In 10th year in 4-H, Miller named Miss Fulton County

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS

Sports Editor, RTC

Miss Fulton County Chesnee Miller

In her 10th year in 4-H and her second year vying for the title, Chesnee Miller was named Miss Fulton County at the Queen Pageant Saturday.

“It’s, like, unreal,” Miller said. “I wake up everyday, and I’m just like I’m the queen of the county. Definitely a blessing.”

Miller got involved in 4-H 10 years ago. Multiple generations in her family have farming and 4-H experience.

“My grandparents own a pig farm,” Miller said. “My mom showed at 4-H, and so did my dad. My dad showed lambs, and my mom showed swine, so when I was younger, my older brother Chase, he started it, and then, third grade, I started it.”

Miller said she has always shown swine.

“That’s just what we raise,” Miller said. “We have spots, and we have crossbreds, and they’re all county born and bred.”

Miller, a 2024 Tippecanoe Valley grad, entered the pageant last year and finished First Runner-up. She said she was not eligible to win because she was only 17.

In addition to dress shopping, Miller said she practiced her walk and prepared a speech for the pageant.

“I just knew how the pageant went,” Miller said when asked how her previous experience helped her. “I knew how it ran. I knew what to say and what to do. We get taught all these things, but I already kind of had that background knowledge.”

Miller is also the most accomplished cross-country runner in Valley history. She has broken the school record numerous times and made the state finals last fall. She was also a starting guard on the Valley girls basketball team that went 19-4 last year and a regional qualifier in track in both the 400 meters and as a member of the 4 x 400 relay team.

“I feel just as nervous, and I think that’s why I like it so much,” Miller said. “Because it’s another form of competition, and I just think I feed off competition. You don’t know who’s going to win.”

Miller will attend Manchester University in the fall and will run cross-country and track. Manchester coach Brian Cashdollar persuaded her to attend.

“Coach (Brian) Cashdollar is my cross-country and track coach,” Miller said. “I really liked him. He made me feel really comfortable and like I was really going to excel at Manchester.”

Miller said she will pursue a health science degree at the start but added that her plans are “up in the air.”

“I’ve talked about nutrition, and I’ve also talked about nursing,” Miller said. “But right now, it's health science.”