COLUSA, CA (MPG) – Seven young women from across Colusa County will take to stage opening night of the Colusa County Fair for a special platinum jubilee of the Miss Colusa County Pageant.
Joining them on stage will be two dozen former Miss Colusa County title winners who will return to the fair this year to attend this 70th anniversary tribute.
“If you have never come to watch the Miss Colusa County pageant, you will want to come this year,” said longtime Pageant Director Devin Kelley, of Stagehands Theater. “So far, we have pageant winners all the way back to 1966 coming, and it’s going to be pretty amazing.”
Miss Colusa County contestants competing for scholarships this year at the special reunion pageant are Abigail Cross, Tessa Grace Edwards, Emma Jean Elebracht, Taylor Lynn Kirby, Audry Washburn, Allie Wills, and Valeria Zuniga.
The Miss Colusa County Pageant will be held at 8 pm in the grandstands on Thursday, June 6, although the contestants will be judged behind the scenes in a personal interview prior to their stage performances.
Abigail Cross, 16, is the daughter of Dennis and Radene Cross, of Colusa. She is a junior at Colusa High School, where she has participated in cheerleading, Environmental Science Academy, Future Business Leaders of America, and Drama Club. Cross enjoys singing, dancing, and musical theater, and plans to attend college after high school to become a marriage and family counselor.
Tessa Edwards, 16, is the daughter of Slim and Cristy Edwards, of Leesville. Edwards played volleyball in high school and participated in FFA and Environmental Science Academy and attended Range Management Scholarship Camp. She will attend Butte Junior College before eventually obtaining her doctorate in Ecology and Land Management.
Edwards enjoys reading, writing, riding horses, and studying the sciences, and hopes to pursue a career working to improve the environment.
Emma Ellebracht, 16, is the daughter of Mark and Kellie Ellebracht, of Williams. She is a junior at Williams High School, where she serves in the Color Guard in the California Cadet Corps.
Ellebracht is a competitive swimmer and has participated in FFA, Colusa County Girls Circle, and Colusa County Friday Night Live. Her hobbies include baking, ceramics, reading and volunteering. She enjoys helping animals and people and eventually plans to pursue a career in mental health counseling.
Taylor Kirby, 17, is the daughter of Seth and Chandra Kirby, of Maxwell. She is a senior at Maxwell High School, where she participates in cheerleading, soccer, and Future Business Leaders of America,
She enjoys painting, shopping, baking, and hanging out with her mom.
Kirby plans to attend Butte College in the fall before transferring to Chico State to pursue a degree in business management and pursue a career as a sports media manager.
Audrey Washburn, 17, is the daughter of Phil and Amy Washburn. She enjoys reading, baking, and riding her horses.
Washburn will be a senior next year at Pierce High School, where she has participated in FFA and the Associated Student Body, serving as a class officer. She works at Washburn Ag & Seed and plans to become an equine veterinarian in the future.
Allie Wills, 16, is the daughter of Jason and Kristen Wills, of Maxwell. She is a junior at Maxwell High School, where she has participated in volleyball, soccer, softball, FFA and FBLA. She plans to obtain a degree in nursing after high school with the goal of becoming a flight nurse on a helicopter ambulance.
Wills also hopes to travel the world helping others. Her hobbies include sports, pigs and hanging with family and friends.
Valeria Zuniga, 17, is the daughter of Antonio and Maria Zuniga, Princeton. She is a senior at Princeton High School, where she played volleyball, basketball, and softball, and participated in FBLA.
Zuniga will be attending Butte College in the fall to obtain an associate degree in nursing before transferring to Chico State to further a career as a pediatric nurse. Her hobbies include spending time with friends, helping elementary school students, and will be showing a hog at the Colusa County Fair.