Heidi Anthony, of Le Mars, and Cayla Westergard, of rural Akron, are two of 26 contestants vying for the River-Cade Queen crown in Sioux City this weekend. The coronation is held on Saturday. [Click to enlarge]

Two young women from Plymouth County are vying for Siouxland's River-Cade crown this weekend.

Heidi Anthony, of Le Mars, and Cayla Westergard, of rural Akron, are competing with 24 other contestants for the Sioux City festival's "Queen of the River" title.

Competition began Wednesday with individual interviews with three judges and continued Friday with more interviews and a prepared speech, a mock TV commercial for River-Cade.

Coronation is set for Saturday afternoon.

The winner receives a $4,000 college scholarship and attends events throughout the year as River-Cade's ambassador.

Anthony, 21, decided to join the competition in part because she enjoys meeting people.

"And if I did get the title, it would be a great honor to represent River-Cade and Siouxland, and be more actively involved in the area," she said.

The 2005 Le Mars Communnity High School graduate now attends Briar Cliff College in Sioux City where she is majoring in elementary education with reading and Spanish endorsements.

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"I always had the goal of changing the world," Anthony said. "My mom's a teacher, and I've seen the impact she's had, and I've had lots of great teachers. I want to have the same impact."

Although she'll be donning a ball gown on Saturday for the River-Cade coronation, Anthony usually spends her summer days baby-sitting or helping around the house.

The daughter of John and Deb Anthony, Heidi has an older brother and sister. After she graduates, she hopes to stay in Siouxland.

"I love this area, I loved growing up here," she said. "There's lots of opportunities and you always feel safe. It's a good place to call home."

The second Plymouth County contestant, Westergard, is returning to the River-Cade royalty competition for her second year.

"I had a lot of fun last year and made a lot of good friends, and there's good scholarship money involved," the 21-year-old said. "Whether or not you win they really made you feel like a queen."

The Akron-Westfield graduate is now majoring in journalism at Iowa State University and she's looking forward to an internship this fall with MeredithCorporation, the group that publishes "Better Homes and Gardens." For the summer, she's interning at the Le Mars Daily Sentinel.

But what will Westergard be doing after she graduates?

"That's the million dollar question," she laughed.

Westergard has served on a royal court before. Growing up in Plymouth County, she was involved in 4-H since elementary school and was picked to be the Plymouth County Fair Queen in 2004.

To be chosen for the River-Cade crown would be an honor, she said.

"I think it's a great opportunity for a 21-year-old to represent Siouxland in that capacity," she said.