I hope everybody had a good time at the Romeo Peach Festival! I sure did despite some electrical issues. I had a fun time talking with people about their memories and experiences with the festival. I also had a display of artifacts that came from the archives. For those who were at the Romeo Parks & Recreation Community Center might recognize the Peach Queen here from our table.
She's Kaitlyn Krimmel - a 2010s Peach Queen who wanted to help others and encouraged them to be themselves.
In 2014, the 21-year-old from Washington Township was crowned with that title. Through many articles from that year, we have a great sense as to why she won. Kaitlyn had tried out the year before, but she didn't make it. Between the 2013 and 2014 Peach Queen pageants, she organized events as the risk chair for her sorority, Phi Sigma Sigma at Grand Valley State University (GVSU); worked with Gleaners Food Bank; and studied abroad in Costa Rica, where she helped provide communities with medical assistance. She was in her fourth year studying allied health sciences with a minor in aging and adult life at GVSU and was looking to enter the nursing field.
The reason why Kaitlyn ran was because she "wanted to give back to the community because they gave so much to me."
Part of what the community gave her was a sense of confidence and uniqueness she wanted to instill in others. She exemplified this by holding a black belt in American Freestyle karate. She practiced at TNT Martial Arts in Romeo. Her karate training even helped her when she was in the sorority. Her position as risk chair promoted health and wellness, and she taught her Phi Sigma Sigma sisters self-defense techniques. In addition, she had participated in the Peach Festival prior by volunteering at the Bed Races, night parade, and car show. She ran in the Bed Races for three years and even won the Best Design trophy her first year in 2007.
Given how the Peach Queen pageant has focused more on community activism in recent years, it's easy to see why Kaitlyn won. Her educational background is quite impressive, and the fact that she was involved in the Romeo community and participated in the Peach Festival in the past must have fascinated the judges. On top of that, this was her second year trying out to become the Peach Queen. She deserved it.
Her duties were similar to that of previous Peach Queens. She promoted the Peach Festival by attending various parades and participating in various events like the Farmers Breakfast at the Capital Banquet Center in Washington Township. She also volunteered at the Samaritan House, at the Relay for Life survivor tent, and for the Women Marines Association with packing food for overseas servicepeople. She even organized the "Princess for a Day" event at TNT Martial Arts and assisted kids at Amanda Moore Elementary with reading and math. Because of the latter, the principal asked Kaitlyn to speak at the fifth-grade graduation ceremony.
Now, that's what I call making a difference.
To learn more about Kaitlyn Krimmel, other Peach Queens, and the Peach Festival in general, you can locate the Romeo Peach Festival Collection here and/or contact the Romeo Community Archives at rca@romemodistrictlibrary.org to see said collection in person.
If you want to share your memories and experiences about the Peach Festival, you can contact the archives at the email above.
Images and sources courtesy of the Romeo Community Archives; Romeo Peach Festival Collection, 2014