Who will they be? Ranging in age from 3 to 7, the little girls vying for the titles of Tiny Miss and Little Miss Hanover Tomato Festival will learn on Saturday who will capture the crowns.

Contestants are scheduled to gather at 11 a.m. in the stage area of the 2011 Hanover Tomato Festival at Pole Green Park at 8996 Pole Green Park Lane in Mechanicsville.

On June 25, the day of the pageant, director Lynn Watson said the contestants need to arrive by 10:30 a.m.

Even though the Black Creek Volunteer Fire Department has a new station, the pageant was held at the old location on McClelland Road in Mechanicsville.

Mary Catherine Piland serves as assistant director, and the judges were John Fibbiani, Sandy Watson and Stacey Duke.

As director, Lynn Watson questioned the contestants about their favorite toy and food, as well as what they plan to do during the summer months.

Tiny Miss contestants and their responses are:

McKenna Dawn Anderson, 3, who paused when asked about her favorite toy, prompting Watson to pose the question, “Who is that lady that sleeps a lot?” Without hesitation, McKenna responded, “Mommy.” Watson then asked, “How about Sleeping Beauty?” McKenna said she likes to ride horses and, what became a common theme throughout the afternoon, said noodles, especially macaroni and cheese topped the favorite food list. “Sit outside” was her answer to her plans for the summer months. McKenna also said she likes to swim and proudly said she can hold her breath underwater.

Miranda Paige Gagnon, 3, like many contestants, is a Barbie fan. She too likes noodles, specifically macaroni and cheese. This summer, she said she will be swimming. To the delight of the audience, Miranda performed “It’s a Small World.”

Valerie Nicole Goodman, 4, also said Barbie dolls falls in the favorite toy category. She said her sister lets her play with her Barbie house, which she described as “a tall house.”

Dora the Explorer is another interest. With food, she quickly said, “I like to eat ice cream.” This summer she said she will be playing outside. Then, after a moment, she changed her mind, saying, “Stay inside—it’s hot.” She impressed the crowd by reciting the “Pledge of Allegiance,” which she said she learned in school.

Jenna Herndon, 3, is another fan of Barbie. She said she also has a kitchen set and “cooks dinner for everybody.” She likes to eat noodles and her summer will be filled with playing with her toys, her Barbie dolls and going swimming. Jenna studies dance, which she called “grown-up dance.”

Juliana Hoppe, 3½, likes to play with baby dolls, especially Baby Lila. Unlike many of her fellow contestants, she isn’t a fan of noodles. Watermelon is her favorite food. Playing in the sprinkler is high on her to-do list this summer. She said she enjoys helping her mother prepare breakfast and also cleans house.

Reese Marie Hunt, 3, likes her Baby Snow White and Strawberry Shortcake. Her choice in food falls in the healthy category; she said broccoli is her favorite. As for the summer, she said she likes to go to the beach and play in the sand. She concluded her interview by singing “Jesus Loves Me.”

Jillian Keener, 3, likes to play with her doll house and a stuffed toy named Sea Horse. She said her favorite food is Froot Loops cereal, as well as chocolate ice cream and salad.

This summer, she will be swimming in her pool and going to Kings Dominion, where she will ride the Scooby Doo Roller Coaster.

Lauren Madison Markley, 4, likes to spend her playtime with blocks and playing the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse on the computer. She also plays with Barbie dolls. Her taste in food involves strawberries, particularly those covered in chocolate. She plans to swim in the pool and go the beach, where she will build sand. Lauren said she can jump off the diving board and do a flip. “I swim around; I can hold my breath a really long time.”

Taylor Spruill, 4, said she likes princesses, including Snow White and Ariel. She is a fan of strawberries, as well as cheese pizza. She plans to go to Busch Gardens to ride the roller coaster and merry-go-round. She also has plans to do some swimming.

Leah Pastore Steele, 4, has healthier favorites when it comes to food, she likes salad with dressing and vanilla yogurt. Rather than looking at her summer plans in a broad sense, Leah said, “Today I’m going to the pool and swim.” She said she enjoys coloring and going to the movies. She saw the Rapunzel-themed movie “Tangled,” as well as “a horse movie” she said she liked. She is studying gymnastics and proudly said she can do a handstand. “I used to do ballet,” she added. Another favorite pastime is playing soccer.

