By By NORMA LERNER / Niles Daily Star
CASSOPOLIS - For nine-year-old Hannah Montgomery of Edwardsburg who was crowned princess Saturday night during the Cass County Fair's king and queen, prince and princess contest, she wanted to do something at the fair besides show her Shetland Sheep dog and decorate a cake so she signed up for the pageant. She had no idea she would win in a field of 18 contestants. The fair's royalty will reign over the 154th annual fair which starts today at the fairgrounds on North O'Keefe Street.
Most of all, though, Hannah likes to "hang out" with her friends and likes to camp at the fair with her parents. A fourth-grader in the Edwardsburg school district, she is the daughter of Jeff and Kellie Montgomery and belongs to the Flaming Youth 4-H club.
She will reign as princess with Kyle Miller, 13, of Niles who was crowned prince, Jeff Peterson, 19, of Niles who was crowned king, and Kaylie Harrington, 17, of Dowagiac who was crowned queen.
Kyle is the son of Herbert and Joyce Miller and belongs to the Country Trail Blazers 4-H club. He shows beef steers and pigs. The eighth grader likes to hang out with his cousins and his friends.
Peterson is the son of Gail and Mary Lou Peterson and shows beef steers and hogs. He too likes being with his friends and just having "fun." He is a student at Black Hawk College and will transfer to Michigan State University at a later time to study agriculture to help out at his parents 300 head beef steer farm.
Kaylie is a student at Ross Beatty High School in Cassopolis and is the daughter of Donald and Angela Harrington. She shows still exhibits as an open exhibitor and enjoys watching the demolition derbies.
First runner up princess was Meg Hein of Niles, and first runner up prince was Anthony Kidman.
First runner up king was Justin Dejardin, and first runner up queen was Ashley Solloway of Cassopolis.
Other princess contestants were Victoria Wright, Marissa Laskowski, Ashley French, Arrianna Miner, Allie Hoyt, Jessica Burnham, Libby Hein, Nichole Hiscock, Amanda Bedell, Kassandra Cottrell, Carly Polomcak, Rachel Kidman, Gabraelle Parrish, Lauran Burnham, Tory Treat and Ashley Light.
Other prince contestants were Aaron Parrish, Logan Polomcak, Justin Scoggin and Jason Scoggin.
Other king contestants were Leign Williamson and Randolph Ahonen Jr.
Other queen contestants were Anna Harwell, Ashlie Maxam and Rachael Reeves.
Co-chairpersons of the pageant were Beth Smego and Nicole Smego, both of Cassopolis.
The theme of the pageant was Nascar racing.