The Miss Wells County pageant will take place at 7:30 p.m. Monday on the 4-H fair stage.
During this time, new winners for Miss Wells County and Miss Wells County Teen will be crowned. They will take over the from the reign of current Miss Wells, Grace Meeks, and Miss Wells Teen, Samantha Evans.
— — —
The following women are competing in the Miss Wells County pageant.
Karlie Brown, the daughter of Donald and Mary Brown, is a 2023 Bluffton High School graduate. She just completed her freshman year at Ball State University Honors college where she is studying psychological sciences with a minor in women and gender studies. Her goal is to earn her doctorate and become a therapist helping middle school-aged children.
Karlie is a member of the Phi Mu sorority, where she holds the KROP (Keep Recruiting Our Phis) chair position on the Executive Council and volunteers for philanthropic events in her sorority. She also volunteers at the animal shelter in Muncie and attends Oak Grove United Methodist Church.
At BHS, Karlie was involved in student council, Students for Christ, choir, softball, tennis and cheerleading. She was also involved in Girl Scouts and the Creative Arts Theater. She won numerous awards while involved in Wells County 4-H, including the Junior and Senior Ambassador. She was a 13-year member of the Rising Stars Twirling Academy where she won many awards and assisted in teaching the Mini Stars. She was also crowned the 2021 Miss Wells County Teen. Karlie enjoys reading, playing tennis, and singing. She also enjoys volunteering with her sorority sisters and working at Taco Bell as a shift manager.
Karlie is sponsored by Family Ford of Bluffton.
RieAnn Krinn, the daughter of Matt and Shelley Krinn, is a 2023 Norwell graduate and currently studies health sciences at Indiana University. She plans to apply to the Indiana University School of Medicine to become a pediatric pulmonologist and work at Parkview Health or Riley Children’s Hospital.
RieAnn is a 10-year 4-H member, 4-H Junior Leader, 4-H volunteer and 4-H judge. She has been awarded both the 4-H Junior and Senior Ambassador. She is a MedLife Fort Wayne Chapter Events Coordinator, vice president of Alpha Sigma Alpha Fort Wayne Chapter, and on the Indiana University Deans List. She is also a videographer for Fairview Church. RieAnn enjoys reading, writing and crafting artificial floral arrangements.
RieAnn is sponsored by Heinold/Evolution Show Feeds.
Eve McElhaney, the daughter of Brady and Gwen McElhaney, is a 2023 graduate of Southern Wells and currently studies political science and legal studies with a minor in international studies at Indiana State University. Her goal is to attend Vanderbilt Law School or Indiana University Law School to work in the family, estate planning and agricultural law sectors.
At ISU, she is involved in Lemon Club (branch of Alex’s Lemonade Stand for Childhood Cancer), National Society of Leadership and Success, and She’s the First group. She is also the vice president of Administrative Affairs for Pickerl Hall Council and is a new Student Staff in her resident hall. Eve is also involved in community organizations, including Friends of Ouabache State Park and G.I.R.L.’s Night Out Women’s Group at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. She attends St. Benedict’s Catholic Church in Terre Haute and volunteers in the soup kitchen.
She also works at the Indiana State University Student Recreation Center as a building supervisor and as a substitute teacher at Southern Wells Jr./Sr. High School when on break. She also works as a egg packer for Worster’s Chicken Houses, an industrial engineering intern at WEG Commercial Motors and a gate attendant at Ouabache State Park.
She was awarded the People’s Choice Award and the Sycamore Ambassador Award from the Miss Indiana State University Foundation. She won numerous awards and honors while attending Southern Wells. Eve enjoys politics, reading fantasy novels, creating floral arrangements, spending time with family, going to the gym, and going on spontaneous adventures. She loves being outside in nature and being by the water on her family’s annual summer vacations.
Eve is sponsored by Toppings Ice Cream Parlor.
Kammy Miller, the daughter of Garry and Lisa Miller, is a 2024 Southern Wells graduate and will attend the University of Northwestern Ohio to study agricultural business management. Upon completion, she plans to work as a livestock or crop manager.
Kammy is involved in Wells County 4-H where she has won numerous awards, including 2023 Senior Ambassador, The Caley Memorial Award and 2021 Junior Ambassador. In school, she was involved in FFA, FCCLA, Sunshine Society, National Honors Society, Campus Life and Student Council. She also served in several leadership positions such as FFA Reporter, Sunshine Society Secretary, Student Council Secretary, and a National Honors Society Officer.
She has also been crowned the 2023 Indiana’s Ultimate Teen and 2021 Junior Miss Indiana. She has won numerous awards in 4-H and is involved in many community service projects. Kammy enjoys raising and showing livestock, reading, traveling, public speaking, writing and competing in various events within clubs.
