ROCKLAND — The Maine Lobster Festival crowned this year’s representatives of the Lobster Industry on the first day of the 77th Maine Lobster Festival Wednesday, July 31, 2024, at Harbor Park, in Rockland.

Now holding the crowns and sashes of the Delegate Coronation until next July are: First Delegate, Caitlyn Lamb, of Cushing; Second Delegate, Chelsea Gaiero, of Belfast; and Most Congenial, Jillian Barnard of Thomaston.

Gone this year, are the tiered risers. The contestants stood to the left of the stage, no companions at their sides. King Neptune’s young entourage perched in the rear, while representatives of other 2024 Maine festivals sat with the audience.

Gone was the drawn-out strut across the stage and the formal hand wave to all areas of the crowd. Gone also was the formal PA announcement of each contestant’s name.

Instead, a more “I can do it myself” atmosphere accompanied the seven contestants, all female and all nervous, as they each, in turn, stepped to the microphone and quickly introduced themselves (though one forgot to say her name). Each announced her focus organization (a cause that she believes in), and some added a few positive ad lib comments about their time spent with the other contestants in the past couple of weeks.

“Change is never easy,” said this year’s emcee. “And I am humbled by their courage in championing not what we may want, but what the next generations are telling us that they want.”

But the emcee said that after spending the last few weeks with these women, she knew them to be talented, ambitious, conscientious, strong, independent, and more.

They follow the lead of last year’s First Delegate, Adelaide Hendricks, who has taken her role as lobster industry rep above and beyond the call of duty. Hendricks spoke of her experience over the past year and what she has gained.

She said what she will miss most is meeting people and hearing their stories. Children have waved and curtseyed as she passed by in the parades, state representatives who have answered her questions about the industry, plus teachers, police officers, K9 units, other queens representing other industries in Maine, “and the many hard working men and women who brave the seas to bring you some dinner catch,” she said.

At Maine Day during a Massachusetts event, a woman proudly displayed the lobster rolls made from the lobster her granddaughters had caught.

Hendricks talked about how being kind doesn’t cost anything, and, through the lobster fisherman in her own family, carries with her the reminder of work ethic and hardship.

“The young voices are the voices of our future,” she said. “So, it’s important how we listen to them.”

Prizes awarded are:

Delegate: $2,000

2^nd Delegate: $1,500

Most Congenial: $500

For bios of the seven contestants, visit https://www.penbaypilot.com/article/seven-candidates-compete-2024-maine-lobster-festival-delegate/188712

Reach Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com