Conner Weisenauer and Bryanna Thompson were named Mr. and Miss Wee Pop 2014 during competition held Saturday morning at River Valley High School.
Weisenauer is the 2-year-old son of Cory and Danielle Weisenauer of Bucyrus. He won his division in Photogenic. Two-year-old Thompson is the daughter of Bryan and Ashley Thompson of Caledonia. She took her age division in Swimwear and Overall Costume honors.
Nolan Somerlot garnered the first runner-up position to Mr. Wee Pop. He is the 3-year-old son of Kary Kline and Nathan Somerlot of Marion, and took his age division in Swimwear.
First runner-up to Miss Wee Pop is Allyson Liming, the 5-year-old daughter of Chad and Michelle Liming of Bucyrus. She won her age division in Formalwear and Costume.
The 2014 Wee Pops will be featured on the Main Stage of the Marion Popcorn Festival. They will also ride in the Festival’s Orville Redenbacher Parade, and represent the Marion Popcorn Festival at various parades and events throughout the state.
Categories for Formalwear, Costume with a popcorn theme, and Swimwear with a popcorn theme were divided into four age groups: two years, three years, and four and five years. The winners of these divisions, order of age, were:
Formal Wear:
- Age 2: Kharma Railynn Fletcher
- Age 3: Kytanna Clark
- Age 4 & 5: Allyson Liming
- Overall: Harleigh Kennedy
Costumes:
- Age 2: Kharma Railynn Fletcher
- Age 3: Makaylee Gay
- Age 4 & 5: Allyson Liming
- Overall: Bryanna Thompson
Swimwear:
- Age 2: Bryanna Thompson
- Age 3: Nolan Somerlot
- Age 4 & 5: Harleigh Kennedy
- Overall: Izabelle Enderle
Receiving honorable mention category awards were: Annadaysia Clark, Khloe Holman, Ja’tasiah McCoy, Olivia May Tackett, Maddisyn Meade, Tessa Sias, Lily Callis, Eva Kozinski, and Alexis Stiger.
A separate photogenic contest was held in conjunction with the main pageant, and the results of this event had no bearing on the outcome of the Wee Pop Pageant. Contestants were allowed to enter one or both events. Photogenic awards went to:
- Age 2: Connor Weisenauer
- Age 3: Olivia May Tackett
- Age 4 & 5: Alexis Stiger
- Overall: Maddisyn Meade
Businesses responsible for sponsoring the event and many of the Wee Pop and Little Wee Pop gifts and awards were: Ideal Printing Service, Marion Auto Sales, Precision Auto, Goldrush Jewelers, Wal-Mart, Jerzee Drive Thru, McDonalds (Vince Ebner), Dolfin Music Service, Georgia Mills Carpet, Ready-To-Rent, Candel’s Renovations, Burger King, Kalie Crowe Photography, and Jane Wyatt.
Also contributing were bluefusion entertainment, The Columbus Zoo, Blue Streak Car Wash, PaPa John’s Pizza, Pizza Hut, LA Tan, Donatos, L & P Cake, Zoombezie Bay, Tubby’s Pizza, Red Lobster, Marion Flower Shop, El Campesino, The Wilds, Rosa and Rocco’s, Starbucks, and House of Hunan.
Currently celebrating its 34th year, the Marion Popcorn Festival is the largest popcorn festival in the world with an annual attendance estimated in excess of 250,000 over the three-day festival. Other events include a popcorn cooking contest, a fine art show, crafts, Popcorn 5000 5K run, Popcorn 100 bike tour, a community showcase stage, and more.
Main stage entertainment for 2014 includes Panama: the Van Halen Tribute Band on Thursday, September 4; country star Craig Morgan on Friday, September 5; and classic rock band Night Ranger on Saturday, September 6. For more information on the full slate of activities, or if you are interested in obtaining Kernel Seats for the entertainment, visit www.popcornfestival.com or call 740-387-FEST. The Marion Popcorn Festival is sponsored in part by the City of Marion.
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