HCPM26: Lillian Beyersbergen-Oakes looks back on year as Princess
BY LILLIAN BEYERSBERGEN-OAKES
I can’t believe my year is almost over already! It feels like yesterday I was telling everyone who’s got the buzz! I’ve had an incredible time being the Huron County Princess!
If you’ve been around at any fairs or parades, you’ve probably seen me out and about!
My year has been pretty busy, to start, I of course spent my time at the plowing match! I spent the day getting to know the Queen contests and making cakes for the silent auction that night. I then attended the banquet and watched the Queen of the Furrow, Gracie Hoggarth, be crowned!
A few weeks later I met with Gracie at the Blyth Thresher Reunion. I got to meet a lot of amazing people and learn a lot more about farming! A few days after Threshers, I got to spend the day at the Woodstock Farm Show, where I not only got to see lots of old and new machines, but also got to learn about some new technology that different farmers are trying out!
My first fair was in Seaforth, where I was able to watch our past Princess, Jillian Simpson, and Queen, Mackenzie Terpstra, become the new ambassadors. The next day I was able to walk in the Seaforth parade alongside Gracie.
Right after the Seaforth fair I got invited to the Brussel fair! I got to decorate cakes for the auction with Jillian and the Milverton ambassador. I then got a chance to talk to all the ambassadors that were there, it was interesting to learn how different towns do their competition.
A big highlight of my year was going to the IPM in Niagara to support our past Queen of the Furrow, Mackenzie, as well as explore the event. It was so cool going to see the Canadian Cowgirls perform and meet all the different types of people involved in the agricultural industry. I got to enjoy the banquet and watch this year’s Ontario Queen, Victoria Kolb, get crowned. Watching all the girls compete and have fun made me very excited to hopefully be on that stage one day!
To end off my first month with the crown, I was in the Ripley Fall Fair parade and spent the day at the fair with a friend! I tested all the rides multiple times and probably ended the day looking more green than I did at the start.
As we moved into the Christmas season, I was invited to a lot of Christmas parades! I was able to make it to the Goderich, Wingham, Clinton, Brussels and Blyth parades, though I unfortunately had to miss a few due to weather.
In the new year I got to have a break before I was back out and about in June! To start back up again, I got to visit the Clinton Spring Fair! It was amazing being back there watching the smash-up derby, visiting the tables full of entries and seeing the few livestock shows.
After that I had to take another short break, but was back again to visit the Howick Homecoming breakfast, which was an amazing start to summer. As of writing this, my most recent event was Breakfast on the Farm at the Terpstra farm. There, I got to scoop ice cream with Gracie and talk to so many different people!
I’m sure I’ll be out and about a bit more before I have to give my crown up, I’d just like to thank everyone for being so amazing and helping me enjoy my reign.
Thank you so much for letting me “bee” your 2025-2026 Huron County Princess!