Good evening everyone, and welcome to this week’s edition of
“Monday Minutes with Miss Minnesota!”
This past week has been filled with many fun appearances and I have met so many wonderful people throughout the state! Read below to see what I have been up to!
Tuesday (7/4):
I spent the Fourth of July up in northwest Minnesota and attended several community parades and gatherings! I started off my morning bright and early at the Greenbush Fourth of July parade, where I was escorted on a beautiful 2003 Saleen Mustang driven by Dan and Ann Hible and accompanied by their granddaughter, Princess Maddie! This parade is so much fun for the community and there are always many floats, all made with pride and joy. From the parade, I then went to the Greenbush Fire Hall and spent time with other community members, as well as visited with local law enforcement, firemen, and other public officials and thanked them for all they do for Greenbush and the surrounding area.
My next stop was at the Greenbush LifeCare Center, where I played piano selections and sang patriotic hymns with the elderly residents, many of whom are veterans. Visiting and sharing in both song and conversation was incredibly touching and was one of the highlights of my day. Of course, my musical brother, Brayden, and I had to perform a few duets together as well! Thank you to both Ann and Dan Hible for escorting me, to Greenbush Mayor, Brenda Sather, and to Greenbush LifeCare Center for having me! Also, a special thank you to Princess Maddie for accompanying me in Greenbush as well as to her awesome mom, Julie David, for being my photographer for the event and taking some amazing candids!
I then hopped in the car and drove an hour northeast to the town of Warroad, MN, which is located on the shores of Lake of the Woods, which borders both the United States and Canada! What a treat it was to bring the Miss Minnesota crown to this community! Our first stop was to visit Mayor Bob Marvin, the owner of “The Shed”, which is a classic and muscle car collection with nearly 100 cars and a unique northern Minnesota gem! It all started in 1981 when Bob bought a ’65 Riviera and was immediately hooked on the style and innovations of vehicles from the 50’s and 60’s. He has visitors from all around the world coming to visit his collection, and there is no charge to visit, but rather an invitation to donate to organizations such as the American Cancer Society, the Warroad Veterans’ Memorial, and others. Every car has a special story and Bob shared a number of them, including one about the white 1960 Corvette that he owns with the VIN number being 000001, meaning that it is the first car off of the manufacturing line of its own! Bob so graciously lent us a 1957 Chrysler convertible worth $1.1 million for the parade and I must say, it was such a powerful and beautiful vintage ride! Thank you to Bob for your kind generosity! And of course, thank you to one of my local directors, KayDell Super and her husband Tom, for chaperoning and driving throughout the parade! We had such a blast and afterwards, we even got to go for a joyride down the highway together! Both KayDell and Tom are so special to me and it was a treat to spend the holiday with them. Tom and I have a special saying, which is “What is better than having fun?” More fun!” To say we had fun at this event was an understatement. :)
Finally, we decided to drive 6 miles north to the Canadian border, because as far as we understand, the Miss Minnesota crown has never been at the US Port of Entry in Warroad. At first, I must admit, I was a little nervous to travel right up to the border. I didn’t have my passport on hand and I didn’t even know if it would be possible to take a photo due to homeland security restrictions. However, after talking to the officer at the port of entry station, I was able to not only take a photo, but he allowed me to actually enter Canada and take an international photo! The Canadian border patrol loved the crown and were so welcoming of my short, but sweet visit. Thank you to the US and Canadian border patrol for being so accommodating! I will never forget this once in a lifetime experience!
The Fourth of July is so special, as I was able to celebrate with all ten of my siblings and a few of our extended family! Being that we are all growing up and pursuing our own paths, it can be hard for us to all get together, but we all cherish the moments when we can see each other. That weekend, we played games, had outdoor dinners, and enjoyed every laugh, smile, and moment as a family. We are so close-knit, and I am glad I could spend time with the people I love the most.
