T-Minus 4 Days to the Downtown Farmington Founders Festival

The appearance of Miss Farmington and her court has become a tradition at Downtown Farmington Founders Festival events.

Seven contestants will vie for the local title on Wednesday at 7 p.m., in "Glitz on the Grand" at the on Grand River in downtown Farmington. They'll be judged in four areas: Physical Fitness, Fun with Fashion, a Red Carpet Interview and an essay submitted before the event.

The 2011 Miss Farmington contestants and their sponsors are:

Paige Campbell,

Erin Wojtkiewicz, Shannon Trent

Kristina Franchi,

Olivia Salinas,

Elise Newcomer,

Hannah Cheriyan, Dr. Thomas Jusino

Rachel Rosinski,

Emcees will be WDIV weatherman and Farmington Hills resident Paul Gross and Kelly Duca, a former Miss Farmington. They last teamed up at the Memorial Day parade in downtown Farmington.

This year, pageant organizers will present the Walter Sundquist Humanitarian Award to a member of the community who supports the Miss Farmington program and the efforts of young women in the community.

Sundquist, long-time owner of Heeney-Sundquist Funeral Home, is a philanthropist whose support helped create the in downtown Farmington. The business annually sponsors a contestant in the pageant.

The pageant will once again honor the memory of a long-time pageant supporter with the Dick Tupper Goodfellow Spirit Award. Tupper, who died early last year, was president of the Farmington Area Goodfellows, a former Farmington mayor and city council person.

The new Miss Farmington will receive an education award that honors Dolores Riley, wife of Farmington area philanthropist George Riley, who passed away April 29, 2010. The amount of the award will be announced during the competition. 

Tickets are $12 in advance or $15 at the door, and can be purchased at Positive Attitude Dance Academy on Power Rd. in Farmington, or call 248-471-7099.