Miss Hay Capital

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to be present at the Miss Hay Capital 2014 pageant to give up my title to two new deserving young women. I arrived in Yates Center at 8am after a 5:30am wakeup call. After meeting the women competing that day, rehearsals got underway and interviews started. Before I knew it, it was time for the show.

I was blessed to be asked to sing the National Anthem to start off the program as well as share the stage emceeing with Mandy Ronen. I performed my Top 10 talent from last year at Miss Kansas, Girl on Fire, which was followed by a special performance by the Hay Capital princesses to the original version of the song. Nine women competed on that stage for the titles of Miss Hay Capital and Miss Woodson County. I got to see bits of the phases of competition from the wings. A few special guests made the trip to Yates Center, Theresa Vail, Miss Kansas, Brooke Taylor, Miss Hay Capital 2012 and 1st Runner up that year at Miss Kansas, and Angela Thomas, Miss Woodson County 2012 and Top 10 at Miss Kansas.

At the end of the night, Mai-Thy Ta was crowned the new Miss Woodson County 2014 and Callie Hobkirk was crowned the new Miss Hay Capital 2014. I know these two ladies will represent the area phenomenally through the year as well as when they compete in Pratt for the title Miss Kansas in June. I am incredibly proud of the other seven contestants, some where returning contestants, some it was their first time competing in this division and some it was their first time ever. No matter what, it is always a feat to make it to the end of the night, knowing you did your best and learning from the process to apply it later.

I want to sincerely thank everyone from this program and this community that has offered their love and support to me this year as I represented Yates Center. Traveling to Pratt to compete in Miss Kansas with communal support and well wishes is incredibly encouraging. Megan Weber, my director, happened to be pregnant with twins due the week of states, but somehow she made the trip out to Pratt to support me. I am thankful for her as well as Mary Weber and Lance Davis - all of whom were staples in my success. Lance was kind enough to help me set up my Tip A Queen event at the Feedbunk in Yates Center where the waitresses and I raised $1,000 for the Children's Miracle Network in one night through tips. It was incredible. I also would like to extend my gratitude toward my friends and family both in Kansas as well as Virginia. It means so much to have everlasting love and support being radiated across the country toward me. I have had a wonderful year and am blessed to have spent it with quality people.

On October 26th, I competed in the Miss Augusta/Miss Butler County pageant and was awarded the latter title. So I will be representing Butler County this coming year and at the Miss Kansas 2014 pageant in June. I am looking forward to continuing my journey with the Miss America Organization and expanding my connections and community through my year of service.

- Annika Wooton

Miss Butler County 2014