The Central Highlands Easter Sunflower Festival royalty from Emerald, Australia have been enjoying their time greatly since arriving in Altona for this weekend's 60th Manitoba Sunflower Festival (MSF). The Queen Quest exchange between the two communities has been happening for decades, since the early 1980s.
21 year old Jessica Mitchell was selected as Queen at this year’s event held in April, alongside 24 year old First Princess Hannah Ryan. The duo will be participating in a variety of Festival events, culminating with Saturday night's Queen Quest crowning. Back home, Mitchell is a hairdresser and has an older brother and younger her sister. Her mother Peta has travelled with her to Altona. Ryan is a vet nurse and has been one for about six years, and is here with her mother Michelle.
"It's a very good experience for anyone to do, like definitely knocks back your nerves," shared Mitchell when asked about her experience participating in her home Festival back in April. "Speech night was definitely the hardest, because I can talk to people with my job, but when people are watching and looking at me, I freak out. The speech was a. lot, but it's such a good experience. Meeting the girls from Canada, and explaining to my friends at home I know people from the other side of the world is pretty cool."
"If you talk to anyone at home, they would definitely refer to me as like a homebody," said Ryan with a smile when asked about why she participated in the Emerald Queen Quest. "I'm definitely someone who likes to get lost in the world of a good book, so I guess I did it to challenge myself, put myself out there, of course, meet new friends, rekindle friendships. I actually knew Jess from high school, we actually went to school together, but just to put myself out there, set goals for myself, achieve high, meet new people and travel the world."
What does it mean to represent home?
"It means a lot," said Mitchell. "It was very overwhelming at the start, but to represent Emerald, and to be here, it's pretty cool. Everyone is so nice and caring. People at home are nice and caring, too, but here (the Festival) is a big thing. When we went to Morris (and the Manitoba Stampede), everyone knew who we were. It's really cool to have that experience with people, too."
"Just like an indescribable feeling," offered Ryan. "The fact me and Jess get to represent such an amazing country, Down Under, is something I reckon every girl should experience, even if they're not crowned. Just the fact to be here is amazing."
What are you looking forward to most at the Festival?
"When I first came here, I said to the girls, I'm not excited for the dancing because we had three days to learn it," said Mitchell when referring to the Fashion Show routine her and Ryan will be part of with the MSF Queen Quest entrants. "Yesterday, we did it in the park, and I was like, I won't be able to do this, but now I'm, excited to experience it with all nine of the girls."
Earlier in the interview, Ryan reflected on her strong family ties and that is influencing what she's most looking forward to.
I'm definitely excited to hang out with all of the girls, make new friendships and talk to them and learn about their friends and family," said Ryan. "I think the thing I'm most excited about, and I told the girls when we first landed here, is making waffles with their grandmas. I love family, and I love my grandparents. I spent time with them before I flew over here, so I think that's definitely something that's gonna be a memory forever."
Advice to Queen Quest participants
The week leading up to the Saturday night stage show and crowning can be a whirlwind, and having already experienced that during the Central Highlands Easter Sunflower Festival, Mitchell offered this advice to the MSF Queen Quest participants.
"The nerves are gonna get you, and you don't wanna smile, but you just wanna smile the whole time and be happy to be there," said Mitchell. "It's a once in a lifetime thing. and just take it all in."
"Remember why you're running for Queen," started Ryan. "Remember who's backing you. The goals you set for yourself. For me, just wanting to experience it with new friends, and meet new people. So, make friendships outside of friendship groups, and support each other no matter your past. If you've had a little difficulty, remember you're still in it for the same goals, you're still in it to be friends, support each other, and essentially just be kind."
You can listen to the entire conversation with Jessica Mitchell and Hannah Ryan, below.