Ford takes
Jr. Miss Potato Queen title
By Barbara Scott
Eight area young ladies graced the stage at the Fort Fairfield Middle/High School on the evening of July 14, as they participated in the Jr. Miss Maine Potato Queen, part of the 63rd annual Maine Potato Blossom Festival. Contestants vying for the annual crown represented their respective communities of Fort Fairfield, Presque Isle, Bridgewater, Mars Hill, Caribou, Mapleton, Limestone and Easton.
With “Queen of the Jungle” the theme of the event, the Jr. Miss title holders opened the evening’s show dancing to the “Conga,” choreographed by Kathy Maynard, setting the stage prior to introductions of each queen as they appeared in sportswear for the physical segment of the competition.
As the last contender left the stage, Shawn Murchison, emcee for the annual pageant called upon the large number of area visiting queens to come to the stage where each one gracefully and with poise introduced themselves stating the title and town they represented.
Throughout the Jr. Miss Maine Potato Queen Pageant, area reigning queens made appearances, including Madison Bearden, Miss Pre-Teen Presque Isle; Little Miss Maine Potato Queen Amber Moir; the 2009 Jr. Miss Maine Potato Queen Regan Buck; 2009 Miss Maine Potato Queen Katelynn Hartt and Teen Miss Maine Potato Queen Michaela Powers.
The eight Jr. Miss contestants demonstrated big smiles of confidence and excitement, and little, if any signs of nerves as the appeared on stage in front of a large audience. Given the weather was very warm and humid outside and the gymnasium much the same, the young queens were all cool and collected as they presented their talent selections.
Talent presentations included the following:
Jr. Miss Fort Fairfield Jane Elyse Libby, the daughter of Tammy and Garrett Cyr, performed a lively and energetic Zumba dance to “La Lengua Atomica.”
Jr. Miss Presque Isle Jacqueline Lambert, the daughter of Barbara and James Lambert, performed a sassy and well choreographed tap dance to the theme from “James Bond.”
Gwendolyn Parson, Jr. Miss Bridgewater, the daughter of Jennifer and Mathew Benn and Michelle and Mickey Parsons, offered a thought-provoking, self composed poetic selection, “My Terrible Garden.”
Brooke Lynn Cyr, Jr. Miss Mars Hill, the daughter of Tina and Lane Vangel, entertained the judges and the audience with a snappy jazz dance to” So Much Better,” from “Legally Blonde.”
Jr. Miss Caribou Victoria Leigh Keaton, the daughter of Sue and Mike Keaton, performed a very animated vocal selection, to “A Tisket, A Tasket,” by Ella Fitzgerald.
Elena Ford, Junior Miss Mapleton, the daughter of Helena and Hank Ford presented a graceful ballet en pointe, to “Someday,” by Celtic Woman.
Jr. Miss Limestone Ellyzabeth Sarah Bencivenga, the daughter of Wendy and Anthony Bencivenga performed a trumpet solo to Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World.”
Stephanie Marie Hammond, Jr. Miss Easton, the daughter of Kim and Doug Hammond, closed out the talent segment of the annual pageant, with an energetic hip-hop dance performance to “I Gotta Feeling,” by Black Eyed Peas.
Following the talent portion of the 2010 Jr. Miss Maine Potato Queen Pageant and special entertainment by reigning area queens, the eight Jr. Miss queens appeared once again, this time in their evening wear, a portion of the event that was filled with dazzling smiles and shinning eyes as the young ladies gracefully modeled their gowns, all rich in hues creating an appealing artist’s pallet of color.
Prior to the new queen’s coronation, Regan Buck, Jr. Miss Maine Potato Queen 2009, the daughter of Steve and Pam Buck of Caribou, regally entered the gymnasium on the arm of her Dad, as she accepted hugs and flowers from her sister queens and audience members, as her voice spoke of her experiences as the Jr. Potato Queen over the past year.
With all contestants once again appearing together at center stage, shoulder to shoulder, their smiles proof-positive that each one continued to enjoy the limelight, the final results were announced. As Murchison jokingly thanked everyone for attending the event, he then announced the pageant winners.
Crowned the new Jr. Miss Maine Potato Queen 2010 was Elena Ford, Jr. Miss Mapleton. First runner-up to the queen’s title is Caribou’s Jr. Miss Victoria Keaton, who was also named Miss Congeniality by the other contestants and Jr. Miss Presque Isle Jacqueline Lambert, was second runner-up to the 2010 crown.
Each of the reigning Jr. Miss Queens will remain busy throughout the coming year as they reign over their respective communities, appearing at numerous events as ambassadors to their title and the Maine potato industry.
Staff photos
by Barbara Scott
Jr. Miss Mapleton Elena Ford, performed a ballet en pointe to “Someday” during the recent Jr. Miss Maine Potato Queen Pageant.
Jr. Miss Fort Fairfield Jane Libby models her evening wear as one of eight contestants in the recent Jr. Miss Maine Potato Queen Pageant.
Jacqueline Lambert, of Presque Isle, receives the second-runner up award from 2009’s queen, Regan Buck.
Jr. Miss Caribou Victoria Keaton was named Miss Congeniality and was first runner-up to the 2010 Jr. Miss Maine Potato Queen title.
ELLYZABETH BENCIVENGA, of Limestone, takes the stage at the Jr. Miss Potato Blossom Pageant.
Jr. Miss Easton Stephanie Hammond participates in the evening wear portion of the 2010 Jr. Miss Maine Potato Queen Pageant.
Jr. Miss Bridgewater Gwendolyn Parsons graces the stage in her evening wear at the Jr. Miss Maine Potato Queen event.
JR. Miss Mars Hill Brooke Lynn Cyr on stage during the Jr. Miss Maine Potato Queen Pageant held July 14.
