Poodle skirts, Chuck Taylors and black leather jackets were a common sight on kiddos Monday evening in the Little Mr. and Miss Show at the Jefferson City Jaycees Fair.
Three-year-old Mason Dishman was crowned Little Mr. Cole County and 4-year-old Reese Denich was crowned Little Miss Cole County at the sock-hop-themed event.
"I practiced at home in the living room," said Denich of her pageant performance. She wore a teal-skirted dress and patent shoes. She acted as a diner waitress, carrying a tray of milkshakes across the stage.
Denich is the daughter of Kevin and Daphne Denich of Jefferson City.
Dishman is the son of Stacey and James Dishman of Jefferson City.
Dishman sported rolled up jeans, a white t-shirt with a leather jacket, and even had a white comb to slick back his hair.
After winning, the fair royalty donned their crown and tiara and waved to family and friends in the audience. The duo will have the privilege of riding in the Jaycees Christmas parade in December.
The show was Jaycees Angela Muenks and Dianna Kudrna's first event.
Kudrna said the contest had 27 participants in the preliminary round and 23 on stage Monday night.
Following the pageant was a Mid-America Tractor Pullers Association tractor pull in the grandstands.
Marsha Nelson, who was keeping books for the pull Monday evening, said the event brought 80-100 pullers, and would have brought more if not for the rain.
"We would have been running a lot more," Nelson said. "It's good that a lot of locals showed up, though."
She said that because of the rain, crews had to do a lot more track work to get the ground ready for pulling.
"They're really a great group of guys," Nelson said. "They're great to work with and great to pull with."