Wednesday (7/5):
Wednesday was a heavy travel day, as I went all the way down to Lakeville for the Miss Lakeville pageant, which is the kickoff to the Lakeville Pan-O-Prog Festival! It was a great event, as I was able to perform and meet many area royalty! Thank you so much to one of my favorite “pageant moms,” Wendy Latuff, mother of Miss Minnesota 2015 Rachel Latuff Betterley, for chaperoning me! I loved spending the evening with you! Another special congratulations to the new titleholders, Miss Lakeville 2017 Lauren Davis, and Miss Lakeville Princesses Cianna Swanson and Kate Cox!
Thursday (7/6):
I went to the Primrose School in Savage, where I spent the morning with the PreK students and the Explorers Club, where I was their special guest for “Dress Up Day.” If you know anything about me, I absolutely love children, so this was such a sweet and meaningful appearance. We talked about what it means to be kind to each other and we made special crowns with many colors and gems. Seeing each child flourish in their creativity and sharing genuine compliments to each other made my heart simply smile! One adorable girl even shared her crown with me and I don’t think I have ever received so many hugs in my life. Thank you to the Primrose School for having me, I can’t wait to come back!
I am so thankful as Miss Minnesota to have a business manager who supports and loves me for who I am! Charlotte is an incredible manager and even more amazing friend, and as Miss Minnesota 1967, she continually inspires me with her dedication to the Miss Minnesota Organization for the last 50 years! She came with me to this particular appearance and the kids even loved having her there as well! Afterwards, we decided to have a special treat at one of our favorite places….Sonic! Charlotte is as sweet as the Cherry Limeades we had and we shared so many giggles and smiles. Love you Charlotte!
I then travelled to Minneapolis where I had my interview training with Polly Meyer of Image on Camera. Polly is such a joy to work with and pushes me to be my best, authentic, and genuine self. I love our sessions together and I am so thankful for her sponsorship and friendship. If you are looking to improve your public speaking and interview skills, Polly is the one to work with!
I finally ended up at Kathy’s house to sign final papers for Miss America! As my pen signed the last flourish, it started to finally sink in….I am going to Miss America! What a dream come true and such an honor. It makes me teary-eyed to even think about it. Thank you Kathy for guiding me through this process so far and throughout the rest of the year, love you to the moon and back!
Friday (7/7):
Again, Friday was another heavy travel day, as I went to Detroit Lakes for the first local pageant of the 2018 season! I was welcomed so warmly by the Miss Northwest committee and was provided a wonderful dinner courtesy of the Country Kitchen. Thank you to Cindy Moore for your years of dedication to this program and for the special treats during Miss Minnesota week as well! You are a blessing to those who meet you!
Thank you so much to Hailey Jutz, my Miss Minnesota roomie, for your amazing Year of Service. Your heart of gold and passion for your platform inspires me and I am so glad this organization brought us together as teens several years ago! Also, a big thank you to Miss Northwest’s Outstanding Teen, Karleen Wilde, for your dedication to the Lakes Area as well! I can’t wait to see where your journey takes you as well!
Every single young lady who competed did a phenomenal job and a special congratulations to Alyssa Crum, Miss Northwest 2018 and Devyn Ullyot, Miss Northwest’s Outstanding Teen 2018!
Saturday (7/8):
I traveled to Morris for the Miss Morris Area and Miss Midwest pageants! Thank you to the GrandStay of Morris for hosting my family and I! It was a fun-filled day of all things pageant-related and thank you to Dawn Kosbab and committee, for the warm welcome! The day started with a Queen’s brunch, where the current titleholders, Emma Zosel (Miss Morris Area), Kia Kolbinger (Miss Midwest), and Devin Fuhrman (Miss Morris Area’s Outstanding Teen), were honored. These ladies have done such an incredible job in this community and I am so proud of them! Interestingly enough, Emma also battles Juvenile Arthritis, and she has been such an inspiration and role model to my little sister, Brenna. As a big sister, that alone means more to me than anything else; that Emma would go out of her way to mentor and inspire my little sister and encourage her to continue fighting together. Just typing this makes me emotional! Kia has been such a dear friend as well, as she never fails to make me smile! Her perserverance throughout her year is amazing and I look up to her. And of course, Devin has been an awesome representative for the last two years in the Morris area! Thank you ladies, for your year of service!