Lydia Gail Thompson, 3, spends her playtime with Barbie dolls, noting, “I have a lot” [of them]. Spaghetti with sauce is her pick for favorite food. Staying at home and going to Kings Dominion top her summer plans list. “I can’t go on the big rides yet,” Lydia said. She studies ballet and shook her head in the positive when Watson asked if her dancing was good.

Morgan Vaughan shyly approached the front of the room. And, even though she was accompanied by her grandmother, she chose not to join Watson for the interview process.

Despite Watson’s best attempts, Morgan could not be cajoled to talk. “A big case of stage fright,” Watson said, “but at least she came up here.”

Corinne Verlander, 4, enjoys playing with baby dolls and “dresses them up.” “Eggs” was her answer to favorite food. “I like to cut them up and stir them up and put the cheese in.”

Her summer plans include swimming at home – “I have a blue pool.” She said she also is “going to play with my mommy and daddy and Collin [her baby brother]. Everybody’s going to swim.” She studies gymnastics and especially likes doing cartwheels and handstands.

In the Little Miss category, the following girls, who also answered Watson’s questions, are seeking the title:

Emma Grace Allgood, 6, attends Battlefield Park Elementary School. Her favorite toy is “my kitty stuffed animal.” She is a fan of macaroni and cheese, but spaghetti tops her food choices. She also said she likes oatmeal with blueberries. She said she will be going to the beach and making sand castles this summer. Emma said she likes country music.

Delaney Childs, 7, is a student at Pole Green Elementary School. Rather than the routine questions that had been posed, she readily shared her knowledge of history with Watson and the crowd. She quickly said “the first president” when asked who George Washington was. The same was true when asked about Abraham Lincoln, with Delaney responding, “He was the 16th president.” “What was that speech he gave?” Watson asked. “Do you know what that is?” Without hesitation, Delaney said, “the Gettysburg Address.” Her summer will include visiting her “great-great-grandpa” in Indiana and going to the pool.

Skyla Fultz, 6, said she has an older and a younger brother. “Are they good brothers?” Watson asked. “Sometimes,” Skyla replied. When it comes to toys, dolls of any kind rate as her favorite. She did say she likes to play outside. Her list of favorite foods includes macaroni and cheese, salad and pepperoni and cheese pizzas. For the summer, she said, “I have a pool in my back yard; I play in the sandbox and I get in the pool and I play in my treehouse.” She also said she likes to help people. At home, she gives her time to household chores such as dusting.

Kaylee Nicole Gagnon, 7, attends Rural Point Elementary School. She said her favorite toys are DS and Barbie. She likes the Star Trek, Mario and Hannah Montana games, as well as drawing games on her DS. When it comes to food, Kaylee said, “Strawberries with chocolate on them.” She even picks her own in a strawberry patch. This summer, she will be heading to the beach “and I’m going to go in the water and help my dad find starfish and sand dollars.” She said her family vacations in. Because it makes her “feel really happy,” she has donated coloring books, paints and markers to hospitalized children.” Another favorite activity is gymnastics. “I do flips and stuff like that and I’m in level 3.”

Jordan E. Ladd, 5, is a student at Mechanicsville Elementary School. She likes to play with Barbie dolls. Her favorite foods are oodles with cheese and spaghetti with meatballs. “I’m going to the pool and I’ll dive underwater,” Jordan said of her summer plans. She said she “really likes school – I like to play with my friends.”

Paige Mackenzie Lewis, 5, said Princess Pony and “Rosie my stuffed animal cat” are her favorite toys, while carrots rate at the top in her food choices. This summer, she will be going to her grandmother’s house, where, she said, she will “blow bubbles.” She said she likes to go to the pond, but not in the water. A favorite character is Tinker Bell. “I like her because she’s always being nice to people.”

