The 2013 queens and their courts, pictured left to right: Simone Smith, Brittany Klingerman, Kelsie Patrick, Alexis Garcia, Chloe Mattiford, Allie Turtle. Leader Photo/AMBROSIA NELDON

Winners of this year’s Apple Festival pageant have a wide variety of pageant experience.

Kelsie Patrick, 19, of Buchanan, is a pageant veteran with titles such as Miss Teen Blossomtime, Miss Buchanan and  second runner-up to Miss Apple Festival in 2010.

Patrick, daughter of Cory and Tammy Patrick, is a sophomore at Michigan State University where she is studying to become a sports journalist. In her free time from pageants and schoolwork, Patrick plays intramural sports, models for Flourish Boutique in Granger, volunteers regularly and participates in journalistic student organizations.

For her on-stage question, Patrick was asked what she could do to combat bullying in schools.

“I would actually go into my school and make sure I have interpersonal relationships with everyone and befriend all so I can bring everyone together as a community,” she said.

Alexis Garcia, a freshman at Brandywine High School, was crowned Jr. Miss Apple Festival 2013 at her first pageant ever.

Garcia, the daughter of Tracie and Javier Garcia, plays voleyball and enjoys taking pictures. She said she joined the Apple Festival pageant because she aspires to be a role model for young girls. .

Garcia was asked what advice she would give her parents, to which she responded, “I would tell them to just relax. I’ll be a good kid and make the right de

Miss Congeniality and Jr. Miss Congeniality were both also crowned first runner-up, rounding the entire Apple Festival court to an even six instead of eight.

Brittany Klingerman, of Niles was crowned first runner-up and Miss Congniality. Klingerman enjoys competitive cheerleading, babysitting and reading. She was also Little Miss Niles when she was 6.

Chloe Mattiford was crowned first runner-up to Jr. Miss Congeniality 2013. Mattiford said that one day, she hopes to be a professional singer and dancer.

Simone Smith, was crowned second runner-up to Miss Apple Festival.  Smith said she has always wanted to compete in the pageant, and that the Apple Festival has always been her favorite time of year.

Allie Turtle was crowned second runner-up to Jr. Miss Apple Festival. In her spare time, Turtle makes bracelets to sell to raise money for cancer research.

The queens and their courts will make their first appearances this weekend at the pre-festival events, which can be found at fourflagsapplefestival.com.