Although there will not be an actual pageant in Sidney this summer, Sidney still has a positive influence in the Miss Montana and Miss Montana Outstanding Teen programs.

The competitions are scheduled for June 17-19 at Dawson County High School in Glendive. During each round of the pageant, routines will rotate between the Miss Montana and Miss Montana Outstanding Teen portions of the night.

“It should be a good show,” Cami Skinner, co-executive director of the Miss Montana program, said. “Logistics are still being figured out.” Skinner explains that many states have the two pageants at the same time. Another reason for the change was the local director of the teen pageant retired from her position.

After the initial application deadline of Feb. 22, there were six Miss Montana contestants and two Miss Outstanding Teen entries. Interest, however, has picked up a great deal recently.

“I think we will be at around 20 for Miss (Montana), maybe a little more,” Skinner said. “We’re hoping to have as many as 12 Teens.” Application deadline has been moved to March 22. For more information, see www.missmontana.com.

Two Sidney girls – one for Miss and one for Teen – have filed their applications and are just waiting for official approval from the selection committee.

“We’re very excited in the program, we will have two outstanding contestants representing Sidney,” Skinner said. “I really hope Sidney turns out and supports these two young women. They both exemplify what this organization is all about.”

Current finalists for Miss Montana include former Miss Outstanding Teen Holly Matz, Missoula. Others are Cortney Bury, Glendive, Angela Schneider, Glendive, Kylie King, Winnett, Jennifer Lower, Bozeman, and Nicole Yost, Bozeman.

Other contestants, who need to receive official approval, represent such cities as Corvallis, Kalispell and Dillon.

“All corners of Montana will be represented,” Skinner said.

The two programs offer a total of $250,000 in scholarships. Each Miss Montana contestant receives an $800 cash scholarship and a scholarship to Dawson Community College. “There’s a lot of good qualities that the Miss Montana program does for women, especially the amount of scholarships offered,” Skinner, a former Miss Montana contestant, said. “I’m very proud to work in the tradition.”

Skinner is currently the only co-executive director since her mother, Avice Hoff, retired from the program after many years of service. Both have been board members for all five years that the Miss Montana pageants have been held in Glendive.

“We’ve grown as an organization, too,” Skinner said. She remembers the group having “zero anything” – money, contestants and sponsors. “In a few short months, we had to put on a competition. In five years, it’s evolved enormously.”

Another part of the organization is the Miss Montana Princess Program open to girls ages 6-9. The purpose of the program is to mentor the girls who have an interest in someday competing in the Miss Montana Scholarship Program and promoting community service. The girls take part in on-stage performances and other activities. For more information, go to www.missmontana.com.

Skinner announces this year’s judging panel will consist of individuals from Hawaii, Idaho, Missouri, North Dakota and Wyoming. One of the days for the judges is scheduled to include a day of exploration and dining in Sidney.

Even though an actual pageant won’t occur in Sidney this year, the program still has a good Sidney influence with two girls as participants, a judges’ trip to the community and the co-executive director being a Sidney resident.

“Sidney has been a very strong supporter of the program,” Skinner said.

editor@sidneyherald.com