The annual Wheat Fest pageant was held on September 15, 2023, in the Luechtefeld Gymnasium at 7:00 p.m. This year’s winner, Hannah Neidbalski, was the 75th Wheat Fest pageant queen. There were 9 contestants running for both Wheat Queen and Junior Miss. Due to the large number of contestants and the honoring of former queens, the intermission had to be eliminated. Four former Okawville High School students competed in this year’s pageant: Isabella Auer, Bryleigh Prest, Sydney Tebbe, and Maci Wolf. Former OHS student, Abby Reichmann, is the returning queen. In celebration of the 75th Wheat Queen crowning, former fair queens were honored at the pageant and also featured on a float in the Wheat Festival parade on September 17, 2023.
Hannah Niedbalski of Nashville was crowned the 2023-2024 Wheat Queen and her 2023-2024 Jr. Miss is Collins Harre. Sydney Tebbe received Miss Congeniality this year based on the voting of other contestants. First Runner Up went to Ana Fernandez from Nashville and Second Runner Up went to Byrleigh Prest of Okawville. We are proud of the women who competed in the pageant, and we look forward to next year!
