Our Watermelon Queens

Summer Thomas is the 19 year

old daughter of Matthew and Jean Thomas from

Marydel, Delaware. Summer is attending the

University of Delaware where she is majoring in

Agriculture and Natural Resources with a minor

in Food and Agribusiness Management. Summer says traveling is her favorite hobby. She also enjoys cooking and being outdoors in her free

time.

Gabrielle Hastings. Gabrielle is the 18 year old daughter of Jeff and Kim Hastings. Gabrielle is a student at the University of Delaware, majoring in Psychology and Pre-Med. She is employed by Jeff’s Greenhouses, Newark manor, and Pizza King.

Gabrielle’s list of accomplishments consist of Presidents gold seal award with an achievement of 4.0 academic standing. CPR and first aid certified, Certified nursing assistant. Vice president of community council housing management. Youth group leader, calculus and plant science tutor and 2016 Miss Laurel. 

Her hobbies consist of playing sports especially field hockey and lacrosse, volunteering, hanging out with friends, gardening and doing anything on the farm.

Gabrielle’s plans for the future are to go onto medical school to become a pediatrician, then eventually buy her parents greenhouse business.

Gabrielle feels she would make the best public relations representative for the Mar-Del Watermelon Association because throughout her entire life she has always been a “little” saleswoman. Growing up on the farm and being around the greenhouses selling flowers, watermelons, cantaloupes, anything in that nature has allowed her to develop a passion for selling plants and produce. She has always been a people person and no crowd is ever too big or too small to do spontaneous speeches to connect with any audience. Whenever selling any product she says “ I always put the customer first and stay devoted to my product, which is what I will do if I become the Mar-del Watermelon Associations public relations representative. Gabrielle says what is better than a sweet “Mar-Delicious Watermelon!”

Connor Vincent was crowned at the 2017 Mar-Del Watermelon Convention February in Cambridge, MD. Connor is the twenty one year old daughter of Clayton and Cheryl Vincent, of Laurel, DE.  She recently graduated Cum Laude from North Carolina State University Agricultural Institute, earning an Associate's Degree in Agribusiness Management. She will be continuing her education at Campbell University majoring in Pre-Law. Connor is a member of Delta Tau Alpha Agricultural Honor Society and was selected as the top student in her Agriculture Law class in the Fall of 2015.  She is also the Sheep Species Chair for the North Carolina State University Animal Science Club.  Additionally, Connor served on the National Junior Suffolk Sheep Association Board of Directors from 2010-2016.  Connor raises and shows a registered flock of Border Leicester sheep, that have won several national championships and she designs clothing using their wool.  In addition to this unique hobby, Connor enjoys conducting farm tours on her family farm for middle and high school students, paddle boarding, fishing, and attending state fairs. 

In the future, Connor plans to become a consumer educator for food and agriculture for the USDA. She believes as an advocate for American agriculture, she will have the opportunity to promote the safest and cheapest food supply available anywhere in the world.