Tri-County Citizen

Montrose Blueberry Festival prepares for queen’s pageant


 

MONTROSE – The names of the 2019 Montrose Blueberry Queen Pageant contestants have been announced; as well as the alternate venue for this year’s pageant.

This year’s Montrose Blueberry Queen Pageant will be held at the Whistle Stop Café, 182 W. Vienna Road., in Clio, on Saturday, Feb. 9 at 4 p.m. The public is invited to attend, with admission $5 each for adults, $3 each for students and free admission for children ages 3 and under.

Pageant coordinator Cris Conrad explained that the pageant needed to be moved to a smaller venue this year to manage costs, but the public is still very much encouraged to attend this special event to show support for the Blueberry Queen contestants.

The 2019 Montrose Blueberry Queen Pageant contestants are Alexa Campbell, Justice Reed and Ariellah L. Tallman.

Alexa Blaze Campbell, 17, is the daughter of De’Anna Hickey and Kipp Campbell. She is a junior at Hill-McCloy High School.

 

Campbell is on the honor roll and earned a varsity letter in softball, and was also nominated for the American Legion Award in 2018. Her extra-curricular activities include varsity softball and junior varsity basketball, worship leader at Big Brothers/Big Sisters, umpiring for youth girls church softball, volunteering at softball and basketball youth camps and at the soup kitchen.

Her hobbies are singing, sports, going out to eat with friends and supporting Montrose sports teams.

In the future, she plans to attend Saginaw Valley State University to study physical therapy.

When asked why she would be a great Blueberry Queen, Campbell said, “I believe I would be a great Blueberry Queen because I love meeting new people and I’m very sociable. I am a great role model that younger girls can look up to. I’m a very positive person and I strive to bring that trait with me everywhere.”

Campbell‘s sponsor is Whitmire Photography.

Justice Autumn Reed, 16, is the daughter of Aimee Reed and Kevin Reed. She is currently a junior attending Hill- McCloy High School.

Reed earned an academic letter and pin, as well as earning a varsity pin her junior year. She won the American Legion Award in seventh grade. Reed is on the honor roll and was named to the National Honor Society. She was also honored as Big Brother/Big Sister of the month.

Her extra-curricular activities include bowling, National Honor Society, archery, soccer, drama club and soon plans to add golf to her activities.

Her hobbies include collecting snow globes, backpacking, reading, hanging out with her family and friends and singing.

Reed’s future plans are to become a fulltime pediatric nurse. She hopes to attend either the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor or Saginaw Valley State University.

When asked why she would make a great Blueberry Queen, Reed said, “I am very kind-hearted, strong, and would be a great role model for younger children.”

Reed’s sponsor is Bakery of Hope.

Ariellah L. Tallman, 16, is the daughter of Tim and Hailey Walsh. She is currently a junior attending Hill-McCloy High School.

Tallman is on the National Technical Honors Society; she is taking three honors classes. She earned a varsity letter as a freshman. Tallman’s extra-curricular activities include soccer, bowling, cabaret, National Technical Honors Society and she is in the medical assistant program.

Her hobbies include reading, drawing, playing with her puppy Kai and babysitting.

Tallman’s future plans are to attend Central Michigan University to become a physician’s assistant.

When asked why she would make a great Blueberry Queen, Tallman said, “I’m very dedicated with all I’m involved in. I enjoy helping and communicating with others and I take pride in my community.”

Tallman’s sponsors are Top of the Hill Auto Repair and Mitch Hoffman, CPA, PC.