On Wednesday, April 8, the National Asparagus Festival (NAF) hosted an information meeting at the Hart Community Center for the 2026 Queen Candidates.
This year’s candidates were offered a chance to learn more about the requirements of being the Asparagus Queen, enjoy refreshments provided by Stella’s Coffee House, and ask questions of the reigning Asparagus Queen Shelby Purdy and Runner-up Haley Walsworth.
Candidates will participate in various activities throughout the month of May. These include a tour of the West Michigan Research Station, where they will get a crash course on the Michigan Asparagus industry, and even the opportunity to help pick asparagus; headshots taken by Dostal Digital Photography; and finally, one-on-one interviews with the NAF's chosen panel of judges to determine who will be the 2026 National Asparagus Queen and the 2026 National Asparagus Queen Runner-up!
Once again this year, instead of a formal pageant, a live announcement of the winner and a crowning ceremony will take place during the Friday night live concert event on June 12 featuring the band Your Generation.
The Queen Candidates are (pictured above, from left):
• Makynzie Curtis sponsored by A Bride's Time of Ludington
• Sami Weesies sponsored by Up North Garden Center
• Shannon Beishuizen sponsored by American Asparagus of New Era
• Katelyn Brown sponsored by Springstead Law
• Jennifer Ramirez Coppedge sponsored by Northwest Michigan Health Services
