MITCHELL – The 75th Persimmon Festival kicked off with the fireworks show on Friday, September 16th. With the festival, comes the annual Persimmon Festival Queen Pageant, and the hopeful contestants wishing to be the next Persimmon Festival Queen.
This year, 16 young women are set to take the Main Street stage on Monday, September 19th at 6 p.m. Prior to the crowning, each of the contestants met at the Mitchell Opera House on Sunday, September 18th, to show off their casual attire, and their dresses, while answering impromptu questions on stage.
Madison Gerkin in her casual attire 
Madison Gerkin in her dress
Madison Grace Gerkin
Madison is a Senior at MHS and is the daughter of Jacob and Audra Gerkin. Madison is a member of the Stingerz Dance Team, Key Club, Student Council, and Honor Society. She is also a Fresh Start Peer Leader and a Cadet Teacher at Hatfield Developmental Preschool. Madison coaches gymnastics at Lawrence County Fusion.
Her favorite part of the Persimmon Festival is having the chance to perform on the Main Street Stage and in the Parade with the Mitchell Stingerz Dance Team.
Cheyenne Pemberton in her casual attire 
Cheyenne Pemberton in her dress
Cheyenne Marie Pemberton
Cheyenne is a Senior at MHS and is the daughter of Letitia and Kevin Pemberton. She is a member of the Stingerz Dance Team, National Honor Society, Student Council, and Key Club. She also is a member at Lawrence County Fusion Dance Studio.
Her favorite part of the Persimmon Festival is eating tenderloins at the Holt’s Café food truck.
Kylee Robbins in her casual attire 
Kylee Robbins in her dress
Kylee Lynn Robbins
Kylee is a Sophomore at MHS and is the daughter of Kyle and Alyssa Robbins. She is a member of the MHS advanced band and is also an honor student. She is currently employed at Chicago’s Pizza in Mitchell. In her spare time, she enjoys doing make-up, listening to music, making memories with friends, and playing with her kitten, Cody.
Her favorite part of the Persimmon Festival is making connections and meeting new friends throughout the week.
Paris Earl in her casual attire 
Paris Earl in her dress
Paris Rose Earl
Paris is a senior at MHS and is the daughter of Tyler and Candie Earl. She is a member of Key Club, Amnesty Club, JAG, Student Council, and Art Club. She is a new member of HOSA and the National Technical Honors Society. Paris also assisted with the funding for the installation of the Safe Haven Baby Box in Mitchell. She is currently a naturalist at Spring Mill State Park and enjoys hiking, swimming, fishing, and listening to podcasts.
Her favorite part of the Persimmon Festival is seeing everyone together, having fun, and laughing.
Lilly Russell in her casual attire 
Lilly Russell in her dress
Lily Marie Russell
Lily is a Sophomore at MHS and is the daughter of Robin and Holly Russell. Lily is currently a member of the MHS Stingerz Dance Team and the Dazzlers Dance Team. In her spare time, Lily teaches Hip Hop dance at Lawrence County Fusion Dance Studio and Turning Out Dance Company.
Her favorite part of the Persimmon Festival is dancing on the Main Street Stage with the Mitchell Stingerz Dance Team.
Lila Bodkins in her casual attire 
Lila Bodkins in dress
Lila Kathryn Leigh Bodkins
Lila is a Junior at MHS and is the daughter of Steve and Joni Bodkins. She is currently a member of the MHS Stingerz Dance Team. In her spare time, Lila is typically working at Papa John’s. She enjoys participating in Studio dance, skateboarding, weightlifting with her dad, and going on drives with her friends. Lila enjoys going to church on Sundays at Mt. Pleasant Church and ending a good week with her youth group on Sunday evenings.
Her favorite part of the Persimmon Festival is entering into the Persimmon Pudding contest with her Grandma.
Malaya Tanglao in her casual attire 
Malaya Tanglao in her dress
Malaya Michelle Tanglao
Malaya is a Senior at MHS and is the daughter of Michelle and Ron Tanglao. She is currently a Fresh Start Peer Leader and is an Officer for SADD. Malaya is a member of the Golf, Basketball, and Softball teams at MHS. In her spare time, she enjoys hanging out with her friends and baking.
Her favorite part of the Persimmon Festival is seeing the community come together as one big happy family.
