VERSAILLES — Abigail White was crowned Miss Chick 2017 Saturday during the Versailles Poultry Days Festival.
Abigail is a 2017 Versailles High School Graduate, heading to Bowling Green University to study Special Needs Education. She found the win to be very humbling, she said.
“It’s going to be an amazing opportunity to represent my community, my family and to empower women,” she said. “And the community – I want to say ‘thank you’ for everything you have done for me.”
It seems that Abigail is keeping up a family tradition. Her sister Elizabeth was crowned Miss Chick, in 2014. Elizabeth gave Abigail a little help practicing interview questions. But her greatest advice to her little sister was to be herself.
“I am so incredibly proud of her,” Elizabeth said. “I was up there screaming. It’s just such a beautiful thing. I encouraged her to compete because I had such an amazing experience with it and wanted to share in that tradition with her. She is an incredible young woman and I know she will be an amazing role model to all the young girls.”
Miss Chick 2017 First Runner-up is Stephanie Bechtol and Second Runner-up is Megan Marchal. This is the pageant’s 66th year of celebrating vibrant, dynamic young women, according to Pageant Co-Chair Amanda Borchers. Her sister Madelyn was also a Pageant Chair. Saturday’s Judges included: Calvin Rose, HoosierMama Captain and Poultry Days Ultimate Community Representative; Jennifer Subler, Miss Chick 2009 and Brian Henry, 2016 Poultry Days Chairman. Pageant Interview Judges included: Linda Moody, Daily Advocate retired; Scott Ward, WTGR Tiger Radio 97.5; Calvin Rose, HoosierMama Captain and Poultry Days Ultimate Community Representative and Beth Simmons, Former Miss Chick Chair. The Mistress of Ceremonies was Erin McKibben, Miss Chick 2002.
In addition to Abigail White, daughter of Ron and Rachel White, sponsor Versailles FFA; the eight women that competed for Miss Chick 2017 are: Cori Lawrence, daughter of Dan and Lori Lawrence, sponsor Versailles Cheerleading Association; Megan Marchal, daughter of Mark and Elaine Marchal, sponsor Mike’s Montes; Stephanie Bechtol, daughter of David and Karron Bechtol, sponsor Brown Chiropractic; Morgan Heitkamp, daughter of Brian and Mechelle Heitkamp, sponsor Encore! Showchoir; Alexandria Less, daughter of Mike and Deborah Less, sponsor Laux Seed Solutions, LLC., and Arcanum FFA; Anna Groff, daughter of Chris and Denise Groff, Sponsor Pohl Transportation; Amber Barga; daughter of Marvin and Theresa Barga, sponsor The Herb Pantry; Chloe Rawlins, daughter of Keith and Jennifer Rawlins, sponsor Versailles Towne and Country Players.
Contestants were judged on the following basis, each category worth 25 percent of the total points earned: Appearance; Clothing; Poise – ability to speak and platform presence and Personal Interview.
In addition to the honor of representing Poultry Days during their reign, the 2017 court also enjoyed the largest cash prize offered in the contest’s history according to Pageant Co-Chair Amanda Borchers. Abigail received a crown, flowers, a plaque and $400; Bechtol received flowers, a plaque, and $200 and Marchal received flowers, a plaque and $150. Members of the Miss Chick court promote the festival throughout their reign acting as ambassadors to the Ultimate Frisbee community that participates in the tournament held in conjunction with the festival and at several other local festivals. The court members have also participated in philanthropic events that raise funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and the Wounded Warrior Project as well as their own philanthropy event, Confident Chicks Night.
The pageant sponsors were Versailles Savings & Loan and Versailles Poultry Days.
