The Bradford Pumpkin Show royalty court (seated) Kendall Weldy, second runner-up, Maddalyn Walters, queen, and Makenzie Rose, first runner-up, are shown with the rest of the top 10.
Ryan Berry | Daily Advocate
Shown are all of the contestants in the 95th annual Pumpkin Show Queen Pageant.
Ryan Berry | Daily Advocate
By Ryan Berry
DailyAdvocate.com
BRADFORD — Twenty-one ladies from around the northern part of the Miami Valley took the Bradford Pumpkin Show stage on Wednesday evening with hopes of becoming the 95th annual Pumpkin Show’s queen. The ladies came from Tipp City, Casstown, Troy, Pitsburg, Greenville, Versailles and, of course, Bradford. All were worthy of the title, but only one could wear the crown.
After an early round of judging in the afternoon, the ladies were given an opportunity to show off their poise and stage presence as they answered a question pulled from a basket. The questions had been written by each of the girls. The top 10 was decided from the first two rounds of questions. The top 10 included Caylee Bates, Bailey Bowman, Lailah Brewer, Lucy Durbin, Hazel Grunkenmeyer-Recinos, Nora Mercer, Claire Miller Mackenzie Rose, Maddalyn Walters, and Kendall Weldy.
The top 10 were then asked the same question – What is your favorite family game night tradition?
After a quick tallying of the scores, Maddalyn Walters was crowned queen. The new queen is a senior at Versailles High School and was the reigning second runner-up in the Bradford Pumpkin Show pageant. Walters has done a few pageants over the past year and said it has helped her with her public speaking skills. “I feel like these pageants have helped me come out of my shell a little bit,” she added. Walters said she takes part in the pageants because she remembers looking up to the girls that had been in the pageants when she was a little girl. She is hoping to use her platform to inspire girls like she was inspired.
At Versailles High School, Walters is a football and basketball varsity cheerleader, participates in VHS musicals, show choir and a lot of different clubs.
Joining Walters on the court is first runner-up Mackenzie Rose and second runner-up Kendall Weldy.
Earning the prize for Miss Congeniality was Grace Monnin. Named Miss Photogenic was Bailey Bowman. Miss Photogenic was judged by Abby Fike of Images with Abby. Winning for Best Evening Gown was Nora Mercer.
The judges for the contest were Michelle Lavy, Molly Dunlevy and Shannon Burns.
Additional contestants were Jacki Bragg, Briley Brower, Destiny Clark, Isabel Eichhorn, Abby Fourman, Peyton Greer, Kyrin Jablonski, Alyssa Lunsford, Amber Neitzelt, and Jaylynn Wilburn.
To contact Daily Advocate Editor Ryan Berry, email [email protected].
