BUCYRUS — Beth Lawson was crowned queen at the 25th anniversary of the Bucyrus Bratwurst Festival in 1992. On the 50th anniversary of the local three-day event, her daughter, Allison Lawson, continued the tradition.
Family was the word on every contestant’s mouth during Thursday night’s Bucyrus Bratwurst Festival Queen’s Pageant, but it was the Lawson family that came out on top. As Allison Lawson sat in a wooden chair in the center of the AEP Energy Stage, tears rolled down her cheeks while a crown was placed on her head by last year’s queen, Cayte Pojman.
Ten years ago, a younger Allison Lawson had a similar, smaller crown placed upon her head when she was named Bratwurst Festival Junior Princess. It seemed inevitable that her history, combined with her mother’s, would end with Allison carrying a bouquet of flowers, a sash across her body and a crown glittering atop her head.
“It’s a great honor, we’re so super excited,” Beth Lawson said as she watched her daughter pose for photos with her court, grabbing a quick hug from the teen. “We’ve talked about this for years, how she’s always wanted to run and run this year because it’s the 50th, it’s a big anniversary. It’s just cool. I’m really happy.”
Tears sparkled on Allison’s cheeks for a long time after her name was announced, but they were paired with a brilliant smile that never seemed to dim.
“It was shocking,” Allison admitted when she heard her named called. “I didn’t think I did the greatest. I’m so proud of my mom and what she has taught me. It’s really cool to pass on the legacy from my mom being the 25th anniversary to me being the 50th.”
The newest Bratwurst Festival Queen was ready to take on all the duties required of her.
“I can’t wait to travel the state of Ohio and represent the beautiful community of Bucyrus and the German heritage we have to offer,” Allison added, “especially since we’re the most eatingest festival in Ohio and we have the best bratwurst in America.”
As for the next two days of the festival, Allison was excited to hand out the awards for all the contests.
Joining Allison on the 2017 court are first runner-up Victoria Adams and second runner-up Sarah Campbell. The girls were judged on their walk, posture, grace, sense of confidence, personality, and stage presence. Initial interviews were held Thursday afternoon and the contestants were judged during the parade as well as on their introductions and fishbowl questions.
Emmelia Bloomfield was selected as Miss Congeniality.
For the first time, a Bratwurst Festival Princess Pageant was held for girls ages 11 to 13. Abigail Martin, a seventh grader at Colonel Crawford, was crowned Bratwurst Princess. Hannah Scott received first runner-up honors and Addison Kemery was named second runner-up.
Martin was as emotional as her Queen counterpart as she accepted her congratulations, tears rolling down her cheeks as she attempted to speak.
“I’d like to thank my mom for being an amazing role model for me,” Martin said. “It feels amazing. I feel so honored.”
Sheila Nickum, co-chair of the Bratwurst Festival Pageant, helmed a bigger program than usual this year. With the 50th anniversary underway, Nickum and her co-chair, Tessa Starner, a 2014 Bratwurst Festival Queen, reached out to past queens and invited them to the celebration. Nickum noted there were 65 queens and runners-up in attendance for the big anniversary.
Those queens and court members will be featured in Saturday’s Queens Parade and at the Queens Luncheon.
“It’s been special because tracking all those people down, I’ve heard so many stories, which is great. It’s one of the reasons I do this – I get to meet so many people, I get to work with the girls,” Nickum said.
She noted the importance of connecting current contestants to their past counterparts.
“Having the past queens and being the 50th is great for the contestants, too, because they see how special and how much being queen and part of this is. Tessa was queen, she knows – it’s memories that last a lifetime.”
