Courtesy photo This year's U. P. State Fair Royalty Pageant was held Monday, Aug. 11. The winners and runners-up are shown, from left, 2025 U.P. State Fair Queen Winner Mayce Hanson of Cornell, sponsored by Hanson Seed Farm; 1st Runner-up Queen, Charlee Klink of Garden, sponsored by Soderman Farm; 1st runner up Princess Madeline Cousineau of Cooks, sponsored by Smeester Truck; Princess Winner Emma Verbeek of Gladstone, sponsored by Midwest Tractor & Equipment; Jr. Princess Winner Charleigh Seltz of Stephenson, sponsored by Harbor Living LLC.

ESCANABA — The 97th Annual U.P. State Fair opened on Monday, Aug. 11 with the Royalty Pageant, an annual event that showcases talent and beauty in a way that only the U.P. State Fair can — by awarding girls and young women who are involved personally in agriculture through exhibiting their livestock.

This year’s U. P. State Fair Royalty Pageant winners & runners-up were: (pictured left to right): 2025 U.P. State Fair Queen: Mayce Hanson of Cornell, sponsored by Hanson Seed Farm. Hanson is a recent graduate of Gladstone High School and will be a freshman at Bay College in the fall, where she plans to study criminal justice in hopes of being a state police detective. She is also vice president of 906 Livestock. This is Mayce’s tenth year exhibiting at the Fair. This year, she exhibited a market steer.

The first runner-up in the Queen category was Charlee Klink of Garden, sponsored by Soderman Farm. Klink is entering her senior year at Big Bay de Noc High School. This is Klink’s eighth year exhibiting at the U.P. State Fair. This year, she has market beef, market swine, and beef breeding stock.

In the Princess category, the winner was: Emma Verbeek of Gladstone, sponsored by Midwest Tractor & Equipment. Verbeek is entering 10th grade at Gladstone High School, and exhibited steers and hogs at this year’s Fair; she has exhibited at the Fair for six years.

The first runner up in the Princess category was: Madeline Cousineau of Cooks, sponsored by Smeester Trucking. Cousineau is entering the eighth grade at Manistique Middle School; this is her third year at the Fair, where she exhibited swine. In the Junior Princess category, the winner was Charleigh Seltz of Stephenson, sponsored by Harbor Living LLC. Seltz is in fifth grade and exhibited swine and rabbits at this year’s Fair; she has exhibited at the Fair for two years.

Planners of this year’s U.P. State Fair Royalty Pageant are proud of the accomplishments of the girls involved in this event.

“I would like to congratulate these girls for representing the U.P. State Fair so beautifully, and thank all the contestants, their families and sponsors for supporting our U.P. State Fair,” Karen Paidl said. “This is my first year as coordinator of the U.P. State Fair Royalty Pageant. I decided to take on the position because my daughters Laci and Bridget are past royalty, and I saw the beauty of all that they experienced through it, and was passionate about being a part of this event,” said Paidl, coordinator of this year’s Royal Court event. She added that she is very thankful to her daughters Laci and Bridget for assisting her at this year’s pageant.

The contestants were judged on their essay, autobiography, interview, knowledge of the Fair, and sash they constructed. The queen contestants also had to complete a one-page résumé. This year’s U.P. State Fair Royalty Pageant was held in the Beef Arena/Sandy Groleau Memorial Pavilion in front of a packed house.

Along with the U.P. State Fair Royalty Pageant, the Fair also featured livestock shows, auctions, carnival rides, games, live music performances, outdoor activities, and an impressive array of vendors showcasing their products and culinary delights. This week-long event included something for everyone!

Officials with the Fair are thrilled and thankful for the support of the sponsors for making this event such a success. “Our dedicated staff, volunteers and Authority members made the Fair an unforgettable week,” said Vickie Micheau, Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce, the Management Agency of the U.P. State Fair. “We appreciate everyone who attends and supports the Fair, making it the best ever!”

Micheau also highlighted the invaluable support from sponsors and financial contributors.

“The U.P. State Fair relies on grants and the generous support of sponsors and financial contributors. We are deeply grateful to our sponsors for their unwavering commitment and support, which allow us to continue this cherished annual event celebrating agriculture and community.”

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Victoria LaFave is with the Delta County Chamber of Commerce