Reigning Fairest of the Fair Lauren Mansfield is seeking donations before the State Fairest of the Fair pageant.

As the 2022 Warren County A&L Fairest of the Fair, Mansfield will compete in the state pageant on Jan. 20 in Murfreesboro. Mansfield said, “I am so excited for the opportunity to compete at state. It has been a dream of mine since I was little, and I have been preparing to experience this opportunity of a lifetime.”

Mansfield said, “As a part of her duties, the state winner comes up with a humanitarian project that is important to her and asks all the contestants to bring in items.” The A&L Fair presents the contestant who collects the most items with the Kenneth Medlen Humanitarian Award and Scholarship. The fair has presented this scholarship for the past couple years in memory of the late fair president Kenneth Medlen.

The organization chosen for this year’s pageant is the Sheltering Tree Ranch in Savannah, Tenn. Sheltering Tree Ranch is a learning facility for those with autism and special needs. Mansfield seeks to receive the scholarship and is asking the community to donate.

Items needed include: kinetic sand, Play-Doh, beads, Pop Its, stress balls, fidget noodles, water beads, bracelets, pencil toppers, cornhole bags, clothes pins, copy paper, Crayola paint, pencil erasers, napkins, individually wrapped forks, Expo low-odor markers, paint brushes, and uncoated paper plates.

Donations can be dropped off with Mansfield or at Upton’s Bridal. Donations can be made no later than Jan. 18, 2023.