July 26th & 27th
Cookeville Community Center
240 Carlen Dr. Cookeville
See each division below for date and time.
Enter NOW through the ENTRY DEADLINE of JULY 18th AT 11:00am
No late entries accepted for any reason.
NEW THIS YEAR! Humanitarian award for ALL AGES!
Entry form is linked at the bottom of this page for you to print and submit. A limited amount of printed copies will be available by May 1st at the Country Bumpkin, Allure Clothing Boutique and Select Designs in Cookeville.
Drop off completed entry form, payment (cash or check payable to Putnam Co. Fair) and required items M-Th 8a-4p and Fri. 8a-11a at:
1151 S. Willow Ave.
Suite A Cookeville, TN 38506
Or Mail (check payments only, do not mail cash) to:
Putnam Co. Fair
P.O. Box 1001
Cookeville, TN 38503
It is very important that you follow the Facebook page listed below, as all updates, changes, schedule and info related to the pageants is announced there.
If you have any questions about the pageants not answered here or on the Facebook page listed above please direct them to:
Shannon Hayes, Chairperson (931) 644-5853 – pageantswithpurpose@yahoo.com
- Any contestant or their family being rude or displaying poor sportsmanship at or before the pageant, including in phone or online communications, will be removed from the pageant and the contestant will be banned from competing for life. If these things occur after the pageant contestant will be banned from future pageants for life.
- Any titleholder displaying such behavior as deemed inappropriate by the pageant committee and/or fair board will forfeit their title to the 1st runner up in their division and be banned for future competitions for life
- NO FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY ALLOWED DURING THE PAGEANT. IT INTERFERES WITH OUR PHOTOGRAPHER’S EQUIPMENT. Professional photos will be available for purchase from our photographer on FB as a pre-order or the day of the pageant.
AGES 9 & UP HAVE REQUIRED APPEARANCES DURING THE FAIR.
The Cookeville Christmas parade has one official entry for our queens and that is our official float. It is for appearance queens only. Tiny Miss and Up. Only the queens are allowed on the float. No one younger than Tiny Miss may participate. You may not enter this parade individually. You may ride in any other parade as individuals if you wish. Failure to follow this rule will result in forfeiture of title.
CHILDREN'S PAGEANT (0-8)
Sunday July 27th
Entry fee is $55 and includes all optional awards.
Boys Divisions: 11am
Baby Mr. 0-2 years
Toddler Mr. 3-4 years (NEW this year!)
Little Mr. 5-6 years (NEW this year!)
Girls Divisions: 12pm
Infant Miss 0-11 months
Baby Miss 1 year olds
Toddler Miss 2 year olds
Tiny Miss 3 year olds
Mini Miss 4 year olds
Little Miss 5-6 year olds
Young Miss 7-8 year olds
(exact schedule will be posted on Facebook after entry deadline)
*Age the day of the pageant determines your division.*
Winner $35, 1st Runner Up $25, 2nd Runner Up $20, Third Runner Up $15, and 4th Runner Up $10. These will be available for pickup at the fairgrounds the day after the fair ends.
- Contestants must live in (or, if school age, go to school in) Putnam or Jackson Co. We reserve the right to request proof of address/school enrollment from any contestant.
- No previous year’s winner can compete, even if moving up a division.
- NEW this year! Optional practice for ages 0-8 on Thursday July 24th from 3-4pm at the Cookeville Community Center. This will not be guided but you can take turns on stage practicing.
- Photogenic is online and all contestants must email a photo to pageantswithpurpose@yahoo.com with the contestant’s name and division entering as the subject line by the entry deadline. No photos accepted after the entry deadline.
- These age divisions will not have appearances at the fair and will not be allowed on stage or in arenas with horses/livestock/motor vehicles of any type.
- Entry form linked at the bottom of this webpage.
- NO FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY ALLOWED DURING THE PAGEANT. IT INTERFERES WITH OUR PHOTOGRAPHER’S EQUIPMENT. Professional photos will be available for purchase from our photographer on FB as a pre-order or the day of the pageant..
YOUTH PAGEANT (9-15)
Saturday July 26th at 12pm
Entry fee is $55 and includes all optional awards
Junior Miss Ages 9-10
Preteen Ages 11-12
Teen Miss: Ages 13-15
*Age the day of the pageant determines your division*
Winner $35, 1st Runner Up $25, 2nd Runner Up $20, Third Runner Up $15, and 4th Runner Up $10. These will be available for pickup at the fairgrounds the day after the fair ends.
- Contestants must live in or go to school in Putnam or Jackson Co. We reserve the right to request proof of address/school enrollment from any contestant.
- No previous year’s winner can compete, even if moving up a division.
- Photogenic is online and all contestants must email a photo to pageantswithpurpose@yahoo.com with the contestant’s name and division entering as the subject line by the entry deadline. No photos accepted after the entry deadline.
- Walking pattern will be posted online prior to pageant week.
- Practice is OPTIONAL on Thursday July 24th between 4-5:15 pm at the Community Center. Practice is not directed, you take turns on stage doing your own routine.
- Preteen and Teen Miss must be available for appearances every day of the fair (with jobs and responsibilities lasting for at least a couple hours most days) as well as other dates throughout the year. Junior Miss will have appearances at least 3 days during the fair. PLEASE CHECK FAIR DATES AND MAKE SURE YOU HAVE NO CONFLICTS BEFORE ENTERING. Young Miss will not have appearances.
