Kylie Spiekerman of Saginaw, Maria Ivezaj of Macomb crowned Queen’s Court Attendants
SEBEWAING, MICHIGAN – Kassie Acker of Alma was crowned the 2023 Michigan Sugar Queen during a ceremony held Friday, June 16, at Sebewaing Village Park during the village’s 58th annual Michigan Sugar Festival.
Kassie, 20, is a senior at Michigan State University studying agriculture, food, and natural resources education. She hopes to one day teach agriculture education at the middle school and high school levels. A 2020 graduate of St. Louis High School, Kassie is the daughter of Brian and Kathy Acker.
“Once again, Michigan Sugar Company is fortunate to have found a young woman who we know will be an excellent representative and ambassador for our company,” said Rob Clark, Director of Communications and Community Relations for Michigan Sugar. “Kassie’s knowledge of our company and agriculture in general, along with the quality of her character, shined through during the selection process. We are looking forward to a great year with Kassie as the Michigan Sugar Queen.”
Also crowned during the June 16 ceremony were two Queen’s Court Attendants – Kylie Spiekerman, 21, of Saginaw and Maria Ivezaj, 19, of Macomb. They, too, are serving as ambassadors for Michigan Sugar Company for the next year.
Kylie is a senior at Saginaw Valley State University studying political science. She hopes to one day work in the field of law. A 2020 graduate of Carrollton High School, Kylie is the daughter of Scott and Sedesa Spiekerman.
Maria is a sophomore at Oakland University pursuing a degree in interdisciplinary studies and business. She, too, hopes to one day work in the field of law. A 2022 graduate of Henry Ford II High School, Maria is the daughter of Marko and Marija Ivezaj.
The new Queen and Court Attendants will jump right into their year of service appearing Saturday, June 17, in the Michigan Sugar Festival Grand Parade in Sebewaing. The parade begins at 10:30 a.m. and will feature the newly refurbished Michigan Sugar Company float. Kassie, Kylie, and Maria will be joined in the parade by members of the 2022 Michigan Sugar Queen’s Court – Queen Brianna Kubik of Reese and Attendants Brooke Pagel of Birch Run and Adriana Ivezaj of Macomb.
Following the parade, the newly crowned Michigan Sugar Queen and Attendants will be in Village Park greeting festivalgoers, passing out 2-pound bags of Pioneer Sugar, posing for photos, and helping members of our Co-op Board and Central District Board serve up cotton candy.
“I am beyond excited and really grateful for this opportunity,” said Kassie, who serves as a Michigan Grown Michigan Great Ambassador for the Michigan Ag Council, meeting with consumers to have meaningful conversations about where their food comes from. “I feel like my education and background in FFA has led me to this and I’m excited to bring my background in agriculture to the position.
“One of our partners at the Michigan Ag Council is Pioneer Sugar, so I’m looking forward to helping strengthen that connection as I travel the state both with the Michigan Ag Council and Michigan Sugar.”
This year, Michigan Sugar Company received 17 applications through its Michigan Sugar Queen Scholarship Program.
Through the Michigan Sugar Queen Scholarship Program, a Queen and two Attendants are chosen to serve for one year as ambassadors for Michigan Sugar Company. Their duties include public appearances, community service projects, interaction with lawmakers and agriculture leaders, and helping to represent Michigan Sugar Company throughout the state.
After completing the requirements of the program, the Queen receives a $2,000 scholarship and each attendant a $1,000 scholarship to be used to help pay for college.
