By Jake Palmateer
Staff Writer
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A Harpersfield teen is the new New York State Maple Queen. Deidra Hill proved to the judges at the American Maple Museum in Croghan last Saturday that she has what it takes to be a top ambassador for the state’s maple industry.
An alternate 2011-12 maple queen, Hill said she already has a taste for what’s in store during her one-year reign.
“We go around, and we promote New York state maple all over the state, at trade events, fairs and local shows with local vendors,” Hill said. “I just love going out there and talking to the consumers.”
Hill said she was thrilled to be crowned the 2012-13 maple queen. “I was very surprised. I knew I had very tough competition this year,” Hill said.
The competition involved a 7 a.m. breakfast with the judges, one-onone interviews with the judges, a three-minute prepared speech and an impromptu question-and-answer session.
Hill, 17, was born into the maple business. Her parents, Dwayne and Maryellen Hill, own Shaver Hill Farm in Harpersfield.
At Shaver Hill Farm, the teen plays an active role in the business.
She creates labels for products and advertising; makes some of the products and helps sell and market them.
Hill, a senior at Stamford Central School, said she will be attending SUNY Morrisville in the fall to major in website development.