I also got the opportunity to have dinner with the judges and committee, which was a lot of fun. Thank you to Mi Mexico in Morris for the delicious dinner! From meeting the ladies at the brunch, to spending time with them during their interview, and getting to know their passions and stories, they all did a great job at this pageant! Congratulations to Kathryn Kueppers, Miss Midwest 2018, and Cali Berlinger, Miss Morris Area 2018!
Sunday (7/9):
Sunday was rather quiet, as it was a day to travel back home and take care of business. I was able to compose music, which is my passion, and spend time with my little siblings. Home is a special place for me and I relish in every moment, as these next few weeks are about involve even more travel!
Monday (7/10):
Today, I spent my afternoon in Crookston with the RYLA campers, sponsored by Rotary International. This is a great leadership camp designed for juniors and seniors in high school as they work on team-building exercises, leadership skills, and of course, make new friends from all across the states of Minnesota, North Dakota, and even as far north as Thunder Bay in Ontario! All 130 campers and I went to the downtown business district of Crookston and handed out over 300 roses to people of all walks of life, from business owners to customers, the elderly, children, and homeless, and brightened their days with a flower, a smile, and a compliment. Seeing the joy that radiated from these people’s faces was so worth the effort! From there, we then went to the North Country food bank, where we sprung into action and we packed over 1200 food packages for 2000 area elderly in need of assistance. This service is so appreciated and I am glad we could be a part of this endeavor. Thank you to Ben Jagim, Beth Altoff, and the RYLA facilitators for having me today!
I then had a nearly two hour workout session with Chanc Keefe at North Fit in Thief River Falls. We trained Cross-Fit style and I must say, he totally worked me out! I love being active, so any time I get the chance to work out, I always take up the opportunity to try new things! Tomorrow morning, I go back in for a 6:30AM session while I am still in the area! Looking forward to more kettle ball swings and wall ball squats Chanc! Thanks for the motivation and for pushing me tonight! ;)
It has been a busy week, but I truly love my job more than anything in the world!
Remember to follow me on social media for daily updates on:
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, and Snapchat --> @missamericamn :)
Thanks for tuning in to this week's "Monday Minutes with Miss Minnesota!"
Until next week, keep shining!
Brianna
“Monday Minutes with Miss Minnesota!”
This past week has been filled with many fun appearances and I have met so many wonderful people throughout the state! Read below to see what I have been up to!
Tuesday (7/4):
I spent the Fourth of July up in northwest Minnesota and attended several community parades and gatherings! I started off my morning bright and early at the Greenbush Fourth of July parade, where I was escorted on a beautiful 2003 Saleen Mustang driven by Dan and Ann Hible and accompanied by their granddaughter, Princess Maddie! This parade is so much fun for the community and there are always many floats, all made with pride and joy. From the parade, I then went to the Greenbush Fire Hall and spent time with other community members, as well as visited with local law enforcement, firemen, and other public officials and thanked them for all they do for Greenbush and the surrounding area.
My next stop was at the Greenbush LifeCare Center, where I played piano selections and sang patriotic hymns with the elderly residents, many of whom are veterans. Visiting and sharing in both song and conversation was incredibly touching and was one of the highlights of my day. Of course, my musical brother, Brayden, and I had to perform a few duets together as well! Thank you to both Ann and Dan Hible for escorting me, to Greenbush Mayor, Brenda Sather, and to Greenbush LifeCare Center for having me! Also, a special thank you to Princess Maddie for accompanying me in Greenbush as well as to her awesome mom, Julie David, for being my photographer for the event and taking some amazing candids!
