The five reigning queens who will represent Troy, Brundidge and Pike County at the annual Miss National Peanut Festival in Dothan in October will be treated with a send-off party from 5:30 until 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Alpha Delta Phi house on Sorority Hill on Elm Street in Troy.

Miss Brundidge Liberty Kilpatrick and Miss Troy Kelli Powell will compete in the Miss Peanut Festival pageant on Oct. 5 and 6. Little Miss Brundidge Emily Bryan, Little Miss Pike County Miley Taylor and Little Miss Troy Lola Osborne will represent Pike County in the Little Miss National Peanut Festival on Oct. 20. Both pageants will be at the Dothan Civic Center.

The public is invited to come by the send-off party and wish these young ladies good luck as they get ready to compete for the coveted Miss and Little Miss National Peanut Festival titles, said Amy Wilson, a local pageant director.

“These young ladies have been very active in their communities since they were crowned and they have also been busy preparing for the Miss and Little Miss National Peanut Festival crowns,” Wilson said.

“We want to let them know that all of Pike County is behind them as they compete. We know that they will all represent us well.”

Wilson said those who were crowned “Miss” by their communities have participated in various events in South Alabama and Northwest Florida.

“They have participated in slumber parties, cookouts, carnivals, safaris, bowling parties and garden teas, including the Southern Soiree at the historic Shorter Mansion in Eufaula,” Wilson said.

“At the Shorter Mansion, the queens met with Miss Alabama Anna Laura Bryan and heard her speak. They also had a meeting with Sen. Jimmy Holley of Elba. He spoke to them about being positive role models and active community members.”

The Little Misses have also been busy since they were crowned. They have participated in several parades and ribbon cuttings and attended parties hosted by the representatives of other cities and counties.

“Little Miss Pike County, Little Miss Goshen and Little Miss Troy also hosted all the Little Miss contestants at a ‘Candyland’ party at Miss Collene’s in Troy,” Wilson said. “So all of the queens have been doing an outstanding job representing their communities in the county and all around the Southeast. They deserve a great send-off so we encourage everyone to stop by the send-off party on Oct. 2 and let them know we support them and wish them well.”

Tickets for the Miss and Little Miss National Peanut Festival pageants are $13 and may be purchased by phone at (334) 615-3175.