It was before covid shut the world down when the last Miss Cashton was crowned.
In the fall of 2019, Emma Gronemus was selected as Miss Cashton and held the title for two years in-a-row due to the cancellation of the pageant in 2020.
Everyone on the 2019 court decided to hold onto their titles for the consecutive year. In addition to Gronemus, the royalty group included Miss Cashton Attendant Larissa Ripley, Junior Miss Cashton Aubriana Cuarenta, Junior Miss Attendant Vanessa Hankee, Little Miss Cashton Payten Peterson, and Little Miss Cashton Attendant Norah Bethke.
After the cancallation in 2020, it was intended that the program would come back, but it never did.
Until this year, thanks to a group of former contestants.
Kortney Kuhse, Rachel Klinkner, and Kori Blank have been leading the charge for this year’s new and improved Fall Fest Royalty program, along with other excited individuals, of which there are too many to name.
“We are excited to represent the Cashton Fall Festival by empowering and involving our youth,” said Klinkner.
Klinkner earned the Junior Miss Cashton title in 2015.
“While I received personal and professional growth when I served as royalty, we hope that the new and improved program allows participants to get more out of it,” said Klinkner.
Kuhse said one of the goals for the royalty program is to help young individuals build confidence.
“This program means so much to me,” said Kuhse” “and it has my heart.”
Kuhse was Little Miss Cashton in 2006, Junior Miss Cashton in 2008, and Miss Cashton and Miss Congeniality in 2010.
One of the changes made was the age requirements. The pageant is now open to girls ages 10 through 19, which Klinkner says has benefitted the program.
“Reviving the royalty scholarship program has come with challenges, but the support from our community and excitement from participants has been beneficial to making this all happen,” said Klinkner.
The program is still accepting donations for the scholarship program.
The Fall Festival Royalty Crowning will take place on August 17 at 5 p.m. in the Cashton High School auditorium.
In total, 11 girls are participating in this year’s pageant.
“I feel that this year is to show that the program is going to be different than it has been in the past,” said Kuhse. “I’m hoping that more are eager to participate in the future.”
