Miss Carroll County 2009 is Haley Richardson, seated. She is surrounded by her court. They are (l to r): Alisha Hedrick, 2nd runner-up; Denise Kendall, third runner-up and Miss Congeniality; and Aubree Herron, 1st runnerup. Comet photo Eighteen-year-old Haley Alise Richardson of Flora is Miss Carroll County 2009.

She was crowned Saturday night at the 52nd annual pageant held in the show arena at the 4-H fairgrounds in Flora.

Her court includes first runner-up Aubree Rene Herron, 19, of Cutler; second runner-up Alisha Nicole Hedrick, 18, of Bringhurst; and third runner-up and Miss Congeniality Denise Rachel Kendall, 19, of Camden.

During fair week, the queen and her court attend all livestock shows, participate in the 4-H Parade, help at the livestock auction, and work all week to support the fair.

Miss Richardson will compete in August for the title of Miss Indiana State Fair Queen. She is the youngest of three daughters of Steve and Bethellen Richardson.

Her sponsors are Portraits by Lori and Denton Farms.

A 2009 graduate of Delphi Community High School, Miss Richardson will be attending Purdue University in the fall. Because of her broad range of interests, she has decided to wait to declare a major.

During high school, she participated in Key Club, French Club. FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes), and Battle of the Books. This past year she served as president of National Honor Society and as treasurer of Student Council.

She was a member of the DCHS volleyball and tennis teams and began diving two winters ago.

She is completing her tenth year in 4- H and is exhibiting beef and swine projects.

This summer Miss Richardson is working as a lifeguard at the Tropicana Cove in Lafayette. She is also volunteering as a tennis instructor at a community tennis camp for children.

As winner, the queen receives an array of gifts including tiara, Baker Funeral Home; trophy, Reinke Funeral Home; diamond necklace, Sisson & Son Jewelers; $100 savings bond, Wise & Wise Farms; $50 savings bond, Carroll County Extension Homemakers; cash, Farm Bureau Insurance, Fisher's Restaurant, Wise & Wise Farms, Ives & Ives Attorneys, and Harry D. Jones, D.D.S.; gift certificate, The Stone House Restaurant; Longaberger basket, Pam Michael, independent Longaberger national sales leader; video of pageant, Channel 2; magnetic sign, queen committee; 11x14 picture and complimentary session, Portraits by Lori; gift basket, Tan Line & Balloons; and five mega tan visits, Sand Tones.

First runner-up Aubree Herron is the daughter of Tom and Sarina Herron. She is a 2008 graduate of Carroll Jr.-Sr. High School and will be a sophomore this fall at Ball State University where she is majoring in early childhood education and elementary education. After obtaining her bachelor's degree, she wants to teach third grade.

At Ball State, Miss Herron is an active member of "B-Stud," a women's Bible study that is a branch of Campus Crusade for Christ. She is also involved with Educators in Action and College Mentors for Kids.

This fall she will serve as co-founder and president of Scrappy-Do, the only scrapbooking club at Ball State University.

Miss Herron is working this summer for Burlington Church of Christ.

Her sponsors are Burlington Community Club and Sassy's Salon.

Her prizes include: tiara, Rinehart Realtors & Auctioneers; trophy, Stephan's IGA; $100 savings bonds, St. Elizabeth Healthcare Center and U.S. Engineering Aggregates - Delphi Limestone; $50 savings bonds, Carroll County Extension Homemakers; cash, Flora Psi Iota Xi, Wise & Wise Farms, Ayres Hardware Co., Dr. D.J. Harmon, and Armstrong Drilling; gift certificates, The Stone House Restaurant, Flora Pizza King, and Carroll County Tire.

Second runner-up Alisha Hedrick is the daughter of Jim and Trudie Hedrick. In the fall she plans to attend Purdue University, where she will major in agricultural business and marketing and minor in Spanish.

