Megan Carlson

My name is Megan Carlson, daughter of Marv and Pam Carlson. I am 17 years old and the eldest of three other siblings: Derek, Hannah, and Rayna Carlson.

This fall will mark the beginning of my final year at Gaylord High School. After graduating in the spring, I hope to attend Lake Superior State University to pursue a degree in Criminal Justice with an emphasis on Homeland Security. Additionally, I hope to participate on the Lakers’ NCAA Division II Track and Field team.

The 2010 Otsego County Fair Queen’s Pageant was a remarkable experience. I had the pleasure of meeting eight beautiful girls, each with their own unique personality. We shared many laughs at our weekly practices where we learned how to walk, talk, and learn the ropes of being a queen. Thank goodness we had pageant directors Kristen Payton and Amanda Cook Greenman to guide us with their experience. Learning to be a queen was not easy, but they taught us everything we needed to know in order to be prepared for the pageant, an event that, for me and two other girls, was the beginning of a momentous year of fun experiences and lasting memories.

I could not possibly ask for a better court. Paige Heumann and Anna Kassuba have made my reign unforgettable. With them, there is never a dull moment. These girls possess all the characteristics of true role models: beauty, intelligence, humor and class.

The most important thing that I will take from my reign as queen is knowing how much work goes into the Otsego County Fair. I never realized how hard it was to milk a cow, wash a pig, show an animal, or do all the dirty work that goes along with it. There are so many people behind the scenes that make our fair so fantastic. For that, I would like to thank all the farming families of Otsego County; the Fair Board for coordinating and organizing our fair, and to our entire community for their support. Thanks again for going above and beyond to make our fair so spectacular!

Additionally, I would like to thank my sponsor, Johnson Oil Co., for supporting me in my reign. The moral support and encouragement they provided me with was outstanding. They would always remind me of God’s love, and that through Him, I can do anything. Furthermore, I would like to thank my family and my coach for working with my busy schedule, Kristen Payton and Amanda Cook Greenman for directing the pageant and guiding me throughout my reign, and God for this truly unforgettable experience he has provided me with.

To the 2011 Otsego County Fair Queen, enjoy your journey as queen. Embrace it. Enjoy it. Remember it. Savor every moment, because it will be over before you know it. And to all the aspiring girls out there, remember there is a queen in all of us!