A total of 30 young ladies, from tiniest of tots to teens, graced the stage of Greenville’s historic Ritz Theatre Saturday afternoon for the 2017 Miss Butler County Fair Pageant. The event, directed by Jeannie Callen, is a fundraiser for the Greenville Kiwanis, who co-host the fair each year with the Butler County Fair Association.

While Abbie Salter, a 16-year-old student at Fort Dale Academy, would take the top title of Miss Butler County Fair 2017, there were many more queens crowned that afternoon.

Contestants competed in eight separate categories for the event, with 2016’s winner, Greenville High School senior Alyssa Lear, serving as its mistress of ceremonies. Lear introduced each girl and shared fun and interesting information about them, from their favorite foods and TV shows to their career aspirations, as they walked the stage for the panel of judges.

Three-month-old Grayson Gray took the Baby Miss (0-12 months) and Most Photogenic titles with Ellie Bock chosen as the first runner up.

In the Tiny Tot Miss ( 13-23 months) category, Amiyah Josie Kirksey was selected as second runner up; Makaya Little, first runner up and Audyn Annalise Cobb was both Most Photogenic and the 2017 Tiny Tot Miss.

The Tiny Miss (2-3 years) second runner up was Leslie Claire Bryant; first runner up was Evelyn “Evie” Sage Cummings and the winner was Kloe Ryan McClain.

In the Petite Miss (4-6 years) competition, Jayden Brooke Piggott earned second runner up honors; Miley Sorrells was first runner up and Aubrey Kate Davis was selected Most Photogenic and 2017 Petite Miss for the Butler County Fair.

Little Miss (7-9 years) finalists were Ava Gafford, second runner up; Nova Bell Reese, first runner up and Mattie Cook, Most Photogenic and 2017’s Little Miss winner.

In the Junior Miss (10-12 years) category, Emily Lee Roeten took second runner up honors, with Chloe Sawicki selected first runner up; Jessie Burgans was voted Miss Congeniality and Zoe Coon was chosen both Most Photogenic and the winner of the Junior Miss tiara and sash.

The Teen Miss competition (13-15 years) saw Shelby Ann Brightwell selected as Miss Congeniality and first runner up; Jordan Neese, Most Photogenic and second runner up with Kinley Woodard taking top honors in the category.

Capping off the program was the Miss Butler County Fair competition, as five lovely young ladies ages 16-18 vied for the title.

Pageant director Jeannie Callen took over emceeing duties to allow the 2016 Miss Butler County Fair Alyssa Lear, to take her final walk and to assist the finalists with their sashes and crowns.

“Alyssa has been a fantastic emcee for us tonight and an outstanding representative of our event,” said Callen as Lear smiled and waved to the crowd.

Kaitlyn Neese was chosen both Miss Congeniality and Most Photogenic and took second runner up honors; Kelsey Woodard was chosen first runner up and Abbie Salter was crowned the 2017 Miss Butler County Fair.

All of the pageant winners are expected to appear on stage the final night of the fair on Saturday, Sept. 30.

“We’ve had lots of wonderful volunteers help us . . . and great sponsors, including our principal event sponsor, Wintzell’s Oyster House and their manager, Tim Holp,” said Callen.

The local eatery also catered a meal of fish tacos, chicken fingers, sauces and “fixins’” for the event volunteers to enjoy after the program.

Proceeds from Miss Butler County Fair 2017 will go to a number of the Greenville Kiwanis Club’s community service projects, among them Christmas for area children through Safe Harbor.