Master of ceremonies for the evening pageant was Shawn Murchison. First up was the pageants physical fitness portion, worth 10 percent of each contestant’s overall score. While on stage, each contestant was given the opportunity to speak briefly about her community.
Little Miss Caribou, Edie Shea, shared that Caribou is a “Community that cares about kids.” Rachel Milliard, Little Miss Fort Fairfield, reminded the audience that her town is the largest potato-producing town and home to the “Guinness Book of World Records” largest potato basket. Little Miss Presque Isle’s LuLu White said she recently moved to her community and was worried about making friends, but now has many and loves her town. Lainey Bell of Van Buren informed the crowd that her town was named after President Martin Van Buren and is home to the “famous blue potato.” Little Miss Connor, Jessica Leavitt, stated her “little town has so many people that know each other and stand up for each other.”
Mallory Kingsbury of Bridgewater invited everyone to four-wheel, snowsled and enjoy pizza and donuts in her town! Little Miss Mapleton’s Delaney Alward shared that Mapleton has a rich farming heritage, including Maple Meadow Farms, inviting all to attend the annual festival and to “tell them that Little Miss Mapleton sent ya!” Ellen Billings, Little Miss Mars Hill, said her town is home to All-Star Gymnastics and the Mars Hill House of Pizza. From the small town of Woodland, Macy Wakem cheerfully stated, “Like we always say, once a woodchuck, always a woodchuck!” Lacey Jandreau, of Ashland, said that her community is home to the North Maine Woods. Little Miss New Sweden Mikaela Spooner shared that she and others in her community take part in a dance during the summer solstice; she also sang an excerpt of the song in Swedish. The final contestant in the physical fitness competition was Little Miss Washburn, Emma Johnston, who proudly stated that Washburn is home to two lady State Basketball Champions and that she is a member of a six-generation farming family.
Moving right into the talents, the first contestant, Shea, sang “Brother for Sale,” followed by a dance performance by Milliard to “You Make Me Feel.” The first piano performance of the evening was by White, who played “When the Saints Go Marching In.” Bell presented a gymnastics routine to “Who Says.” Leavitt shared a martial arts performance while her taped description of her moves played for the audience. Kingsbury entertained the crowd with a dance routine to “Greased Lightning.” Alward presented the only monologue of the evening, entitled, “Circus of Wonders.” Billings donned her chaps and cowgirl hat to dance to the country western song, “Sold.” Wakem sang the Cyndi Lauper song “True Colors.” Ashland’s Jandreau performed a gymnastics routine to “The Lazy Song,” followed by a piano performance by Spooner who played “God Bless America” from memory. The talent competition concluded with Johnston who danced to another Cyndi Lauper song, “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.”
The most elegant portion of the event, worth 10 percent of each contestant’s overall score, was the evening wear competition. The first to take the stage in her gown was 9-year-old Shea, daughter of Rebecca and Mark Shea, who was named Little Miss Congeniality by her peers. Second was Milliard, the 9-year-old daughter of Heather Winslow and William Milliard. Contestant number three was 7-year-old White, daughter of Chalice and Joseph White. The youngest participant was contestant number four, 6-year-old Bell, daughter of Cindy and Chad Bell, who was named first runner-up. Contestant number five was Leavitt, the 8-year-old daughter of Jill and Wade Leavitt. Kingsbury performed sixth and is the 7-year-old daughter of Jessica and Chad Kingsbury. Alward, who was named the 2012 Little Miss Maine Potato Queen, is the 9-year-old daughter of Wendy and Chris Maple and David Alward. Contestant number eight was 8-year-old Billings, daughter of Julie Wilcox and Bryant Billings. Second runner-up was 9-year-old Wakem, daughter of Becky and Matt Wakem. The 10th contestant was Jandreau, 8-year-old daughter of Taunja and Steve Jandreau. Eight-year-old Spooner, contestant number 11, is the daughter of Laurie and David Spooner. Johnston, was the 12th to take the stage and is the 9-year-old daughter of Amanda and Josh Johnston.
After the auditors finalized their tabulations, Murchison announced that each contestant received a participation award following their interviews last Sunday. Awards handed out at the conclusion of the pageant included congeniality, second runner-up, first runner-up and queen. The Little Miss Maine Potato Queen pageant is directed by Janice Mosher.
