localbeauties061910

50th Hopkins County Dairy Festival Queen, Katelyn Cody, will bid good-bye
to a year of reigning over the Golden Anniversary year of the local pageant,
and crown her predecessor, Saturday night.

Local Beauties Vying For Crown,
Saturday Night

by: Bobby McDonald

The thirteen young ladies competing for Hopkins County Dairy Festival Queen will join 50th Dairy Festival Queen, Katelyn Cody, on stage, Saturday night, to see who will be chosen the 51st Hopkins County Dairy Festival Queen, continuing a tradition in Hopkins County, that began when local merchants and community organizers decided the dairy industry and the community needed a lovely ambassador. The festival and the pageant has grown to a spectacular annual event, from rather humble beginnings, back in 1959, when the pageant was held in the Old Junior High School Auditorium.

"It is always exciting as Dairy Festival Week builds to the climax, of the Saturday night pageant and naming of the new queen," related Lynda Hager, Pageant Coordinator. "After you've worked with the young ladies all week, in practices, seen them milk a cow, ride a float through downtown Sulphur Springs, and compete in all of their events, you have no idea, who will be chosen! That's why we choose out-of-town judges, who know none of the girls or their families, so that it will be fair to each and every young lady!"

This year's queen, named Saturday night, will represent the the Hopkins County Dairy Festival and her hometown, at a number of ribbon cuttings, neighboring city pageants, and parades, throughout the year, as she promotes Hopkins County.

These thirteen beauties will be competing on Saturday night for the coveted crown: