By TRISH BENNETT
HERALD STAFF WRITER
A Logan Elm junior took the crown and title of Miss Pumpkin Show 2009 on Wednesday before a cheering and somewhat raucous crowd at the Main Street stage.
Tracie Messer, 17, daughter of Paul and Cathy Messer of Circleville, won over the judges with her natural charm, according to judge Ron Keller.
“She was so spontaneous when she talked to us,” said Keller, chairman of the Millersport Sweet Corn Festival. “When she got on stage, she was a natural speaker. She connected with the judges and connected with the audience, and that was the key for her.” Messer was joined by first attendant Ali Ray Pillow, 17, a junior at Zane Trace High School, daughter of Kelly Holdren of Chillicothe and Daryl Pillow of Jacksonville, Fla.; and second attendant Kristen Bennett, 17, a senior at Zane Trace High School, daughter of Mary Bennett and John and Heather Bennett.
Messer said she was shocked to earn the Pumpkin Show crown but is looking forward to her year at the top.
Her win, though, didn’t happen exactly the way she had planned.
“In the beginning, you kind of have a plan for how you’re going to do it,” Messer said. “But once you get here, you realize you just have to be natural.”
Keller said the judges were impressed by Messer’s knowledge of Circleville, another thing that comes naturally to the Logan Elm junior.
“I love this community, I love this town and I love Pumpkin Show,” she said. “I was born and raised here, so it’s like eating pumpkin doughnuts from Lindsey’s - it comes natural.”
Pillow said she had never participated a pageant before, and the parade was her favorite part of the experience.
“Just going through the parade and having all the little kids looking at you and acting like you’re a million dollars is amazing,” Pillow said. “If you can make one person smile in a day, that’s amazing, and tonight I saw a hundred smiling faces. It was really exciting.”
Bennett said she was shocked but excited to earn the second attendant spot, but one coincidence made her even more proud to be a part of the 2009 Pumpkin Show.
“I think it’s amazing that two Zane Trace girls got on the court,” she said. “Especially since last year’s Queen was from Zane Trace, too.”
Gift donations to the Miss Pumpkin Show contest and court were provided by Porter’s Dry Cleaning and Car Wash; 1st Alarm Studio, Kathleen Wallace; The Movie House; Gibby’s Eatery & Sports Bar; Especially For You; Christy’s Pizza; Trans County Title; Pickaway County Chamber of Commerce; Forget Me Knot; Savings Bank; Rhonda’s Hair Gallery; Maggie & Me; Christopher’s; Sharff’s; Shirley Stout Avon; Berger Hospital; Wittich’s Candy Shop; Dr. Hans P. Guter, DDS; Glenda Mullet - HER Realtors; Lindsey’s Bakery; Farm Credit Services; Whittler’s Corner; and Just In Time Lawn Care.
| 2009 Miss Pumpkin Show Judging |
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