Seven of Sequim’s finest young women competed to be selected for the 2012 Sequim Irrigation Festival royal court on Saturday, March 3: Abigail Berry, Amanda Dronenburg, Chyrell Jones, Courtney Cassal, Natalie Stevenson, Arianna Flores and Bailey Thomas.

After about two hours of the contestants’ demonstrating poise under pressure, Abigail Berry was chosen as queen and as princesses Amanda Dronenburg, Natalie Stevenson and Arianna Flores.

Their sponsors are, respectively, Solar City’s Tesa Boutique & Tanning Retreat; Inspired!; Jose’s Famous Salsa House; and Graysmarsh Farms, Inc.

All are juniors. In the above order, their parents are Dr. Jay and Judy Berry; Robert and Charity Dronenburg; Craig and Rebecca Stevenson; and Arturo and Herlinda Flores.

Bailey Thomas, also a junior and the daughter of Kim Thomas, was voted “Miss Congeniality” by her peers and received the Tracie Sofie Memorial Award.

Berry also received The Jim Carl Queen’s Scholarship award.

Junior royalty court members from Greywolf Elementary School are King Jarrett Allen, 11, son of Shelly Allen and Andy and Angie Allen; and Queen Mikayla Halady, 9, daughter of Elizabeth and Dan Halady.

Helen Haller Elementary representatives are King Oscar Walchenbach, 9, son of Melinda McCoy and Peter Walchenbach; and Queen Stephanie Calderon, 9, daughter of Evelin and Miguel Najera.

Cindy Bacon, pageant chairman for the past 13 years, was recognized for her work in organizing the festival. She turns over the reins to Lynn Horton, who has been the “festival mom” for several years.

The Irrigation Festival runs the weekends of May 4-6 and May 11-13 with the theme, “117 and Still Growin’ Green!”