2020 Fowler Fall Festival Queen Crowns 2021 Queen

It starts with a football game. At halftime, antique cars enter the field. And then a name is announced over the loudspeaker. The winner of the prestigious Fowler Fall Festival Queen.

“By the end, I had sold 19,340,” said Emma Wilkins, about the number of tickets she sold to win the coveted rein as Queen in 2020. She sold nearly 20,000 tickets during the COVID-19 pandemic and then faced the limitations caused by the lockdown, which meant she missed out on the traditional coronation.

“It was this very humble gathering that we all had together and it was very private, and I think it made it sweet in that way and really showed what was important,” Wilkins said.

Now one year later, Wilkins is participating in the spectacle of winning the Fowler Fall Festival Queen.

“Even though my run was different, seeing all the people of Fowler come together and not only just the people of Fowler but when I branched out to Selma to Fresno, it actually made my experience much more special because it really showed the character of some people,” Wilkins said.

The Fowler Fall Festival isn’t just a parade. It is a community event where all those who call Fowler home are united. including Fresno State President Saúl Jimenez-Sandoval.

“It feels great to be the grand marshal,” Jimenez-Sandoval said. “I think it really is a testament to what Fowler did for me. Fowler believed in me as a kid. And Fowler really gave me the tools necessary to succeed in life.”