It was Grace Bingham’s time to shine as she was crowned the new Miss Strawberry Queen on March 8 inside Jemison High School at the 2025 Miss Strawberry Queen Pageant. Bingham, a senior at Chilton County High School, won the Miss Strawberry crown in her first pageant she ever competed in, which made the moment of hearing her name called as the queen that much more surreal.
"It has set in and it is so exciting," Bingham expressed, overwhelmed with joy. She added, "I am so glad I have new queen sisters to create a bond with." The camaraderie among the new queens was palpable, promising exciting times ahead.
Along with Bingham, Charli Watson was crowned the Junior Miss Strawberry Queen, Cortlyn Wargo the Young Miss Strawberry Queen, and Emersyn Fancher the Little Miss Strawberry Queen. With the crowning of these strong young women, the and the spirit of competition highlighted the importance of community engagement.
As they prepare for their roles, the newly crowned queens will participate in the fourth annual Chilton County Strawberry Festival in Thorsby at Richard Wood Park on April 26, 2025. This popular festival celebrates the strawberry harvest and showcases the fruits of local labor.
At the being of the festival, attendees will see Bingham and her fellow queens promoting and celebrating one of the most abundant fruits in the county. The event promises to bring together families and friends in a festive atmosphere filled with activities, music, and, of course, plenty of strawberries.
The Miss Strawberry Queen Pageant is just one of many pageantry events occurring across the United States to celebrate the harvest season. Meanwhile, the West Virginia Strawberry Festival recently completed its Junior Royalty Pageant, celebrating another round of young contestants dedicated to the festival's founding traditions.
"What an incredible, rewarding day of pageantry," said the festival officials in a social media post, congratulating not only the winners but all 52 contestants who presented themselves beautifully on stage. This enthusiastic acceptance highlights the importance of fostering participation in community events.
The Junior Royalty Court winners at the West Virginia Strawberry Festival included Callahan Cordial as the Princess and Photogenic winner for the Age 4-5 category. In addition, Annaliese Booth won Strawberry Spirit, with Reese Woods and Lila LeMaster as 2nd and 1st Maids, respectively. These winners at such a young age emphasize the festival's commitment to celebrating youth and community spirit.
In the Age 6-7 category, Paul Westfall was crowned Prince, while Lily Hinkle captured both the Princess and Photogenic titles. It was a competitive environment, as Nora Donohue and Violet LeMaster took home the 2nd and 1st Maid titles, respectively.
The enthusiasm continued in the Age 8-9 category, with Trenton Smith winning the Prince title, and Hadlie Jack being named Princess. The Age 10-11 category saw Liam Trent crowned Prince, while Ava Hinkle took home both the Princess and Photogenic awards. For the older contestants in the Age 12-13 category, the crowning of Octavian Bouscher as King and Madison Cutright as Queen highlighted the festival's dedication to recognizing talent across multiple age groups.
As festivals across the nation draw participants and participants together, the beauty of local traditions continues to showcase the talents of young individuals while promoting family-friendly events in the community. Such celebrations engage families not only in the joy of festivity but also in the values of teamwork and connection.
In both the Chilton County Strawberry Festival and the West Virginia Strawberry Festival, the pageants inspire young contestants to embrace their passions and take pride in their community. They spark a sense of pride in representing their towns, creating memories that last a lifetime.
These strawberry festivals cultivate a sense of belonging and community pride, bringing together various generations and fostering connections among families. The upcoming Chilton County Strawberry Festival will serve as another occasion for celebration, powered by the united effort of its local youth, who play a crucial role in preserving the vibrancy of their traditions.
Their combined efforts contribute significantly to the community spirit that surrounds such joyful events, reminding everyone that together, they can achieve remarkable things. As Grace Bingham and her fellow queens prepare for their duties next month, they embody the promise and potential of youth in their roles as representatives and advocates of their community.
