Gloria Helfrich has been teaching girls how to pageant-wave and stand tall for 14 years as the Allen County Queen Pageant director, but now she is waving goodbye. She is retiring.

For Helfrich, 60, modeling and pageantry have been parts of her life for as long as she can remember.

Helfrich started modeling at age 5 for the Angola Dress Shop - owned by her aunt - and later became a member of the Fashionettes Modeling Team. She was the 1965 Miss Steuben County Queen and competed in the Indiana State Fair Queen Pageant. She was also a four-time finalist at the Indiana State Fair fashion revue.

“I think modeling in front of the governor for the Fashionettes really sparked my interest,” she said.

“Plus, I was like every other little girl who watched Miss America pageants and have loved it ever since.”

In 1971, she met the love of her life, Frank. They married and have three daughters - Nicole, Ericka and Rachael - all of whom won the Miss Allen County queen title. Nicole also won the Miss Indiana State Fair Pageant.

“My mom has done an incredible job working with these girls, and she puts her whole heart into what she does,” Nicole (Helfrich) McVicker said.

“All these girls are her daughters, and she would go to the end of the world for them.” In fact, Helfrich has traveled and shopped with all the queens as they prepared for state, just as she did with Nicole.

“We traveled 10,000 miles (making appearances) in about two months,” McVicker said. “She was my coach and she's a great state fair mom.”

Before Helfrich got involved as pageant director, she served on the 4-H board for eight years, fairgrounds board for nine years and fair committee for 28 years. She is also a past Allen County Fair Committee president.

Helfrich would start working months in advance to prepare for the pageant. She organized sponsors and scholarship information and handled the paperwork.

“It's a full-time job,” she said. Raquel Geller, Helfrich's right hand, said the whole pageant committee is retiring as well.

“If she goes, we go,” she said. “She's the reason we're all still here.” She and McVicker agree that Helfrich is the force behind the pageant.

In front of a packed auditorium at Concordia Lutheran High School on Sunday, Helfrich sat in the front row watching “her” 22 girls walk across the stage. She had tears in her eyes and a grin on her face the whole time as she watched the girls pose to the music.

The 2007 Allen County Queen, Katie Fox, said Helfrich was her fairy godmother; and Fair President Jerry Harmon said the fair just keeps getting better and bigger.

“Thanks to Gloria, it's just like the pageants you see on TV,” he said. “We wouldn't be here without her.”

When Helfrich stood up to express her thanks and gratitude, the audience grew teary-eyed, and Helfrich tried to remain calm.

“This is in my blood,” she said. “And these girls I work with make me look good, and I'm going to miss everything about this pageant. It's hard for me to walk away.”

Helfrich said her job has been rewarding, but she plans to spend her time now with her six grandchildren - with one on the way - and with her husband working at their veterinary clinic.

“He's so great and I'm so thankful,” she said. “He has supported me in every facet of everything I do. And I wouldn't be here without him.”

She also will continue singing for her choir and praise team at St. Michael Lutheran Church and judge pageants across the state.

“Just because I am retiring doesn't mean it is out of my blood,” she said. “I just want to give someone else the chance I've had and hope the pageant is still the best it can be.”

On Sunday, as pageant emcee Dan Austin, morning show host at K105-FM, announced the 22 contestants, the lights dimmed and the parade of girls in formalwear began.

Entertainment was provided by Tom Didier, and while he was performing hits such as “America” by Neil Diamond and “New York, New York” by Frank Sinatra, the girls were getting ready for interviews and professional-wear modeling.

The judges left the stage after almost two hours of competition. Contestants must be ages 16-21 and live in Allen County.

Once the judges came back, they made their announcements.

The suspense built as some of the names of the 22 contestants were called:

♦ Miss Congeniality: Brittany Hagen of Taylor University

♦ Miss Photogenic: Laura Buuck of Concordia Lutheran

♦ Fourth runner-up: Kaitlin Boester of the University of Indianapolis

♦ Third runner-up: Jill Reley of Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne

♦ Second runner-up: Kirsten Fletter of Purdue University

♦ First runner-up: Brittany Hagen of Taylor University

♦ Miss Allen County Queen: Kate Taylor, of Homestead High School

The new queen receives $1,000 in scholarship money.

Allen County Fair

What: Allen County's annual celebration of farming, 4-H, festival food and entertainment.


When: Tuesday-Sunday


Where: Allen County Fairgrounds, 2726 Carroll Road


Cost: $5 per person; free ages 5 and younger; $20 weekly pass. Free for all ages on July 27.


Information: 449-3675 or allencountyfairfw.org .

Tuesday

All day: Antique Tractor Display, Pull Strip Area

11 a.m.: English Horse Classes, Horse Arena

10 a.m.-9:30 p.m.: Open Class Exhibits, Home and Family Arts Building

10 a.m.-10 p.m.: 4-H Exhibit Buildings open

11 a.m.: Rabbit Show, Show Barn

5 p.m.: Midway opens, $15 wristband rides

6 p.m.: Youth Talent Contest, Home and Family Arts Building

7 p.m.: 4-H Cat Show, Show Barn

7 p.m.: Motorcycle and motocross races, admission $5 per person, Pull Strip

7-9 p.m.: Karaoke Contest, Activities Tent

8 p.m.: Greased Watermelon Contest, Water Ball Court