Moir crowned
Little Miss Maine Potato Queen
By Scott Mitchell Johnson
FORT FAIRFIELD – While the theme of this year’s Little Miss Maine Potato Blossom Pageant was “Queen of the Jungle,” it was Little Miss Caribou who walked away with the crown at the July 12 pageant held in Fort Fairfield.
Following the physical fitness wear, talent, and evening wear competitions, judges awarded the title to Amber Dawn Moir, daughter of Stacy and Alan Moir. She performed a jazz dance to the song “I Move On.”
With the stage decorated with vines, animal prints, and lion, tiger and gorilla cutouts, the eight contestants – who were dressed as animals themselves – kicked off the pageant by dancing to “I Just Can’t Wait to be King.” They were joined onstage by 2009 Little Miss Maine Potato Queen Taylor Hedrich.
Others competing in the pageant included:
• Little Miss Van Buren Erica Ouellette, daughter of Becky and Scott Ouellette, who performed a tap dance routine to “Express Yourself.”
• Little Miss Presque Isle Taylor Elizabeth Skidgel, daughter of Shawna Page and Don Skidgel. For her talent, she tap danced to the song “Rock Around the Clock.”
• Little Miss Mars Hill Gracie Paige Giberson, daughter of Tammy and Troy Giberson. She sang “You Gotta S-M-I-L-E to be H-A-P-P-Y” for her talent. Giberson received the congeniality award.
• Little Miss Mapleton Elizabeth Collins, daughter of Michelle and Darren Collins. She played “The Entertainer” on the piano for her talent. Collins was named first runner-up.
• Little Miss Fort Fairfield Mariah Alana Mink, daughter of Mary Ann and Michael Mink. For her talent, she danced to the song “Smooth Criminal.”
• Little Miss Bridgewater Breann Rae Bradbury, daughter of Heather and Bart Bradbury, performed a ribbon dance to “America.”
• Little Miss Limestone Kennedy Carolyn Bencivenga, daughter of Wendy and Anthony Bencivenga. She performed a hip hop dance routine to “Boom Boom Pow.” Bencivenga was named second runner-up.
Also performing at the pageant were reigning 2009 potato queens, including 2009 Little Miss Maine Potato Queen Taylor Hedrich.
In relinquishing her title, Hedrich said there were “lots of memories from the last year.”
“During my year as Little Miss Maine Potato Queen I’ve had so much fun,” she said. “I have made many new friends, been in lots of parades and attended tons of pageants.
“I, along with about 15 family members, attended the Industry Dinner, which was sponsored by the Maine Potato Board. Maine Potato Queen Katelynn Hartt, Junior Maine Potato Queen Regan Buck, and I got to ride in the Potato Blossom Parade together and attended the festival’s family fun day,” said Hedrich. “At the Northern Maine Fair, I got to help ‘crown’ some winners at the harness races. McCain’s invited me to perform my ‘Cruella Dance’ at the annual Growers Barbecue, and I handed out Cape Cod and Frito Lay potato chips at Bethel’s Harvest Festival. In December, Katelynn, Regan and I, along with our families, decorated our float for Presque Isle’s Holiday Light Parade. The parade was cold, but Kate and Regan let me sit in the middle so I stayed warm.”
Among Moir’s first appearances as the 2010 Little Miss Maine Potato Queen was entertaining at the Junior Miss pageant and riding in the Maine Potato Blossom Festival parade with her fellow newly crowned queens.
Mistress of Ceremonies for the pageant was Karen Peers, president of the Fort Fairfield Chamber of Commerce.
Staff photos
Scott Mitchell Johnson
AMBER DAWN MOIR, Little Miss Caribou, was named the 2010 Little Miss Maine Potato Queen at the July 12 pageant held in Fort Fairfield. She is the daughter of Stacy and Alan Moir.
2009 LITTLE MISS MAINE POTATO QUEEN Taylor Hedrich relinquished her title July 12. Hedrich said she had so much fun during her year as queen, and appreciated all the love and support she received from her family and friends. Here, Hedrich is escorted during her final walk as queen by her father, Todd Hedrich.
LITTLE MISS MAPLETON Elizabeth Collins models her dress in the evening wear competition in the Little Miss Maine Potato Blossom Pageant. Collins was named first runner-up.
LITTLE MISS MARS HILL Gracie Paige Giberson sang the Shirley Temple song “You Gotta S-M-I-L-E to be H-A-P-P-Y” for her talent in the Little Miss Maine Potato Blossom Pageant. Giberson received the congeniality award.
LITTLE MISS PRESQUE ISLE Taylor Elizabeth Skidgel tap danced to “Rock Around the Clock” for her talent in the July 12 pageant.
LITTLE MISS FORT FAIRFIELD Mariah Alana Mink danced to Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal” for her talent in the Little Miss Maine Potato Blossom Pageant.
LITTLE MISS BRIDGEWATER Breann Rae Bradbury looked patriotic as she modeled her physical fitness wear during the July 12 pageant.
