(Sage Smiley / KSTK)
After the pandemic quashed Wrangell’s usually-boisterous Independence Day celebrations last year, the community is ready for the return of boat races, game booths, and of course, the competition for Fourth of July Queen. KSTK sat down with the 2021 royalty candidates.
The race to crown the raffle ticket-selling Fourth of July Queen is back on this year. High school sophomore Cassady Cowan and junior Emma Martinsen are Wrangell’s first candidates for queen since 2019.
Martinsen says she’s running for queen as a way to give back to a community that’s given her a lot since she moved here over a decade ago.
“Over the years, [the community has been] just so supportive, whether it’s in sports, or you know, just being a person in the community, or if you need help,” Martinsen says. “I think this is like the one chance to, you know, give back to the community. And it’s a big event, it’s a huge event here. And so running for queen — it makes you feel good, and you’re doing good.”
As for Cowan, she says the idea came to her while she was out and about.
“I was out helping my mom, and I heard that people were going to start running for queens. So I thought I might join because since I’ve lived here, I’ve seen people run for queen and it looked like fun and something interesting to do,” Cowan explains. She adds that Wrangell’s Independence Day celebrations are unparalleled, and she wants to be a part of the action.
“I went to Ketchikan’s [Fourth of July]. And I would have to say Wrangell’s is better,” Cowan says with a laugh.
The competition is sponsored by Wrangell’s Chamber of Commerce, and supports future Independence Day festivities — and the candidates themselves — through raffle ticket sales. In previous years, candidates have been able to walk away with 30% of their ticket sales. Whichever candidate sells more tickets gets crowned in a coronation ceremony during the Fourth of July festivities. The title comes with bragging rights.
Each ticket sold by the queen candidates throughout June is entered into a raffle for grand cash prizes as well. In 2019, the first prize was $4,000. The Chamber of Commerce hasn’t announced if there will be changes to the prizes this year.
Martinsen says she plans to run a downtown food booth throughout the month of June as a way to sell tickets.
“It’s just a way to get people together and sell some good food and yeah, people love it,” Martinsen says.
Cowan isn’t old enough to run a food stall, so she’ll have to rely on another tried and true sales tactic: “Just start going up to houses knocking on the door and saying ‘Hi, I’m running for Fourth of July Queen, I was wondering if you would like to buy some tickets.’”
Martinsen and Cowan both say they’re willing to endure the month-long slog to show how much they love Wrangell.
“There’s so much stuff to do here like outdoors: going upriver, going camping, going hiking,” Martinsen says when asked what she loves about Wrangell. “And the last year, I’ve really gotten into those things. And it’s just so fun to be outside and experience. When you get to the city and then you come back home. It’s just, it’s just so different. I don’t know how to explain it. It’s just so different.”
Cowan continues Martinsen’s thought: “Because cities are way bigger and you don’t have as many privileges as you do here. And Wrangell, you’re able to get up and hike or go kayaking or do something fun. As in the cities, you have to drive like five miles to get somewhere, like 10 miles to a hiking trail.”
While Cowan and Martinsen may be rivals on the queen front, they’ve also got at least one thing in common: their favorite food.
Martinsen: “I really like halibut. That is honestly, I think my favorite meal.”
Smiley: “Any way? “
M: “Yeah. Any way. Fried, baked, just honestly any way.
S (to Cowan): “How about you?”
Cowan: “It would have to be halibut.”
S: “Oh, wow, a couple of halibut girls.”
M: “Yeah, it’s really good.”
They also both say they love the sun. Somehow, Cowan and Martinsen still both love Wrangell and its average of 80 inches of annual rainfall too.
The race for Wrangell’s Fourth of July Queen kicks off at the downtown pavilion at 6 p.m. on Memorial Day (May 31).
This article has been updated to correct the spelling of Cassady Cowan’s last name.
Get in touch with KSTK at news@kstk.org or (907) 874-2345.
