The bulk of the competition to decide who will be Le Sueur County's Miss Shamrock takes place off stage, but Emma Treanor performed at the contest’s a talent show in front of a packed Le Center Legion on Saturday afternoon.
The CHS senior was one of five girls vying to reign over this weekend’s Le Center St. Patrick’s Day celebration.
Choosing the best fit for Miss Shamrock and runners-up Miss Leprechaun and Miss Irish Rose is never easy, but this year it will be more difficult than ever, said Pat Kane, one of the three judges presiding over the contest.
“The talent probably accounts for only 20 percent,” said Kane, who is now in her 14th year judging the event, “It was very difficult. They all shined in one direction or another. Five girls in four positions is really kind of tough.”
While many contestants through the years have grown up watching the pageant, now in its 40th year, and dream about becoming Miss Shamrock when they are in grade school, Treanor only decided earlier this year to compete.
“I’m kind of a homebody, and at the end of day, I just wanted to step out of my comfort zone.”
For her talent, Treanor performed “Treanor Guide to Corn Beef and Cabbage” where her hyper-intense character demonstrated how the Irish food staple is made while recounting the origins of the dish and how it is linked to the culture of Irish immigrants.
While she only started working on the act a few days prior, skills learned acting in school plays helped give her the confidence she needed.
“It’s definitely nerve racking. You just have to transform into the character, otherwise it’s not going to be good. I had a script, word for word, what I was going to say, but I think I stuck to only 20 words of it. You get up there, and what you want to say goes down the drain, and so it’s what comes out comes out. I said it, and now I have to roll with it.”
Besides constructing a family tree—on display in the Legion's hallway—as part of the contest, the quintet of girls were interviewed privately by the judges before the talent contest.
“The questions we ask are to get to know them, really as how they will represent the town and St. Patrick’s Day festivities in general,” said Joan Larson, who is now in her 12th year of judging the competition. Also a judge was Ken Odenthal, who is now in his ninth year of judging the contest.
Earning the top crown means $3000 in scholarship money. Runner-up (Miss Leprechaun) gets a $2000 scholarship, and third-place winner (Miss Irish Rose) takes home a $1000 scholarship. There is also a $1000 John Gregory O’Connell Memorial Scholarship, which can be awarded to any of the girls. Participants receive $200.
The Le Center St. Patrick’s Day coronation has taken place for the last 39 years. To participate, girls must be 17 to 21 years old, attend high school or a post-secondary school and be of Irish ancestry. They must also reside in Le Sueur County, or their parents, grandparents or applicant must be members of Le Center’s American Legion Post 108.
Miss Shamrock and her court also represent Le Center’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration and their Irish heritage at Southern Minnesota events: parades and the like at area towns.
Treanor is the daughter of Terry Treanor and Tonya Treanor. Her Irish ancestors are from King County, which is located in the center of Ireland.
She has been a busy student at CHS. Her scholastic and extracurricular achievements and activities include the National Honor Society, Knowledge Bowl, Jazz Band, All-School Play and FFA. She participates in basketball and trap, and was a captain of the tennis team. She represented her school at Girl’s State last year.
Crowning of Miss Shamrock, Miss Leprechaun and Miss Irish Rose will take place at 7:00 p.m. tonight (Friday) at the Le Center American Legion Club. The other four competing are Emma Neubauer, Kendra Blaschko, and Molly Clossner, all of Tri-City United, and Allie Blaschko of New Prague High School.
Making a family tree that shows the contestant’s Irish heritage is part of the competition. The charts are on display in the Le Center Legion.
Nicole McCabe (right) was on hand for the event. Last year she won the Gregory O’Connell Memorial Scholarship. Her classmate Halle McCabe, last year’s Miss Leprechaun, was present at the start but had to exit before the program began.