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The 2025 Lanesville Heritage Weekend Queen Contest kicked off with celebration and history as the community marked the 50th anniversary of the beloved tradition. Emceed by Angie Fenton, the evening highlighted not only the crowning of a new queen but also the legacy of grace, confidence, and community pride that has defined the pageant for five decades.
This year’s event was sponsored by Countryside Insurance Agency, owned by co-director and 1986 Heritage Queen Susan Wathen, which is also preparing to celebrate its own 50th anniversary.
The panel of judges was made up entirely of former Heritage Queens. Spring Howg Harris (1983), a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist; Morgan Wills (1997), a senior attorney for the Indiana Department of Child Services; and Daria Zollman (2002), CFO of Generations Ag Inc., each brought their unique experiences back to the stage where their own journeys once began.
At the conclusion of the evening, Sophia Smith, a 17-year-old junior and daughter of April and Jeffery Smith, was crowned the 2025 Lanesville Heritage Weekend
Queen. The runner-up title went to Addyson Simcoe, a 15-year-old sophomore and daughter of Mary and Dennis Simcoe. Miss Congeniality was awarded to Lilian Cates, a 15-year-old sophomore and daughter of Christy and Nathan Cates.
With a proud history behind it and another generation of young women stepping forward, the Lanesville Heritage Weekend Queen Contest remains a hallmark of community tradition and celebration.
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