I then hopped in the car and drove an hour northeast to the town of Warroad, MN, which is located on the shores of Lake of the Woods, which borders both the United States and Canada! What a treat it was to bring the Miss Minnesota crown to this community! Our first stop was to visit Mayor Bob Marvin, the owner of “The Shed”, which is a classic and muscle car collection with nearly 100 cars and a unique northern Minnesota gem! It all started in 1981 when Bob bought a ’65 Riviera and was immediately hooked on the style and innovations of vehicles from the 50’s and 60’s. He has visitors from all around the world coming to visit his collection, and there is no charge to visit, but rather an invitation to donate to organizations such as the American Cancer Society, the Warroad Veterans’ Memorial, and others. Every car has a special story and Bob shared a number of them, including one about the white 1960 Corvette that he owns with the VIN number being 000001, meaning that it is the first car off of the manufacturing line of its own! Bob so graciously lent us a 1957 Chrysler convertible worth $1.1 million for the parade and I must say, it was such a powerful and beautiful vintage ride! Thank you to Bob for your kind generosity! And of course, thank you to one of my local directors, KayDell Super and her husband Tom, for chaperoning and driving throughout the parade! We had such a blast and afterwards, we even got to go for a joyride down the highway together! Both KayDell and Tom are so special to me and it was a treat to spend the holiday with them. Tom and I have a special saying, which is “What is better than having fun?” More fun!” To say we had fun at this event was an understatement. :)
Finally, we decided to drive 6 miles north to the Canadian border, because as far as we understand, the Miss Minnesota crown has never been at the US Port of Entry in Warroad. At first, I must admit, I was a little nervous to travel right up to the border. I didn’t have my passport on hand and I didn’t even know if it would be possible to take a photo due to homeland security restrictions. However, after talking to the officer at the port of entry station, I was able to not only take a photo, but he allowed me to actually enter Canada and take an international photo! The Canadian border patrol loved the crown and were so welcoming of my short, but sweet visit. Thank you to the US and Canadian border patrol for being so accommodating! I will never forget this once in a lifetime experience!
The Fourth of July is so special, as I was able to celebrate with all ten of my siblings and a few of our extended family! Being that we are all growing up and pursuing our own paths, it can be hard for us to all get together, but we all cherish the moments when we can see each other. That weekend, we played games, had outdoor dinners, and enjoyed every laugh, smile, and moment as a family. We are so close-knit, and I am glad I could spend time with the people I love the most.
Wednesday (7/5):
Wednesday was a heavy travel day, as I went all the way down to Lakeville for the Miss Lakeville pageant, which is the kickoff to the Lakeville Pan-O-Prog Festival! It was a great event, as I was able to perform and meet many area royalty! Thank you so much to one of my favorite “pageant moms,” Wendy Latuff, mother of Miss Minnesota 2015 Rachel Latuff Betterley, for chaperoning me! I loved spending the evening with you! Another special congratulations to the new titleholders, Miss Lakeville 2017 Lauren Davis, and Miss Lakeville Princesses Cianna Swanson and Kate Cox!
Thursday (7/6):
I went to the Primrose School in Savage, where I spent the morning with the PreK students and the Explorers Club, where I was their special guest for “Dress Up Day.” If you know anything about me, I absolutely love children, so this was such a sweet and meaningful appearance. We talked about what it means to be kind to each other and we made special crowns with many colors and gems. Seeing each child flourish in their creativity and sharing genuine compliments to each other made my heart simply smile! One adorable girl even shared her crown with me and I don’t think I have ever received so many hugs in my life. Thank you to the Primrose School for having me, I can’t wait to come back!
I am so thankful as Miss Minnesota to have a business manager who supports and loves me for who I am! Charlotte is an incredible manager and even more amazing friend, and as Miss Minnesota 1967, she continually inspires me with her dedication to the Miss Minnesota Organization for the last 50 years! She came with me to this particular appearance and the kids even loved having her there as well! Afterwards, we decided to have a special treat at one of our favorite places….Sonic! Charlotte is as sweet as the Cherry Limeades we had and we shared so many giggles and smiles. Love you Charlotte!
I then travelled to Minneapolis where I had my interview training with Polly Meyer of Image on Camera. Polly is such a joy to work with and pushes me to be my best, authentic, and genuine self. I love our sessions together and I am so thankful for her sponsorship and friendship. If you are looking to improve your public speaking and interview skills, Polly is the one to work with!
I finally ended up at Kathy’s house to sign final papers for Miss America! As my pen signed the last flourish, it started to finally sink in….I am going to Miss America! What a dream come true and such an honor. It makes me teary-eyed to even think about it. Thank you Kathy for guiding me through this process so far and throughout the rest of the year, love you to the moon and back!
