Third time's the charm as Emily Maran earns Lenawee County Fair queen title

Brad Heineman, The Daily Telegram
Updated ·4 min read

ADRIAN — For Emily Maran, the newly crowned Lenawee County Fair queen for 2023, the third time was the charm.

The 18-year-old recent graduate of Tecumseh High School earned this year’s crown and sash after competing on the bandshell stage against eight other Lenawee County women, all with aspirations of being named 2023 fair queen.

“This is my third year doing this,” Maran said. “I am going to continue in the Miss America pageants. I’m not going to stop here.”

Emily Maran, the new Lenawee County fair queen for 2023, waves to the crowd after being crowned Sunday evening during opening day of the Lenawee County Fair. Pictured in the background is Riley Buckmaster, who also competed in Sunday's Queen's contest and earned the Miss Congeniality Award.
Emily Maran, the new Lenawee County fair queen for 2023, waves to the crowd after being crowned Sunday evening during opening day of the Lenawee County Fair. Pictured in the background is Riley Buckmaster, who also competed in Sunday's Queen's contest and earned the Miss Congeniality Award.

Last year, Maran was the first runner-up in the fair queen contest. This year, she climbed the ladder and took the next step up, claiming the sought after crown and sash.

Kindell Covey, Lenawee County Fair Queen 2022, crowned an excited Maran.

When asked about her initial thoughts and feelings after claiming the crown, Maran replied, “Whoa!”

The queen and her court of runners-up serve as ambassadors of the fair and of Lenawee County after fair week has concluded. The Lenawee County fair queen makes appearances at local events and is commonly a participant in local parades.

Emily Maran, second from left, was named the 2023 Lenawee County fair queen during Sunday's annual contest at the bandshell. She is pictured with her court and Kindell Covey, right, Lenawee County Fair Queen 2022. Court members are Abyona Freeman, left, second runner-up, and Tanana Emmendorfer, first runner-up.
Emily Maran, second from left, was named the 2023 Lenawee County fair queen during Sunday's annual contest at the bandshell. She is pictured with her court and Kindell Covey, right, Lenawee County Fair Queen 2022. Court members are Abyona Freeman, left, second runner-up, and Tanana Emmendorfer, first runner-up.

Since the queen’s competition is also a scholarship program, contestants earn scholarship money. Maran earned a $1,000 scholarship for winning the contest, and the first runner-up, Tanana Emmendorfer, and the second runner-up, Abyona Freeman, both received $500 in scholarships.

Other awards won by the contestants included Riley Buckmaster winning the Miss Congeniality award, Grace Appling winning the People’s Choice award, Emmendorfer winning the Talent Award for her trombone solo to the Tommy Tutone song, “867-5309/Jenny” and Maran winning the Interview Award.

Tanana Emmendorfer, a contestant Sunday evening during the annual Lenawee County Fair queen's contest, won the Talent Award for her trombone solo to the Tommy Tutone song, "867-5309/Jenny." Emmendorfer also earned first runner-up in the competition.
Tanana Emmendorfer, a contestant Sunday evening during the annual Lenawee County Fair queen's contest, won the Talent Award for her trombone solo to the Tommy Tutone song, "867-5309/Jenny." Emmendorfer also earned first runner-up in the competition.

The queen’s contest consists of the contestants having a private interview with the judges, responding to a randomly selected question while on stage, having and talking about a platform that is of importance to them, showcasing a talent, and competing in the evening gown portion of the program, which is designed to exhibit elegance and poise.

Maran is the daughter of Michelle and Michael Maran of Deerfield. She will attend the University of Toledo in the fall to study nursing. For her talent, she performed an acrobatic dance.

Emily Maran, a recent Tecumseh High School graduate, was named 2023 Lenawee County fair queen during Sunday's annual competition on the bandshell stage. Here, she performs an acrobatic dance routine during the talent portion of the contest.
Emily Maran, a recent Tecumseh High School graduate, was named 2023 Lenawee County fair queen during Sunday's annual competition on the bandshell stage. Here, she performs an acrobatic dance routine during the talent portion of the contest.

In addition to competing previously at the Lenawee County Fair, Maran earlier this month was one of 10 delegates who competed in Blissfield's Miss River Raisin Festival Scholarship program, where she placed first runner-up.

Since she is a titleholder now as Lenawee County fair queen, she is unable to compete in next year’s Miss River Raisin Festival program. But she plans on being a part of the scholarship program in 2025, she said.

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Friendships are one of her favorite things about being involved in pageants and other scholarship programs.

“You make so many new friends, it’s amazing. I’ve met so many new, amazing ladies just this year alone,” she said.

“I have such a nice court of girls and I’m really excited,” Maran said. “I’m excited to go to the grandstands and introduce ourselves.”

Tanana Emmendorfer, first runner-up in Sunday's Lenawee County Fair queen's contest, participates in the evening gown portion of the competition, which is designed to exhibit elegance and poise.
Tanana Emmendorfer, first runner-up in Sunday's Lenawee County Fair queen's contest, participates in the evening gown portion of the competition, which is designed to exhibit elegance and poise.

The morning after being crowned 2023 Lenawee County Fair Queen, Maran planned to show her lambs during the 4-H sheep show in the show barn.

The remaining contestants during Sunday’s queen’s contest included Jessica Scott, Gabriella Morris, Denae Covey and Kayleigh Barrett.

Abyona Freeman, second runner-up in Sunday's Lenawee County Fair queen's contest, sang the Whitney Houston song "Greatest Love of All" for her talent in the competition.
Abyona Freeman, second runner-up in Sunday's Lenawee County Fair queen's contest, sang the Whitney Houston song "Greatest Love of All" for her talent in the competition.

The host of this year’s contest was Ashlee Pelham, Lenawee County Fair Queen 2017, who now teaches in the Britton Deerfield Schools district.

Judges for the queen’s contest included Adrian Mayor Angie Sword Heath, Lenawee County Fair Queen 1986; Savanna Spindleman, owner of Savanna Rose Dance Studio in Brooklyn; and Kaylie Simpson, a 24-year-old graduate from Adrian College who is the current head dance coach at AC.

Tuesday at the fair

Hours: 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Grandstand: 7 p.m., MicroWrestling. $15 general admission and $20 box seat. Limited ringside seating is $20. Grandstand prices are in addition to fair admission.

Bandshell: 7 p.m., Adrian City Band; 8 to 10 p.m., lip sync battle.

Admission: Senior Citizens Day, all seniors admitted free; $7 general admission; children 9 or younger are free; active military with identification are free. Parking is free and handicap parking is available in the Dean Street lot by the fair office and the grandstand entrance.

Note: Midway rides open at 5 p.m.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Emily Maran earns 2023 Lenawee County Fair queen title