Their names are in a list on a page in the Miss Mississippi program book people pickup when they attend the pageant and are quickly forgotten, but for pageant executives, the local and regional businesses listed as contributing businesses are more than a name.

Local businesses Edible Arrangements, Chick-fil-A and George Carr Buick, Cadillac, GMC are among the list of 47 contributors listed in the pageant book, and all provide some type of service to judges and contestants during the weeklong pageant. Services pageant executive secretary and scholarship chairman Earl Edris said are a major element in putting on the annual event.

“Having businesses provide things like meals to the contestants; having George Carr donate cars or contribute cars — all those are things we need to happen, and we’d have to pay for it if they were not donated. They help us keep it manageable, so we can keep the pageant here.”

He said pageant officials ask businesses to participate, while some businesses approach officials to take part.

“It’s sort of a mutual benefit,” he said. “We’re looking for businesses and they’re looking to provide benefits for the community. We go out and contact new businesses as they come into town and have things that would help us with the pageant.”

Edible Arrangements has been providing fresh fruit arrangements to welcome pageant judges for two years.

Ben Blue, Edible Arrangements owner/manager, said David Blackledge, pageant executive director and chairman of the board, asked him to participate soon after he opened.

“He knew we had just opened the store and he approached me if we could do some things for the judges to welcome them to the city,” he said. “We thought it was a good idea, and we agreed.”

The arrangements greet the judges when they enter their hotel rooms.

“They’re made from fresh fruit. It’s like flowers, but it looks good and you can partake of it. It’s a healthy choice,” Blue said.

He said pageant officials allow him and his staff to prepare the arrangements, which are made using fresh, seasonal fruit. “The items fit in with the summer and showcase some of our new arrangements that we do for the summer.”

He said his employees also make arrangements for pageant contestants, usually at the request of their parents who select the arrangement, and deliver them to the La Quinta Inn, which is the pageant’s host hotel.

Blue said being a contributing business helps his business’ exposure, adding, “You can get your product out in front of people and let them see exactly what you have. That’s a real big push and brings awareness, because there are still some residents in Vicksburg and the surrounding area that do not know we’re in Vicksburg and go to Jackson.

George Carr has been a contributor for 26 years.

The auto dealership hosts a Miss Mississippi autograph signing party, donates a truck to help haul equipment, provides vehicles to each hostess, the judges, and provides multiple demo vehicles to the winner during her year with the title.

“He’s been doing it ever since he’s been here,” office manager Linda Rummells said.

She said Carr likes to be involved in the community.

“I think it makes a very positive statement for our company that we’re here for our customers, and we are happy to serve the community here in Vicksburg,” she said. “It makes it where we can let people see the type of automobile that we sell and that we’re proud of what we sell.”

Chick-fil-A has been involved with Miss Mississippi for the past three years. It provided lunch for the contestants and their princes and princesses Tuesday, and catered dinner for the contestants Friday night.

“We’ve been involved with the pageant since opening in 2013,” owner/operator Nick Jones said. “We help them out in some way.”

He said Blackledge approached him after he opened about participating in the pageant.

While his business may get extra public attention, Jones said, “It’s more about being an influence in the community, being a partner in the community.”

“I’m hoping to be the bright shining light in order to revolutionize the community I think it’s something we do to make things a little better. We may get a little kickback, but I’m looking to be a strong partner and help the community.”