Havreite to compete at Miss Montana contest

When Mary Kaercher was in fourth grade, Miss Montana visited her class. She spoke about what she did as Miss Montana and all the people she met.

Mary was impressed, She and her classmates each wrote thank-you letters to Miss Montana, thanking her for coming to Havre.

Every classmate received a handwritten response from Miss Montana. Mary was further impressed and thought that she, too, would like to be Miss Montana.

She still has the letter.

Sunday, Mary, a Havre High and Montana State University-Northern grad, will be in Glendive for the opening of a week of activities as Mary and 13 other women from around Montana will take part in the 66th Miss Montana contest in Glendive. The winner gets a $5,000 scholarship, will represent Montana at events all over the states, and will compete in the Miss America contest in Atlantic City in September.

She has been a contestant in Glendive twice before, in 2012 and 2014, she said. Last year, she was a finalist, which has always been her goal.

Mary says it's already been a great ride as she prepares for the event.

There has been tremendous community support, she said.

For instance, Angela Pratt designed a pair of Blue Pony shoes she will wear during a special event at Glendive.

This year, following a tradition set by the Miss America contest, the Miss Montana contest will have each of the contestants wear a pair of shoes that has a theme of their home area.

"Havre has so many things you could use," she said.

She thought about having shoes themed after the buffalo jump, but was talking to a contestant she befriended last year, who said she always thought of Blue Ponies when someone mentioned Havre.

Everywhere she goes, people offer encouragement, she said.

Two people have asked her questions for a mock interview.

One part of the contest is an interview by panel of judges, who ask the contestants a variety of questions. The questions can vary from their personal philosophy to what the contestants think about United States policy in Syria.

It is hard to prepare for the questions, she said, but the mock interviews help prepare contestants to think quickly and express themselves well.

The program includes a talent show. Mary will sing. The women also take part in community service projects, an evening gown competition and other activities that help judges decide the winner.

The women are with each other from early morning to late night during the entire week, Mary said.

While they are competitors, they develop a close bond and lasting friendships.

"I feel I have close friends in every part of Montana," she said.

It's hard for friends to travel to Glendive to attend the program, she said.

But her dad and mom, Doug and Darla Kaercher, will be there to cheer her on.

"No matter how things go, it's always nice to have a hug from mom and dad at the end," she said.