UNION – As twilight fell on the fairgrounds the first day of the 139th Union Fair and 49th annual Maine Blueberry Festival on Sunday, antique cars one by one carried the 11 women competing for the title of 2008 Maine Wild Blueberry Queen along the racetrack to the grandstand.

The candidates had attended a coronation banquet Saturday at the Samoset Resort in Rockport. On Sunday they were introduced during opening ceremonies at the fairgrounds.

After an introduction Sunday evening by Barry Norris, president of the Union Fair executive committee, the contestants were ready for the judging.

Kaitlin Drake, the 2007 queen, addressed the crowd in the grandstand and talked about how significant her title had been in her life the past year. Some suspense built as each contestant was asked a different question about the blueberry industry in Maine, which they all answered successfully.

Frederick B. Lunt Jr. of the Maine Department of Agriculture addressed the crowd as he stepped up to crown the queen.

“Greetings, everybody, from Governor John Baldacci and regrets from Commissioner of Agriculture Seth Bradstreet, who was unable to be with us this evening,” Lunt said.

He then proceeded to place the crown on winner Shelby Chadwick, 22, of Warren. The daughter of Jerry and Sharon Chadwick of Warren, she is a 2004 graduate of Medomak Valley High School and a 2008 alumna of the University of Maine. She plans to seek employment in the social service and government sectors in Maine.

Chelsea Pingree, 21, of Rockport, daughter of Steve and Deb Pingree of Rockport, was chosen Crown Princess. She is a 2005 graduate of Camden Hills Regional High School and a senior at Emmanuel College.

Ashley Bailey, 18, of Wiscasset was chosen by her peers as Miss Congeniality. The daughter of Wanda Bailey of Wiscasset, Ashley is a 2008 graduate of Wiscasset High School.

Awards for first, second and third places are $1,500, $500 and $200, respectively.

The new queen will reign over the festival until its completion Aug. 23 and serve for one year as a representative of the Union Fair Society.

The Union Fair continues through Saturday.

gchappell@bangordailynews.net

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