HOLTVILLE — The Holtville Chamber of Commerce announced the 2023 Carrot Royalty Competition Candidates in a press release Thursday, December 29, 2022. The press release was sent out alongside a short biography for each of the candidates.
The 2023 Carrot Jr. Princess Candidates are Addison Lydick, Alexandria Reeves, and Aleeyah Aguilar.
"My name is Addison Susanna Lydick and I am running for 2023 Holtville Carrot Festival Junior Princess," wrote Lydick. "I am a 7-year-old, first grade student, enrolled in the dual language immersion curriculum at Emmett S. Finley Elementary School, and in October I was awarded Student of the Month. In addition, I participate in extracurricular activities including; horseback riding, Southwest Valley 4-H Club, Imperial Valley Girls’ Softball League, and the Holtville Stingrays Swim Team. I would be honored to represent our community as the 2023 Holtville Carrot Festival Junior Princess!"
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"My name is Alexandria Reeves but you can call me Lexi. I recently moved to Holtville and go to Pine Elementary," wrote Reeves. "I like to play with all my animals which are, 3 dogs, 1 duck, 1 iguana, and 5 cows. I like to do fun things with my family. I would like to represent my new town of Holtville as a Jr Princess. I want everyone to know how fun it is to live in Holtville. I also really like coming out in parades. I am a brownie in Girl Scouts. I like to help people and make new friends. I have been in 4-H for 3 years. I really like to do arts and crafts. My future plans are to graduate as a Viking and become a veterinarian. I really like to help animals."
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"My name is Aleeyah Nullie Aguilar and I’m the daughter of Janelle Aguilar. I am 6 years old, and I currently attend first grade at Hedrick Elementary School," said Aguilar. "I participate in softball for Imperial Valley Girls Softball League and have been playing for 2 years. I also train in Horseback Riding at the Flying D Ranch. This year I have collected and donated many books to classmates, lending libraries and any other friends I come across. I have also helped clean up community parks and helped passed out toys to kids with CASA. I enjoy being with my friends and cousins. My favorite thing to do is art and crafts. Right now I am the jewelry maker of the family. I would be honored to represent Holtville as your 2023 Carrot Festival Junior Princess."
The 2023 Carrot Princess Candidates are Natalie Garfio and Jocelyn Ornelas.
"My name is Natalie Garfio. I am 14 years old, and I believe I would be a great person to represent Holtville as your 2023 Carrot Princess. I am a good student and love helping others," wrote Garfio. "My hobbies include softball, volleyball and basketball. I am also the ASB president for Holtville Middle School and a FFA Discovery officer. My future plans are to either be a veterinarian because I love animals or an elementary school teacher because I love kids. I like trying new things and I think running for Carrot Princess would be a great experience for me as well as the other candidates."
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"My name is Jocelyn Ornelas and I am 13 years old. I am involved in 4-H and cheer. I have a rabbit named “Shadow”. I have been in cheer since I was 5 years old and I am cheer captain at Holtville Middle School," wrote Ornelas. "I would like to represent Holtville in various events including the Carrot Festival because Holtville is my hometown. I would love to learn more about Holtville and strengthen the community. For fun I like to play Roblox with my friends, have sleepovers, watch movies, and cook. In the future I would like to be either an ultrasound technician, real estate broker, or marine biologist."
The 2023 Carrot Queen Candidates are Arielle Sotelo, Chloe Ponce, and Samantha Castaneda.
"Hi, my name is Arielle Sotelo, daughter of Mariel Ramos and Isaiah Sotelo. I am 17 years old and a senior at Holtville High School, and I plan to attend a four-year university and major in Finance and Economics," wrote Sotelo. "This year I decided to run for the 76th Annual Carrot Queen. I am running to be more engaged in my community and see Holtville outside of sports since I am an active participate in volleyball, softball, and soccer. I am also a member of the Holtville Band of Pride, and I am Senior Class President. I wanted to do more for my community and be more involved and what better way to represent Holtville then running for Carrot Queen! Thank you in advance for your continuous support."
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"Hello, my name is Chloe Ponce. I’m a 15-year-old sophomore attending Brawley Union High School. I’m involved in the FFA program and plan to join the girls wrestling team," wrote Ponce. I enjoy baking, hanging out with friends, the outdoors and photography. "I plan to go to college and attend medical school, where I would like to become a cardiac surgeon. I’m fun, easy going, caring, responsible and a great friend! Being the Carrot Queen would give me the opportunity to bond with other girls, new friendships and create a new sense of confidence. By running for Carrot Queen, I can show my younger sister and other young woman that no matter what you put your mind to, you can do it! I have family roots in Holtville. I would be honored to represent the community and the City of Holtville."
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"My name is Samantha Castaneda, I am 16 years old and a junior at Holtville High School. I enjoy spending time with my dog Simba, sketching and spending time with my church family," wrote Castaneda. "I am an Honors and AP student, highly involved in my church, band, cheer and ASB. I have been playing the trumpet for the past seven years and I’ve been in the Holtville music program since the fifth grade. Last summer I decided to compete with the National American Miss competition in hopes to become the next Miss California in the Jr. Teen division and made it as a California finalist as well as bringing home 3rd place in talent. It was an honor to represent California and the Imperial County, as it will be an honor to continue representing if I make it as a Carrot Queen because I love my community.
