Tabitha Michell Hiner Is The 2012 Highland County Maple Queen

Monterey, VA – Highland High School sophomore Tabitha Michell Hiner won the title of 2012 Maple Queen at the 48th annual Maple Queen Pageant, held at Highland High School on Saturday, February 25. Tabitha is the daughter of William and Penny Hiner of McDowell. Tabitha talks about some of her Maple Festival duties.

“We will go around to the sugar camps, and the arts and crafts around town,” says Hiner.

Tabitha and the members of her court, Tracy Lynn Chapman and Savannah Lee Hevener, will also attend pancake breakfasts around the county and some of the music performances at the Highland Center. During the rest of the year the Queen and her court take part in several events in the area and will also be participants in parades in Monterey, Hot Springs and Franklin, West Virginia. Tabitha’s two loves these days are farming and playing basketball. She was an award winning livestock exhibitor at last year’s Highland County Fair.

“We raise goats and cattle and pigs,” she says. “I feed and water the goats and take care of their pens; there basically just pets right now. I’ve been in FFA for five year now; I enjoy going to competitions. I showed one steer, two sheep, two goats and two hogs.”

Tabitha’s enthusiasm for farming may lead her to a future career.

“I want to go to school and major in veterinarian sciences; Virginia Tech’s at the top of my list,” she says.

Tabitha is also a formidable force on the basketball court. She was on the Highland Middle School team for three years and has been a mainstay of the girl’s varsity team this year. She was the Rams leading scorer in the recent game against Craig County.

Look for Tabitha, Tracy and Savannah to be spreading greetings and good will around Monterey during the Maple Festival.