June 24, 2009 - 12:09 p.m. EST

SEBEWAING — The 2009 Michigan Sugar Queen is Elizabeth Krhovsky, 19, of Corunna.

Crowned at the 45th annual Michigan Sugar Festival in Sebewaing on June 19, Krhovsky will have a busy year ahead of her. She will represent the sugar beet industry as she visits with public officials, food industry leaders and the general public. Her schedule includes many official appearances during the year, often riding on the Pioneer Sugar float in more than 20 parades throughout Michigan.

Krhovsky, the daughter of Martin and Mary Krhovsky of Corunna, is a 2008 graduate of Corunna High School. She will be attending Michigan State University this fall as a junior majoring in environmental studies and agri-science.

First runner-up, Tonia Gooden of Algonac, and second runner-up, Carissa Bli of Essexville, will serve on the queen’s court. In this capacity, they will accompany Elizabeth in many parades and other personal appearances.

Gooden, 18, is the daughter of Craig and Elaine Gooden. She is a recent graduate of Algonac High School and will be attending the University of Michigan where she is major in Biochemistry for Pre Med with the goal of becoming a gastroenterologist.

Bli, 18, is the daughter of James and Shelley Bli. She recently graduated from Garber High School in Essexville and will be attending Delta College in the fall, pursuing a degree in nursing.

Jeff Adamo, Director of Human Resources for Michigan Sugar Company, was a judge for the Queen Scholarship Committee.

“We had 24 excellent candidates to choose from this year. All of them were well-suited to serve as the Michigan Sugar Queen, which made it difficult for the Scholarship Committee to choose,” he said. All of the candidates should be proud of themselves and hopefully they all took away something positive from this experience.”