Caitlin Perdue, 19, of Derwood has been on the Montgomery County Agricultural Fair court many times — always a princess, but never a queen.
This year, in what she considers the best of all outcomes, Caitlin was named queen and her brother, Christopher, 17, was named king.
"It's so cool," Caitlin Perdue said. "After five years on the fair court I finally get to do it and get to do it with my brother. It's one of the coolest things in the world."
This is only the second time in fair history that a brother and sister have been chosen king and queen. The only other sibling monarchs were Margaret and Londell Luther of Damascus 13 years ago.
The king and queen need to be good speakers and leaders, Christopher Perdue said. The Perdues say years of leadership experience in 4-H prepared them well for their duties.
The Perdues belong to the 4-H Pets R Us and Kids N Dogs clubs.
They are lifetime members of the fair and have each volunteered between 200 and 300 hours at the event over the years.
"They're very involved in everything they do and they give it 100 percent," said Lorelei Irons, chairwoman of the royal court committee.
Judges said Caitlin and Christopher Perdue were warm and friendly, she said.
The Perdues have held a variety of 4-H leadership positions and are good at public speaking, she said. Caitlin was the state 4-H grand champion in prepared speech last year and Christopher was the state grand champion in extemporaneous public speaking this year.
"It's an honor to get to represent an organization like that that I put so much time in," Christopher Perdue said.
They are eager to talk to people at the fair about 4-H.
"Please come to the fair," Christopher Perdue said. "It's a great way to see what the youth of Montgomery County are doing and it's a great way to get in touch with the agricultural side of Montgomery County."
The fair opened Friday and will run through Saturday.
Fewer teens are interested in agriculture these days, Christopher Perdue said. He hopes the fair will allow more children to see the benefits of 4-H as a place to grow and learn.
"One of the greatest things it provides is so many leadership and speaking opportunities," Christopher Perdue said. "I found it extremely helpful in everything I've done."
Caitlin Perdue reminisced about presenting 4-H projects and how the process of learning something new, making an exhibit and talking about it in a formal setting has taught her how to speak in public, she said.
The Perdue family lives on Stillwater Farm, an 8-acre farm where they raise three horses and dogs. They are this year's 4-H volunteer family of the year.
Caitlin Perdue attends the University of Maryland, where she is majoring in viola performance. Christopher Perdue is in his senior year of home schooling. He will take some college courses this year at Howard Community College and hopes to attend the University of Maryland next year to major in cello performance.
Caitlin wants to become a private studio teacher, while Christopher wants to become a professional musician.
More talents of the Perdue family will be on display at 11 a.m. Saturday when they perform with the family band, Celtic Cross, on the racing park stage. The band features mom, Susan, on piano; Caitlin on fiddle, violin and viola; Christopher on cello, mandolin and percussion ,and sister, Meghan, 14, on fiddle.