Friday (7/7):
Again, Friday was another heavy travel day, as I went to Detroit Lakes for the first local pageant of the 2018 season! I was welcomed so warmly by the Miss Northwest committee and was provided a wonderful dinner courtesy of the Country Kitchen. Thank you to Cindy Moore for your years of dedication to this program and for the special treats during Miss Minnesota week as well! You are a blessing to those who meet you!
Thank you so much to Hailey Jutz, my Miss Minnesota roomie, for your amazing Year of Service. Your heart of gold and passion for your platform inspires me and I am so glad this organization brought us together as teens several years ago! Also, a big thank you to Miss Northwest’s Outstanding Teen, Karleen Wilde, for your dedication to the Lakes Area as well! I can’t wait to see where your journey takes you as well!
Every single young lady who competed did a phenomenal job and a special congratulations to Alyssa Crum, Miss Northwest 2018 and Devyn Ullyot, Miss Northwest’s Outstanding Teen 2018!
Saturday (7/8):
I traveled to Morris for the Miss Morris Area and Miss Midwest pageants! Thank you to the GrandStay of Morris for hosting my family and I! It was a fun-filled day of all things pageant-related and thank you to Dawn Kosbab and committee, for the warm welcome! The day started with a Queen’s brunch, where the current titleholders, Emma Zosel (Miss Morris Area), Kia Kolbinger (Miss Midwest), and Devin Fuhrman (Miss Morris Area’s Outstanding Teen), were honored. These ladies have done such an incredible job in this community and I am so proud of them! Interestingly enough, Emma also battles Juvenile Arthritis, and she has been such an inspiration and role model to my little sister, Brenna. As a big sister, that alone means more to me than anything else; that Emma would go out of her way to mentor and inspire my little sister and encourage her to continue fighting together. Just typing this makes me emotional! Kia has been such a dear friend as well, as she never fails to make me smile! Her perserverance throughout her year is amazing and I look up to her. And of course, Devin has been an awesome representative for the last two years in the Morris area! Thank you ladies, for your year of service!
I also got the opportunity to have dinner with the judges and committee, which was a lot of fun. Thank you to Mi Mexico in Morris for the delicious dinner! From meeting the ladies at the brunch, to spending time with them during their interview, and getting to know their passions and stories, they all did a great job at this pageant! Congratulations to Kathryn Kueppers, Miss Midwest 2018, and Cali Berlinger, Miss Morris Area 2018!
Sunday (7/9):
Sunday was rather quiet, as it was a day to travel back home and take care of business. I was able to compose music, which is my passion, and spend time with my little siblings. Home is a special place for me and I relish in every moment, as these next few weeks are about involve even more travel!
Monday (7/10):
Today, I spent my afternoon in Crookston with the RYLA campers, sponsored by Rotary International. This is a great leadership camp designed for juniors and seniors in high school as they work on team-building exercises, leadership skills, and of course, make new friends from all across the states of Minnesota, North Dakota, and even as far north as Thunder Bay in Ontario! All 130 campers and I went to the downtown business district of Crookston and handed out over 300 roses to people of all walks of life, from business owners to customers, the elderly, children, and homeless, and brightened their days with a flower, a smile, and a compliment. Seeing the joy that radiated from these people’s faces was so worth the effort! From there, we then went to the North Country food bank, where we sprung into action and we packed over 1200 food packages for 2000 area elderly in need of assistance. This service is so appreciated and I am glad we could be a part of this endeavor. Thank you to Ben Jagim, Beth Altoff, and the RYLA facilitators for having me today!
I then had a nearly two hour workout session with Chanc Keefe at North Fit in Thief River Falls. We trained Cross-Fit style and I must say, he totally worked me out! I love being active, so any time I get the chance to work out, I always take up the opportunity to try new things! Tomorrow morning, I go back in for a 6:30AM session while I am still in the area! Looking forward to more kettle ball swings and wall ball squats Chanc! Thanks for the motivation and for pushing me tonight! ;)
It has been a busy week, but I truly love my job more than anything in the world!
Remember to follow me on social media for daily updates on:
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, and Snapchat --> @missamericamn :)
Thanks for tuning in to this week's "Monday Minutes with Miss Minnesota!"
Until next week, keep shining!
Brianna
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