It’s Ruby’s time to shine.
Ruby Schmitz, the middle daughter of Tara and Jimmy Schmitz, was crowned Fall Festival Queen during the formal ceremony held in the Cashton Middle & High School gym on Saturday, Aug. 15.
“It’s really exciting,” said Ruby when asked about her feelings after earning the title. “It’s like so many emotions running at once. It’s a relief mainly because I worked so hard and it paid off.”
The Schmitzes are no strangers to royalty life. Ruby’s younger sister Ivy just recently reigned as Junior Queen this past year. The eldest Schmitz daughter Lyla served as Little Miss Cashton before the COVID-era hiatus.
To go even deeper, their aunt Jen was Miss Cashton 1997 and their grandmother Sandy, before she was a Schmitz, was Miss Cashton 1971.
Ruby gives credit to her family and siblings, who she says taught her how to manage a busy schedule.
“I’ve learned how to manage stress and how to balance everything on top of being a normal teenager,” said the most recently crowned Schmitz. “And to slow down and appreciate this role.”
Ruby also won the People’s Choice Award, which was a new addition to the pageant this year. Each contestant had a box and those in attendance could vote with their dollars.
Joining Ruby on the 2026-27 Fall Festival Court are princesses Skylee Laakso, daughter of Kylene Brown and Jeff Laakso, and Brianna Anderson, daughter of Brian and Angela Anderson.
For the younger court, Claire Everson was crowned the Fall Festival Junior Queen. Claire was also voted by her fellow royalty members for the Miss Congeniality honor. She says her plans for the next year are to show others that it’s okay to be unique and that she looks forward to meeting new people.
“I’m so ready for this year to make friendships,” said Everson. “The first time I ran, I didn’t win. But I think that was just a sign from God to run again and just be myself this time and more confident.”
Claire is the daughter of Russell and Julie Everson. She is joined by princesses Emersynn Bollig, daughter of Brittany and Andy Woodworth and Chris and Cassie Bollig, and Adelia Holey, daughter of Eric and Val Holey.
CROWNING CEREMONY
The crowning ceremony was opened with the National Anthem, sung by Ann Klinkner.
Kortney Kuhse, a Fall Festival Royalty Scholarship Program director and former royalty, walked across the stage, escorted by her two of her sons. She said the moment felt “full circle” after being walked across the stage by her father, Kevin Kirking, years ago.
Kuhse introduced Rachel Klinkner to the stage as the emcee for the evening. Kuhse then announced that Rachel would be stepping back from the program and wished her well with a gift.
Once microphone duties were handed over, a slideshow of pictures of the outgoing royalty’s events for the past year played on a projector to the tune of “Long Live” by Taylor Swift.
The 2025-26 court was introduced, who then took over responsibility of introducing the contestants to the stage. Queen Ivy Schmitz and Princess Matelynn Brueggen announced the junior contenders while King Carter Compton and Princess Payten Pederson took over for the more senior participants.
The first entertainment act for the evening included a piano performance of Melody Bober’s “Black Cat Scherzo” by 2026 Miss Sparta Teen Ella Rademan.
Afterwards, former Miss Cashton and Fall Festival Royalty who were in attendance took to the stage to introduce themselves, which included (in order of appearance): Kortney (Kirking) Kuhse, Little Miss Cashton 2006, Junior Miss Cashton 2008, Miss Cashton and Miss Congeniality 2010; Makaya Stanke, Fall Festival Queen 2024; Riley Leis, Fall Festival Princess 2024; Karlee (Kirking) Taurizano, Little/Jr./Miss Cashton 2014; Marisa (Schaldach) Clements, Little/Jr./Miss Cashton First Attendant, as for year, “a long time ago,” said Clements; Lyla Schmitz, 2018 Little Miss Cashton; Kylene Brown, Miss Cashton 1st Attendant and Miss Congeniality 2003; Jen Schmitz, 1997 Miss Cashton; Kathy (Mitby) Kirking, Miss Cashton 1986; Kori Blank, Miss Cashton 2008; and last, but certainly not least, Sandy (Anderson) Schmitz, Miss Cashton 1971.
“If you can believe it,” said Sandy on stage during recognition of past royalty members, possibly referring to the amount of time that may have passed between her reign and now.
After a round of applause, it was the evening wear competition. Contestants were introduced back to the stage one-by-one to show off their formal attire.
The program returned after a 15 minute intermission. Visiting royalty were introduced to the stage, which included members of the Sparta Butterfest royalty, of whom two provided entertainment over the course of the evening, and several other queens, princesses, and attendants.
Up next was the on-stage question. Each contestant was escorted across the stage by their chosen family member and then asked a question which they had received in advance. Questions included: “If you could have one wish, what would you wish for?”, “What is the biggest problem facing your generation and how can you help solve this?”, and “What do you plan to do with your title?”
Parade marshals were then revealed to be brothers Bill and Bob Hundt, who were unable to attend but had prepared remarks delivered by emcee Klinkner.
Miss Sparta 2026 Natalia Campos provided the second and last piece of entertainment, singing “That’s Life”, a song popularized by Frank Sinatra in 1966.
Just before crowning of the new royalty court, the outgoing court said their goodbyes, with Jr. Princess Matelynn Brueggen presenting her speech first and Jr. Queen Ivy Schmitz second. After a goodbye hug, the two were presented with formal and framed portraits from the Fall Festival Royalty Scholarship Program directors Kortney Kuhse, Kori Blank, and Rachel Klinkner. Brueggen and Schmitz were then asked their last interview questions, and then it was their parents’ turn to take the stage and provide advice to future royalty families.
Next up was the elder royalty members, with Princess Peyton Pedersen saying her piece and then King Carter Compton and his farewell. Again, they too were also presented with formal portraits, answered a couple of last questions, and then their parents also took the stage.
Judges for the event were Reegan Jensen-Shafer, Co-Executive Director of the Miss La Crosse/Oktoberfest Scholarship Program, Emily Phillips, Miss Sparta 2018, and Olivia Lulich, who currently serves as Miss Wisconsin USA. The Cashton Fall Festival ceremony served as Lulich’s first time judging.
“I’ve always been a part of pageants and have been a part of all the competitiveness, but sitting on the other side of the table was a fun experience tonight,” said Lulich after the ceremony.
Assisting the judges was judge’s host and former Cashton royalty Marisa Clements, with Austin Steussel as auditor.
After the ceremony, a post-party was held at Badger Crossing.
The newly-crowned court’s first order of royal duty was The Wild West Days parade which took place the very next day on Sunday, Aug. 16 in Viroqua.
