Reese Minnette has been attending the Strawberry Festival for as long as she can remember, and now she has been named the festival queen.
As a kid the festival served as a meeting ground for her and her friends as summer began. It also provided many summer pets for Minnette and her younger brothers as they would try to win fish from the kids area.
Being the Strawberry Festival Queen is a year round job for Minnette and she said she is most looking forward to volunteering and giving back to the community.
“To be the Strawberry Festival Queen, it’s awesome,” Minnette said. “I love Crawfordsville, I’ve lived here my whole life ... so being able to give back to the community is what means the most to me.”
Jessica McClamroch, Strawberry Festival Queen and Junior Royal Contest Chairman, said they are thankful to celebrate the festival and queen contest this year, even though the interview process looked a little different. Contestants submitted a video introducing themselves and interviews for the court took place via FaceTime. The winners were then announced on social media and a private crowning ceremony was held for the court.
“You know we’re just really grateful to be able to have a festival this year, and we’re looking forward to having an in-person program next year, whatever that may look like,” McClamroch said.
Minnette is the daughter of Kent and Erica Minnette and is a senior at Crawfordsville High School. There she participates in the school’s dance team, show choir, tennis team and is the manager for the volleyball team, as well as various clubs and service organizations.
Her older sister, Reagan Minnette, won the contest in 2019 and is part of the reason Reese chose to enter the contest this year.
“It’s such a rewarding process you become more confident, you just grow as a person, and seeing what that did for her (Reagan),” Minnette said. “This year, my mom was like, ‘You’re going to do it and you know whatever happens, you’ll be fine.’ And then starting the process and meeting the girls, I was so glad that I did.”
When not in school or involved in extracurriculars, she can be found singing and spending time with her friends and family.
Next year she plans to go to college in Indiana, although she hasn’t decided where yet, to study nursing. Her plans are to become a registered nurse or a nurse practitioner.
This weekend Minnette can be found walking the grounds of Lane Place with the rest of the court, Rylie Koopman, first runner-up, Hadley Broadwater, second runner-up, and Morgan Meadows, Miss Congeniality. The court will be at many of the events this weekend . Some of their duties will include selling tickets in the kids area, volunteering at the 5K and introducing acts on the main stage.
Minnette is encouraging festival goers, new and old, to attend the Strawberry Festival this weekend on the grounds of Lane Place in Crawfordsville.
