KELLEY GRABILL, Executive Director
A native of Mansfield, Ohio, I moved to East Tennessee in December of 1994 with my husband and son. We lived in the Solway Community for 10 years then moved into Karns to be closer to Karns High School. I married my high school sweetheart in 1989 and we have been blessed with two children. Rob and Kerrington.
I became active in the community early on. I served as the Secretary for West Knox County Little League for a number of years, and even coached our son in baseball and basketball for many years. In 2008 I became President of the Karns Business Association and served for a term of two years. In 2002 I joined the Karns Volunteer Fire Department. I served as a the department secretary for 7 years as well as volunteered as fire fighter. In 2008 I became stricly admin support. I am now currently a full time employee of the Karns Volunteer Fire Department.
In 2007, I became the director of the Karns Fairest of the Fair. In 2007 there were 14 girls who competed for Miss and Junior Miss Karns Fairest of the Fair. In 2008 I added the Lil' Miss, girls 10-12 years of age because my daughter Kerri wanted to compete. That year we only had 5 girls in the Lil' Miss Pageant - but each year we seem to grow a bit more. In 2010 I added girls 6-9 and called them Wee Miss. In 2012 I restructured the pageant due to the number of contestants. The divisions are: Lil' Miss (6-9); Junior Miss (10-12); Teen Miss (13-15) and Miss (16-20).
The Karns Fairest of the Fair sustains itself through cash donations and gifts from area businesses. In 2012 Bojangles Restaurants agreed to sponsor the pageant for three years, providing a $500 and $200 scholarship for the Miss and Teen divisions! The Karns Lions Club joined in with a $100 scholarship for the Junior division and an additional $100 for the other cash prizes. "From the Crowns, Sashes, Roses, Trophies, and all the gifts, our pageant is very blessed and supported by our community."
I love that our pageant is a feeder pageant as well. Our winners are awarded the opportunity to compete at the Tennessee Valley Fairest of the Fair pageant each year.
In 2012 the Karns Fairest of the Fair Pageant also became licensed by the State of Tennessee as an "official" pageant.
I became active in the community early on. I served as the Secretary for West Knox County Little League for a number of years, and even coached our son in baseball and basketball for many years. In 2008 I became President of the Karns Business Association and served for a term of two years. In 2002 I joined the Karns Volunteer Fire Department. I served as a the department secretary for 7 years as well as volunteered as fire fighter. In 2008 I became stricly admin support. I am now currently a full time employee of the Karns Volunteer Fire Department.
In 2007, I became the director of the Karns Fairest of the Fair. In 2007 there were 14 girls who competed for Miss and Junior Miss Karns Fairest of the Fair. In 2008 I added the Lil' Miss, girls 10-12 years of age because my daughter Kerri wanted to compete. That year we only had 5 girls in the Lil' Miss Pageant - but each year we seem to grow a bit more. In 2010 I added girls 6-9 and called them Wee Miss. In 2012 I restructured the pageant due to the number of contestants. The divisions are: Lil' Miss (6-9); Junior Miss (10-12); Teen Miss (13-15) and Miss (16-20).
The Karns Fairest of the Fair sustains itself through cash donations and gifts from area businesses. In 2012 Bojangles Restaurants agreed to sponsor the pageant for three years, providing a $500 and $200 scholarship for the Miss and Teen divisions! The Karns Lions Club joined in with a $100 scholarship for the Junior division and an additional $100 for the other cash prizes. "From the Crowns, Sashes, Roses, Trophies, and all the gifts, our pageant is very blessed and supported by our community."
I love that our pageant is a feeder pageant as well. Our winners are awarded the opportunity to compete at the Tennessee Valley Fairest of the Fair pageant each year.
In 2012 the Karns Fairest of the Fair Pageant also became licensed by the State of Tennessee as an "official" pageant.