got a kick out of that!

I am a SORE loser! Kate's mom Kristen beat me at the Choco-Bake Contest!

Clogging Grandmothers. They love what they do! It was such a good performance!

DAY 4

I woke up early on Saturday and went and ran the Spartan Race. Not many showed up, but it is a fair even that many will continue to enjoy!

My very first pie.. EVER!! I don't know why I thought my first pie could win the contest, but oh well now I know how to do something new!!
Always growing and learning! That is what life is about!

All the girls got hypnotized.. I was too big of chicken! I like to be in complete control.

This is Natalie Stefanoff. She is also a previous Miss Millard and we are lucky enough to have her has our Co-Pageant Director. She is one awesome lady!

Michael taught us how to juggle! Check out how awesome his show here. He is one of the coolest guys I have met! So down to earth.

Concert by VanLadyLove was awesome! Go check out some of their music.

And that is a wrap on my week at the Millard County Fair! The last picture shows what I came home with. It was such a great experience and I was able to not only do many activities that put me out of my comfort zone, but also see how so many people in this world are living my platform! It's amazing what you can become when you set G.O.A.L.S. and "Get Out And Live Strong."