11 vie for the Fall Festival of Leaves Queen crown
BAINBRIDGE - The Fall Festival of Leaves Queen Pageant will be held at 8 p.m. Thursday, at the Paxton Theatre.
This year's theme is Christmas in the Valley, and eleven young women are vying for queen.
Contestant # 1: Reagan Truitt
Age 16
Sophomore
Paint Valley High School
Daughter of Stephanie and Rob Truitt
Reagan plays volleyball and is a varsity cheerleader. Over the years she has danced, sang, and acted all over the region, she loves to be on stage. She has been in five Chillicothe Civic Theatre productions. Reagan was the 2021 Teen Queen for the Feast of the Flowering Moon and placed 4th at Miss Teen Ohio. She loves volunteering, traveling, going on adventures and has tons of school spirit.
Contestant #2: Lydia Kenz
Age 15
Freshman
Unioto High School
Daughter Scott and Mandy Kenz
Lydia is involved in volleyball, basketball, and softball. She is also a member of 4-H, where she takes livestock. Lydia is a member of NJHS and DFCA. She has always loved the idea of modeling and acting. She has always dealt with kids telling her some of her features are less than perfect, her goal is to show that all girls are beautiful in their very own way, which is why she wants to start entering pageants.
Contestant #3: Sophi Stauffer
Age 16
Sophomore
Paint Valley High School
Daughter of Kelly and Jason Stauffer
Sophi is a member of the softball, basketball, and volleyball teams. She loves to cheer on the team from the student section. She is also an active and proud member of the Drug Free Clubs of America.
Contestant #4: Madisyn Hollen
Age 17
Junior
Hillsboro High School
Daughter of Amy Hollen and Michael Miller
Madisyn is a member of the varsity soccer, swim and tennis teams. She is also involved with the Hillsboro High School symphonic choir, Spanish club and is taking CCP classes at Southern State College.
Contestant #5: Savannah Switzer
Age 17
Senior
McClain High School
Daughter of Charlie and Lorie Switzer
Savannah is a member of National Technical Honors Society, Tigerette, cheered 1 year of Varsity cheerleading where she was a captain, Member of Drug Free Clubs of America, HOSA where she is a chapter officer. Savannah is also a social media influencer of her school. She currently attends Laurel Oaks Career Campus in Wilmington, where she is studying dental assisting. Savannah also works at The Glitz and Shear Miracle Salon in Greenfield. After high school Savannah plans to attend college to further her education and become a dental hygienist.
Contestant #6: Rachelle Priest
Age 18
Senior
McClain High School
Daughter of Kara Shoemaker
Rachelle is the McClain High School Student Council Secretary, Senior Class Treasurer, Vice President of Drug Free Clubs of America, she is the Tigerette team captain, and the Swim team captain and runs Varsity track. She is also President of the Drama Club and participates in the yearly plays/musicals, member of the Marshall Jr. Farmers 4-H Club, National Honor Society Secretary, McClain Symphonic band, Symphonic choir and show choir. Rachelle also participates in the Big Brother’s Big Sister’s program. After graduation she plans to go to college to pursue a career in nursing, eventually she would like to become a nurse practitioner.
Contestant #7: Amya Wingfield
Age 18
Senior
Unioto High School
Daughter of Kristi Bonner and MacKenzie Wingfield
Amya is involved in varsity cheerleading, Skills USA, student council, National Honors Society, National Technical Honors Society and is a cosmetology student. She is interested in fashion and volunteer work.
Contestant #8: Faith McDaniel
Age 18
Graduate of Adena High School
Daughter of Butch and Danielle McDaniel
Faith is currently attending Ohio University Chillicothe, where she is studying psychology and forensic science. In high school she was a 4 year Varsity Cheerleader, 4 year member of MADE, 3 year member of FFA, and was an honor roll student. She also served as an aide in a special needs preschool class through Ross Pike ESD last school year. She was honored to be crowned Prom Queen by her senior class. Though she misses high school, she keeps herself busy with babysitting, taking care of her plants and many pets, and spending time with family and friends. Faith just recently started a team for “On Our Sleeves” 5k for Nationwide Children’s Hospital to support mental health awareness in children, a topic that is very important to her.
Contestant #9: Lily Weaver
Age 16
Sophomore
Unioto High School
Daughter of Ella and Jeremy Weaver
Lily is actively involved in Jr. Livestock Growers 4-H Club, she recently accepted to serve her second year on Ross County Jr. Fair Board, has also served 3 years on Junior Leaders. She was a 4-H Camp Counselor last year and hopes to serve as one again this year. Lily is currently part of DFCA and hopes to be a DFCA officer during her high school career. She also enjoys singing and line dancing. In her free time she loves to hang out with friends and bake yummy treats.
Contestant #10: Mackenzie Crum
Age 15
Sophomore
Paint Valley High School
Daughter of Angela Fink-Crum and Heath Crum
Mackenzie is currently involved in basketball, track, cross county, and church. McKenzie is a member of Paint Valleys Drug Free and FCS programs. She is also a rapper and is interested in getting back into 4-H and getting more kids to go to church camp.
Contestant #11: Jerrica McKnight
Age 17
Senior
Zane Trace High School
Daughter of Jara McKnight
Jerrica has been on the varsity swim team since she was a freshman, this year she plans to make this final year the best and qualify for districts. After graduation she plans to attend college, this fall for Business Management and Design. Jerrica is looking forward to a bright future that she has planned and ready for what life brings to her.
Tickets are $5, presales are at Rockhold Bank in Bainbridge or can be purchased at the door.
This article originally appeared on Chillicothe Gazette: 11 vie for the Fall Festival of Leaves Queen crown
