Librarian in Bid to Become Hobo Queen

Rockford (IL) Dawn DiVenti is headed for the 100-year-old Hobo Festival in Iowa and hopes to be selected as the Hobo Queen, a title she thinks she has a good shot at.

DiVenti expects to face three challengers in a title to be won on the weight of a two-minute speech and judged by audience applause. Her mother, brother and sister will be there cheering. So will her boss, public library Deputy Director Judy Long.

. DiVenti, a hobo hobbyist, has been attending the festival since 2001, and recently hopped her first freight train. She also teaches hobo history and plays traditional hobo music. More from the Rockford (IL) Register

I’ve met Dawn and still find her alternate life hard to imagine, as she is very petite and well-dressed!–rochelle