Kaylee McPherson in her casual attire 
Kaylee McPherson in her dress
Kaylee Audrianna McPherson
Kaylee is a Sophomore at Bedford North Lawrence High School and is the daughter of Melissa and Gary Davis. She is on the A/B Honor roll and has received many awards for academic achievements, and plans to graduate with Honors. After graduation, Kaylee plans to become a realtor and possibly learn photography. In her spare time, she enjoys playing softball with the Heltonville Youth League. She also enjoys riding horses and will continue her journey with barrel racing. She attends the youth group at Free Methodist Church. Kaylee enjoys practicing her hair and makeup, spending time with family and friends, and going to football games.
Her favorite part of the Persimmon Festival is hanging out with family and friends and eating delicious food.
Briley Dicks in her casual attire 
Briley Dicks in her dress
Briley Marie Dicks
Briley is a Junior at MHS and is the daughter of David Dicks and Clarissa Miller. She is currently a member of the MHS basketball team, as well as the MHS golf team. Briley is also a member of the National Honor Society.
Her favorite part of the Persimmon Festival is the atmosphere of the community during the week.
Avery Southern in her casual attire 
Avery Southern in her dress
Avery Isabella Southern
Avery is a Senior at MHS and is the daughter of Keri and Josh Southern. Avery is a member of the MHS softball team. In her spare time, she enjoys coloring, listening to Mozart, talking to fellow students, telling dad jokes, family game nights, writing poems, and making people laugh. Avery also enjoys making short horror films, scaring people, going to haunted houses, and watching horror movies.
Her favorite part of the Persimmon Festival is the delicious smells that bring her back to when she was a little girl and would go to the festival.
Emma Higgs in her casual attire 
Emma Higgs in her dress
Emma Renee Higgs
Emma is a Senior at MHS and is the daughter of Gina and Chris Lindsey. Emma is currently a two-year member of the MHS cheer squad. In school, she is a member of the student council, FFA, HOSA, and National Honor Society. She is employed at the Dairy Bell in Mitchell and is a member of the national guard. Emma was an essential participant that brought the Safe Haven Baby Box to Mitchell. She is also a member of the Bride of Christ Fellowship Church.
Her favorite part of the Persimmon Festival is getting a Barbecue salad from the 812 BBQ food truck.
Angeleigh Asbury in her casual attire 
Angeleigh Asbury in her dress
Angeleigh Christina Asbury
Angeleigh is a Junior at MHS and is the daughter of Herb and Michelle Asbury. She is a member of the MHS Stingerz dance team. In school, she is a member of the student council and Key Club. She is also a Fresh Start Peer Leader. In her spare time, she dances at Lawrence County Fusion Dance Studio.
Her favorite part of the Persimmon Festival is getting a Cheesecake Stick from Mitchell Wesleyan Church.
Madyson Kendall in her casual attire 
Madyson Kendall in her dress
Madyson Marie Kendall
Madyson is a Sophomore at MHS and is the daughter of Vangie and Travis Kendall. Madyson is a member of the MHS cheer squad. In her spare time, Madyson participated in 4-H and barrel racing. Madyson enjoys playing softball in her spare time.
Her favorite part of the Persimmon Festival is getting to ride the best ride at the festival, the Zipper.
Felicity Rutan in her casual attire 
Felicity Rutan in her dress
Felicity Marie Rutan
Felicity is a Senior at MHS and is the daughter of Amanda and Blake Keithley. Felicity is a two-year member of the Student Council, SADD, Key Club, FCA, and Art Club. Over the summer she worked at the Mitchell Cory Pool as a lifeguard, and she has also been attending classes at Ivy Tech. In the spring, she completed the JAG Regional Development Conference, where she was runner-up in Public speaking. Felicity is currently a cadet teacher in Mrs. Bailey’s Kindergarten class and enjoys working with young students.
Her favorite part of the Persimmon Festival is spending time with family on parade day.
Madison Smith in her casual attire 
Madison Smith in her dress
Madison Grace Smith
Madison is a Junior at MHS and is the daughter of Jennifer and Justin Smith. She is currently a member of the MHS Stingerz Dance Team. Her extracurricular activities include student council and being on the spirit committee.
Her favorite part of the Persimmon Festival is hanging out with friends and eating persimmon pudding.
Katy Sykes in her casual attire 
Katy Sykes in her dress
Kathryn Marie (Katy) Sykes
Katy is a Senior at MHS and is the daughter of Chris and Holly Thompson; and the late Nathan Sykes. She is currently on the MHS cheer squad and is the manager of the MHS wrestling team. Katy spent her summer being a lifeguard. Katy is currently an assistant dance teacher at Turning Out Dance Company.
Her favorite part of the Persimmon Festival is seeing her out of town family members, who aren’t able to make it out regularly.
