Daily Newsletters
Account
Washington Evening Journal
111 North Marion Avenue
Washington, IA 52353
319-653-2191
Winfield’s Beatrice Anderson crowned 2025 Midwest Old Threshers Miss Volunteer
Anderson joins 2025 Sweet 16 Court, representing Winfield with pride
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
MT. PLEASANT — Winfield’s Beatrice Anderson earned the title of Miss Volunteer on the 2025 Miss Sweet 16 Court during Monday morning’s crowning ceremony at the Midwest Old Threshers Reunion.
Anderson, the daughter of Kelly Anderson, grew up celebrating her birthday at Old Threshers because it always falls during the five-day Reunion. She began her volunteer journey in the fourth grade at the Pork Tent and moved to the ground train once she was old enough.
At Winfield-Mount Union, Anderson balances academics and service with leadership roles. She serves as vice president of Crooked Creek FFA, leads her 4-H club as president, and participates in the National Honor Society, Student Leadership Council, Art Club, Crochet Club, Pep Club, Yearbook, Silver Cord and group and individual speech. She also manages the football and basketball teams.
Beyond school, Anderson counsels at the Iowa School of the Blind, serves on Teen Council, co-leads Clover Kids and holds the 2024 Henry County Junior Fair Queen title. Her interests include agriculture, raising goats, sewing, baking and working with kids.
Sweet 16 Coordinator Danielle Davidson explained the program’s selection process to the crowd gathered under the Family Tent. She said Miss Volunteer holds special weight because “it is the top score for the secret judges.”
Davidson said those judges, who remain anonymous and work around the grounds, measure candidates on their interactions with the public, their energy and their commitment to service. Davidson turned over this announcement to the 2019 Miss Volunteer and her “right-hand-man” Rebekah Felske, formerly Imhoff.
“This young lady stuck out to me all summer long, because she’s a really great volunteer,” Felske said. “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. So, our 2025 Miss Volunteer is Beatrice Anderson.”
Anderson described her favorite part of Old Threshers as “getting to meet all the different people and hearing where they’re from.”
She said the Sweet 16 program gave her a chance to combine her two passions — volunteering and meeting new people — while showing others that stepping out of their comfort zones can lead to unexpected opportunities.
The 2025 court included other young women who stood out during the Reunion. Lauryn Willham of Mt. Pleasant claimed the crown of Miss Sweet 16 after interviewing 75 people about the Reunion’s 75th anniversary. Felske called her presentation “really impressive.”
Naomi English of Mt. Pleasant earned first runner-up after volunteering in the Pork Tent and sharing her love of music and gardening. Davidson noted that English became a familiar face on social media when she posted a photo of a pork chop on a stick while working.
Second runner-up went to Isabella Traman, also of Mt. Pleasant. Davidson said Traman impressed the judges with her positive spirit.
“She was always super bubbly, smiley, she was always happy,” Felske said. “In her interview, she said that she’s never scared to be her authentic self.”
The program also recognized young women who achieved major volunteer milestones. Traman, Annette Reynolds, Izzy Zihlman, Roma Bride and Patience Sparks each received 100-hour volunteer awards. Davidson thanked them for their commitment, adding that “Old Threshers likes to recognize our volunteerism” with cumulative awards that track hours over a lifetime.
Davidson praised the entire 2025 Sweet 16 Court for their efforts. She reminded the audience that many of the young women worked 12-hour days across the grounds at locations including the ticket gates, trolley, carousel, church tents and the 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 Anderson, earning Miss Volunteer crowned years of dedication. She grew up admiring the Sweet 16 Court and now hopes to serve as that same kind of role model for younger Reunion-goers. Her recognition as Miss Volunteer reflects not just her leadership in Winfield, but also her steady commitment to one of southeast Iowa’s most celebrated traditions.
Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com
