Miss Oktoberfest 2022 crowned during pageant

The 2022 Minster Oktoberfest festivities were lively on Saturday and Sunday, with one of the key events during the first day being the crowning of this years new Miss Oktoberfest queen.

Nine contestants were put on the stage on Saturday, with intentions to choose one of them to be the new queen to be crowned by the one of the previous year. Ava Grieshop, who had attended the Little Miss Oktoberfest and opening ceremonies before this, was ecstatic about being able to pass on the crown. She’s been pretty busy since having the crown put on her own head.

“School has been pretty busy so far. It was definitely an adjustment going from high school classes to college classes,” said Grieshop about her experiences thus far starting college after graduating high school. “But it’s been fun so far and I’ve had some fun on campus.”

The winner of this years event was Alayna Hogenkamp, as well as her first and second runner-ups Ashlyn Homan and Jaylyn Albers. The three had worked hard on their dresses, which signified their heritage and what it specifically meant to their family.

“I hope to be Miss Oktoberfest because ever since I watched other girls walk across the same stage, I’ve always wanted to be here,” stated Hogenkamp. “This has always been a dream of mine ever since I competed in Little Miss, and I’m now honored to be in that same position and to connect to my community and heritage in such a special way.”

“What I’m carrying is a mug that my great grandma and great grandpa brought over from Germany and gifted to my dad,” said Hogenkamp about the item she carried onto the stage with her. It was what she brought with her onto the stage when she competed in the Little Miss pageant. “And now I get to carry a little part of my family with me onto the stage and little part of my past.”

Hogenkamp made some history as well with her win as 2022 Miss Oktoberfest; she is currently the first person to win Miss Oktoberfest while also being a previous Little Miss Oktoberfest queen herself. Hogenkamp was congratulated for her hard work and being able to get both titles.

The girls were judged on their overall stage presence, eloquence, as well as their chosen Dirndl, with two questions asked of the contestants while on stage. One was determined the same for all while the second was chosen at random.

This year’s contestants are Lillian Arnold, daughter of Rodney and Elizabeth Arnold, sponsored by The Wooden Shoe Inn; Shiloh Siegrist, daughter of Jeremy and Heather Siegrist, sponsored by Seger Trucking, Inc; Kennedy Korte, daughter of Russ Korte and Amy and Kevin Prenger, sponsored by Duco Tool & Die; Lyndi Hemmelgarn, daughter of Rob and Jaime Hemmelgarn, sponsored by Hemmelgarn Entertainment, LLC; Luisa Fischer, daughter of David and Natasha Alexander, sponsored by Staging by Amy; and Hailee Phlipot, daughter of Joseph and Jessica Phlipot, sponsored by The Wooden Shoe Inn.