The 2024-2025 Miss Butte County Scholarship Program Royal Court, from left, are Missette Butte County, Aaliyah Fowler; Missette second runner-up, Melody Ramsey; Teen Miss second runner-up, Gracie Yost; Teen Miss first runner-up, Emily Danner; Miss Teen Butte County Paulina Martinez; Butte County Ambassador Sawyer Smith; Miss Butte County Thalia Terrell-Valdez; Miss Teen Butte County third runner-up, Alana McCabe; and Missette Butte County first runner-up, River Nichols. Photo courtesy of Amber Thompson Photography

GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - Opening night of the fair gave Butte County a new royal court for 2024, with nine youth being awarded titles and scholarship funds. Besides the Court titles, one individual in each division received the Betsy Award in commemoration of the former program director, Betsy Oliver. Friends and families of the 13 contestants gathered at the Courtyard stage for a breezy evening of watching a wide variety of performances.

Preparation began months ago with each individual putting in 200 hours of community service, being interviewed, preparing a resume and taking the scholarship program’s basic knowledge test. In addition, the Ambassador and Miss Butte County contestants created their own Community Service Platforms for the coming year.

To begin the evening, about a dozen girls as young as 4 years old were brought on stage for a mini competition. After answering a question, they all received a sash and recognition as a 2024 Future Missette. The first one was shy and ended up being carried by her dad.

From left are the Missette Butte County winners: River Nichols, Aaliyah Fowler and Melody Ramsey. Photo courtesy of Amber Thompson Photography

For the main competition, each division included all contestants performing an opening number, speech, presentation of skill and impromptu question.

The Presentation of Skill allowed each competitor to display a talent. The audience witnessed archery, hip-hop and Hawaiian dances, cheerleading routines, a poetry reading, Pogo-sticking with no hands, as well as demonstrations on how to show a turkey, why to grow your own vegetables and what makes a volcano erupt. One participant, Ava Coté, modeled a lovely gown that she made herself.

After the Impromptu Question phase came the announcement everyone was anticipating: the winners in each division:

Missette Butte County 2024 - Aaliyah Fowler, with Melody Ramsey and River Nichols as first and second runners-up. Lilliann Pannell received the Betsy Award.

Fowler, only 8 years old, was a Future Missette at ages five, six and seven. Her Presentation of Skill was hip-hop dancing, as she loves to dance. Asked how she felt when it was announced that she won, Fowler said, “I felt amazing. I felt so proud of myself and my mom, I could see my mom, the person that helped me keep trying. It made me so proud of me for accomplishing my goals.”

Her mother and grandmother said Aaliyah paid for the entrance fee by herself. She was very confident the night before the competition, even telling her mother, “Mom, I’m going to win a title and if it’s not the title I want, I will compete again next year.”

The Teen Miss Court, Ambassador and Miss County are all smiles. From left are Gracie Yost, Emily Danner, Paulina Martinex, Sawyer Smith, Thalia Terrell-Valdez and Alana McCabe. Photo courtesy of Amber Thompson Photography

Miss Teen Butte County winner, Paulina Martinez, also won the Betsy Award with runners-up Gracie Yost, Emily Danner and Alana McCabe.

Martinez, from Live Oak and vice-president of her FFA Chapter, presented ‘How to Show a Turkey’ using a stuffed-toy chicken.

Upon winning, Martinez said, “It was an incredible feeling. I mean, I don’t know if you saw but tears are running down my eyes. I couldn’t help it. I mean, all my work the past couple of months; I’ve been working hard for this and it finally paid off. So I really feel like my determination helped me get in the place I am today.”

Miss Butte County, Thalia Terrell-Valdez, competed unopposed. An Oroville resident, Valdez has attended Las Plumas High School and been active in FFA. Animals are her passion. She plans to attend Butte College for two years in criminal justice and then transfer to Oklahoma State to major in agriculture. ‘What Makes a Volcano Erupt?’ was her skill presentation. As a Community Service Platform, Terrell-Valdez created “Inclusive Adventures” to provide extracurricular sensory and skill development programs for children with various physical and cognitive abilities. In addition, she is bilingual. Terrell-Valdez received the Betsy Award as well as the crown for Miss Butte County.

Ambassador winner Sawyer Smith was also unopposed. He too received the Betsy Award. For the Presentation of Skill, he demonstrated Pogo-Sticking with no hands. Smith has appreciated working with people and the communication skills he has gained by competing in the program. For his Community Service Platform, he will help rescue and find homes for homeless dogs in a project he calls “Puppy Love.” His future plan is to attend Grand Canyon University and become a pastor.

Sawyer Smith, the first-ever Butte County Ambassador, stands with his awards. Photo courtesy of Amber Thompson Photography

The outgoing 2023 court was awarded more than $3,000 in scholarships: $1,000 to Miss Butte County, $900 to the Miss Teen and $800 to the Missette. More than $400 in instant scholarships went to the 2024 Betsy Award winners.

Congratulations to all these outstanding youth who participated from the Gridley Herald Staff. Every one of you are winners!