GALION, OH (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW) – On Thursday evening, the Oktoberfest kicked off in Galion with new royalty that was crowned Saturday night at the Galion Community Theatre.

This year’s queen, Rhiley Skaggs, is a sophomore at Galion City Schools.

“I decided to run for queen because I figured it’d give me more confidence in who I am as a person, and I wanted to express to others that you don’t have to be scared to do new things. It can be a little scary at first, but don’t be hesitant. This was my first time, and it was a lot of fun. The girls are really sweet. There’s no reason not to. And if you lose, just try again,” Skaggs said.

Skaggs thanked her parents for motivating her to put herself out there and try new things.

Shelby Cumstum, a junior at Pioneer in the dental assisting program, is this year’s queen’s first attendant.

“I decided to run for queen so that I could represent the festival and show everyone how amazing pageantry is and how the sisterhood is so good, and I want to inspire a younger audience to get up on that stage and do what they love. I know it can be scary, but after you’re on that stage and you see everything that happens, and if you do get crowned, you’ll see the backworks of everything. So, by the end, everything will be okay, and it will be the best time of your life,” Cumstum said.

Cumstum thanked the festival’s sponsors for making this experience possible and her mom and dad for helping her get ready for the pageant.

This year’s queen’s second attendant is Gabby Harper, a sophomore at Galion High School.

“Well, I had almost everyone on the court last year I knew personally, and I was friends with. And I saw the impact it had on their lives and the impact they got to have on other people’s lives, and I thought that was really inspiring. And that’s why I decided to run this year,” Harper said.

Her advice to others looking to run was not to be afraid and just go for it.

Harper thanked her family for their help in the process.

“I’d like to thank my mom because, even though she couldn’t be here in person because she’s in Cincinnati right now, she has been my number one supporter for the last several weeks and my number one hype woman. And I just have my mom to thank, and I want to thank my uncle for taking me to everything.”

Judges for the evening were Danay White, Eric Julian Walker, Judy Tong, and Tamasha Tenant.

Little Miss Court

  • Little Miss: Paisleigh Lane
  • 1st Attendant: Isabella Mills
  • 2nd Attendant: Aaleyah Snyder
  • Miss Congeniality: Mia Szabo

Princess Court

  • Princess: Madison Adams
  • 1st Attendant: Mia Mackenzie
  • 2nd Attendant: Leighahna Lane
  • Miss Congeniality: Layla Snyder

Queen Court

  • Miss Congeniality: Kiley Snyder
  • 1st Attendant: Shelby Cumstum
  • 2nd Attendant: Gabby Harper
  • Queen: Rhiley Skaggs

Contestants

Tiny Miss

  • Calli Fromm
  • Summer Hecker
  • Serenity Morgan

Little Miss

  • Isabella Mills
  • Kira Wilson
  • Mia Szabo
  • Paisleigh Lane
  • Aaleyah Snyder

Princess

  • Lacey Savage
  • Leighahna Lane
  • Madison Adams
  • Sofia Anna Perez
  • Michaylah Curtis
  • Peyton Snyder
  • Michaela Duda
  • Sophia Ann Snyder
  • Layla Snyder
  • Mia Mackenzie

Queen

  • Hailee Mae Adams
  • Kiley Snyder
  • Rhiley Skaggs
  • Shelby Cumstum
  • Allyssa Woodmansee
  • Gabby Harper
  • Kloe Parker