Four finalists from a field of 20 were announced Saturday in the competition to become queen of the 2011 National Cherry Festival.
The judges chose Jordan Blaker, Evelynne Mende, Stephanie Neville and Laura M. Patmore.
The selections came after three days of preliminaries hosted by the current queen, Maria LaCross, at the Great Wolf Lodge. The judges interviewed each candidate in a series of four personal interviews, and each competitor spoke about the cherry industry.
Each of the finalists will receive a $1,000 scholarship award to the school of her choice and a festival wardrobe provided by Younkers. They will advance to the final round of competition during the Cherry Festival, which is scheduled for July 2-9 in Traverse City. The new queen will be crowned on the evening of July 8 during festivities at the City Opera House.
More about the finalists:
n Blaker graduated from Gaylord High School in 2008. She is enrolled in The Young Americans College — and performs with the Young Americans — and North Central Michigan University, studying business administration. She is the daughter of Bill and Angel Blaker, of Gaylord, and is sponsored by Blaker Realty.
n Mende is a 2007 graduate of Traverse City Central High School and a 2011 graduate of the University of Michigan, with a degree in secondary math education. She is the daughter of Ed and Kim Mende and is sponsored by Doug Murdick's Fudge and Optimal Capital Fiduciary Wealth Adviser Jay Batcha.
n Neville is a 2009 graduate of Michigan State University with a bachelor's degree in communications. She is the daughter of Tim Neville and is sponsored by Advanced Painting Technologies.
n Patmore is a 2005 graduate of Suttons Bay High School and a 2010 graduate of Aquinas College. She is attending Grand Valley State University working toward a master's degree in education. She's sponsored by Send Receiving Station and Gray and Co.
2011 Cherry Festival
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Blaker
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Mende
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Neville
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Patmore
Cherry Festival queen finalists named
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Reader photo contest winner announced
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Festival relatively calm for police
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Visitors, locals enjoy the moment
Summing up the 2011 National Cherry Festival is simple: sunshine and smiles.
Continued ... - Saturday, July 9, 2011
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Blaker crowned Cherry Queen
Welcome to the sisterhood, Jordan Blaker. Crowned the 2011-2012 National Cherry Queen on Friday night during the Coronation Ball, Blaker is the 85th woman to earn the honor.
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Cherry treats tempt festival tastebuds
The National Cherry Festival offers plenty of good food choices. Local and traveling vendors are on hand.
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Quadriplegic to walk 5K today
The farthest Grant Forrester has walked is a little more than a mile. But he's determined to walk today's 5K in the Festival of Races, part of the National Cherry Festival.
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Farm shows cherry growing methods
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Green Day highlights renewable energy, technology
Windmills, solar panels and electric cars joined inflated beer cans and giant cows Friday on the Open Space as the festival held Green Day for the fourth consecutive year.
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- Friday, July 8, 2011
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Video: Ultimate Air Dogs 2011
The Ultimate Air Dogs, part of the 2011 National Cherry Festival, features dogs competing for longest leap into a water-filled pool.
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Four-paw leap ends in splash
The first day of Ultimate Air Dogs competition had more than the 75-plus registered canines getting wet.
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Cherry Festival Schedule: 07/08/2011
Today at the National Cherry Festival.
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Video: Junior Royale Parade
The National Cherry Festival Junior Royale Parade winds down Front and Union streets Thursday evening in downtown Traverse City.
Continued ... - Thursday, July 7, 2011
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Cherry Festival races stay fresh
The Cherry Festival's annual Festival of Races are among the oldest and most popular road races in the area. Yet, there seems to be something new every year.
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Winners return to Golden Mile
Saturday's Golden Mile will have a familiar look. Several runners are returning to Traverse City for the elite race, including a pair of former champions.
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Parents: Special Kids Day is a 'gift'
Hundreds of special-needs children and their families came to the Open Space for fun and games at the Cherry Festival, including camel rides, a petting zoo, fire truck rides and a swing designed for wheelchairs.
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Style takes center stage at show
Her reign as National Cherry Festival queen ends soon, but Maria LaCross used part of one of her last days of royalty to share a runway with some former and one future festival queen.
Continued ... - Cherry Festival Schedule: 07/07/2011
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Cherries show up in unexpected places
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Recipe of the Week: Perfect Cherry Pie
The people at Cherry Republic suggested using Ruby Red Morsels on cereal, yogurt, plain or in this humbly named recipe.
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Children showcase animals at F&M Park
A morning menagerie filled F&M Park.
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Senior award winner fights Parkinson's
Hettie Molvang, nurse and advocate for people with Parkinson's disease and their families, is this year's National Cherry Festival Distinguished Senior Citizen.
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Cherry Festival Schedule: 07/06/2011
Today at the National Cherry Festival.
Continued ... - Tuesday, July 5, 2011
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Video: Cherry Festival Powwow
Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians held its annual National Cherry Festival powwow Tuesday at the Open Space in Traverse City.
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Fourth of July dedicated to Heroes
Military members, public safety officers and homeland security staff were honored for their service at the National Cherry Festival Heroes' Day.
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Cherry Festival schedule: 07/05/2011
Today at the National Cherry Festival:
Continued ... - Monday, July 4, 2011
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Craft fair, autos draw thousands
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Cherry Festival 2011 schedule: 07/04/2011
Events scheduled for today’s National Cherry Festival
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Few elected officials in Cherry Royale parade
The National Cherry Festival trimmed the number of elected officials in its Cherry Royale Parade. The festival invited only Gov. Rick Snyder and five federal office-holders: U.S. Sens. Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin, plus U.S. Reps. Dave Camp, Bill Huizenga and Dan Benishek.
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Cherry Fest kicks off 2011 edition
Bob and Heather Benson didn’t know what they were getting into. They rolled into Traverse City on Friday and received a quick education to northern Michigan; unbeknownst to them, the National Cherry Festival was right on their tail.
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Police to beef up patrols this week
Local authorities plan to increase patrols this week as the National Cherry Festival rolls into town.
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Today at the Cherry Festival
Four-Person Beach Volleyball Tournament
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Today's tournament features Co-Ed Open (18 teams), Co-Ed Recreational (12 teams) and Women's (6 teams) play. - Saturday, July 2, 2011
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Today’s Cherry Festival schedule
NCF Presidential Cherry Pancake Breakfast; Million Dollar Hole-In-One Golf Contest; Two-Person Beach Volleyball Tournament; and more
Continued ... - Friday, July 1, 2011
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Record-Eagle holds reader photo contest
Grab your camera and head down to the 2011 National Cherry Festival for your chance to win a 10-person suite to a Beach Bums home game.
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Author Elmore Leonard at Cherry Festival
Elmore Leonard will be at the National Cherry Festival Saturday, July 2.
Continued ... - Wednesday, June 29, 2011
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'Buzz' about town as Cherry Festival nears
Tents, power lines, trailers, stages and more continue to pile up at the Open Space this week in preparation for the National Cherry Festival.
Continued ... - Friday, June 10, 2011
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Cherry Fest lineup, Carpenter announced
The National Cherry Festival has announced its music lineup and the City Opera House announced Mary Chapin Carpenter will be performing there.
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- Elmore Leonard coming to Cherry Festival
- Sunday, May 22, 2011
- Friday, May 20, 2011
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20 vie for Cherry Queen title
Twenty candidates are competing for National Cherry Queen. Four finalists will be chosen this weekend and announced in Sunday's Record-Eagle.
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