When Jordan Clements heard her name called as Miss Ripley County 2008, she was shocked, thinking, “It couldn’t be me. There were so many other girls” who also excelled during the July 11 pageant at the Batesville High School auditorium, which had a record-setting 31 contestants. “It was a really tough competition,” she reported.

On the other hand, Becky Harmeyer, who co-chaired the event with Mary Beth Hackman, wasn’t surprised at the result. “Jordan just carried herself (so well) throughout the whole day of interviewing” with the judges and onstage.

The daughter of Bill and Christine Clements confessed, “I was really worried about the stage question.” She was asked, “If you could interview anyone in the world, who would you choose and why?” The horseback rider answered, “The president of the United States. I really want to hear his opinions on gas prices, the world's problems, anything conflicting with the United States of America.”

“I’ve never won anything,” the Holton resident marvelled. Hoping to be a good influence on younger girls who will look up to her at the fair, the 17-year-old wants to spread the message she learned at the contest: “They need to believe in themselves.”

The Versailles Baptist Church member showed pigs in 4-H for just one year, when she was 10, before concentrating on athletics. Now she’s anticipating being at the Ripley County 4-H Fair July 20-26. “When the little kids show their pigs (and other exhibits), I want to give them their ribbons.”

Clements is a volunteer, working on Sunshine Society community service projects and helping out at King’s Daughters’ Hospital, Madison. The sister to Justin Clements, 16, loves scrapbooking and reading, especially “scary stories and suspense.”

First runner-up Kaitlin Hughes also was named People’s Choice winner after attendees voted with cash. Of the $1,767 raised for area food pantries, $306 was tossed in her jar. The Manchester College sophomore said women are portrayed in contemporary songs and music videos “in an inappropriate way. Many celebrities do inappropriate things and that's what people see.”

Second runner-up Jessica Ruble was asked, “What have you learned not to take for granted?” The Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis student replied, “My education. Since I've gone to college, I've learned how important it is and how difficult it is ... in today's society, so many people are losing their jobs due to not having a higher education.”

Third runner-up Brittany Joseph, a Jac-Cen-Del High School graduate, reflected on being in the pageant. “I've made a lot of great friends I'll have for the rest of my life. It's so much fun ... from going shopping (together) to having campouts.”

Fourth runner-up Ashley Carpenter, an Ivy Tech Community College student, says being around her family makes her the happiest. “They encourage me to do the best. They're always there for me and put a smile on my face.”

When asked which educator has been influential, Miss Congeniality Kristin Wallpe, a Batesville High School grad, named Charlie Schuck. The social studies expert taught her “nothing in life is free ... overall he was a great teacher.”

In a nod to the event’s milestone 50th anniversary, 17 past queens in attendance received bouquets onstage and a standing ovation. The first queen, Letitia (Gookins) Burill, who arrived from Oklahoma, reminisced that the first pageant “was very small and very simple, but we had to have a talent ... and perform in bathing suits!”

In a video called “Our Legacy,” director Erin Menchhofer, retiring after five years, called the 50 queens “women of positive influence.”

Debbie Blank can be contacted at 812-934-4343, Ext. 113; or debbie.blank@ batesvilleheraldtribune.com.