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REEDSVILLE -- The Mifflin County Youth Fair crowned a full court of four on Saturday night at the Mifflin County Youth Park in Reedsville, marking a year of growth and new opportunities for young participants.
Lillian Seaholtz earned the title of 2026 Mifflin County Youth Fair Queen, with Elleanna Halfpenny named Queen Alternate. The program also introduced a new title this year, Little Miss, awarded to Libby Cherry, the first girl to hold that role. Aliyah Kumpf was crowned the 2026 Youth Fair Princess.
The expansion reflects months of work by Fair Queen Coordinators Bobbie Sheaffer and Colleen Filson, who have spent the past year building out the program. Last year, they added the first princess. This year they added little miss, creating a full court that includes a queen, alternate queen, princess and little miss.
To support the growing interest, Sheaffer and Filson began holding monthly meetings in February for girls considering participation. Every second Wednesday, the group met to practice skills the coordinators said would help the girls succeed, including public speaking, interview preparation, professional dress and goal setting. It is the first time the fair queen program has offered monthly development sessions.
Saturday's ceremony featured an onstage introduction from each queen contestant, followed by a prepared speech titled "Why You Should Come To My Fair" and an impromptu question. Princess and little miss contestants did not give introductions, but instead shared their favorite fair memories.
Seaholtz used her speech to highlight the sense of community that surrounds the fair. She spoke about the people who make it special and the memories that keep families coming back, saying the fair is "a place where everyone belongs and where you can make a memory that stays with you long after summer ends."
Sheaffer added, "As coordinator, tonight's pageant remind me why I love this program. The Fair Queen Program is about so much more than crowns and titles -- it's about helping young women grow into confident, compassionate leaders who are willing to serve their community. Watching each contestant step outside of her comfort zone, gain confidence, build friendships and grow throughout this journey has been the greatest reward. Every young lady should be incredibly proud of the dedication, courage, and character she displayed. I couldn't be more excited to watch our 2026 royalty represent the Mifflin County Youth Fair with grace, integrity and pride throughout the year ahead."
Both Seaholtz and Halfpenny invited the community to attend the 72nd Mifflin County Youth Fair, which is scheduled to start on Tuesday and runs through Saturday at the Youth Park in Reedsville.
With new titles, new participants and a year of structured preparation, the fair queen program continues to grow, offering more young girls a chance to represent the fair and share what it means to them.