This year’s selection process is over and the 2007 Kenedy Bluebonnet Days Royalty have been announced.

Chosen as the 2007 Bluebonnet Days Queen is Miss Katie Ihrig, daughter of Bob and Brenda Ihrig. The 2006 Bluebonnet Days Queen, Miss Yuri Padron, crowned the queen and her royal court.

The four princesses in order of selection are: first runner-up Veronica Ann Rodriguez, daughter of David and Ofelia Rodriguez; second runner-up, Suzette Salinas, daughter of Benito and Susana Salinas; third runner-up, Cecilia Vasquez, daughter of Sacarias Cantu and Clara Vasquez and fourth runner-up, Mercedes Crawford, daughter of Lloyd and Minerva Crawford.

The Coronation of "her majesty" will be on Friday, April 20, at 7:30 p.m. as part of the Bluebonnet Days events. Festivities at the coronation will include entertainment by the young people from the Kenedy schools. Mrs. Jan Anderson is the entertainment coordinator. The court rehearsal is chaired by Mrs. Cathy Jurgajtis and the script writer is Mrs. Debbie Shortner. The theme for this year’s coronation will be "Dancing with the Stars" and will take place in the Kenedy High School gym.

After choosing from a field of nine candidates, the judges reached their decision on March 4 at a tea in "Farris Bank" – a historical downtown bank building recently remodeled as a home for Ed and Kathryn Farris.

A large harvest table setting of crystal with large glass hurricane candles and bluebonnets complemented the refreshments which consisted of nuts, mints, fresh strawberries, dips and chips, dainty cheese and chicken salad sandwiches, decorated bluebonnet sugar cookies and punch.

Each candidate must be either a junior or senior from Kenedy High School, meet the criteria of rules and is then interviewed by a panel of three judges.

Serving as this year’s duchesses of the royal court are Broghan Burns, daughter of Jim Burns and Charla Burns; Rikki Crenshaw, daughter of Richard and Belinda Crenshaw; Rebecca Phelps, daughter of Drs. Wade and Mary Phelps; and Maria Zaragoza, daughter of Juan and Alejandra Zaragoza.

All of the members of the Bluebonnet Court will be assisting in advance ticket sales and scholarships, which will be awarded to court members with the highest advance ticket sales. Ticket price is $6 for adults, children ages six to 11 are for $1 and may be purchased at the door on event night and children ages five and under are admitted free.

The tea and coronation Chairman is Mrs. Ginger Johnson, who issued a special thanks to all the Chamber ladies for their assistance with the refreshments and serving and to Shelly Johnson, Gina Alexander and Yuri Padron for being the public relations coordinators for the contest.