This week on KSST Radio and Channel 18 TV, we will interview current Queen Jaci Reed and all eight contestants for the 2018 title of Hopkins County Dairy Festival Queen, in the order that they will appear on Pageant night. All the contestants entered as 17-year-old Juniors in local high schools, and all will be Seniors when school starts this Fall. Each is very excited about the Pageant on Saturday June 16 at 7 pm in the SSISD Auditorium in the Civic Center, and all have tickets for purchase. We started the interviews on Tuesday June 12 with the first three ladies.
L. to R. Kaitlyn Ferrill, Cassidy Winborn and Alexis Lopez
Contestant # 1 Kaitlyn Ferrill, daughter of Jeremy and Kristi Ferrill, enjoys being a member of the SSHS Marching and Symphonic Bands. She plays flute in band, and will play flute as her Pageant talent. For the Parade, her float featured a “pool party” theme and she says it was interesting transporting the float carrying an already-filled pool several miles to the Parade site! She also totally enjoyed the hot air balloon ride that evening. At the Pageant, Kaitlyn will model an evening gown in navy blue with glittering designs. She is appreciative to her sponsors Mothers Culture Club and Texas Farm Credit and her parents for all their help. During high school, she has a part-time job at Atwoods, and upon graduation from High School, she hopes to attend PJC for basics then transfer to pursue a degree in Psychology.
Contestant #2 Cassidy Winborn has been in dance instruction for 14 years, is a member of the SSHS Blue Blazes and FCCLA and competes in UIL events. Her two older sisters, Rachel and Anne-Marie, also entered the Dairy Festival during high school. Cassidy enjoyed the parade experience, the milking contest and both her hot air balloon rides during the first weekend of Dairy Festival. Her Pageant talent is dance, and for her evening gown, she and her mom, Jennifer Lansou, have hand-beaded chrystals onto her teal floral gown with train, for added sparkle. Her sponsors are Sulphur Springs Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram and The Propane Company. After high school, Cassidy plans to attend UT Tyler to study photography and to pursue a degree in Education.
Contestant #3 Alexis Lopez has served as SSHS Student Body President and is a Varsity Cheerleader. Her parents Angie and Juan Trevino and her brother Everett Jennings are among her biggest supporters during Dairy Festival, in addition to her sponsors Jay Hodge Chevrolet and the Texas Association of Dairymen. For the Parade, her family transported her amazing float all the way from Martin Springs to town, a slow 45-minute drive! Alexis is interested in a career as an anesthesiologist and is looking at two schools; UT Tyler and University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, because neither is too large or too far from home! On Pageant night, Alexis will model an evening gown with gold and black lace, and will do a poetry recitation for her talent presentation.
Meet all the contestants by listening to KSST Radio at 8:15AM each morning this week for additional interviews as part of the 2018 Dairy Festival coverage.
L. to R. Contestants #1 Kaitlyn Ferrill, #2 Cassidy Winborn and #3 Alexis Lopez.
