Shrumm earns fair queen crown

When Danielle Shrumm turned “sweet 16” last Friday, little did she know one of her birthday presents would be a royal crown the following day.
Shrumm was named the 1999 Fall Fair Queen in front of a packed grandstand in Emo on Saturday afternoon. Melissa Kinnear was First Princess while Katie Steele was Second Princess.
Miss Congeniality went to Melissa Brant.
The other contestants included Noreen Hartlin, Karly Chepil, and Stephanie Hyatt.
“I’d just like to thank everybody who helped me and my sponsor,” Shrumm said after her crowning. “It’s been a great fair.”
Out of the six categories the seven contestants were judged on, Shrumm took top marks in float design and button sales, was second in banner design, and placed third in the talent show.
Shrumm always seemed to be the one least affected by nerves throughout the pageant–something she chalked up to her experience at the junior women’s curling finals in British Columbia last winter.
But even Shrumm’s cool exterior seemed to waver in the wake of Saturday’s crowning.
“I’m kind of at a loss for words,” she admitted. “I was thinking [when they called my name], ‘Wow, it actually happened.’”
Shrumm wasn’t the only one who felt surprised. Kinnear, who took first place in banner design, second in the talent show, and third in button sales and the interview, said she wasn’t expecting to win anything.
“I didn’t know what to think,” she said. “I was just wicked nervous.”
“I was very surprised,” echoed Steele, who took top honours in the talent portion and the interview, plus second for her parade float. “I thought, ‘Please don’t trip as you walk up to get your things,’” she laughed.
Steele also was named most photogenic, another surprise. “I didn’t know they had the category,” she noted.
And Steele won the inaugural Dorothy Bonot Memorial Award–presented by Bonot’s son, Bryan–in recognition of her involvement in the community and willingness to help others.
Mary Curtis, a long-time fair committee member and good friend of Bonot, said it was fitting such an award be named after one who dedicated much of her life to the fair pageant and the community.
“She offered her time and talent to help others,” Curtis told the crowd on hand for the crowning ceremony.
Meanwhile, Shrumm is looking forward to her year as fair queen. And judging from 1998 queen Dolly Teeple, she figures to be busy.
“I’m just going to try and do the best I can,” she said.