Shad Festival Queen Crowned

GRIFTON —  Maegan Wolfe is no stranger to the Grifton Shad Festival and now reigns as the 2004 Shad Festival Queen.

Maegan, who is the daughter of Cotton and Lovell Manning, says she grew up watching the Shad Pageant and always dreamed that one-day, she would be in the shoes of the many girls she once looked up to. 

That dream became a reality on Friday, March 26 when Maegan captivated the audience with her singing and won the Talent Award as well as the 34th Shad Festival Queen title. Maegan sang “At Last” as her talent for the competition.

Maegan, who was sponsored by Smithwick Electric Company, is a Senior at Ayden-Grifton High School and will attend Barton College in Wilson after graduating from Ayden-Grifton. Maegan plans on studying nursing while at Barton.

Maegan says that although she will be away in Wilson attending college, she still plans on upholding her duties as Queen and definitely plans to attend future Shad Festivals.

Although most of Maegan’s duties as Queen were during the Shad Festival, she will continue to do whatever is needed for the town to fulfill her role as Griftn’s 34th Shad Queen.

Maegan’s first official duty as Queen was to present awards for winners of the Gizzard Shad Womanless Pageant, something Maegan said she enjoyed. Maegan also presented awards for the Fishy Tales Storytelling Contest. 

Maegan says that being Grifton’s Shad Queen feels really good and she has had a lot of fun being a part of the festival she grew up with.

“It feels good because I’ve always looked up to the Shad Queen growing up,” Maegan said. “Hopefully, I can make a difference in Grifton.”

Maegan is very active in not only her community, but also academics. She is a member of the Bible Club, The National Honor Society as well as HOSA. She also serves as Vice-President of the Student Government Association.

Maegan is excited about the opportunities given to her at this year’s Shad Festival and hopes to continue to be a part of her hometown and its local festival. 

 At next year’s pageant, Maegan will hand down the crown to a new Queen but will continue to look up to all future queens.

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