Richland County’s going to be well represented when the 2010 Miss Montana Outstanding Teen Pageant rolls around this summer.

Out of the 10 contestants scheduled to compete, three come from Sidney and Fairview. So here’s a look at the teens who want a shot at the crown.

Lindsee Kjos Lindsee Kjos, Fairview, watched pageants before. It was what she wanted to participate in since she was little, and family and friends encouraged her to try it out. “Of course there’s a little bit of nerves there, but I’m more excited, and I’m excited to start preparing for it,” she said.

The 16-year-old from Fairview has planned “Literacy and the places it can take you” as her platform for the event. “I love reading, and I think it’s an amazing thing,” Kjos said. “You can go so far with it. It can take you to endless places.”

And for her talent, she’s still deciding whether to play her violin alone or perform a combination of playing the violin and clogging. To Kjos, music has been part of her life at an early age, and even though she’s only been playing the violin for little more than a year, her background in piano has made the transition much easier than jumping into it. And with clogging, Kjos says, it’s versatile and can be used with various kinds of music. If she does decide to perform a combo, it won’t mean doing both at once but rather taking turns.

Last year, she attended the teen pageant program and says it was a good experience to see the platforms and talents. “That was a good thing to be able to watch,” she said.

She’ll have to compete against her best friend Alyson Cayko, 17, Fairview, for the title of Miss Montana Outstanding Teen.

But that doesn’t seem to bother either one. Cayko just thought it would be fun to try. “I thought it would be good experience,” she said, adding it’s her first time participating in the competition. “I don’t really care how it ends up. I’m just excited to try and see how I do.”

Alyson Cayko

Cayko will enter the pageant with the platform, “Treating others the way you want to be treated.” “My mom has said that to me ever since I was little, so it’s just something I’d like to talk about,” she said.

The teen plans to present singing as her talent since she, too, has been singing since she was little, and she continues to sing at local events. Currently, she’s trying to decide which genre to perform; perhaps country or something else.

But for now, Cayko and Kjos are together getting tips from a former Miss Northeastern Montana winner, Camille Clausen, who is also a Fairview native. “I am excited,” Cayko said. “I’m kind of nervous just to see how it all goes.”

Jalyssa Gorder

Cayko and Kjos will be joining Sidney’s Jalyssa Gorder, 15, who will also participate in her first pageant. “I’ve always wanted to do it, and I got asked to be in it in eighth grade,” she said. “I thought it’d be a great opportunity to learn a few things and make a difference in the community.”

She’ll be running on the platform, “Be the best you can be,” as she hopes to inspire everyone to live life to the fullest.

Gorder’s talent will be lyrical dance as she’s been dancing since she was 5 years old, taking lessons at the Cutting Edge Dance Studio and learning various dances including jazz, tap and lyrical. The dancer is also currently a member of the Sidney Eaglettes drill team.

“I’m very excited and nervous too, because I’ve never done anything like this before,” Gorder said.

This year, the teen competition along with the Miss Montana program 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.