Queens Bender, Knecht Crowned

    The 77th Britton Area Snow Queen Festival was held on Saturday. The senior and junior Snow Queens were crowned during the evening’s festivities. 
    Jayden Bender, daughter of Jason and Tammy Bender of Britton, was named Britton Area Snow Queen. Mataya Knecht, daughter of Troy and Katrina Knecht of Houghton, was crowned Junior Snow Queen. 
    The new queens will compete in Aberdeen in the state Snow Queen Festival in January. The South Dakota Junior Snow Queen will be crowned on January 6 and the state Snow Queen will begin her reign on January 13.
    Three senior girls and nine junior queen candidates competed in the event sponsored by the Britton Action Club.  Brynlee Patterson was named first runner-up in the senior division and Evelynn Tschappat is second runner-up. Emily Effling was the first runner up for Junior Snow Queen and Madelynn Micko was the second runner-up. Mataya Knecht was also voted as Miss Congeniality by her peers.
    Other girls who participated in the Britton Festival in the junior category were Airiana Buer, Briana Buer, Brynlee Schmieg and Daynika Zuehlke. The senior category was comprised of the three candidates noted above. 
    Last year’s Britton Snow Queen Regan Ringkob, who was also named Miss Congeniality at the state festival in January, crowned the new queen, Bender. Last year’s Junior Snow Queen Corinne Bosse crowned Knecht as well. Bosse had earned the title of First Runner-up at the state Junior Festival this past January. 
    In a drawing to select the 2024 Little Miss and Little Master, Ariyah Sasker, daughter of Kaitlyn and Austin Sasker of Britton was named Little Miss and Isaiah Kanizar, son of Tracy Kanizar of Britton was crowned Little Master. A total of ten girls and six boys participated. 
    Jill Zuehlke was unmasked as Frosty. 45 people correctly guessed her identity. DJ Stelzer was awarded Britton Bucks in a drawing among the correct guesses. 
    2011’s Britton Area Snow Queen Tara (Andresen) Bujold served as emcee for the Britton Festival. Laken Werner, the Snow Queen Chair, awarded Ringkob with a scholarship upon the completion of her reign. 
    Langford’s Snow Queen Festival will be this Sunday at 3 p.m. at the school gym.