Wheeler and Stoutamyer earn Potato Queen titles
By Casey Bonville
Special to the Star-Herald
FORT FAIRFIELD — The second annual Pre-Teen and Teen Miss Maine Potato Queen Pageant was held at the Fort Fairfield Middle/High School Gymnasium on Saturday, July 9, at 7 p.m.
Photos by Casey Bonville
Master of ceremonies for the evening was Shawn Murchison. In the end, it was Chloe Wheeler of Mars Hill taking the Pre-Teen Miss Maine Potato Queen 2011 title and Hannah Stoutamyer of Mapleton earning the title of 2011 Teen Miss Maine Potato Queen.
The 14 contestants, along with the 2010 reigning queens, opened the show dancing to the song “What A Feeling” from the movie “Flashdance.” This portion of the pageant was not judged.
MADISON RAE BEARDEN,
of Presque Isle, escorted by her father, Jeff Bearden, waves as she takes her last walk as reigning PreTeen Miss Maine Potato Queen 2010 — the first young lady ever to hold the title.
The contestants were first judged in the interview portion of the pageant on Friday, July 8, followed by a potluck dinner. This accounted for 40 percent of their total score for both Pre-Teen and Teen contestants.
The second judged portion of the pageant was physical fitness. For the Pre-Teen contestants this score counted for 10 percent of their total score. The Teen contestants were scored 15 percent in this category. Each Pre-Teen contestant also gave a speech on what they liked best about their community, while the Teen contestants gave a speech on why they think potatoes are important to their community.
To help give the contestants time to get ready for their next judged portion of the pageant, the visiting queens from the surrounding communities introduced themselves on stage. The audience was then entertained by Little Miss Maine Potato Queen 2010 Amber Moir.
MICHAELA ANNE POWERS, of Mapleton, takes her farewell walk July 9 as the first ever Teen Miss Maine Potato Queen 2010.
The third judged portion of the pageant was talent. For Pre-Teen contestants this accounted for 40 percent of their score. Teen contestants earned 30 percent toward their final score.
Following the talent portion, the audience was further entertained by the talents of Madison Rae Bearden, the 2010 Pre-Teen Miss Maine Potato Queen followed by her sister queen, Michaela Anne Powers, Teen Miss Maine Potato Queen 2010.
The final judged portion of the pageant was evening wear. Pre-Teen contestants were scored 10 percent, while the Teens were scored 15 percent.
While waiting for the final tallies from the auditors, Madison Bearden and Michaela Powers respectively made their final speech and farewell walk as the 2010 Miss Maine Potato queens. Finally the moment arrived that everyone in the auditorium had been waiting for, the coronation.
Since all 14 contestants received participant gifts on Friday after their interviews and the potluck dinner, the first award to be given is Miss Congeniality. Receiving this award for Pre-Teen was Emma Nicole LaJoie from Van Buren. Miss Congeniality for the Teen contestants went to Stephanie Carol Dame from Mars Hill.
Second runner-up went to Mayce Taylor Kinney from Presque Isle in the Pre-Teen division and Abagale Leeann Stewart from Easton for the Teen division.
First runner-up for the title of Pre-Teen Miss Maine Potato Queen went to Emily Michaud of Limestone. First Runner-Up for the title of Teen Miss Maine Potato Queen was Madeline Mae Martin of Fort Fairfield.
Winning the Pre-Teen Miss Maine Potato Queen 2011 title was Pre-Teen Miss Mars Hill, Chloe Elise Wheeler. Chloe is the daughter of Allison and Mitchell Wheeler.
Winning the Teen Miss Maine Potato Queen 2011 title was Teen Miss Mapleton, Hannah Beverly Stoutamyer. She is the daughter of Kristi and Adam Stoutamyer.
The 2011 Pre-Teen and Teen Maine Potato Queen contestants were as follows:
KYRA THIBEAULT,
of Caribou,
is pictured during the evening gown portion of the PreTeen Maine Potato Queen pageant July 9.
• Pre-Teen Miss Caribou Kyra Brynn Thibeault, daughter of Beth and Rick Thibeault, chose a vocal performance to “Colors of the Wind.”
