Staff Writer
FORT FAIRFIELD – For the second year in a row, Little Miss Bridgewater walked away with the honor of Little Miss Maine Potato Queen at the July 14 pageant held in Fort Fairfield.
Following the physical fitness wear, talent, and evening wear competitions, judges awarded the title to Chloe Elise Wheeler, daughter of Allison and Mitch Wheeler. Chloe won over the crowd with her singing of Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues.”
With the stage decorated with sand, water and palm trees, the eight contestants – who carried cardboard surfboards – kicked off the pageant by dancing to “Surfin’ Safari” by the Beach Boys. Joined by 2007 Little Miss Maine Potato Queen Molly Anthony, the girls wore matching pink shirts and shorts.
Others competing in the pageant included:
• Little Miss Van Buren Destiny Lynn Pinette, daughter of Nola and Mark Michaud. She performed a tap dance routine to “I Don’t Dance” for her talent. Pinette received the photogenic award.
• Little Miss Caribou Kyleigh Emma DeMerchant, daughter of Lori and Kent DeMerchant. She sang “On the Good Ship Lollipop” for her talent.
• Little Miss Presque Isle Madison Bearden, daughter of Kathy and Jeff Bearden. For her talent, she performed a hip-hop dance to the song, “Car Wash.” Bearden was named first runner-up.
• Little Miss Fort Fairfield Kaley Lee Norsworthy, daughter of Liane and Travis Norsworthy, performed a medley of songs on the piano and harmonica for her talent. Norsworthy was named second runner-up.
• Little Miss Mars Hill Isabelle Wright, daughter of Tracey and Edward Wright, did a jazz dance to the song, “Fabulous,” for her talent.
• Little Miss Easton Alanah Melissa Tarbox, daughter of Jessica Tarbox, who sang “I Don’t Want to Live on the Moon” for her talent.
• Little Miss Limestone Emily Michaud, daughter of Danielle and Trevor Michaud, who performed a jazz dance to “Hollaback Girl/Barbie.”
Also performing at the pageant were reigning 2007 potato queens, including 2007 Little Miss Maine Potato Queen Molly Anthony.
In relinquishing her title, Anthony said she remembered how she felt when her name was called as the Little Miss Maine Potato Queen.
“I was motionless, not to mention speechless. I was in total shock, but yet so excited,” she said. “Since then, I have attended many events such as the Family Fun Day, which was a lot of fun. I was then invited to the McCain’s annual dinner at The Forum where me and my sister potato queens greeted all the guests. I also attended the 22nd annual potato industry supper at the Presque Isle Inn earlier this year.
“In my hometown, we have a family run organic potato farm known as Wood Prairie Farm, and during the fall, I worked for them for two weeks picking potatoes. My sisters and I had a lot of fun and we even got paid for it,” said Anthony. “I rode in a lot of parades and the one I remember most is the Holiday Light Parade. I rode with my sister potato queens and we froze, but we had lots of fun.”
Among Wheeler’s first appearances as the 2008 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.
Master of Ceremonies for the pageant was Shawn Murchison.
