Forney wins title as Miss Colusa County

A Colusa teen will again represent the county after winning the coveted Miss Colusa County crown opening night of the fair.

Madison Forney, 17, dazzled a panel of judges Thursday to earn the title.

Wearing a deep purple satin gown, the 5-foot, 4-inch brown-haired beauty gave a impassioned speech saluting the American soldiers who put their dreams on hold so people back at home can pursue their own dreams.

“This is amazing,” Forney said after the pageant. “It’s thrilling. This is something I wanted to do for myself, and to show people you can put yourself out there and still have a good time.”

All nine contestants were spectacular, and each girl was asked to give an engaging speech crafted around the “Blue Jeans and Country Dreams,” theme, said longtime event host Jim Lemos.

“It’s great to see the grandstand full of people, many holding up signs to cheer on their favorite contestant,” Lemos said. “The Colusa County Fair just gets better each year.”

Forney is the daughter of Darsel and Richard Forney.

She will be a senior next year at Colusa High School, and said she is looking forward to fulfilling the duties she will have to perform during her reign.

“I can’t wait to represent Colusa County,” she said.

Outgoing Miss Colusa County Katelyn Mena crowned Forney and Alison Ornbaun, 17, who was selected first runner-up in Thursday’s pageant.

“Being Miss Colusa County was the best thing that ever happened to me,” Mena said. “It’s been a wonderful experience.”

Mena, who graduated from Colusa High School this year, plans to use the scholarship money she earned from the pageant last year for summer school at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, and also will make a run for the Miss California USA title this winter.

Forney’s win Thursday will give her the same opportunity to run for Miss California as Mena.

Forney also walked away with a $1,000 scholarship, which will be held by the 44th District Agriculture Association until she starts college in 2012.

Ornbaun, the daughter of Clark and May Ornbaun of Arbuckle, received $500.

Scholarships were introduced to the Miss Colusa County pageant in 1999 by Joy Shifflett, past 44th District Agriculture Association chairwoman, in memory of her late husband Chester Shifflett, who died in 1998 after serving 22 years on the fair board.

Shifflett also provided the crowns for the Colusa County Mini Miss and Miss Colusa County.

In addition Forney, Ornbaun and each of the Miss Colusa County contestants, Shawna Goad, Sandra McPherson, Victoria Lambertson, Megan Mann, Kelsey McKinley, Angela Chandra and Alejandra Gutierrez will share in scholarships from a pool of money raised by the group prior to Thursday’s competition.

Gutierrez was selected Miss Congeniality Thursday by a vote of the other contestants

Gutierrez, 16, is the daughter of Celia and Tirso Gutierrez of Princeton.