National Sweetheart Pageant

National Sweetheart Pageant Hosted by the Hoopeston Jaycees~Located in Hoopeston, IL Labor Day weekend~Official Partner with Ward, Miss America 1982; Debrah L.
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As is common to most festivals in this area, a pageant was held to name a local girl, chosen by popular vote of the persons in attendance, to reign over the celebration. In 1939, local judges were responsible for selection of the Sweetcorn Queen. In 1940, the canning and canning-related industries of Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio, Iowa, and Wisconsin were persuaded to send a contestant to Ho

opeston to vie for the title. Since the festival and pageant now had persons in attendance from several states, the name "Hoopeston Sweetcorn Festival" was changed in 1941 to the "National Sweetcorn Festival" and "Miss Sweetcorn" became "National Sweetheart". The Junior Chamber of Commerce assumed the sponsorship of the festival and pageant following World War II and has continued to the present. They followed the same format until 1952, when the Jaycees invited the 1st runners-up from their respective states' Miss America pageants. At the same time, judges from the Miss America circuit were invited to judge the pageant. The idea was to bring national recognition to the pageant, as well as provide a training pageant for girls who may wish to reenter their states' Miss America competition in future years. The same traditions and goals remain a vital part of the National Sweetheart Pageant today. Nine contestants from our National Sweetheart Pageant have become Miss America. Pam Eldred, Miss America 1970; Rebecca King, Miss America 1974; Grace E. Turner, Miss America 1990; Carolyn Sapp, Miss America 1992; Leanza Cornett, Miss America 1993; Tara Dawn Holland, Miss America 1997, Katie Marie Harman, Miss America 2002, Caressa Cameron, Miss America 2010. We provide a distinguished panel of judges for this event and all contestants compete in swimsuit, evening gown/on stage question, parade wear and talent.

06/20/2026
06/18/2026

It’s preliminary night # 2!! Who’s excited?!?

Tune into MissVolunteerAmerica.net’s live tonight at 7PM CST to see who our night 2 preliminary fitness & wellness and talent winners will be!

Dress: Joanns Sherri Hill
Glam: Kimberly Stinchcomb
Photography: Kristy Belcher - Photographer
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So proud of these ladies for working so hard preparing for the National stage! Congratulations Illinois Volunteer, North...
06/18/2026

So proud of these ladies for working so hard preparing for the National stage! Congratulations Illinois Volunteer, North Carolina Volunteer and Oregon Volunteer!

Tune in tomorrow night for more prelim competition!

Watch the extraordinary first night of preliminary competition live, showcasing 51 state contestants as they compete for...
06/17/2026

Watch the extraordinary first night of preliminary competition live, showcasing 51 state contestants as they compete for the Miss Volunteer America title in Jackson, Tennessee.

Miss Volunteer America Pageant 2026 will be LIVE Wed., June 17 -Sat., June 20 at 7pm central. Pre-show begins at 6:45pm. Watch on EPlus Broadband channels 6, 206HD.

06/15/2026

Vote!

06/14/2026

It’s Registration Day in Jackson!

What a great idea!!! Help support the Hoopeston Jaycees by donating a kernel of kindness. 🌽🩷
06/11/2026

What a great idea!!! Help support the Hoopeston Jaycees by donating a kernel of kindness. 🌽🩷

We have a BRIGHT, COLORFUL idea and need your help to bring it to life! The Hoopeston Jaycees are installing a mural in McFerren Park that honors the National Sweetcorn Festival ALL year round! While the festival takes over the park for one week out of the year, this mural will display the long-standing tradition, its fun themes, and deep community ties through a beautiful piece of art by local artist, Lindsey Franz! 🎨🌽🌅 The image below is not a draft of the mural, just our tracking tool to help fundraise! Pick out a dollar amount on one of the kernels, then visit https://www.hoopestonjaycees.org to donate online or checks can be mailed to the Hoopeston Jaycees, PO Box 28, Hoopeston, IL 60942.

Thank you for your support! We hope that the community enjoys this project for all the EARS to come! 😃🌽🎡

Address

PO Box 28
Hoopeston, IL
60942

Website

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