Jr. Miss Ipswich Ashley Ptacek chosen 2nd runner up

Junior Miss Ipswich Ashley Ptacek was chosen the second runner-up at the South Dakota Junior Snow Queen coronation on Jan. 3 in the Aberdeen Civic Theatre.

Ashley, a 14-year old IHS freshman, is the daughter of Laura and Perry Ptacek.

She said the contestants and their parents gathered for a Welcome Tea on Friday at noon in the Ramkota. The rest of the day was a chance for the girls to have fun and relax, she said.

They got up early Saturday, Ashley said. The Junior Snow Queens divided into three groups. The groups gathered for yoga, program practice or their interviews with the judges.

The girls and their parents gathered at 4 p.m. for a banquet. Each contestant was introduced and was asked the same question - "What would you do with $2,000." Ashley said she told them she would give half to her parents and save the rest for college.

Then it was the final rehearsal in the Civic Theatre.

Ashley said each contestant was asked another question during the program. The questions were randomly chosen from a fish bowl.

When the 2020 Junior Snow Queen candidates lined up to be told their good news, Ashley was announced as the second runner-up, after Miss Groton was announced third runner-up and Miss Hoven, fourth runner-up. Ashley's roommate Miss Miner County was the first runner-up. Chosen 2020 Junior Snow Queen was Miss Sisseton.

A Moment of Silence was held "for those who can't be here with us tonight." Photos of Kylee and Jayna Sanborn were displayed. The sisters each won the Ipswich talent competition and would have sung in the competition on Saturday. Denise Huber, a former Snow Queen Committee member who passed away, was also memorialized. "Our thoughts and prayers continued to be with their families."

2019 South Dakota Snow Queen Aleah Steger will crown her successor on Saturday, Jan. 11 at 7 p.m. in the Aberdeen Civic Theatre.