Photo courtesy UP State Fair This year's U. P. State Fair Royalty is, from left: Queen: Mayce Hanson of Cornell, 1st Runner-up—Queen: Charlee Klink of Garden, 1st runner up Princess: Madeline Cousineau of Cooks; Princess Winner, Emma Verbeek, Gladstone, Jr. Princess Winner: Charleigh Seltz of Stephenson.

ESCANABA–The 97th Annual U.P. was held last week in Escanaba. The annual event opened Aug. 11 with the Royalty Pageant, an annual event that showcases talent and beauty in a way that only the U.P. State Fair can–by awarding girls and young women who are involved personally in agriculture through exhibiting their livestock.

The 2025 U.P. State Fair Queen was Mayce Hanson of Cornell. Hanson is a recent graduate of Gladstone High School and will be a freshman at Bay College in the fall, where she plans to study criminal justice in hopes of being a state police detective. She is also vice president of 906 Livestock. This is her tenth year exhibiting at the Fair, with a market steer this year.

The first runner-up in the Queen category was Charlee Klink of Garden, who is entering her senior year at Big Bay de Noc High School. This is Klink’s eighth year exhibiting at the U.P. State Fair. This year, she has market beef, market swine and beef breeding stock.

In the Princess category, the winner was Emma Verbeek of Gladstone. Verbeek is entering 10th grade at Gladstone High School, and exhibited steers and hogs at this year’s Fair, she has exhibited at the Fair for six years.

The first runner up in the Princess category was Madeline Cousineau of Cooks. Cousineau is entering the eighth grade at Manistique Middle School. This is her third year at the Fair, where she exhibited swine.



In the Junior Princess category, the winner was Charleigh Seltz of Stephenson, who is the fifth grade and exhibited swine and rabbits at this year’s Fair; she has exhibited at the Fair for two years.

Royalty coordinator Karen Paidl said, “I would like to congratulate these girls for representing the U.P. State Fair so beautifully, and thank all the contestants, their families and sponsors for supporting our U.P. State Fair.” This is Paidl’s first year as pageant coordinator and said she had personal reasons for coming on board. “I decided to take on the position because my daughters Laci and Bridget are past royalty, and I saw the beauty of all that they experienced through it, and was passionate about being a part of this event.” Paidl added she is very thankful to her daughters for assisting her at this year’s pageant.

The contestants were judged on their essay, autobiography, interview, knowledge of the Fair, and sash they constructed. The queen contestants also had to complete a one-page résumé. This year’s U.P. State Fair Royalty Pageant was held in the Beef Arena/Sandy Groleau Memorial Pavilion in front of a packed house.

Officials with the Fair are thrilled and thankful for the support of the sponsors for making this event such a success. “Our dedicated staff, volunteers and Authority members made the Fair an unforgettable week,” said Vickie Micheau, Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce, the Management Agency of the U.P. State Fair. “We appreciate everyone who attends and supports the Fair, making it the best ever!”

Micheau also highlighted the invaluable support from sponsors and financial contributors. “The U.P. State Fair relies on grants and the generous support of sponsors and financial contributors. We are deeply grateful to our sponsors for their unwavering commitment and support, which allow us to continue this cherished annual event celebrating agriculture and community.”