One big step forward: spending a Saturday with friends

So after everything that has happened, we are excited to still have ways to support amazing young women at the community level, and that is exactly what we set out to do on February 12th.

We started our day at Indiana State University so see Taylor Schaffer dance with the Sparkettes. Taylor has been such an inspiration to us, and we can't imagine how we could have pulled off our 2010 pageant without her help. Taylor was the first volunteer to arrive that day, and Taylor finally left after putting the last box in the trunk of our car. Taylor spent the day demonstrating how to be a role model at the local level of a national pageant system.

Taylor is a Sparkette at Indiana State University. The Spartkettes are an elite dance team and they perform at the basketball games. We really wanted to see Taylor dance with the Sparkettes, so we went out to Terre Haute to see her. Taylor danced. The Sparkettes rock. The home team won.

From Terre Haute we crossed the state line into Illinois and spent the rest of the day doing pictures for Miss Georgetown Fair. We have been cheering on Queen Danielle since the moment she was crowned Miss Georgetown, and she will soon host a queen's tea fundraiser in March. It took us several hours with several princesses, but we got a lot of great promotional pictures.

After we did the pictures, Georgetown directors Karen and Jill treated us to dinner at the Possum Trot. So we trotted on up there from the fairgrounds for a wonderful meal in the company of Queen Danielle. We are really excited about the Queen's Tea coming up in March, and if we don't see you there, you can read about it here on Josh and Joe Travels.

Cheering on Miss Georgetown at the Illinois Fair Queen State Pageant

Joshu and Joe traveled to Springfield, Ill., for the Miss Illinois County Fair pageant to cheer on Danielle Sacre, Miss Georgetown Fair 2010. Joe served as a judge at the 2010 Georgetown Fair Queen Pageant. This was Josh and Joe's second trip to the Miss Illinois County Fair pageant to support Miss Georgetown. Josh and Joe attended the preliminary competition, luncheon and the final banquet on Sunday. Miss Georgetown competed in a 4 minute private interview, 1 minute on-stage speech, evening gown and swimwear during the four-day pageant weekend, held January 13-16 in connection with the Illinois fair convention.

Celebrating 300,000 Miles of Memories

After spending more than ten years photographing the Indiana State Fair Queen and being the founding directors of two pageants in Indiana, Josh and Joe have reached a momentous occasion in their travels: 300,000 road miles traveled by car.

In celebrating this accomplishment, Josh and Joe have put together a list of some of their favorite memories, a journey that has taken them on America's interstates out to Oklahoma, up to Michigan, down to Florida and nearly everywhere in between.

1. Erin Madden being named Miss Indiana State Fair
2. Miss America Kirsten Haglund's homecoming in Michigan
3. Judging at Miss Florida Keys
4. Cheering for Megan Thwaites at nationals in Orlando
5. Two very special young women from the home of the Sycamores
   
6. The Miss Illinois County Fair Queen Pageant
7. Kylie Williams winning Miss Florida 2007
8. Illinois pageantry and "Please don't let me fall."
9. Reading Small Town Crown
10. The fair queen who showed us that "My crown is in my heart."
    

So after 300,000 miles, we think Kylie Williams said it best: "While it may never be enough, I am heading in the right direction."

Orlando in August: Our Trip to the Miss America Teen Pageant

Josh and Joe traveled to Orlando, Florida to visit the Miss America's Outstanding Teen Pageant, and Miss Indiana's Outstanding Teen Katelyn Marak is a Top 10 finalist! The pageant was held in Orlando, Fla., August 24-27. Katelyn was first named a Top 15 finalist and competed in evening gown. As a Top 10 finalist Katelyn went on to compete in talent and sports wear in front of a packed house at the Linda Chapin Theater. Josh and Joe have attended this national teen pageant for three consecutive years.

Indiana State Fair: 4-H Fashoin Show and Miss Indiana Teen Katie Marak

Miss Indiana's Outstanding Teen Katie Marak placed in the honor group in 4-H Fashion Revue at the Indiana State Fair on August 6th! Katie will compete at the national pageant for the title of Miss America's Outstanding Teen in Orlando August 25-28. Many of you know Josh has been photographing the Indiana State Fair Queen and covering the state fair for over 10 years.

Miss Georgetown Fair

Joe served on the panel of judges to select the 50th Miss Georgetown Fair! Twenty-seven young women competed in interview, speech, evening gown and swimsuit for the honor of representing Georgetown as their 50th fair queen. Miss Georgetown will compete at the Illinois state county fair queen pageant in January. The Georgetown pageant was held on the fairgrounds in Georgetown, Illinois, on August 2nd. Joe was a founding director of two pageant programs in Indiana and has judged pageants in Indiana and Florida. Miss Georgetown is the first pageant Joe has judged in Illinois.