BUCYRUS–Many packed around the stage on W. Rensselaer St last night, anxiously waiting for the results of this year’s pageant results.
While last year’s queen and her first attendant gave their farewell speeches, the judges were hard at work, deliberating on who this year’s queen would be – Hannah Feldman, Abby Martin, or Emily Goldfuss.
About 9:20 p.m., the final decision was in.
Their winner?
Hannah Feldman.
Feldman is the daughter of Chad and Anny Gebhardt, a 2022 Wynford High School graduate, and a Defiance College incoming freshman where she will major in business and minor in entrepreneurship to fulfill her dream of opening a hair salon and coffee shop.
“There are so many emotions going through me right now, I am so honored and proud, I’m excited to serve my community. Like I said in my bio, this has been a lifelong goal of mine and it finally came true so I am super excited and proud of myself,” Feldman said after the pageant was over.
Feldman gave credit to her family and German heritage as being big reasons for running for Bratwurst Festival Queen. “Growing up, I always came to the festival. My great-grandma, she is from Germany and I would come to the festival with her and her husband – my great-grandpa. My great-grandpa called me Cecelia, which is my middle name, and he would always tell me that I would be up on that stage one day. So, I did it kind of for him,” Feldman said. “I ran for princess in 2017 and didn’t make court, so I’ve always wanted to be up there and I love wearing the dirndl because I have the heritage and I wanted to make my family and my community proud.”
Over the next year, Feldman is looking forward to getting to bond with her court, travel to other festivals, and to give back to her community. “I wouldn’t have a crown and a sash on if it weren’t for the amazing community that is here supporting me tonight.”
Feldman went on to thank the many people she said supported her in this journey to Bratwurst Festival Queen. “Most importantly I’d like to thank my family, they’re my number one supporters. Like I said up on stage, Ashley Wilson supported me 110% through this whole process. She was one of the big reasons I decided to turn in the application and push myself to get out of my comfort zone, especially with going to college this year. I want to thank all of the people that sponsored gifts that were given to all of us girls tonight; the board of directors for allowing us to run, and everyone else that has been involved.”
This year’s first runner-up is Abby Martin.
Abby is the daughter of Todd and Heather Martin and will be entering her senior year at Colonel Crawford, where she is involved in swimming, volleyball, LEO Club, NHS, Young Life, and student council.
“I’m excited, honestly, I couldn’t be happier with what I got today and I’m so proud of the other girls and how they’ve done. I am really excited for this future reign; I can’t wait for it and I am just really happy right now,” Martin said.
Martin decided to run because it’s been a dream that she’s had since she was a little girl, and she figured it was a great way to further her connections and be able to represent Bucyrus the best she could.
Over the next year, Martin is looking forward to traveling to other festivals and eating all the good food that they have to offer, with the Milan Melon festival being one of her favorites. She is also looking forward to making more memories with the girls on court because she says they are all so sweet.
Much like Feldman, Martin had many people to thank for their support along the way.
“I’d definitely like to thank my mom because I was on the fence about doing it in the first place, and she kind of helped talk me through it and calmed me down a few times, so definitely her. My dad too, he’s helped me a lot and today he brought me a curling iron because I forgot it. I need to thank the other girls because they were really supportive and they helped push me through the whole thing, and the judges as well,” Martin said.
The second runner-up for the 2022 Bratwurst festival was Emily Goldfuss.
Goldfuss is the daughter of Ted and Lisa Goldfuss and will be entering into her junior year at Wynford High School, where she is involved with student council and would like to join Spanish Club, Interact Club, and Honor Society.
Goldfuss, like the others, said being queen has been a dream of hers. “I wanted to share the word about the Bratwurst Festival and make it known, I’ve always wanted to be queen, it’s always just been one of my dreams. I thought it would be a great experience to meet new friends and make lasting memories, I thought it was just going to be a great thing to look forward to.”
Over the next year of her reign as second runner-up, Goldfuss is looking forward to getting to travel around to all of her favorite festivals from when she was second runner-up princess, and like Martin, the Milan Melon festival is one that she is looking forward to visiting for its food. She is also looking forward to getting to spend time with and make memories with this year’s court.
Goldfuss also thanked her friends and family for their love and support.
Below are the results for the junior princesses and princesses
Junior Princess – Lilliana Suter
First Runner-up – Shayanna Hunter
Second Runner-up – Nora Ross
Princess – Eva Kozinski
First Runner-up Natalie Adams
Second Runner-up – Madison McCleese