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Willham crowned Miss Sweet 16
Anderson named Miss Volunteer
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MT. PLEASANT — Lauryn Willham of Mt. Pleasant claimed the crown of Miss Sweet 16 during Monday morning’s ceremony at the Midwest Old Threshers Reunion, leading a court of young women recognized for their service, leadership and commitment to tradition.
Willham, the daughter of Jeff and Robyn Willham, has grown up surrounded by Old Threshers. She has volunteered at the ticket gates, on the ground train and at her church’s spaghetti supper before the Reunion. At Mt. Pleasant High School, she participates in show choir, chamber choir, color guard and soccer. During the competition, she impressed the judges by interviewing 75 people about their experiences with Midwest Old Threshers in honor of the Reunion’s 75th anniversary.
Midwest Old Thresher Miss Sweet 16 Director Danielle Davidson’s right-hand man, Rebekah Felske, formerly Imhoff, called Willham’s project “really impressive,” noting that it captured the spirit of Old Threshers while highlighting its impact on the community.
Naomi English of Mt. Pleasant earned first runner-up. The daughter of Steven and JoKasta English, she participates in show choir, chamber choir and soccer, and enjoys gardening and floristry. Davidson said English became well-known during the week after she shared a photo of a pork chop on a stick while volunteering at the Pork Tent.
Second runner-up went to another Mt. Pleasant student, Isabella Traman. Traman takes part in theatre, choir, cheerleading and band and has volunteered at Thrashers House of Terror as well as the ticket gates.
“She was always super bubbly, smiley, she was always happy. In her interview, she said that she’s never scared to be her authentic self,” Felske said.
While Mt. Pleasant swept the top three crowns, Winfield had its own proud moment. Judges selected Beatrice Anderson as Miss Volunteer, an honor awarded to the contestant who earns the highest marks from secret judges evaluating work on the grounds. Anderson, the daughter of Kelly Anderson, began volunteering at Old Threshers as a fourth-grader in the Pork Tent and later joined the ground train.
At Winfield-Mount Union, Anderson serves as vice president of Crooked Creek FFA, president of her 4-H Club, and participates in National Honor Society, Student Leadership Council, Pep Club, Yearbook, Silver Cord, and group and individual speech. Beyond school, she counsels at the Iowa School of the Blind camp, serves on Teen Council and coleads Clover Kids. She also earned the 2024 Henry County Junior Fair Queen title.
Felske said Anderson “stuck out to me all summer long, because she’s a really great volunteer. She’s very involved in 4-H and FFA, which makes my heart really happy, because I was an FFA officer. She’s a past volunteer from the ground train, and one of the secret judges commented and said that they were really impressed with how good she is with kids.”
Anderson told the audience that her favorite part of the Reunion is “getting to meet all the different people and hearing where they’re from.”
The program also recognized several participants with 100-hour volunteer awards, including Traman, Annette Reynolds, Izzy Zihlman, Roma Bride and Patience Sparks. Davidson said their dedication represents the spirit of the Reunion, which has relied on volunteers for 75 years.
She reminded the audience that many candidates worked 12-hour days during the event, covering everything from ticket gates and church tents to the carousel, trolley and Lotus stand.
“I had some shy girls at the beginning of this,” Davidson said. “I can’t say I have anybody shy now. All smiling. I remind them that this isn’t about the next four announcements. This is a personal growth journey for them.”
For Willham and the other Mt. Pleasant winners, the 2025 court represented a chance to carry on a tradition they grew up admiring. For Anderson, Miss Volunteer recognized years of dedication to service at Old Threshers and a commitment to showing others the value of stepping forward.
Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com
