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Brittany Birt is Miss Putnam County 2014
So excited was Brittany Birt at being crowned Miss Putnam County 2014 that 2013 queen Madison Marsteller had to crown her twice.
It wasn't that organizers planned the passing of the tiara to repeat itself, but after the big announcement Saturday evening at the Putnam County Fairgrounds Community Building and ensuing stroll up the catwalk to wave to the crowd, the newly-minted queen hugged First Runner-Up Aubrey Nichols with such force that her royal headwear popped right off.
The two South Putnam graduates are not just fellow contestants, Birt and Nichols have been close friends for years.
"The first runner-up is one of my best friends," Birt said, "and it was just an awesome experience to know that I'm going to be able to spend these next two weeks with her every single day."
Nichols concurred.
"Me and Brittany have been friends forever. She means the world to me and I'm so excited for her," Nichols said. "We're about to move into our apartment together after fair, along with Mallory Cash. I'm so proud of her and I'm so glad that she's been with me every step of the way."
Of course, Nichols wasn't the only person Miss Putnam County was able to share her moment with. Besides her parents Glen and Paula Birt, older sister Bailey was in from Alaska for the contest. Cousin Kara Birt would have had an even longer trip, so she experienced the moment another way.
"My cousin, very close to me, Kara Birt -- she is in Africa working on a missionary trip," Birt said. "She wanted to be here so badly but she couldn't, so her mom was Facetiming with her and it was just really cool to be able to share this."
Birt's crowning came with big smiles and hugs, but also tears, some of them shed for a dear friend, Haley Bain, who passed away in 2010.
"I lost my best friend when I was 15 years old," Birt said. "Her mother was down there and that's when I just lost it."
Birt and Nichols are joined in the 2014 court by Second Runner-Up and Miss Congeniality Alexis Williams and Third Runner-Up Ashlyn Clark.
As someone who loves the Putnam County Fair and hopes to someday work with children, Birt plans to give the children of Putnam County the kind of fair memories she treasures.
"I know that I always looked up to the queen so I can't wait to have that experience where little girls come up to me and say, 'I want to be just like you,' because I always wanted that and I finally got my wish. I just want that for those little ones.
"It's just an honor to be able to be Miss Putnam County. It's just amazing."
The members of Birt's court echoed this thought.
Nichols, a 2014 South Putnam graduate, is the daughter of Greg and Angie Nichols.
"I'm so blessed. I want to thank God first of all, and then my family," Nichols said. "I couldn't imagine it any better: My best friend is queen and then me, her little sidekick. I'm so excited and so grateful that I get to represent Putnam County."
Williams, the daughter of Gary and Stacy Williams, is a 2013 Greencastle High School graduate. She was especially proud of her double honors, with accolades coming from the judges and fellow contestants.
"I thought it was such an amazing experience," Williams said. "I'm so lucky to be nominated to as Miss Congeniality and I was so shocked I was second runner-up also. It's been awesome. I've loved getting to know these girls and just meeting them, hanging out with them and sharing experiences leading up to tonight."
Clark, a 2013 North Putnam graduate, is the daughter of Nikki Clark and Jason and Amy Clark.
"It means the world to me. I've always wanted to do this contest and I'm so glad I did because I learned so much doing it. Just being on the court is a great honor. I get to give back to my community and represent them in a positive way."
Their fellow contestants were Emily Gilley, Tatum Straziscar, Alex Stoffregen and Katie Costin.
First-year contest director Rachel Wilson had only positive things to say about the entire field.
"What a strong, determined, capable group of young women," Williams said. "The judges had an extremely hard decision, and I'm not just saying that. It was very hard to discern between them because they had done so much work to better themselves."
Along with fellow committee members Stephanie Alcorn and Sandi Clark, Wilson oversaw a group of volunteers who put in long hours and did what they had to do to pull off a successful 2014 queen contest.
"It would not have been possible, period, without our volunteers," Wilson said. "Many times they were doing things that we didn't even know needed done. Without them I don't know that it would have happened like it did, so we're particularly thankful for our volunteers."
It is through efforts of these volunteers that young women like Marsteller and Birt can have the positive experiences they do as Miss Putnam County.
"Since July 13, 2013, I have been blessed to wear this crown and represent the best county in Indiana," Marsteller said, before imparting some advice on her as-yet-unnamed successor.
"You are about to have the best week of your life -- don't miss out on anything."
Birt sounds prepared for the challenge.
"It means the world to me," Birt said. "4-H has been my life and my passion, so just to be able to give back to a community that has given so much to me, I'm just floored.
"I've wished for this my whole life. I've been to the queen contest every year and this is what I wanted. My dream came true."