September 30, 2017 (Pageant photos coming soon) - Macey Jo Hanson was crowned the 2017 Miss East Texas Poultry Festival Queen during the coronation ceremony held Saturday, September 30, 2017 after fourteen beautiful contestant took to the stage with their escorts.
The 2016 Queen Madelynn Hutchins was escorted by Klay Adkinson. The 2017 Princesses were: Rebekah Bridges, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Willy Bridges, escorted by Brayden Strong, son of Mr. Michael Strong and Ms. Krista Warr; Paige Shedd, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Johnnie Shedd, escorted by Jacobi Jackson, son of Mrs. Barbara Jackson; Claire Spann, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kelly Spann, escorted by Bryce Cockrell, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lonnie Cockrell; Madison Russell, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Randy Russell, escorted by Jackson Cater, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Carter; Olivia Johnson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Shelby Johnson, escorted by Blaine Agnew, son of Mr. and Mrs. Scott Agnew; Alexis Berry, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Steven Berry, escorted by Kaleb Campbell, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jody Ferguson; Michalla Byrd, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Joe Byrd, escorted by John Penning, son of Mr. and Mrs. Tyson Penning; Katie Nehring, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Chad Nehring, escorted by Abram Morales, son of Mr. and Mrs. Rafael Morales; Hannah Grace Jamison, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Javey Jamison, escorted by Trevor Wilburn, son of Mr. and Mrs. Tommy Wilburn; Madison Hicks, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Hicks, escorted by Austin Williford, son of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Gray; Kiersten Elizabeth-Marie Turner, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jason Rodgers, escorted by Sam McSwain, son of the late Larry McSwain and Mr. and Mrs. John Jenkins; Victoria Cheyenne Byrnes, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Chris Byrnes, escorted by Keaton Watlington, son of Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Watlington; Macey Joe Hanson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mike Hanson, escorted by John Grogan, son of Mr. and Mrs. Chris Grogan; and Baylea Jane Bressman, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bobby Bressman, escorted by Axel Luna, son of Mr. and Mrs. Antonio Luna.
Children of the Court were Dru Moody, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Donnie Moody, escorted by Kiptyn Phelps, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Phelps; Jacie Lee, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Justin Lee, escorted by Conner Nutt, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Jerrod Nutt; and Bailey Miller, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Hughes and Mr. and Mrs. Cody Miller, escorted by Kayden Nutt, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Allen Mathews and Mr. and Mrs. Jerrod Nutt.
The top three contestants were Michalla Byrd, Kierten Elizabeth-Marie Turner, and Macey Jo Hanson. They were each asked the question by the master of ceremonies, Chris Watlington, "In a world full of followers, why do you think it is important to be a leader?"
Byrd responded, "I think it is very important to be a leader because you get to show others how the right way to go just like Jesus did in the Bible."
Turner responded, "In a world full of followers, I believe it is best to be a leader because... I think it's important to be your own person and let other people follow in your decisions in what you do and what you say, let who you are be shown and let everyone else see the light within your personality and who you are and want to be like you. Overall, I believe that it is important to be a leader and not a follower because when you are a leader people look up to you and it's a very high sense of independence and I just love that."
Hanson responded, "In a world of followers I believe its important to be a leader because sometimes people stray off their path and they need help... Five years ago, I was unfortunately diagnosed with a type of diabetes and thinking about a challenge I face everyday - it's a trial that you have to fight the good fight to win. And when I was sick in that hospital room, I had a very beautiful lady walk in, short blonde hair, I mean she lite up the room when she stepped in. And through all the changes I was dealing with in that moment in time, my world was falling apart is what I was telling myself and granted it was tough, but like I said, when she walked in she just lit the room up. And so ever since then I remember how I felt personally when she walked into that room and she asked 'Hey, how are you doing, my name is so and so, are you a cheerleader?' I said, 'Yes, ma'am, I'm a little sixth grade cheerleader.' She said, 'Do you make good grades?' I said, 'Yes, ma'am, I'm an all A student.' And she said, 'You know what, you are going to be ok, it's ok.' And so ever since that day, on January 7th of 2013, I told myself that's why I'm gonna make my career in the medical field. I'm gonna be there for people who need it at that moment in time because I've been to the bottom and I understand what it feels like and so, therefore, I'm gonna lead others and help them when needed."
The first runner up was Kierten Elizabeth-Marie Turner and the second runner up was Michalla Byrd
Additional awards presented during the ceremony were:
Parade Awards
Sweepstakes - Victoria Cheyenne Byrnes
President's Award - Madison Russell
Mayor's Award - Alexis Berry
Honorable Mention - Baylea Jane Bressman
Miss Congeniality - Madison Russell
Photogenic
Winner - Kiersten Elizabeth-Marie Turner
1st Runner Up - Michalla Byrd
2nd Runner Up - Rebekah Bridges
Essay
Winner - Claire Spann
1st Runner Up - Alexis Berry
2nd Runner Up - Hannah Grace Jamison and Paige Shedd
GPA (High School Academic Grade Point Average)
Winner - Michalla Byrd
1st Runner Up - Claire Spann
2nd Runner Up - Olivia Johnson
Participation and Honors in Activities
Winner - Claire Spann
1st Runner Up - Michalla Byrd
2nd Runner Up - Macey Jo Hanson
Social Skills
Winner - Macey Jo Hanson
1st Runner Up - Madison Russell
2nd Runner Up - Kiersten Elizabeth-Marie Turner
Interview
Winner - Macey Jo Hanson
1st Runner Up - Kiersten Elizabeth-Marie Turner
2nd Runner Up - Michalla Byrd and Claire Spann
Stage Presence
Winner - Kiersten Elizabeth-Marie Turner
1st Runner Up - Michalla Byrd
2nd Runner Up - Rebekah Bridges
Committee Award - Katie Nehring
Grand Duke Award - John Gavin Penning, Keaton Watlington, and Klay Adkinson
