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Dedication to Debbie Pritchard
The 2022 Unionville Community Fair is dedicated to Debbie Pritchard, Queen & Princess Pageant Chair
Debbie has been the Chair of the Pageant for the last 10 years and been on the committee since 2005.
Being Chair of the Unionville Community Fair Pageant entails a great deal of commitment and tireless hours. Debbie, in conjunction with her Pageant Assistants and established Pageant network, reachout to interested young women in the community to encourage them to enter this pageant that has been part of the fair since 1936. The process for being a Queen contestant in the UCF Pageant consists of writing an essay on “What My Fair Means to My Community”, practicing interview skills, team building exercises with other UCF Pageant contestants, preparing a 5-minute speech, which then will be presented in front of selected Pageant Judges and a general audience. In preparation for these requirements, Debbie and her Pageant Assistants advise each contestant on writing their essays, interview skills, speeches, plus criteria for Pageant gowns and other proper attire needed for the pageant related activities.
Debbie likes the Pageant entrants to know, and is proud of the fact, that this is not a beauty contest. The UCF Pageant emphasis is on encouraging these young women to think clearly and have confidence in themselves, in writing essays, successfully executing presentations, increasing individual and team proficiencies and develop leadership skills.
There are many other preparatory tasks that Debbie and her Assistants must coordinate to effectively carry-out all Pageant activities. Tasks such as booking the Unionville Elementary School auditorium with the school district, setting times for rehearsals and the Pageant event itself. In addition, there are Pageant event items such as tiaras, sashes, stage and auditorium decorations and props to be ordered, issued and set-up. Lastly, the coordination of the Pageant event Emcee, Soloist, and an Audio Technician for music and general sound requirements.
Once the Queen, Princess, their Alternates and Court are chosen, Debbie and her Assistants’ duties are far from over. She must schedule UCF volunteer hours for each of these awarded members. During her year-long-reign and as one of the required duties of the UCF Queen, Debbie coordinates the UCF Queen’s scheduled visits to both Community and State related events. The main goal is to promote agriculture in our community.
In January, Debbie is responsible for escorting the UCF Queen to the State Fair Queen convention where the UCF Queen will compete with up to 60 other young women representing their respective Fairs as Queen to become State Fair Queen. There is a great deal of preparation before attending this State Fair Queen convention. The UCF Queen contestant is to adhere to many State Fair Queen requirements while at the convention, and again, Debbie is there to ensure all conditions are complied with, and that the UCF Queen has the best possible experience during this celebrated gathering.
Over her many years of attending the State Fair Queen convention and shepherding numerous UCF Queens, Debbie has done a multitude of things to assure that the UCF Queen is as comfortable as can be during her time at the convention. Tasks like lending jewelry, last minute sewing of a hem or seam, calming a nervous contestant and or parents of the Queen, fixing make-up, and sometimes the drying of tears. Debbie does all this with a smile and graciousness befitting a Queen herself and is a role model for her contestants.
In the past, Debbie has also been Co-Chair of the UCF Parade, with her husband Dave, from 2008-2014. Dave has performed UCF board roles as Treasurer, Finance Committee member and Co-President with Jayne Shea. Debbie has also run the Cow Pie Bingo event since its inception, collecting & counting the proceeds from ticket sales, and the most important part, after the cow has deposited its pie, helps in determining who the winner is, by using a computer-generated grid system.
For 20 years, Debbie has worked fulltime for Ivystone Group as a Key Account Manager. She sells gift and home décor product to stores like Boscov, Military Exchanges around the world, large multi-location Hallmark Store Organization, and many others. Prior, Debbie was the head-buyer for a regional Hallmark chain of stores.
Debbie & Dave have lived in Unionville area for more than 34 years, and both their children, Meredith and Drew are graduates of Unionville High School.
Debbie’s outreach to the Community is that if you know of potential and interested UCF Queen and or Princess contestants, please contact her at FairPageant.ucfair@gmail.com.
