Claire Bishop receives her crown as she announced as the 2022 Hancock County 4-H Queen. Saturday, June 11, 2022.
Tom Russo | Daily Reporter
By Elissa Maudlin
GREENFIELD — When the announcer called her name, she thought “Oh my goodness, that’s me.”
On June 11, in a purple floor-length gown that sparkled under the stage lights and while holding a bouquet of red roses, Claire Bishop made her first walk across the stage at Trinity Park United Methodist Church as the 2022 Hancock County 4-H Fair Queen. Despite her wearing the tall crown queens before her had worn, she said she couldn’t have done this without the people supporting her along the way and her favorite part of the pageant was that support.
“Up there, you saw me smiling. You saw me wearing a crown,” she said, “but in reality, there are hundreds of people who have poured time and effort into me to get me to this point.”
Some of these people included Mandy Hancock and Hancock’s daughter-in-law who helped with interview prep, people who helped with jewelry and outfit choices, her sewing instructor who hemmed her outfits and who Bishop referred to as her “fairy-godmother” and her parents who would do her barn chores while she prepped for the pageant.
Nicole Bishop, her mom, said Claire has wanted this ever since she was a young girl starting out in 4-H and her dad, Jim Bishop, said they’re “extremely excited and proud.”
“4-H has been a huge part of her life and for our family, and I think it’s helped make her who she is today,” Nicole said.
When announcing information about the candidates as they walked on stage for the professional attire and formal gown portions of the pageant, the announcer read that Claire found a lot of her hobbies through 4-H. These hobbies included robotics, singing and crafting. Claire said she has also done an event called Fashion Revue since kindergarten, among other events during her years in the fair including showing pigs, goats and rabbits and sewing.
Despite never being nervous for 4-H events, she said she couldn’t sleep the night before the pageant and watched a movie in the morning, got her hair and makeup done and ate biscuits and gravy her mother made for her.
Claire said she was nervous leading up to the pageant due to many factors. Tripping, not smiling enough, not being pretty enough, making sure her nails were correct and her hands were straight, as well as acknowledging the other candidates who she said would make great 4-H queens, contributed to her nerves.
However, Bishop told herself before the interview that the most important thing was to be herself.
“I was like, ‘Lord, just let me speak what I need to say and let them hear what they need to hear and just be myself,’” she said. “… As soon as I walked off the stage with my last event, I was like, ‘OK, I can’t do anything else. So we’re just gonna chill out and whatever happens happens.’”
Bishop was crowned as queen alongside princess Claire Jaques who was wearing a red dress she said was her prom dress.
When announcing information about her during the pageant, the announcer said Jaques said 4-H gives her an opportunity to share her passions with the community.
She said she is really excited for fair week, to see the smiling little kids and also represent Hancock County.
“I think this is one of the most amazing counties and I love growing up here,” Jaques said. “And growing up in Greenfield where the fairgrounds are is really a pleasure and I’m really excited to represent them.”
Hannah Williams was given the honor of Miss. Congeniality, a position voted on by the 13 pageant candidates. Williams said she was really happy and excited with her role.
“I really wanted to be Miss Congeniality because I want to spread kindness,” Williams said. “And the fact that they thought that of me means a lot.”
Morgan Stone, Carlyn Blue and Alaina Nugent were declared the court members for the 2022 fair. Nugent focused more on the exhibit hall projects and wants people to know you can still win and be accomplished through those projects, not just through animal events.
“This has always been like a little girl kind of dream for me and I’m really excited to be on [the] court,” she said.
Claire, as queen, alongside the princess, Miss Congeniality and the court, will be at the fair June 17 – 24 for its 100th year, passing out ribbons, watching events and representing the 4-H program.
As she embarks on her reign as queen, Claire wants people to be reminded of the people who got her to this place.
“I couldn’t have done this on my own,” she said. “…I’m so thankful because I could not be here without them today.”
