Crenshaw County Junior Miss Austin Richburg has a very busy week ahead of her, and some of the activities have already begun.

A special send-off reception was held Monday night at the John D. Harrison Cultural Center in downtown Luverne for Austin as she prepares for the Alabama Junior Miss Program in Montgomery. At the reception, Austin received many lovely gifts and best wishes from family members, friends, and the Crenshaw County Junior Miss Committee.

Jean Sims is the chairman of the committee.

Austin has already been to her Alabama Junior Miss Orientation, which was held Dec. 6 at Frazer United Methodist Church in Montgomery. While there, she met her roommate, Montgomery County Junior Miss Lizzy Hayes, a senior at Loveless Academic Magnet Program High School. Their host family will be Don and Peggy Stansell of Montgomery; Richburg will begin staying with the Stansells this Friday.

Also during Orientation, Richburg had her picture made with the reigning Alabama Junior Miss, Norma Boyd. They also had to be fitted for their opening number and their fitness outfits, not to mention having to learn their 56-count individual fitness routine, a routine that has doubled from last year’s program.

“On Saturday, we begin rehearsals and begin learning our choreography,” Richburg said. “On Sunday, we’ll go to church at Frazer with our host family.”

Austin and all the other Junior Miss participants will have a full week of strenuous practices and activities as they prepare for the Jan. 16 and 17 Alabama Junior Miss Program.

“We’ll have rehearsals every day throughout the week, and attend different activities in between rehearsals,” she explained.

Some of the activities planned for the young ladies include visiting the Montgomery County Cattlemen’s Association and the Montgomery Zoo.

The Junior Miss Program consists of five categories: self-expression, fitness, interview, talent, and a “Be Your Best Self” essay. The Junior Miss Program is one of the largest scholarship programs for young ladies in the country, and is not a “beauty pageant.”

For her talent portion of the program, Austin will perform a tap dance to “Jailhouse Rock” from the Broadway musical version of “All Shook Up.”

Austin’s interview with the panel of judges is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 16, at 8 a.m. Her talent routine is also scheduled for Friday, while the self-expression and the fitness portions will take place on Saturday, Jan. 17, with the crowning of the next Alabama Junior Miss Saturday evening. The Alabama Junior Miss Program will be held at Frazer United Methodist Church in Montgomery.

Austin is the daughter of Kyle and Sherri Richburg, and she is a senior at Crenshaw Christian Academy.