Leelanau’s very own Erin Eckerle is vying for the prestigious crown of the Cherry Queen at the National Cherry Festival in Traverse City throughout next week.
Eckerle, 24, grew up in Suttons Bay and graduated from Petoskey High School and came back to the area after college. She is a fifth-generation Suttons Bay descendant.
Eckerle is a local dentist assistant in Suttons Bay.
Eckerle remembers first applying in 2020, which ended without having a Cherry Festival altogether.
“I think they saved them. I don’t think they threw them out,” Eckerle said. “I’ve looked at it ever since and had an idea that I wanted to do it. I guess I never really got up the courage until this year.”
To be vetted through the Cherry Queen process one had to submit an application, and prepare an industry speech, which was fun for Eckerle who described her family and growing up on the farm. Then they had to do interviews with panel judges with a speech.
“I did open up and start talking about my family and my grandma specifically who was just very enamored with cherries and being in the industry and her cherry pies,” she said.
Eckerle will always remember how her grandmother Bernadette was a giving person and made everybody smile.
“I actually started crying. I broke down a little bit during my speech,” Eckerle said.
During her speech, Eckerle used the example of her sponsor Shoreline Fruit, explaining the Processors point of view and how those cherries go on the market. She also used Benjamin Twiggs, another sponsor of Eckerle, which sells competing cherry products.
Erin is the daughter of Brian Eckerle and works for her uncles Kirk and Jim Eckerle.
For Erin, it’s all about representing the growers at the National Cherry Festival.
“I really appreciate having those home roots … working on the farm really gives me the appreciation of hard work and work ethic,” she said. “Farmers are some of the hardest working people that I know and their day doesn’t end at five, they’re usually on the clock on days we harvest, easily 14 hours a day.”
Erin, who works full-time as a dentist assistant, admits she spent more hours working on the farm than in the office over the past week.
She helps mow the orchard, help plant new trees, prune and clear the brush, along with spraying and operating a highlow to help with cherry harvest.
“I can’t even put it into words what it would be like to represent my family (as cherry queen). I feel humbled and honored for even the opportunity … I think growers often get a little under represented in the industry with all of the cherry festivities going on. It’s nice to bring some of that to light,” Eckerle said.
Eckerle made it through the initial round of 14 people to the final four that will be on display at the National Cherry Festival next week.
“It’s an opportunity that I’ve thought about for at least four years and I think it’s every person’s dream, every young lady’s dream is to be the Cherry Queen,” Eckerle said. “To be a queen, with roots in the industry and background knowledge on cherries, I would love to spread all of that information and educate as many people as I can.”
