One more week to go, and Tyler County will have a new Dogwood Queen. On Saturday, April 4, the Queen’s Weekend festivities will culminate in the coronation of the new queen, as well as draw a close to this year’s festival cycle. One young lady representing one of the five schools in Tyler County will be chosen to serve in that honor.
The play, which traditionally represents an aspect of Tyler County history, followed by the coronation ceremony, will take place that evening, with the pre-show beginning at 7 p.m. and the festivities starting in earnest at 7:30 p.m. at the Joe E. Wheat Amphitheater, located at 505 N. Charlton Street in Woodville.
Tickets to the event are $10, and for the first time, according to festival organizers, all of the tickets are general admission; with no more reserved seating. Tickets and the Dogwood book publications are on sale, each for $10, at the following locations: Sullivan’s Hardware; McClure’s Furniture; Everything U; Dixie’s Vintage Vogue and Tolar Feed.
Withour further adieu, here is a look at each of the five Dogwood Princesses for this year.
Chester Princess Marae Pounds
Kimberlynn Marae Pounds, daughter of Zach Pounds and Amanda Calhoun, will represent Chester as Princess this year. Marae is a member of the National Honor Society and has stayed very active in athletics throughout high school. She plays both high school and club volleyball.
Marae has been awarded numerous athletic awards in high school, such as first team All-District in Volleyball and Softball, Offensive Player of the Year in Volleyball, District MVP in Volleyball, All-State in Volleyball, and Regional Qualifier in Track & Field.
When she’s not playing volleyball, Marae enjoys hanging out with friends, going out to eat, working out, taking naps, and spending time with her family.
Marae is excited to be a part of Dogwood and is looking forward to making many memories. After graduation, she plans to attend Lyon College, where she will continue playing volleyball on the collegiate level and major in Exercise Science. Marae will be escorted by her cousin, Kasen Citrano, son of Candice and Jason Citrano.
Colmesneil Princess Josey Eddins
Representing Colmesneil as Princess this year is Josey Rae Eddins, daughter of Kelly and Scott Eddins. Josey has been extremely active in extracurricular activities during the past four years at Colmesneil High School.
She has played softball all four years and was named Offensive Player of the Year twice. She has been on the varsity cheer squad four years and was named All-American three years. She has participated in one-act play, tennis, and golf. Josey is also currently the Senior Class Treasurer. She plans to attend Sam Houston State University for her undergraduate degree in nursing. Josey enjoys cheering for the Colmesneil Bulldogs, hanging out with friends, and attending church. Her favorite things are her car, her jewelry, and her hair. Josey’s favorite Dogwood memory is representing Colmesneil as trainbearer in 2020, which was ‘COVID Dogwood’. She will be escorted by Camryn Best, son of L’Chanda and James Courville and Brittany and Robert Best.
Spurger Princess Emily Fea
The Princess from Spurger is Emily Grace Fea, daughter of Crystal and Bo Fea. Emily is very involved on campus at Spurger High School, serving as Student Council President, Beta Club Secretary, a member of the Gifted and Talented program, and varsity Cheer captain. She has also spent many years dedicated to competitive dance. She currently dances with Lancaster Dance Academy and hopes to continue dancing in college as part of the Baylor Dance Team while attending Baylor University.
Emily’s favorite things are spending quality time outdoors with her family, painting spirit banners for pep rallies, and watching her little brother play basketball. Emily is proud that she is the only female on the Spurger Fishing Team. Emily will attend Baylor University in the fall and plans to major in Communication Sciences and Disorders and hopes to one day work as a speech-language pathologist. Emily will be escorted by Ernest Michael Hanes III, son of Sarah and Ernest Haynes.
Warren Princess Sophie Smith
Sophie Marie Smith, daughter of Katie Smith and Colby Smith, will represent Warren as Princess this year. Sophie loves coffee, ‘Dad jokes’, and music. She is the FFA Vice President, McGee Bend District Seocnd Vice President, Student Council President, NHS Secretary, member of the Rotary Interact Club, and has played golf, volleyball, powerlifting, and cheer. Sophie is most proud of winning the Lamar Conner award at the Tyler County Fair this past year. When Sophie has a spare minute, she enjoys baking, reading, and spending time with friends and family.
One of Sophie’s favorite memories of the Dogwood festival is participating in Mutton Bustin’ at the rodeo and realizing that she was not tough enough to be a cowgirl. She is looking forward to all the Dogwood events, especially the Jean Fling, where she will have the opportunity to meet all the visiting duchesses and their escorts. After graduation, Sophie plans to study Agricultural Education at Texas Tech University. Escorting Sophie will be Easton Evan, son of Sarah and Michael Evans.
Woodville Princess Hollie Jarrott
Princess from Woodville is Hollie Ogden Jarrott, daughter of Joanna and Cody Jarrott. While in high school, Hollie has enjoyed being involved in the FFA. She is currently the Area IX Second Vice President and Woodville FFA President.
She has been awarded the Lonestar Degree, Junior FFA Award, Chapter and Greenhand Degrees, and has exhibited at the Tyler County Fair and major shows across the state. Hollie is a cheerleader and has played volleyball and tennis at WHS.
Hollie’s favorite memory of the Dogwood festival is being a Flower Girl to the Queen when she was in the first grade and watching her older sister as she was crowned Queen in 2020. Hollie is looking forward to participating in every event, as she has waited for this most of her life. Hollie plans to attend Stephen F. Austin State University in the fall to study Animal Science and Ag Communications. Escorting Hollie will be Aiden Barnhart, son of Tanna and Neal Pike and Lauren and Richard Barnhart.
