Caroline Prickette — Dairy Festival Queen

Another successful Hopkins County Dairy Festival concluded Saturday, June 17, with the final night of the Triple T Amusements Carnival and the crowning of the 2023 Dairy Festival Queen.

Although inclement weather delayed the start of the carnival, the last two nights the fair grounds on Sulphur Springs High School student parking lot was packed with families, youth and the young at heart, enjoying sweet and deep-fried treats, games for prizes, and the thrills of brightly hued tilting, whirling rides for all sizes.

Pageant

After participating in the Dairy Festival opening ceremony, parade and milking contest; selling no less than 100 pageant tickets; helping to crew the balloon teams; and four long days of rehearsals, the 12 contestants in the 2023 pageant finally got to show their talents and elegance during Saturday evening’s Coronation Pageant.

As is tradition, the pageant kicked off across the fair-grounds in the SSHS Auditorium at Hopkins County Regional Civic Center with an opening that included introduction of the Little Kids pair or Little Boot Scooters, as they were called this year in reference to this year’s festival theme, “Kickin’ it up for Dairy.”

This year’s Little Boot Scooters included:

• Larry Clifton Russell, son of Michael and Kristy Russell, and Chapman Kate Phillips, daughter of Brian and Christie Phillips;

• Porter England and Liberty Jane “Birdie” England, son and daughter of Richard and Sarah England;

• Dawson Smith and Chloe Smith, son and daughter of Ashton and Skyler Smith;

• Conner Glass, son of Garrett and Emily Glass, and Sofia Ramirez, daughter of Sergio and Katy Ramirez;

• Charli Sparks, daughter of Jacque and Ray Sparks, and Charlie Lawson, son of Jo Lawson; • Everett Zeringue and Brooklyn Zeringue, so nand daughter of Ian and Jaci Zeringue; and

• Ryan Potts and Jacklyn Potts, son and daughter of Matt and Judy Potts.

• In addition to participating in the pageant, each youth’s family is charged with decorating a small conveyance such as a golf cart for the parade, to help honor Hopkins County’s rich dairy heritage (Currently, the 32 dairies and dairy farms were recognized in the Dairy Festival program). Two pair of Boot Scooters got to take home awards for having the two best parade floats in their category. The top entries in the parade, including non-profit and commercial entries, and top overall entry were also recognized Saturday night during the pageant.

The top three contestants and parents who milked the most milk into their pail during the Bobby McDonald Milking Contest held June 10 in the Civic Center Arena. The contest was made possible thanks to Kris and Mikki Koon, who provided the cows. Judges were the mother and daughter team of Meredith Caddell and Cathey Williams. Don Smith served as MC for the milking contest.

The pageant continued with each contestant performing for a specified time period on stage to a packed Auditorium, which included five judges — Heather Bates, Amy Burrows, David Estrada Jeff Cochran and Kiley Towne, then changed into an evening dress The talent was diverse, with some singing, others dancing, some singing and dancing, some playing instruments.

Caroline Prickette, daughter of Gena and John Prickette, wrapped up the talent portion of the contest by nailing a very energetic, rapid-fire, tongue-twisting version of “I’ve Been Everywhere.” (I felt winded by the time she finished!) For her efforts, Prickette received the Talent Award Saturday night, which will provide a $500 scholarship upon her high school graduation and enrollment in post secondary education.

Prickette, ultimately, was named the 2023 Hopkins County Dairy Festival Queen. After her last performance and recognition for representing Hopkins County so well over the last year as the 2022 Dairy Festival Queen, Colbie Glenn passed the official queen’s crown and a scepter along to Prickette. As 2023 Queen, she received a silver bowl (as will the three runners-up), a sash for her to wear to events, and a spray of yellow roses. Prickette will receive a $1,250 scholarship upon graduation from high school.

As if both of those honors weren’t enough, Caroline Prickette also was recognized for selling the most pageant tickets among the 12 contestants, and came in third at the milking contest with 32.4 ounces of milk.

Finishing second behind Prickette for most ticket sales was Addison Graves, who gave an energetic performance of “Popular,” made thus by the Broadway musical “Wicked.” Her parents, Dave and Jennifer Graves, won the milking trophy for collecting 65.6 ounces of milk in Addison’s milk pail.

