First Attendant Ashley McDaniel
Queen Maddie Lynn Davidson
Second Morgan Bivens
(From Left to Right)

By REBECCA McCOWAN
The Herald

Some of the cutest blondes, brunettes, red heads and raven-haired first-graders competed Wednesday in the 2003 Little Miss Pumpkin Show Parade.

Of the 137 participants, Maddie Lynn Davidson was crowned 2003 Little Miss Pumpkin Show.

"I feel very happy," she said after receiving her crown and trophy. "My favorite part was when we smiled in front of the crowd and the judges."

Davidson, a student at Ashville Elementary, is the daughter of Shawn and Michelle Davidson of Ashville. She was sponsored by Treasure Isle.

Crowned as Davidson's first attendant is Ashley McDaniel, the daughter of Brian and Stephanie McDaniel of Kingston. She is a student at Zane Trace Elementary School and was sponsored by Ohio Tec Inc.

McDaniel, who said she was a little nervous about being in the parade, said her favorite part of participating in Little Miss Pumpkin Show was riding on the car in the parade.

Atwater Elementary School student Morgan Bivens received the crown for second attendant. She is daughter of Stephanie and Timothy Bivens and was sponsored by Atwater Elementary School.

Bivens said she is excited to receive the crown and looks forward to riding in the parades.

While riding on the car in the parade was exciting for Bivens, she said what she really enjoys about the Pumpkin Show is seeing all her friends.

The three join Pumpkin Show history with all the other girls dubbed as the prettiest first-graders in Pickaway County. Little Miss Pumpkin Show began in 1947 with 59 entrants.

Judging a competition such as this can be difficult said judge Janet Williams from the Ohio Manufactured Homes Association.

"It's tough because some of the little girls leave crying," she said. "But I hope they leave and say 'Wow, that was fun.'"

Williams said she was looking for someone who is "wholesome."

"Someone that looks and acts like a 6-year-old girl will catch my eye," she said.

Shawnda Wolfe, a program manager with Junior Achievement, and Gary Boulet, treasurer of the Dalton Holidays Festival, also served as judges.

Along with crowns and trophies, Little Miss Pumpkin Show winners receive a gift package. Some contributors to the gifts are Wittich's Candy, Circle Cinema, Block's Shoes, Hamburger Inn, Maggie & Me, As-We-Grow, The Savings Bank, Fifth-third Bank, Lindsey's Bake Shop, Gio's Pizza, CVS Pharmacy, Especially For You, Treasure Isle and Photo Express.

Little Miss Pumpkin Show is sponsored by the Circleville Jaycees. Drexel Poling served as emcee for the event.