Hello everyone. My name is Samantha Truitt and I am the outgoing 2021 Miss Fall Festival of Leaves.
My Fall Festival of Leaves journey started when I was just 7 years old. I competed in the little princess pageant. Unfortunately, I didn’t place that year. When I was 14 my mom, Steph, took me to watch the Fall Festival of Leaves queen’s pageant. I thought that it looked like so much fun, and I couldn’t wait until I was old enough to compete.
In 2018, I competed for the first time, and I didn’t place. In 2019 I competed again, this time I got third attendant. I had so much fun on Phoebe’s court that I knew I needed to try again. In 2020, the pageant and the festival were canceled due to COVID-19. I was devastated. So many traditions were taken from me my senior year because of COVID. In 2021, I competed for the third and final time. I was a nervous wreck because it was my last chance before I aged out of the pageant. I studied and practiced for months leading up to the pageant. It all paid off. On Oct. 14th, 2021, I was crowned Miss Bainbridge Fall Festival of Leaves. A dream 11 years in the making finally came true.
During my reign I traveled across Ohio representing the village of Bainbridge. I traveled to 30 festivals, and I drove 3,665 miles. I was told to journal my travels throughout my reign. Along with this I rated each festival on a scale from 1 to 10 on the likeness that I would return to that festival. A couple festivals that I loved include: The Sweet Corn Festival with a 9/10, The Hot Air Balloon Festival with an 8/10, and The Jackson Apple Festival with a 9/10. None of these festivals got a 10/10, because the only 10/10 festival is the Fall Festival of Leaves.
Giving up my crown has been bittersweet. I’m not quite ready to give it up. However, I know that it is time to let a new young lady experience the magic that comes with being a queen. I will forever be a member of the Fall Festival of Leaves family.
I would like to thank the Fall Festival of Leaves committee for putting on such a wonderful festival. To the village of Bainbridge, thank you for letting me represent you across Ohio. I couldn’t have imagined a better community to represent. I hope I have done it justice.
To Kala Prose, the FFL pageant director, thank you for all the hard work you put into the pageant. It was beautiful. A huge thank you to Vicky Mettler, the FFL queen’s director, for taking care of me throughout my reign and supporting my goal of 30 festivals. To my family and friends, thank you for the years of support that led me here today. I love you all. To my mom, thank you for all that you do. Being queen mother isn’t easy, but you make it look effortless. I couldn’t have done this without you. I love you.
For one of the last times my name is Samantha Truitt and I am your 2021 Miss Fall Festival of Leaves.
Samantha Truitt is the 2021 Fall Festival of Leaves queen.
