Hey, you! Did you know you could run for Queen of the Snows?

Well, you could run next year for the St. Paul Winter Carnival title, as long as you’re a woman over the age of 21 (and you don’t have to live in St. Paul to qualify).

This year’s pool of queenly candidates stands at 11, bigger than last year but smaller than in years past.

Reasons for the smaller number are arguable, but they include the 2006 change in age requirement from 18 to 21 (the royal family makes appearances at all kinds of places, including restaurants and bars, so the Winter Carnival wanted to make sure its representatives were legal to enter these establishments).

The Queen of the Snows and the princesses have broken the traditional demographic of a twenty-something college student or young professional: In 1996, Queen Maureen Damman, 37, was a working married mom with two kids; Debbie Seiberlich, Princess of the East Wind in 1997, was a 44-year-old grandmother.

“Unfortunately, I think there’s still a misperception that you have to be young and in a pageant to compete for Queen of the Snows, and that’s not how it is,” says Linda James, candidate committee co-chair.

The candidates begin the process in November, with an orientation where they learn about the history of the carnival, which is billed as the nation’s oldest and largest winter festival.

In the weeks before coronation on Jan. 26, participation for the queen candidates heats up, with activities ranging from appearances at nursing homes to participating in a fashion show to undergoing interviews. And, of course, there’s the annual Queen’s Tea at the Summit Avenue home of the 1947 Queen of the Snows, Helen Duffy Murphy.

At each event, members of the selection committee observe the candidates, trying to determine which will best represent the carnival. As queen, this woman will need the gift of making conversation with everyone from pre-schoolers to business owners to government officials to senior citizens; the ability not to complain whether she’s huddling on a float in January or wearing nylons at a festival in August; and the talent to speak publicly and nationally about the carnival’s charm.

Indeed, the year ahead will be a busy one of about 300 appearances for the queen and the rest of the royal family, which includes a fleet of princes and princesses. As goodwill ambassadors for the carnival, the royals spend a lot of time in parades, shake a lot of hands, visit a lot of nursing homes and pack a lot of suitcases.

“It’s a very large commitment, but it is a year like no other,” says Jessica Spier, 28, the reigning queen, who is a veterinarian assistant at Inver Grove Heights Animal Hospital.

Tara Aiken, 22, Minnetonka, is sponsored by the Hopkins Raspberry Festival. The former Raspberry princess is a graduate of Hamline University who works as a relocation associate with SIRVA Relocation. She also serves as head junior varsity lacrosse coach at Edina Senior High School.

Ellen Edwards, 23, St. Paul, is sponsored by Windy Hill Auto Parts. The Bemidji State University graduate works as a pharmacy technician at Target Pharmacy on Suburban Avenue in St. Paul. In college, Edwards earned her degree in Spanish and visual arts (with a jewelry/metals emphasis), and she plans to volunteer abroad in Mexico or Guatemala. Her grandfather was the 1980 Vulcan King, Red Roberts.

Melissa Gaulke, 23, Elk River, is sponsored by the law office of Neill J. O’Neill and Fury Motors. The Augsburg College graduate works as a juvenile correctional officer at the Hennepin County Juvenile Detention Center. Gaulke put herself through school working three jobs and was the first person in her family to graduate from college. Her sister, Jessica Gaulke, a college student, recently gave up her Minneapolis Aquatennial Queen of the Lakes crown to prepare to serve in Iraq with her Minnesota National Guard unit.

Cassie Genz, 23, Mendota Heights, is sponsored by Re/Max Realty 100. The Winona State University graduate is marketing director for Midwest Guaranty Title Co. A winter enthusiast, she enjoys playing and coaching hockey and remembers attending the Winter Carnival as a child.

Sara Havran, 20 (she turns 21 Monday), Shakopee, is sponsored by Viking Electric Supplies. She is pursuing a major in teaching (specialty in social studies) and minor in dance and coaching at Winona State University. She works as an assistant at Playworks and served as Miss Shakopee 2005-06.

Carlene Johnson, 21, South St. Paul, is sponsored by Woodbury Family Dentist. She is pursuing a double major in public relations and speech communication at Minnesota State University-Mankato. Johnson, who was Miss South St. Paul 2004-05, wants to pursue a master’s degree in speech communication.

Kathleen O’Day, 25, Maplewood, is sponsored by Hirshfield’s/Benjamin Moore Paint. She has a degree in graphic design and works in data entry for Hirshfield’s. O’Day served as Roseville Princess in 2001-02 and has volunteered for the Winter Carnival.

Emily Seefeld, 23, Mendota Heights, is sponsored by Tapemark Co. She is pursuing degrees in athletic training and psychology at Bethel University, where she also works as a student athletic trainer. She hopes to work as a sports massage therapist after graduation. Seefeld served as a West St. Paul Days princess in 2005 and grew up searching for the medallion in the Winter Carnival’s Pioneer Press Treasure Hunt.

Amy Stutzriem, 25, New Brighton, is sponsored by the Payne-Arcade Harvest Festival. She has degrees from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and the Universidad de Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico, and works at LoveWorks Academy, a charter school in North Minneapolis, as a third- and fourth-grade teacher and also a Spanish middle-school teacher. Stutzriem’s goal is to open her own charter school for inner-city kids. She is the Payne-Arcade Harvest Festival Queen of 2005-06.

Stephanie Turner, 21, St. Paul, is sponsored by Avalon Fortress Security. She is pursuing a degree as a registered nurse at Inver Hills Community College and works as a registered nursing assistant at Inver Grove Good Samaritan Center. A regular blood donor, she recently got her 10-gallon pin from the Red Cross. She’s a winter enthusiast who enjoys ice-skating, sledding and Minnesota Wild hockey. She served as a West St. Paul Days princess in 2005.

Chelsea Will, 22, New Brighton, is sponsored by New Brighton Health and Rehabilitation. She is pursuing a degree in dental hygiene at Normandale Community College and works as a receptionist at New Brighton Health and Rehabilitation. She hopes to specialize in geriatric dental care. Her royal background includes serving as a representative for New Brighton Stockyard Days in 2004 and as Payne-Arcade Harvest Festival ambassador in 2005-06.

Molly Millett can be reached at mollymillett@pioneerpress.com or 651-228-5505.

Copyright 2007 Pioneer Press.