By Mark DiFabio, Immediate Past President of the Delaware County Fair Board—
DELAWARE COUNTY, Ind.—”Good things come to those who wait!” Kalyn Melham, Miss Delaware county fair queen 2021 knows how true those words are. On April 10, Melham was crowned second runner up at this year’s Miss Indiana State Fair queen contest in Indianapolis.
The contest was originally scheduled for early January, but due to the pandemic not only was it postponed but the previous year’s contest was cancelled altogether. Not all counties in the state had a contest in 2020 so those contestants were combined into those from 2021. That raised the field of competitors from 86 counties to 114.
Melham knew it was not what she had planned for, but moved forward,”It was quite a let down but I knew it was for the best.”
The event usually took an entire weekend and was reshaped to be completed in one day. She set a goal to interview again and was excited to meet the judges face to face and not over a zoom interview. She would have to make it to the top 16 for that to happen. “I felt so accomplished to make that goal and would keep competing.”
The next level was to announce the Top 10. Melham recalls the night before as she thought about the contest to simply do her best. “I just prayed whatever is supposed to happen let it be.” Once the announcer called out #35 MIss Delaware county Kaylyn Melham, she thought to herself “This is the best outcome ever!” Melham was even more in awe as the contest then moved to naming the queen and her court. Once her name was called as the second runner up she simply was overcome with joy and the satisfaction of a job well done.
She was proud of how well she had represented herself and Delaware County.
“I felt very prepared by entering the local contest. The local pageant is a chance to challenge yourself and work outside your comfort zone. It is an excellent way to improve life skills.”
Melham was not certain of her duties as a member of the court at this point.
Reflecting on the experience Melham explained,”Everyone there got something that day. It was time well spent!”
Editor’s note: There will be a callout and information night for the 2022 Delaware County pageant April 28th at the north entrance to the Memorial building at the fairgrounds at 7pm.
