Buck crowned 2009 Junior Miss Maine Potato Blossom Queen

16 years ago
By Jennifer Buzza
Special to the Aroostook Republican

    FORT FAIRFIELD – The contestants competing in the 2009 Junior Miss Maine Potato Blossom pageant easily proved that “Girls Rock” during the annual pageant that was held July 15 in conjunction with the Maine Potato Blossom Festival. Once the final results were read, Junior Miss Caribou Regan Buck was crowned the 2009 Junior Miss Maine Potato Blossom Queen.

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All eight contestants in the 2009 Junior Miss Maine Potato Blossom pageant, along with the 2008 queen Michaela Powers, take to the stage in their opening number, “Hit Me With Your Best Shot.” Pictured are, front row, from left: Caitlin Monroe, Junior Miss Easton; 2008 Junior Miss Maine Potato Blossom Queen Michaela Powers, and Megan McKnight, Junior Miss Presque Isle. Back row: Jordyn Hopkins, Junior Miss Limestone; Whitnie Bradbury, Junior Miss Bridgewater; Stephanie Dame, Junior Miss Mars Hill; Regan Buck, Junior Miss Caribou; Hannah Stoutamyer, Junior Miss Mapleton; and Madeline Martin, Junior Miss Fort Fairfield.

    Following the introduction of Master of Ceremonies Shawn Murchison, all eight contestants, joined by the reigning 2008 Junior Miss Maine Potato Blossom Queen Michaela Powers, took to the stage dancing to Pat Benatar’s “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” in stocking feet “playing” inflatable guitars.
    At the conclusion of the opening number, five judges and two auditors were introduced. Murchison informed the audience that all of the contestants had their interview portion of the competition the previous Sunday, judged by a separate panel of three judges. This portion of the pageant was worth 40 percent of their overall score. The contestants then returned to the stage, one at a time, wearing their chosen physical fitness attire for the evening. Judges were looking for poise, confidence and overall physical fitness while listening to each contestant briefly describe their hometown. Scores from this competition were valued at 15 percent of each girl’s final score.
    The traditional introduction of visiting queens followed. Fourteen queens in various ages from around Aroostook County introduced themselves to the audience one at a time. The reigning 2008 Miss Maine Potato Blossom Queen Molly Bouchard then joined the contestants for the 2009 Miss Maine Potato Blossom pageant on stage. She invited all to attend the upcoming pageant scheduled for that Saturday, and then gave each contestant an opportunity to introduce herself and her chosen talent for that evening. After clearing the stage, the newly crowned 2009 Little Miss Maine Potato Blossom Queen Taylor Hedrich performed her award winning dance routine to “Cruella DeVille.”
    The next segment in the program was the talent competition. Each contestant was to perform a talent for two minutes and 30 seconds; one of the requirements for this portion of their individual score, worth 30 percent.
    Junior Miss Limestone Jordyn Hopkins performed Aretha Franklin’s “Respect” on her saxophone. She is the 14-year-old daughter of Heidi and Randy Hopkins.
    Eleven-year-old Megan McKnight, Junior Miss Presque Isle, performed a ballet dance routine to “Under the Sea” from “The Little Mermaid.” She is the daughter of Amanda Sylvia and Mac McKnight.
    Caitlin Monroe, Junior Miss Easton, presented a piano solo, “Spanish Harp,” during the talent portion of the pageant. She is the 12-year-old daughter of Cathy Walker and Michael Monroe and Pamm Haskell.
    Junior Miss Fort Fairfield Madeline Martin entertained the audience with a dance routine to Barbra Streisand’s “Bye Bye Black Bird.” She is the 12-year-old daughter of Dawn and Tony Martin. Martin was named second runner-up at the conclusion of the pageant.
    The first of two vocalists was Junior Miss Mars Hill Stephanie Dame. The 13-year-old daughter of Debra and Stephen Dame, Stephanie sang an energetic version of Tina Turner’s “Proud Mary.” She was named Junior Miss Congeniality.
    Regan Buck, Junior Miss Caribou, played “Bella’s Lullaby” from the “Twilight” soundtrack on the piano. Her performance earned her the title of 2009 Junior Miss Maine Potato Blossom Queen. She is the 14-year-old daughter of Pamela and Steven Buck.
    Junior Miss Mapleton Hannah Stoutamyer took to the stage in her white tutu to perform an en pointe ballet dance to Josh Groban’s “You Raise Me Up.” The 13-year-old daughter of Kristi and Adam Stoutamyer was named first runner-up.
    Twelve-year-old Junior Miss Bridgewater Whitnie Bradbury concluded the talent portion of the evening with a vocal and dance selection, “You’re the One That I Want” from the musical “Grease.” She is the daughter of Heather and Bart Bradbury.
    While the contestants prepared for the evening wear competition, Michaela Powers, the reigning 2008 Junior Miss Maine Potato Blossom Queen, performed a classical ballet dance en pointe to “Moonrise.”
    During the final judged portion of the pageant, contestants were to provide a prepared one- to two-minute response to the question, “Why do you like living in your community?” while wearing their evening gown. Junior Miss Limestone Jordyn Hopkins said her community members have “helped me overcome my shyness and bring out the best in me.” Megan McKnight, Junior Miss Presque Isle, said she enjoyed the “small city living” and appreciated the historic photographs displayed around town by resident, Dick Graves. Junior Miss Easton Caitlin Monroe is “always amazed at what I see” in The County.
    Junior Miss Fort Fairfield Madeline Martin sees “neighbors helping neighbors” in her hometown, while in Mars Hill, Junior Miss Stephanie Dame says “everyone treats you like family.” Junior Miss Caribou Regan Buck admitted that “my home and heart belong to Caribou.” Junior Miss Mapleton Hannah Stoutamyer announced, “My jewel is my hometown, Mapleton.” To wrap up the gown competition, Junior Miss Bridgewater Whitnie Bradbury said one of her favorite attributes of her small town is the “community togetherness.”
    At the conclusion of the gown competition, the girls returned to the stage together to participate in the “fun” choreographed parade of gowns with Roxette’s “She’s Got the Look” playing in the background. Following the parade of gowns, 2008 Miss Maine Potato Blossom Queen Molly Bouchard entertained the audience with a vocal selection. Prior to the awards ceremony, 2008 Junior Miss Maine Potato Blossom Queen Michaela Powers took her final farewell walk, escorted by her father, Joe.
    As the eight contestants stood facing the audience, waiting for the results, Murchison said each girl received a participation award at the ice cream social that had been held earlier in the week. Michaela Powers, outgoing Junior Miss Maine Potato Blossom Queen, assisted in the presentation of awards. Junior Miss Congeniality was awarded to Stephanie Dame, Junior Miss Mars Hill. Second runner-up was given to Junior Miss Fort Fairfield Madeline Martin and first runner-up went to Junior Miss Mapleton Hannah Stoutamyer.
    Michaela Powers crowned Junior Miss Caribou Regan Buck her successor as the new 2009 Junior Miss Maine Potato Blossom Queen. Regan has now followed in her sister’s footsteps. In 2005, her older sister, Erin Buck, was named Junior Miss Maine Potato Queen

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