The Miss Frontier Texas competition is well under way as contestants complete their written tests and prepare for the first round of eliminations this weekend.

This week contestants were tested over a packet of information on the state of Texas, frontier living and prominent individuals in Texas history.

The competition is hosted by Frontier Texas! with the help of student-run Ad/PR agency, Morris & Mitchell.

The museum hopes to increase awareness of the Frontier Texas! brand and to serve the education needs of the community by providing a local scholarship and teaching a group of students about frontier life and history.

Katie Beth Ware, senior advertising and public relations major from Colleyville and Morris & Mitchell promotions manager, has worked closely with the Frontier Texas! staff and the finalists throughout the competition.

“The museum staff determined the historical and relevant information that the girls were tested on,” Ware said. “Pam Harman, a museum educator, had a leading role in writing and composing the packet the girls will use throughout the competition.”

After the testing, candidates were given the opportunity to receive cooking lessons from Tom Perini, owner of Perini Ranch Steakhouse in Buffalo Gap. Perini taught the contestants how to cook “chuck wagon style.”

Robynne Harris, junior management and marketing major from Katy, felt honored that Perini took the time out of his busy schedule to teach them the basics of cooking on the frontier.

“He taught us how to build a fire, how to use a skillet and how to make chicken fried steak and biscuits,” Harris said. “I love that he still uses the same methods in his cooking that Texans used on the frontier. It makes his food so much more authentic.”

At the next even scheduled for Mar. 3, the girls will turn in an essay given by the museum, as well as compete in a “saddle and shoot” competition.

These semi-finalists will then, on Mar. 23-24, set up a campsite overnight and participate in a cooking challenge observed by a panel of celebrity judges.

Brenna Jefferies, sophomore Ad/PR major from Argyle, values the friendships as well as frontier skills she has developed throughout the competition.

“My favorite part about Miss Frontier Texas is that I get to compete with a bunch of my friends,” Jefferies said. “And I’m meeting people from Hardin Simmons and McMurry, which makes it a fun experience.”