Payton Klatt crowned 2018 Sweet Corn Festival Queen

Jennifer Sommer
Posted 8/16/18

Payton Klatt was walking down the halls of Mendota High School the beginning of her senior year when Jennifer Masini, president of Mendota Community Theater approached her about being their candidate in the 2018 Sweet Corn Festival Queen Pageant.

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Payton Klatt crowned 2018 Sweet Corn Festival Queen

Posted

MENDOTA – Payton Klatt was walking down the halls of Mendota High School the beginning of her senior year when Jennifer Masini, president of Mendota Community Theater approached her about being their candidate in the 2018 Sweet Corn Festival Queen Pageant. “I was honored to represent them because they are so near and dear to my heart. I love theater and singing and acting and was praying they would ask me,” she said.

Klatt has been attending the Sweet Corn pageants since she was in middle school. Her older sister was even a participant. “It was always so cool to me,” she recalled.

Klatt has fond memories of the Sweet Corn Festival. It was always a place that she and her best friends would meet up, walk around, ride the carnival rides and eat the food, especially the Lions Club corn dogs. “It is a huge part of my childhood,” she said.

Payton is the daughter of Jay and Wendy Klatt of Mendota. She is a 2018 graduate of Mendota High School where she was active in choir, show choir, and Madrigals. She has taken part in numerous musicals and most recently played the part of Ariel in the MHS production of “The Little Mermaid.” She was an honor roll student, two-time All State singer, freshman mentor, and worked in the principal’s office.

This summer, Payton and 15 other young women began practicing for the Mendota Sweet Corn Festival Pageant, under the direction of pageant chairpersons Michelle Barkman, Rachel Buchanan and Alison Wasmer. Publicity photos were taken, stage presence and poise were rehearsed and answering impromptu questions were practiced.

Contestants met the judges at the Pageant Tea the afternoon of the pageant. Interviewing all of the contestants were Cherie Reynolds, director of development, OSF Foundation; Paul McLachlan, recently retired farm supervisor, Del Monte Foods; and Wendy Coffey, Literacy Specialist, Financial Plus Credit Union, Ottawa.

As the pageant started, Masters of Ceremony, Don and Karen Goy introduced the contestants to the gathered crowd.

Klatt says her theater experience helped her not to be nervous on stage, but instead excited for the experience. “It was like my last hurrah with my friends from school,” she said.

She recalled the question she was asked on stage: If you could adopt any personality trait from someone else, what would it be and from whom? “I said, ‘I would take my 13-year-old sister’s confidence because she is never afraid of what people think of her.’”

Klatt noted that it was an easy question for her and that she has always admired her sister’s ability to just be herself. “I was thankful for theater and musicals when I got to high school because that is what really made me feel like I belonged,” she added.

During the pageant, her mindset was “however it goes, it goes, at least it was fun.” She was shocked when they called her named as a finalist and had to tell herself “just keep smiling” because she wanted to cry.

The other finalists were Celi Brandy Delao, daughter of Salvador Delao and Celi Arteaga; and Amy Lewis, daughter of Kevin and Kelly Lewis.

“Oh my gosh, what an honor,” she said.

The whirlwind began when she was ultimately named queen and was handed a list of appearances for the weekend. “I didn’t even know what my responsibilities were going to be. I had a couple of busy days but a lot of fun,” stated Klatt.

Klatt’s weekend was filled with attending events and walking around the festival. “I judged the Food Contest. I had no idea that even went on. I tasted the Jalepeño Corn Dip and it was a bit spicy and I said, oh yeah, that is going to be the Queen’s Choice, for sure,” she said.

Klatt spent a lot of time walking around and riding some rides with a new friend, too, the 2018 Sweet Corn Mini Queen, Macy Mahaffey. “She is so sweet,” Klatt mentioned.

Throughout the weekend, Klatt had many people wanting to taking pictures with her. “I thought it was pretty cool. I didn’t realize what a big deal it was to some people. It was such a great experience to represent the community that has given so much to me and my family. And people coming up to congratulate me – it meant so much,” she commented.

Her advice to future queen hopefuls: “Just do it. Whatever the outcome, it is just awesome to be up on stage in front of the community with your friends for one last time. It is a great experience.

The Sweet Corn Festival has come and gone. Klatt is ready to start the next chapter of her life. Soon she will be leaving for Illinois College in Jacksonville seeking a degree in special education. “I am ready for a new start, new friends, and to work toward a career that I want to do.”

Wherever her future takes her, Klatt says, “Mendota will always be the place that I call home.”