Meet the Contestants for Dairy Festival Queen 2023
Being crowned queen of the Dairy Festival Pageant is one of the highest honors for a young woman in Hopkins County.
The pageant will take place June 17 at 7:00 p.m. the Sulphur Springs High School Auditorium. Tickets can be purchased in advance from contestants for $10 or for $15 at the door.
Contestants compete in:
- Interview
- Talent
- Evening gown (beauty and poise)
Those who place are awarded college scholarships, with further awards for highest ticket sales and talent. The contestants will also be named the Tracey Gold-Fox Miss Congeniality Award.
The town can greet contestants for the first time in the parade (10 a.m.: Leave from Buford Park down Connally St. to Downtown Plaza, right on Gilmer to Kyle St.), and can also see their milking prowess at the milking contest. ( 3 p.m. at Hopkins County Regional Civic Center Livestock Pavilion)
Meet the contestants for 2023:
Addison Graves is the daughter of Dave & Jennifer Graves. Addison has been a part of the Color Guard and the Drill Team. She has danced with Ardis Center of Performing Arts for 14 years where she was on the competitive dance team, and has been a member of the SSHS Orchestra and the Sulphur Springs Youth Orchestra. She is currently the Treasurer for Hi King Klub, is a drill team escort and a part of the leadership program at FUMC. For her talent in the pageant she will perform “Popular” from the Broadway musical “Wicked.”
Alexis Villarino is the daughter of Mario Villarino & Leah Larsen. In her spare time, Alexis enjoys painting, playing the saxophone, and writing. She is a team captain for the Academic UIL group, a section leading in the SSHS band and is an officer for the Hopkins County 4-H Council. Her school memberships include National Honor Society, Key Club, Student Council and Business Professionals of America. Alexis is active in UIL, placing 2nd in State Literary Criticism, was a Latino history essay finalist, Ready Reading state qualifier and state champion in Film. In the Talent portion of the pageant she will be playing the saxophone and piano to “Just the Two of Us”, a Bill Withers & Grover Washington, Jr. classic. Alexis will be pursuing a degree and career in Architecture in the future.
Allece Johnson is the 17 year old daughter of David & Miranda McDaniel and Kieth Johnson. She is a member of the SSHS Key Club and the Color Guard. Allece was recently elected as a Lieutenant for the upcoming Color Guard season. In her spare time, Allece likes to read and crochet. She has a natural artistic talent that will serve her well as she performs “speed art” during the Talent portion of the pageant. Allece plans to study Clinical Psychology at UNT-Denton after graduation.
Caroline Prickette is the 16 year old daughter of John & Gena. She will be performing “I’ve Been Everywhere” for the Talent competition, which is right in line with her love for traveling. Caroline has taken 2 mission trips to Haiti, and is active in the VBS and the many ministry programs at FUMC in Sulphur Springs. She has participated in Sulphur Springs WorkCamp for 6 years, attends Pine Cove Summer Camp, worked at the Pink Snowcone stand for 2 years. At SSHS Caroline is active in the marching band, where she has been a featured soloist and has won numerous awards. She is also a performer in all of the Theatre performances including UIL One-Act, and is in Advanced Placement and duel credit classes. After graduating from SSHS, Caroline will attend Baylor University.
Emerson Penny is the daughter of Asher & Meredith Dial, and Chris & Jeana Penny. She takes all Honors classes and is a member of the National Honor Society and National Technical Honor Society. Emerson is passionate about painting and loves all medias of it….drawing, painting, etc. She is a dedicated member of the Student Council and has been an office for STUCO for 2 years. Emerson is also a huge soccer lover. Though she no longer plays, it is still her favorite sport. Future plans include attending the University of Mississippi and then returning to Sulphur Springs to working with her dad in his business, and then opening her own business. During the Talent portion Emerson will be singing “When He Sees Me” from the Broadway musical “Waitress”.
Kate Monk is the daughter of Kevin & Kristin Monk. She was a competitive dancer for 6 years, is the Hi King Klub President, a Key Club member, is currently #9 in her class, and a volunteer for CASA. Kate is a member of the SSHS Varsity Volleyball team and has been on traveling teams for the sport, and was awarded Volleyball Academic All-District. She is active in the North East Texas Livestock Association showing her goat. Kate’s plan after high school is to attend the University of Texas in Austin to obtain a business degree from McComb’s School of Business, and manage her own business, and get her real estate license. For the Talent portion she will perform a musical theatre dance from Barnum’s Circus soundtrack.
Katlyn Noe is the daughter of Michael & Olga Noe. She has taken 15 years of dance training, and will be performing pointe to Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer” during the Talent portion. As an SSHS Senior next Fall she will be the Treasurer for Student Council, and will continue to participate in Key Club, National Honor Society (Secretary), Fellowship of Christian Athletes, BPA and UIL. She is in the top 10% of her class. When she has spare time, Katlyn enjoys playing golf and dancing. Her career goals include pursuing a Masters degree in Accounting and becoming a CPA.
Logan McCain is the daughter of Kurt & Brandi McCain. Logan is a member of the SSHS Marching Band and is Captain of the Color Guard. She’s been playing the cello for 5 years and for her talent competition will perform on the cello “Paint It Black”. Logan is a member of the National Honor Society, enjoys painting, cooking, watching movies and practicing make-up art in her spare time. She plans to attend UT-Tyler for a BS in Nursing so that she can go on to be a medical esthetician.
Lorelai Lilley is the daughter of Steve & Adrienne Lilley. She is a member of the National Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society and a national qualifier for the TAFE. Her activities at SSHS include co-captain of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, cheerleading, and FCCLA. Lorelai is leader of the FUMC youth praise band, and works as a gymnastics coach at a local gymnastics gym. She plans to attend college to study Communications to work towards a degree in Sports Broadcasting. For the Talent competition, Lorelai will sing “Requiem” from the Broadway musical “Dear Evan Hansen”.
Sara Voss is the daughter of Eric & Amy Voss. At Sulphur Springs High School, this 17 year old, is a part of the marching band, the concert band, the Blue Blaze drill team, Hi King Klub and Key Club. She is a band section leader, and a Sergeant for the Blue Blazes. Her hobbies include fishing, horseback riding and reading. Future plans include heading off to the University of Oregan to study Business in hopes of owning a dog daycare/boarding & training facility someday. Her talent for the pageant will be a French horn solo with a piano accompaniment to Mozart’s Horn Concerto No. 3.
Talley Brown is an incoming Senior at SSHS, and is the daughter of Chris & Lezley Brown. Talley has been the Summer Workshop Director at Main Street Theatre where she has been an actress in many plays. She is also been in UIL One Act Plays with the high school theatre classes. Talley is a member of the National Honor Society and Business Professionals of America at SSHS. Her hobbies include drawing, painting, designing, singing, acting, dancing and animation. She will be playing the ukulele to “Can’t Help Falling in Love” for her talent portion in the pageant.
Tomi Pirtle is the daughter of Clay & Tanna Pirtle. For her talent in the pageant, she will perform a jazz and contemporary dance to some of Elvis Presley’s top hits. She has been dancing at Sulphur Springs Centre for Dance and competing with the SURGE team for 9 years. At SSHS Tomi is a member of the National Honor Society, the National Technical Honor Society and is in the top 10% of her class. She also participates in HOSA, a group for future healthcare professionals, Student Council and Key Club. Her college plans are to attend either Texas Tech or Texas A&M University to pursue a degree in Nutrition.
Contributed by Cindy Lancaster