- Entry form linked at the bottom of this webpage.
- No criminal history. Contestants may not have ever been arrested/charged or convicted of any crime.
- NO FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY ALLOWED DURING THE PAGEANT. IT INTERFERES WITH OUR PHOTOGRAPHER’S EQUIPMENT. Professional photos will be available for purchase from our photographer on FB as a pre-order or the day of the pageant.
FAIREST of the FAIR DIVISION (16-20)
*Must turn 16 by pageant day (7/26/25) and not turn 21 before 12/31/25*
Saturday July 26th at 5 pm
Entry fee is $65 and includes all optional awards.
Winner $35, 1st Runner Up $25, 2nd Runner Up $20, Third Runner Up $15, and 4th Runner Up $00. These will be available for pickup at the fairgrounds the day after the fair ends.
- The Fairest of the Fair receives a $1,000 Scholarship – non-transferable, paid directly to the college or trade school upon completion of one successful semester in college, completing all her fair duties during the fair and competing in the State Pageant in January in Murfreesboro.
- Contestant cannot have ever been married or pregnant (State rules). (Either of these during reign results in forfeiture of title and all winnings.)
- Mandatory Interviews for Fairest of the Fair division only (ages 16-20) are Sunday July 20th at 5pm (location TBA depending on the pending sale of the fairgrounds – if still at current fairgrounds these will be in the CA building beside the fair office, watch Facebook for exact details). * Each contestant must decorate a high heel shoe reflecting the fair and it’s theme and turn it in during interview. Winning shoe gets $50. The Fairest of the Fair’s shoe is taken to the state convention in January as well*
- Mandatory practice for Fairest of the Fair division is Thursday July 24th at the Community Center from 5:30-7:30 pm.
- Contestants must live in or go to school in Putnam or Jackson Co. if in high school. If in college, a permanent address of Putnam county (on your DL) is required and will be verified before the pageant.
- No previous Fairest of the Fair (from any county) may compete.
- Judging criteria for Fairest of the Fair division: 30% Interview, 50% On stage modeling (poise, personality, overall appearance), (Top contestants after on stage model will advance to on stage question: top five or ten depending on enrollment.) 20% On stage question.
- Photogenic is online, see checklist below.
- Fairest of the Fair entry checklist:
- Entry form (this is what emcee reads-do not write more than the lines given, it will not be read), linked at the bottom of this webpage – turn in with your entry fee.
- Typed one page bio- turn this in with your entry fee. (interview based on this)
- Copy of your Driver’s License – turn in with your entry fee.
- Email your photo by entry deadline to pageantswithpurpose@yahoo.com with your name and division in the subject line.
- Be sure to put your cell phone number on your entry form.
- 1st Runner up in this division is REQUIRED to compete at the Princess Pageant in the fall for all Fairest of the Fair 1st Runner Ups. (Fair board pays your entry fee for this.)
- Fairest of the fair must be available for appearances every day of the fair (with jobs and responsibilities lasting for several hours most days) as well as other dates throughout the year and sign a contract upon crowning agreeing to fulfill duties of her title. PLEASE CHECK FAIR DATES AND MAKE SURE YOU HAVE NO CONFLICTS BEFORE ENTERING.
- Fairest of the Fair will have the duty of crowning the baby and children’s pageants on Sunday July 27th as well.
- NO FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY ALLOWED DURING THE PAGEANT. IT INTERFERES WITH OUR PHOTOGRAPHER’S EQUIPMENT. Professional photos will be available for purchase from our photographer on FB as a pre-order or the day of the pageant.
MS. DIVISIONS (21+)
Saturday July 26th at 3 pm
Entry fee is $55 and includes all optional awards
Ms. Division ages 21-39 married or unmarried
Ms. Elite Division ages 40-59 married or unmarried
Senior Ms. Division ages 60+ married or unmarried
Winner $35, 1st Runner Up $25, 2nd Runner Up $20, Third Runner Up $15, and 4th Runner Up $10. These will be available for pickup at the fairgrounds the day after the fair ends.
- No residency restrictions for ages 21+ (you may live in any county).
- No criminal history. Contestants may not have ever been convicted of a crime. If contestant is convicted during their reign title forfeited to first runner up. (Must physically hand over all awards.)
- 21+ divisions will have one required appearance for the media photo shoot which is usually the night before the fair starts (date and time will be given upon winning). Other appearances are optional if you choose during fair week (schedule will be given upon winning.)
- Photogenic is online and all contestants must email a photo to pageantswithpurpose@yahoo.com with the contestant’s name and division entering as the subject line by the entry deadline. No photos accepted after the entry deadline.
- Practice is OPTIONAL on Thursday July 24th between 4-5:15 pm at the Community Center. Practice is not directed, you just take turns on stage with your own routine.
- Senior Ms. will advance to Senior Ms. TN
- Entry form linked at the bottom of this webpage.
- NO FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY ALLOWED DURING THE PAGEANT. IT INTERFERES WITH OUR PHOTOGRAPHER’S EQUIPMENT. Professional photos will be available for purchase from our photographer on FB as a pre-order or the day of the pageant.