So far, Mariah Fish is enjoying a memorable summer.

A month ago, the New Florence resident earned a national award at a FCCLA National Conference in Seattle, Wash.

On Aug. 2, she picked up another honor. She was named the Old Settlers queen for 2024.

Fish received a crown and a trophy after being selected queen of the 143rd annual event at the Old Settlers Picnic Grounds. She was part of a court that included first runner-up Bri Stierlin, Khloe Kribbs and Peyton Eoff.

Fish’s victory drew a loud round of applause from her family members, which included parents Cody and Jes Craven.

“I have a huge family,” Fish said. “I’m related to a lot of people in Montgomery County. When something like this happens, you know they’ll show up.”

Also, Rylan Page was named Old Settlers princess. She was part of a court that included first runner-up Remington Kelling, second runner-up Adelynn Hogue, Ava Cruzen, Everly Reagan and Ellie Goggin.

Rylan impressed the judges during the interview part of the contest, when she gave an answer to the question, “If you can go anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?”

“I would go to Disney World because there are princesses there and they’re nice,” Rylan said.

The Old Settlers queen and princess contest was moved to Friday this year after being held on a Saturday for many years. This year’s contest kicked off the two-day Old Settlers Picnic, which was first held in 1881.

Fish said she enjoys going to an event that has plenty of activities for both adults and children in the Montgomery County community. Her parents are board members of the Old Settlers Association.

“Old Settlers means going through a fine portal back to my childhood, running around here getting prizes, eating french fries and a pork burger and watching the queens,” Fish said. “I remember watching the queens and thinking, ‘Wow, those girls are so pretty. They have the prettiest dresses.’ It means a lot that I get to maybe do that for some other little girl now.”

Last year, Fish got first runner-up in a queen contest that had just two contestants. This year, she received her crown from 2023 winner Jasmine Lansche.

“It’s pretty exciting and heartwarming getting my crown from Jasmine, especially how much fun we had last year,” Fish said. “It was a whole lot more fun with more girls this year.”

Fish was also thrilled that she became another member of her family to win the queen contest.

“My grandma and my aunt both won back in their teenage days, so that’s pretty cool to have the same title as them,” Fish said.

In early July, Fish received a national gold award and earned a fifth-place finish at the FCCLA National Leadership Conference in Seattle for her 2,000-minute reading challenge she hosted with Jonesburg and Montgomery City elementary schools. Fish mentioned her Seattle trip during the fun fact portion of the queen contest.

“Seattle was a blast,” Fish said. “I got to meet so many new people. I got to have so many new experiences. I got to experience it all with Madelyn Woods, Audra Heimer and Beth Beattie. They’re the best chaperones you could have asked for.”

Now, Fish is getting ready for her sophomore year at MCHS, which will start on Aug. 20. She is the president of the school’s FCCLA chapter and plans to play volleyball this fall.

“I’m excited to be president and get to go through all of those duties,” Fish said. “And of course, volleyball season is coming up. Lord knows that I’m going to be so busy.”