Margaret “Maggie” Malick, 7, is a student at Pearson’s Corner Elementary School. A toy bear named Lily is her favorite. She likes to eat macaroni and cheese. This summer, Maggie said she plans to go to her friend’s house. “They have a swing—I like to play on it.” She said she enjoys drawing pictures. When Watson asked if she was good at drawing, Maggie said, “My mom says I am.”

Hannah Grace Matthews, 5, attends Laurel Meadow Elementary School. She likes to play with Disney princess toys. Her favorite foods are shrimp and potato salad. This summer, she said she will be going to Great Wolf Lodge, where she will “go on the water slides.” She also plans to swim at the beach and play with her uncle’s dog Oakley. When Watson asked if the dog was nice, Hannah said, “Sometimes he scratches people.”

Isabella Ogden, 6, is a student at Laurel Meadow Elementary School kindergarten. “My fat baby” was her answer when asked about a favorite toy. When it comes to food, she likes salad with tomatoes and tomato sandwiches. This summer she plans to “ride my bike at my house.” She also likes to go swimming. She said she has a cat named Little Bear. “I lost a tooth,” Isabella pointed out. When Watson asked about a visit from the Tooth Fairy, she said she did receive money for her tooth.

Madelyn Powell, 5, attends Washington Henry Elementary School. She is a fan of tractors when asked about toys and said cake, cupcakes and shrimp rate as her favorite foods. She plans to go to the beach this summer and make sand castles. She joins her father when he goes hunting for turkey and deer.

Abigail Powell, 7, attends Washington Henry Elementary School. Her favorite toy is My American Girl Doll. “That’s pretty much the only thing I want to play with.” She said she also has a Panda Pillow Pet. Her food favorites include watermelon and cake. Her summer plans include going swimming and practicing cheerleading. Before leaving her interview, Abigail did a cheer for Watson and the audience.

Peyton Maryalice Reyes, 5, attends Mechanicsville Elementary School. She likes to play with her doll named Michael. Favorite foods are tomatoes and carrots. This summer she will be going to the beach and the pool. To keep cool, she also said she likes to play in the sprinkler. A favorite vacation spot is the Yogi Bear Campground, because it has a water park.

Scarlett McCauley Sedloff, 6, is a student at Laurel Meadow Elementary School. She likes Pillow Pets, especially the penguins, “and my Barbie dolls.” Tomatoes, carrots and noodles top her favorite foods list and she also likes ketchup. “It’s just a kind of sauce,” she said of ketchup, adding she likes to dip steak and chicken in the tomato-based product.

She will be going to the beach this summer. Scarlett said she is looking forward to celebrating her birthday on July 29 with a party at her house. She said she have “a big party,” with cake and ice cream. She likes to go swimming and pointed out she had lost two teeth. As she pointed to the loss, she said the Tooth Fairy had visited and left her money, which she plans to save.

Taylor Haley Strath, 7, is a student at Laurel Meadow Elementary School. She likes to play with Barbie dolls. Her favorite foods are cucumbers and carrots. This summer she said she wants to go to the beach and play in the ocean. She said her family camps at Myrtle Beach, S.C. She likes to play in the pool with her two little brothers and her girlfriend.

Madison Vaughan, 7, attends Pearson’s Corner Elementary School. She likes to play with her iPod and Wii Wipeout. She is a fan of noodles and also likes cheese pizza. This summer she wants to go to the beach and swim. She also plays tennis and golf with her dad, although she admitted she doesn’t defeat him at either sport. She raises money for charity through a church organization.

Sydney Waldrop, 7, is a student at Rural Point Elementary School. She likes to play with dolls. “I play school and play mommy with them.” She likes to eat watermelon and noodles. Her summer plans include swimming and helping her “daddy on the farm and plant tomatoes.” She also plans to have her friends visit so she can show them the animals. “I only have dogs, but my next door neighbor has all kinds of animals: ducks, chickens, cows and horses.” Her farming experience includes planting raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, potatoes, green beans and peas.

The 2011 Hanover Tomato Festival will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Under the leadership of Oscar Watson, the Black Creek VFD started the Hanover Tomato Festival in 1978.

The Tomato Festival is presented by the Black Creek Volunteer Fire Department, Hanover Parks & Recreation, The Herald Progress and The Mechanicsville Local.