Pageants kick off Central Fair this week

CHINLE

Some agencies may be be having trouble fielding a queen contest, but not Central.

At least four contestants have signed up for each age category — and the boys are not about to be left out.

“We had several boys who have aged out of the Lil’ Brave competition (6 to 8 years old) and wanted to continue to compete,” revealed Central Agency Fair Pageant Coordinator Alessandra Uentillie. “We’re actually trying to find a sponsor so we can add a pre-teen boys’ competition next year.”

Not only that, but the contestants are serious.

Among the girls, “You can tell some of them are using these pageants as preparation for Miss Navajo,” Uentillie observed. “I wouldn’t be surprised to see some of these names in the Miss Navajo lineup in a few years.”

Following a Central Fair tradition, the pageants will kick off the fair activities this week, with the baby contest — which we dare you to get through without saying “Aww!” — starting tonight at 5 at Many Farms Community School.

“The location is new,” said Uentillie. “The school waived all the fees for us and it’s a really nice, central location considering we have people coming from Rock Point, Round Rock, Lukachukai, Rough Rock, all those places. We want to be conscious that Central Agency is more than just Chinle.”

Registration is open for the baby contest up until a half-hour before the show, so there’s still time to enter your child. There will be prizes in each age category: 0-12 months, 13-24 months and 25-60 months. You can enter in person at the school, or print an application at centralagencyfair.wixsite.com.

All pageants will be Many Farms except for Miss Central, which will be at Mesa View Elementary in Chinle on Friday. Miss Central will be crowned Saturday at 4 p.m. at Gorman’s Arena.

Here’s a schedule of fair events:

August 20, 2018

• 5 p.m. Baby Contest, Many Farms Community School

August 21. 2018

• 5 p.m. Lil’ Central Brave and Lil’ Miss Central Pageant, Many Farms Community School

August 22, 2018

• 6 p.m. Miss Central Pre-Teen Pageant and Coronation, Many Farms Community School

August 23, 2018

• 9 a.m. Youth Day, Chinle Community Center
• 5 p.m. Miss Central Navajo Teen Pageant and Coronation, Many Farms Community School
• 6 p.m. Frazier Carnival opens, Gorman’s Arena
• 6 p.m. Junior Bull Riding and Steer Riding, Gorman’s Arena

August 24, 2018

• 9 a.m. WJRA Rodeo, Gorman’s Arena
• 9 a.m. Elder Fest, Gorman’s Arena
• 3 p.m. Song and Dance, Gorman’s Arena
• 5 p.m. Miss Central Navajo Pageant, Mesa View Elementary School
• 5 p.m. Powwow Gourd Session, Gorman’s Arena
• 6 p.m. Frazier Carnival opens, Gorman’s Arena.
• 6 p.m. Wooly Riding, Gorman’s Arena.
• 7 p.m. Powwow Grand Entry, Gorman’s Arena.
• 9 p.m. Country and Western Dance, Gorman’s Arena

August 25, 2018

• 7 a.m. Parade Line up, Highway 191
• 9 a.m. Parade begins, Highway 191
• 9 a.m. Food market/Arts and Crafts vendor, Gorman’s Arena
• 10 a.m. Registration for Song and Dance, Gorman’s Arena
• 12 p.m. Gourd Session, Gorman’s Arena
• 12:30 p.m. Song and Dance, Gorman’s Arena
• 1 p.m. Akali Yazhi Rodeo, Gorman’s Arena
• 1 p.m. Powwow Grand Entry, Gorman’s Arena
• 3 p.m. Frazier Carnival opens, Gorman’s Arena
• 4 p.m. Miss Central Navajo Coronation, Gorman’s Arena
• 6 p.m. Gourd Session, Gorman’s Arena
• 7 p.m. Powwow Final Grand Entry, Gorman’s Arena
• 7 p.m. CNRA/AIRCA/Ndee Rodeo 1st Performance, Gorman’s Arena
• 9 p.m. Country and Western Dance, Gorman’s Arena

August 26, 2018

• 9 a.m. Food Market/Arts and Crafts Vendors open, Gorman’s Arena
• 10 a.m. Song and Dance, Gorman’s Arena
• 1 p.m. CNRA/AIRCA/Ndee Rodeo 2nd Performance, Gorman’s Arena
• 3 p.m. Frazier Carnival opens, Gorman’s Arena

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