Celebrating 50 Years of Little Miss Friendly at the SWW Fair

When the Southwest Washington Fair kicks off Aug. 14, a local schoolgirl will be named its “living logo” — Little Miss Friendly. She will be the 50th to hold the title.

“It’s very, very instrumental in the success of the fair,” said Fair Association President Jerry Owens. “It gives a great opportunity for the fair to use young people like this to attract attention to their peers.”

Owens doesn’t just see Little Miss Friendly from an administrative perspective. In 2006, his granddaughter Bailey Peters earned the title.

“It’s a really cool experience that our community has for young people,” said Peters, who graduated from Washington State University in May. “The actual role of Little Miss Friendly is just so fun. You get to meet so many people. I don’t think I’ve ever passed out so many stickers.”

Peters’ mother went into labor with her while singing at the fair’s opening ceremony, and she grew up participating as a member of 4-H and Future Farmers of America. 

“(The fair) was always a part of the summer,” she said.

Centralia Mayor Lee Coumbs, who has long been involved with the fair and served as fair manager for five years, said the Little Miss Friendly program is crucial.

“It’s very important,” he said. “It not only brings in the youth, which the fair is definitely geared toward. It’s also leadership training, even for those who just apply and go through the process. … It’s a good face for the fair, and a good experience for the girls.”

Little Miss Friendly started in 1968, a contest for 8-to-10-year-olds to represent the fair. Sandy Vasilauskas signed up for the program the following year and was named the second Little Miss Friendly. She found the role to be a good fit.

“You got to be in every little parade that there was in all of Lewis County. You got to go to the fair every single day, and they gave you unlimited access to all the rides,” she said. “They didn’t have to ask me to be friendly to people, and that’s probably why I was chosen.”

Camille Minnie May Curfman, who held the title in 2005, said she will always be proud of her time as Little Miss Friendly.

“It’s a well-known part of the community, and people take a lot of pride in it. It’s such a cool part of history,” she said. “It was the time of my life.”

Though the contest and the role have changed some over the years, organizers say it’s still about finding someone who will be a good ambassador for the fair. It’s a huge commitment, said Little Miss Friendly coordinator Susan Barlow. 

Hopefuls must turn in an application stating why they want the position, then go through an interview process with Little Miss Friendly organizers. They’re asked questions like their favorite part of the fair and favorite subject in school, and they’re judged on appearance, poise and friendliness. From there, the contestants, which usually number around 30, but have been as many as 80 in years past, will be narrowed to five. 

Those five finalists will have a jam-packed schedule leading up to the fair, appearing at community events and parades, meeting civic leaders and elected officials. They’ll hand out stickers and bring a cute factor to the fair’s promotion. On the opening day of the fair, the winner will be announced and fitted with a cape. She’ll spend the next six days after being “caped” welcoming people to the fair, then spend the next year representing the fair at events throughout Lewis County. 

Barlow’s niece won the title in 2015, and being part of that prompted her to start volunteering. 

“It was a lot of fun. It was a good experience for her,” she said. “It was just such a fun process.”

Owens said the poise it takes to hold a public role at such a young age makes each Little Miss Friendly impressive. 

“So many of them don’t stop at being Little Miss Friendly,” he said. “They go on and become role models in other ways.”

Peters, his granddaughter, was named Miss Lewis County in 2016, 10 years after being the face of the fair. 

“It helped me with confidence as a young person,” Peters said. “It prepared me for Miss Lewis County. … I took away so many skills that I carried on up until now.”

Curfman said that passing on the Little Miss Friendly title did not mean giving up everything the role meant to her.

“I made so many relationships with people,” she said. “Whenever somebody saw me, I knew I could put a smile on their face. … I haven’t stopped being friendly.”

Vasilauskas, nearly five decades removed from her year as Little Miss Friendly, said it’s always quite an experience to watch the new candidates. 

“Just to see how little those girls really are,” she said. “I think, ‘Gosh, was I that little once?’”