First Runner-up for the title of 2023 Dairy Festival Queen was Kate Monk, daughter of Kevin and Kristin Monk. She not only performed a musical theater dance to Barnum’s Circus soundtrack, but did so part of the time while on stilts. She donned a wig and top hat, shed the stilts behind a giant top hat, twirled a staff and danced to the tune of the music.

Second runner-up, was Emerson Penny, daughter of Chris and Jeana Penny and Asher and Meredith Dial. When she took the stage in her evening gown, she was escorted by both of her dads. She will receive a $750 Dairy Festival Scholarship. For the talent portion of the pageant, she sang “When He Sees Me,” from the Broadway musical “Waitress.”

The third-runner up for the 2023 Dairy Festival title was Tomi Pirtle, daughter of Clay and Tanna Pirtle. She will receive a $500 scholarship. During the talent contest, Pirtle performed a jazz and contemporary dance to some of Elvis Presley’s top hits.

Sara Voss received the Tracey Gold Fox Miss Congeniality Award, voted on by all of the contestants. She played Mozart’s Horn Concerto No. 3 on French horn, with piano accompaniment. Voss is the daughter of Eric and Amy Voss.

Talley Brown, daughter of Chris and Lezley Brown, too had a noteworthy talent. Not only did she play “Can’t Help Falling in Love” while playing the ukulele, she did with a cartoon video playing in the backdrop of two foxes meeting and falling in love, which she animated herself.

The talented group of young ladies also included musician Alexis Villarino, speed artist Allece Johnson, ballerina Katlyn Noe, cellist Logan McCain and soloist Lorelai Lilley.

Allece Johnson’s talent for the pageant was speed art; she painted a cow to music. She is the daughter of David and Miranda McDaniel and Kieth Johnson. Like contestant Penny, Johnson was escorted in by her father and stepfather.

Villarino’s performance included playing two instruments, keyboard and saxophone, to Bill Withers and Grover Washington Jr.’s classic “Just the Two of Us,” which she arranged herself, and was accompanied on bass by her father, Mario Villarino. Alexis is also the daughter of Leah Larsen.

Logan McCain, daughter of Kurt and Brandi Mc-Cain, drew on her five years of instruction on cello when she played “Paint it Black,” a la Wednesday Adams.

Katlyn Noe, daughter of Michael and Olga Noe, pulled on her 15 years of dance training to dance ballet to Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer.”

Rounding out the list of contestants was Lorelai Lilley, who sang “Requiem” from the Broadway musical “Dear Evan Hansen.”Lilley is the daughter of Steve and Adrienne Lilley.

Craig Roberts once again served as master of ceremonies, Emily Glass as auditor, and Melissa Bilyeu provided background music. Serving as usherettes, handing out programs for the pageant, were Alaina Thompson, Trinity Martin, Aspen Mayhew, Kolbi Mc-Coy, Maddie Poskey, Sadie Shutt, Jordan VanWinkle and Coryn Young. The colors were posted by Civil Air Patrol Squadron SWRTX450.

While the judges’ scores were being tallied, 2022 Hopkins County Dairy Festival Queen Colbie Glenn strode the stage, receiving final recognition. She also sang a medley of songs from Disney Princesses. She too presented award called out by Roberts. Brad Cummings also sang a few country songs, encouraging the contestants and audience to clap and sing along.

The Board of directors (who staff the pageant and other Dairy Festival events and includes Amanda Treadeway, Belle Crouch, Brooke Howard, Bryan McInnis, Bryan Vaughan, Cindy Landcaster, Cody Sabo, David Black, Pam Black, David McCaig, David Watson, Diana Ramirez, Jackie Russell, Jessica McInnis, Karen Moore, Lonnie Fox, Shannon Baker and Triston Puller; Robbin Vaughn serves as president, Carolyn McKinney as vice president, Sheilah Hale as secretary and Lynda Hager as treasurer.

As is tradition, each Dairy Festival queen has her photo made with crown to grace the wall at Southwest Dairy Museum. Typically five are on display. The photo retired to make way for the new queen is presented to that queen at the pageant. Sadie Evans was presented her photo June 17.