Kammy is sponsored by Montpelier Ag LLC.
Cruz Rinkenberger, the daughter of Joel and Stephanie Rinkenberger, is a 2024 graduate of Bluffton High School. In the fall, she plans to attend college to study ESL (English Speaking Learner) Education and inspire other students. One of her ambitions is to bring awareness to ESL Education in classrooms and community schools.
Cruz has participated in many activities in the community, including Bluffton Campus Life, Teen Advisory Board, marching band and youth group. Cruz enjoys learning photography, spending time with friends, reading, participating in theater and babysitting.
Cruz is sponsored by the Wells County Creative Arts Council.
— — —
The following are contestants for Miss Wells County Teen.
Kyah Boots, the daughter of Shane and Megan Boots, attends Southern Wells Jr./Sr. High School, where she is a member of the Sunshine Society and cheerleading team.
She is a member of the Hurryin’ Harrison 4-H Club and the Wells County 4-H Rabbit Club. She is also involved in Summit Volleyball, Southern Wells Youth for Christ and the Southern Wells Community Church. Kyah enjoys drawing and arts, baking, and playing with kids. She hopes to someday work with kids in a school as a teacher or aide or work in a daycare.
Kyah is sponsored by Greg Hiday of Hiday Chevrolet Motors.
Harlie Durham, the daughter of Juliann Durham, will be a freshman at Southern Wells Jr./Sr. High School this fall. In eighth grade, Harlie played volleyball and cheered. This fall, she will serve as the freshman class president, play volleyball, and be a cheerleader.
She is a six-year member of 4-H and was awarded Junior Ambassador in 2023. She is involved in the Southern Wells Community Church and in the Southern Wells FFA Chapter. She has achieved many awards through FFA and BPA. Harlie likes to play with her dog, spend time with friends and family, and enjoys reading a good book. She plans to attend a four-year college to obtain a degree in nursing. She would like to work in a pediatric unit as a nurse.
Harlie is sponsored by Headz Up Hair Salon.
Violet McClain, the daughter of Steve and Amber McClain, attends Southern Wells Jr./Sr. High School.
Violet is a member of the Chester Chargers 4-H Club and the Blackford County Dog Club. She is also involved in the Southern Wells Business Professionals of America and the Southern Wells Community Church. Violet enjoys dancing, singing, crafting for fun and her business, cooking, baking, and spending time with family and friends. She is currently a dance instructor and assistant soccer coach, where she has found a love for teaching. She currently has a business that allows her to showcase her craft of women’s jewelry and hopes to grow it further one day.
Violet is sponsored by Tonner Dumpster Services.
Sophia Meeks, the daughter of David and Jennifer Meeks, attends Southern Wells Jr./Sr. High School and is involved in many activities, including Sunshine Society, student council, marching, pep, and concert bands, and varsity golf. She has received numerous academic awards including Southern Wells Top 10 recipient for 2024.
She is a seven-year Wells County 4-H member where she participates in the goat, rabbit, and fashion review projects. She is also a student of ballet, pointe, tap, modern, and conditioning at the Creative Arts Council of Wells County. She is a Cecchetti USA Level 4/Level 5/Level 6 student. Sophia’s hobbies include reading, golf, taking care of animals, sewing, spending time with family in Minnesota, and walking the Rivergreenway in Bluffton. In the future, she plans to attend either Ball State University or Indiana University to become a physician assistant.
Sophia is sponsored by the Creative Arts Council of Wells County.
MacKenzie Price, the daughter of Andy and Melissa Price, will be attending Norwell High School as a freshman in the fall.
She finished eighth grade with academic honors and plays basketball in Fort Wayne with Character and Skills Basketball Team. She is also on the Wells Community Swim Team and a member of the ECC youth group in Fort Wayne. MacKenzie enjoys riding her bike, playing basketball, walking her dogs and spending time with friends. After graduating high school, she plans to attend Purdue University to study animal science and become a veterinarian.
MacKenzie is sponsored by Penn Station.
Sydney Soares, the daughter of Sarah and Rich McIntyre, is a student at Norwell High School, where she is an honor student, member of the Norwell Campus life, and is the president the Riley Relations Committee for Norwell’s Riley Dance Marathon.
She is a member of Hope Missionary Church Youth Group and attends church mission trips. She is also a member of Wells County 4-H. Sydney loves to babysitting, going to church, working at Scooters Coffee and spending time with friends. She plans to go to college to study either Christian ministry or psychology.
Sydney Soares is sponsored by The Auto Doctor of Bluffton.
