It was an evening of glitter and glamour as the annual Clay Golden Apple Festival Pageant took place at the Clay High School auditorium. Girls came from throughout the state to compete for the coveted Golden Delicious Miss Teen, Miss Golden Delicious Queen, and Mrs. Golden Delicious titles. It was definitely some stiff competition on the stage.
Pageant director Elizabeth Taylor with some assistance from Leslie Townsend put together a great pageant along with the inspiration of acting festival director Dawn Whitely. All of those competing seemed to have a good time, win or lose. Serving as the Master of Ceremonies was none other than the reigning WV Association of Fairs and Festivals Queen Leslie Garrett. It couldn’t have been better if Jay Leno had done it.
Our reigning Golden Delicious Queen, Ciara Brown, took her final walk on the stage before passing it on to the new Queen Leanna Williams. Ciara will be remembered as one of the many queens that wore the crown as Miss Golden Delicious. Miss Teen Ashton Page Rexroad also took her final stroll before handing her crown over to the new Golden Delicious Miss Teen, Presley Slater. She will no doubt represent Clay County well. Last, but certainly not least, is the reigning Mrs. Golden Delicious Festival, Gretchen Pingley, who relinquished her crown to the new Mrs. Golden Delicious Christa Jenkins. Congratulations to the new queens, you have some big shoes to fill, and I am confident after meeting you that it will be no problem.
I’m sure that I speak for everyone in saying that this pageant would not have been possible without the help of all those who were behind the scenes getting everything ready so it would go off without a hitch. Pamela Ramsey Taylor and crew served up a lunch the Queen of England would have been happy to belly up to. To those, a big thanks is appropriate. The new queens cannot wait for the opportunity to have some big time fun at this year’s apple festival Once again, congratulations to the new Clay Golden Delicious Festival royalty.