TAYLOR DEVOE,
of Easton,
pauses for the judges during the PreTeen evening wear competition July 9 in Fort Fairfield.
• Pre-Teen Miss Easton Taylor Alene Devoe, daughter of Melissa and Todd Devoe, danced to “Trashin’ the Camp.”
SARAH CRAIG,
of Mapleton,
pauses before the audience during the July 9 PreTeen Miss Maine Potato Queen 2011 event in Fort Fairfield.
• Pre-Teen Miss Mapleton Sarah Jean Craig, daughter of Heather and Chris Craig, sang “A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes.”
KALEY NORSWORTHY,
of Fort Fairfield,
poses for a photo op during the PreTeen pageant July 9 —
during the Maine Potato Blossom Festival..
• Pre-Teen Miss Fort Fairfield Kaley Lee Norsworthy, daughter of Liane and Travis Norsworthy, played the accordion, performing “Mixed French Jig.”
CHLOE WHEELER,
of Mars Hill,
performs during the talent competition, on her way to winning the title of PreTeen Miss Maine Potato Queen 2011.
• Pre-Teen Miss Mars Hill Chloe Elise Wheeler, daughter of Allison and Mitchell Wheeler, sang “Old Time Rock and Roll.”
EMILY MICHAUD,
of Limestone,
danced her way to PreTeen first runner-up during the July 9 Maine Potato Queen pageant.
• Pre-Teen Miss Limestone Emily Michaud, daughter of Danielle and Trevor Michaud, danced to the music of “Car Wash.”
MAYCE KINNEY,
of Presque Isle,
was named second runner-up during the PreTeen Miss Potato Queen pageant in Fort Fairfield.
• Pre-Teen Miss Presque Isle Mayce Taylor Kinney, daughter of Kim and Jirad Kinney, selected a vocal performance as her talent, “Part of Your World.”
EMMA LaJOIE,
of Van Buren,
shows off her gown during the PreTeen Miss Maine Potato Queen 2011 pageant.
• Pre-Teen Miss Van Buren Emma Nicole LaJoie, daughter of Peggy and John LaJoie, performed a monologue entitled “What should I do for my talent?”
ABAGALE STEWART,
of Easton,
was light on her feet, dancing her way to second runner-up in the Teen category of the Miss Maine Potato pageant.
• Teen Miss Easton Abagale Leeann Stewart, daughter of Tina and Jonathan Fields, performed a dance routine to “I’ll Be.”
REANNA PLOURDE,
of Caribou,
smiles for the judges during the evening gown competition at the Teen Miss Maine Potato Queen pageant.
• Teen Miss Caribou Reanna Lynn Plourde, daughter of Melinda and Russell Plourde, offered the piano rendition of “He’s a Pirate.
MADELINE MARTIN,
of Fort Fairfield,
performed before a hometown crowd during the Teen Miss Maine Potato Queen 2011 pageant July 9, earning first runner-up for her efforts.
• Teen Miss Fort Fairfield Madeline Mae Martin, daughter of Dawn and Tony Martin, danced to “Uncharted.”
STEPHANIE DAME,
of Mars Hill,
pauses on stage during the evening gown portion of the Teen Miss Maine Potato Queen Pageant in Fort Fairfield.
• Teen Miss Mars Hill Stephanie Carol Dame, daughter of Debra and Stephen Dame, sang “Born This Way.”
HANNAH STOUTAMYER,
of Mapleton,
appears during the evening gown competition July 9. She later went on to win the title of Teen Miss Maine Potato Queen 2011.
• Teen Miss Mapleton Hannah Beverly Stoutamyer, daughter of Kristi and Adam Stoutamyer, danced to “Hallelujah.”
MEGAN BYERS,
of Presque Isle,
is pictured during the sportswear portion of the Teen Miss Maine Potato 2010 Pageant, held July 9 in Fort Fairfield.
• Teen Miss Presque Isle Megan Marie Byers, daughter of Jodi and Barton Byers, performed a dance routine to “Set Fire to the Rain.”
