EATON — The 52nd Annual Preble County Pork Festival has announced the candidates for this year’s Pork Festival Royalty Contest which will be held Saturday, May 20, at Preble County Council on Aging, 800 E. St. Clair Street, Eaton.

The contest, open to all persons between the ages of 17-24 residing in Preble County, will crown two of the following applicants as Queen & Princess: Karmen Huff of Camden, daughter of Adam Huff and Lucy Wells, and a student at Preble Shawnee; Tatum Durbin of Eaton, daughter of Todd and Lisa White, a student at Miami University; Allie Plaugher of Eaton, daughter of Paul and Tish Plaugher and a student at Wright State and Kendall Rose Miller of Eaton, the daughter of Joe and Malissa Miller.

The queen and princess participants will be judged on a one-on-one interview, five-minute speech, and live answer questions at the contest event. Winners will represent the Pork Festival to the best of their ability throughout the year.

The queen winner will receive $1,000, a tiara, sash, two meal tickets, a gift basket, and will represent the Pork Festival at all related events and meet and greets.

The princess winner will receive $500, a tiara, sash, two meal tickets, and a gift basket.

This year’s emcee will be Dave Patrick of Richmond radio station, Kicks96.

The Preble County Pork Festival has a longstanding history with the community and the 2023 Pork Festival Royalty winners will join a network of support from past royal courts to carry on the tradition.

The purpose of the Pork Festival is to provide education and further the pork industry, a once-staple of Preble County growth. The Preble County Pork Festival is a non-profit 501-C5 organization dedicated to education surrounding the pork industry and giving back to the community. It is only made possible by the hard work of volunteers, the generosity of sponsors and most importantly, the droves of attendees who attend the festival every year.