Fewer contestants enter fair pageant this year, but the four entrants were still diverse

By AnnMarie Cornejo
acornejo@thetribunenews.com

Poised and prepared after months of practice, Ashley Greenwalt was crowned Miss California Mid-State Fair 2008 at the event's annual pageant Wednesday.

Greenwalt of Santa Margarita was selected from the four contestants - a small pool of competitors compared to years past.

The girls brought a variety of passions and talents to the stage - including some things never done before.

Amanda Thorson of Paso Robles, a recent graduate of Cal Poly, played a handmade dulcimer - a stringed instrument dating to the early 1800s - for the crowd.

Tommy Loyd, also of Paso Robles, performed a song in sign language in honor of her mother.

Genesis Bell of Templeton and Greenwalt performed in independent dance routines.

Additional entertainment from Class Act Dance and singing by Paso Robles native Jesus Solorio - who appeared on the Fox reality television show "So You Think You Can Dance?" - helped fill in stage time while the girls shifted through events.

Pageant organizer Patti Lucas said that the small number of contestants isn't a reflection of a lack of interest in the decades-old pageant, but an anomaly.

"This has just been an off year," Lucas said. "I'm confident it will pick back up."

This year, all four contestants are from the North County.

Lucas said that record gas prices might have dissuaded some girls who lived farther away from entering the contest this year.

Last year, the competition had the most contestants ever with 14. However, in 2005, only five girls participated.

"I've though about it a lot," Lucas said. "You just have to look at everything - I'm not sure there is one clear reason."

Lucas said she expects to see a resurgence of interest next year.

"The show will go on," Lucas said. "I think there would be a lot of unhappy people if it didn't. It is a standing tradition. There are some traditions you can get away with getting rid of - others you just can't. This is one of those."

Reach AnnMarie Cornjeo at 781-7939.