Michaela Baker took time out of her busy summer schedule to update us and the community on her ideas for the upcoming year, her platform, and what she hopes to be able to accomplish as Miss Jasper County Fair Queen. Michaela’s platform for her reign is volunteerism within the community.
I know you mentioned you want your platform to center around volunteerism. Could you elaborate on this more please?
With volunteerism being my platform, it not only allows me to be involved with our community, but it brings together our community and creates opportunities for them as well. My goal is to create not only opportunities for myself, but for Jasper County, big and small. This platform, volunteerism, will allow more than one aspect to be noticed. As I mentioned before about it bringing the community together, it builds a stepping stone for our students of all ages, and even adults. Let’s start with the students. Our high school is an outstanding one, but we don’t have every activity/sport for our students, therefore creating a way for students to be able to volunteer is a great way for those to get involved who may not be able to due to a lack of interest in the activities/sports offered. Being able to put down volunteering on a college resume, or even for a scholarship, creates more opportunities than many know. Being able to put down these things can create a bigger variety for college options, whether it helps financially or educationally. Having students volunteer is not only a great way for more doors to open, but it is also a great way to open up yourself. Being involved and working with your community allows you to connect with others and build life skills that can be carried for the rest of your life whether it be from friendships to even person growth. All of this applies to adults as well, especially young adults just arriving to the work force and applying for life long careers. It ties in exactly the same way it does for students, creating more opportunities than expected!
My goal is to create either a Facebook page or even a website that allows anyone to ask for help, maybe because they can’t afford it or they just need multiple people. This allows our community to come together and really help each other out on a daily basis. On this page, people can also join/apply to volunteer and this will allow the page to flow properly.
After I get the page started, I have three goals I would like to accomplish first.
1. New bathrooms at the Fairgrounds
2. Update landscaping and paint areas that needed to be repainted
3. New entrance sign into the Fairgrounds
Those are my starting goals, and if I am able to accomplish those, my goal is to keep going and accomplish more!
What ideas do you have to achieve the goals for your platform?
My plan is to work with community members and leaders to achieve my goal by creating events/fundraisers that not only raise money, but bring our community together and offering volunteer work at the same time.
What can the community do to assist with this?
The main thing the community can do to assist my platform would simply to be to get involved. Encourage not only yourself, but others to be involved because it creates opportunities for our WHOLE community. That can even include simply wanting me to be at one of their planned events or creating an event with me! I love being out and about in our community, so I want everyone to simply know I am willing to work and support them as well!
What events do you plan to attend throughout the year?
I want to attend as many events as I can. I have many local fairs I will be attending throughout the end of summer, and the first week of August, I’ll be going to the County Fair Day in Springfield. Those are the main events that are planned for now, but lots more are about to arrive when August hits! But I truly want to be involved with our community as much as possible. I would love to be able to attend anything and everything, even if it may be a football game or reading with some of our youth when school starts. I plan to attend the Funfest in September. I attended Cork & Pork and would love to be at more events in our county. So if anyone has something, just message my directors or me! I can’t wait to be involved and grow closer with my community!
What will you be doing between now and January to prepare for the State pageant?
I have many things I will be doing between now and January. I plan on working hard to stay updated on all the political, agricultural, etc. news so when State comes around I’ll be updated on all our current events, whether it be only in Illinois or our whole country. From what I’ve been told, the State pageant is known for being political and I want to be prepared as possible, even if that means I have to download apps on my phone to reading the daily news every morning. I also plan on working on myself, physically and mentally. With there being a physical fitness portion at State, I want to be as strong and healthy as possible not only physically, but mentally so I can be as confident as possible on stage. I also plan on consistently working on interview questions whether that be reading one every morning or ten every morning! I truly want to work hard over this period of time. I’ll also be attending OCC as a sophomore utilizing the generous scholarship I was awarded and working at Joe’s. My goal is to make Top 15, so I’m going to work as hard as I can to try and achieve that goal.
any thank you’s? Etc?
I have so many thank you’s, it would be a never ending list. But there are a few I’d really like to thank. I’d like to thank Kiersten Brewer. She has shown so much patience and grace throughout my first few weeks of becoming Miss Jasper County. Kiersten truly is an amazing director, and she deserves all the recognition she can get. She always knows how to answer my silly questions and has shown me she is truly someone I’ll always be able to rely on not only as a director, but a friend. Raelea is always so encouraging and offers help anytime I need it. She always offers advice I can rely on. Thank you to Lauren Probst, who has encouraged me as well. These former Queens have set a fantastic example I hope to live up to. I’d also like to thank my family and friends who have been more than encouraging and loving to me through this big transition. They all stay so patient and loving, even when I may be a little difficult some days and are more than understanding with my busy schedule but still remind me they are always there to help, so thank you! Also a big thanks to the young woman who competed in the pageant. I made good friends and am so thankful for their continued support. The fair board for their hard work putting our fair together and the 4H Clubs without whom we wouldn’t have a fair.
Anything you would like to add?
I would only like to add that I am so excited for this year. I cannot wait to represent Jasper County and see where my plans for not only me, but my community will go. I’m so excited to work with everyone in this town and I hope they are too!
