Miss Maple trio crowned at 130th Piscataquis Valley Fair
DOVER-FOXCROFT — Three girls will reign as Miss Maple in their respective age groups for the next year after being crowned during the third annual Miss Maple Pageant on the morning of Saturday, Aug. 26 at the 130th Piscataquis Valley Fair.
Seven-year-old Rhylee Waltman of Dexter earned top honors in the grade 1-4 “Mini Miss Maple” division, 11-year-old Eliza Chambers of Glenburn was the winner in the middle school “Little Miss Maple” class, and finishing first among high-schoolers to receive the title of “Miss Maple” was Virginia Macomber, 17, of Dover-Foxcroft.
Kaydance Benson, 7, of Dover-Foxcroft, was the Mini Miss Maple runner-up. Madison Coover, 13, of Barnard, came in second among middle school girls, and 15-year-old Makenzie Hodges of Bangor was the Miss Maple runner-up.
The three respective second-place finishers earned $25 apiece. The trio of Miss Maple age group winners each were presented $50 and a crown and sash, and Macomber also was presented with a $100 scholarship.
The 2017 edition of the pageant featured 11 girls taking part with four Mini Miss Maple contestants, five seeking top Little Miss Maple honors and a pair hoping to be crowned Miss Maple. The 11 participants introduced themselves to the audience gathered by the fair stage while dressed in their country wear.
Next up was the talent portion as the girls’ skills included singing, playing the piano, hula hooping, dancing, tumbling, cheering, and a standup comedy routine.
Mini Miss Maple contestants were Waltman, Benson, Julia Goldsmith, 9, of Dover-Foxcroft; and Autumn Rideout, 6, of Charleston. Little Miss Maple contestants were Chambers, Coover, Gabrielle Judkins, 10, of Garland; Makayla Newberry, 12 of Bangor; and Chloe White, 11 of Charleston. Macomber and Hodges were the two Miss Maple contestants.
The Miss Maple Pageant was sponsored by Bob’s Sugar House; Bear’s Den Restaurant, Motel and Tavern; Foxcroft Printing; RHC Carpentry; and Guilford Service Center.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
MISS MAPLE CROWN HOLDERS — Three contestants earned first-place honors in their respective age categories during the third annual Miss Maple Pageant at the Piscataquis Valley Fair in Dover-Foxcroft on Aug. 26. From left are the respective winners and runners-up — Miss Maple Virginia Macomber and Makenzie Hodges, Little Miss Maple Eliza Chambers and Madison Coover, and Mini Miss Maple Rhylee Waltman and Kaydance Benson.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
THERE SHE IS, MISS MAPLE — Eleven girls took part in the 2017 Miss Maple Pageant on Saturday morning at the 130th annual Piscataquis Valley Fair in Dover-Foxcroft. The contestants competed in three different age groups, introducing themselves to the audience in country wear, demonstrating a talent, and finishing the pageant in their dress-up attire.