Miss Hedrick attended three different high schools in four years, graduating in May from Carroll Jr.-Sr. High School. She has been actively involved in FFA for four years, serving in various leadership capacities. She has also been involved during her high school years with soccer, girls basketball, Key Club, Pep Club, and National Honor Society.

This past school year she served as a fourth grade tutor on Wednesday evenings at Carroll Elementary School and was an emcee for Carroll's Talent Show, an annual scholarship student fundraising event.

She is a 10-year 4-H member and will be exhibiting in the sheep and swine shows.

Miss Hedrick is working this summer at Dick's Sporting Goods in Lafayette.

Her sponsor is WP Electric.

As second runner-up her prizes are: tiara, Payne's Pharmacy; trophy, Eikenberry Fine Furniture; $100 savings bond, U.S. Engineering Aggregates- Delphi Limestone; $50 savings bond, Carroll County Extension Homemakers; cash, Jackson-Lee-Pearson John Deere, Dr. Steven Herr, Geno's Pizza & Ice Cream, Hufty Alignment & Radiator Service, Cut & Curl; gift certificates, The Stone House, Flora Pizza King and Carroll County Tire; gift basket, Earth Pur LLC - Susan Matthews; and mega tan visit, Sand Tones.

Denise Kendall is third runner up, as well as Miss Congeniality. She is the daughter of Tim and Judy Kendall. A 2009 graduate of Delphi Community High School, she will attend Ball State University in the fall to study journalism and photojournalism. After earning her bachelor's degree, she wants to work as a traveling journalist.

During high school, Miss Kendall was involved in several clubs and organizations including S.A.D.D., Chess Club and French Club and participated in soccer, track, girls basketball, swimming and diving. She also participated in marching band, pep band and concert band and was a writer for her school's newspaper staff.

She is a 10-year 4-H member and is involved in swine, horse and pony, sheep and shooting sports projects.

This summer she is helping with her family's business and working at the Carroll County Country Club Pro Shop in Delphi.

Her sponsors are Kendall Excavating, Jackson Livewires 4-H Club, and K. Fisher Drywall.

The third runner-up's gifts include: tiara, Carroll County Comet; trophy, Mann Chevrolet Buick; $50 savings bond, Carroll County Extension Homemakers; cash, The Storage Shed, Obear, Overholser, Huffer & Rider Law Office, Abbott Funeral Home, and Betty's Stop & Shop; gift certificate, Parrett's Meat Processing; and large umbrella, Regions Bank.

Miss Congeniality is voted by her peers. Her gifts include: tiara, Fielding's Jewelry & Time; trophy, Carman Excavating; flowers, The Carousel; $50 savings bond, Lafayette Bank & Trust; cash, Abbott Realty, Abbott Funeral Home, Collisions Unlimited, Dr. Harry Jones D.D.S., Zinn Kitchens, Hufty Alignment & Radiator Service, and Queen Committee; gift certificate, Parrett's Meat Processing, Flora Pizza King, and The Stone House Restaurant; and two-month gift membership, Curves of Delphi.

The queen and her court each received a sash, provided by the Carroll County Ag Association; flowers from The Flower Shoppe I & II; and a gift basket from Sassy's.

They also each received an F.Y.I. Spa Set, Connie Cripe, independent consultant, Arbonne; cash, Salin Bank & Trust and Indy Spine & Rehab, Ryan Van Matre D.C.; free fair dinner, Leadership Carroll County; gift certificate, Monicals; free combo meals, Arby's and McDonald's; a chair and stationary from Dick Krieg Motors; free car wash, Pam Ennis, realtor; and free embroidery work, The Stitching Line.

Emcees were Miss Carroll County 2008 Kayleigh Morgan and Rob Kauffman. Serving as escorts were Primmer Zook and A.J. Beckett.

Prejudging for contestants accounted for 60 percent of their total score. Saturday evening they were judged on public pageant presence, business wear evening gowns, and impromptu questions for the remaining 40 percent of their score.