From a young age, Ally Kemp of Unionville had her sights set on becoming the Michigan Sugar Queen. Little did she know she would be wearing the crown in 2021.
“I have lived basically in Sebewaing my whole life where the Sugar Festival takes place, and I grew up going to the festival every year,” she said. “When I was really little, I tried out for Sugar Princess and got [it] in 2010. My mom said I told her I would like to be those queens. I’m very happy and honored to have that title as Michigan Sugar Queen and to represent Michigan Sugar.”
While Kemp didn’t grow up on a farm, she said she was born and raised on sugarbeet soil. She eventually worked for her dad’s business, Kemp Tiling, and has a connection to the Sebewaing factory.
“My dad was always tiling for farmers all the time, and he’d take us along in the truck and we’d shovel in the field with him and help set flags and different things in the tiling world,” said Kemp. “I have been working down at the factory for about six years now, and I’ve dove headfirst into agriculture because I work right in the field.”
She began her reign as queen during the 2021 Michigan Sugar Festival this past weekend. As queen, Kemp is most looking forward to getting out into the community.
“I love making connections to people—I’m pretty extroverted, so I always like to talk to new people,” she said. “Overall, [I want to] represent this company in a positive way. We’ve had incredible Sugar Queens in the past, and I wish to carry on that tradition.”
Kemp is studying nursing at Oakland University and received a $2,000 scholarship.
