Isabelle Workman crowned 2025 H&H queen

This year’s Hootin an Hollarin queen pageant was held last Thursday night, Sept. 18, on the Gainesville square with 22 Ozark County young lady contestants ages 14 to 18 entering the competition. That number is significantly more than the contest has seen in several years. 

The girls entertain the crowd with a square dance and then take to the stage one by one where they answer one pre-selected question that they are aware of and have had time to prepare for. They are also asked about a hobby.

A panel of judges, who are not from the area and are unfamiliar with any of the girls, collectively choose the queen and her court. 

This year’s crown was awarded to 14-year-old Isabelle Workman, daughter of Gainesville residents Aaron and Jessica Workman and a freshman at Gainesville High School. Isabelle’s pre-selected question was: If you found yourself traveling outside of the area, how would you describe Ozark County to someone who had never been here? She answered: “I would describe Ozark County as a peaceful place to hang out on the weekend with two really pretty lakes and places to hike, boat and fish - and Hootin an Hollarin, of course! And [I’d just tell them] how beautiful it is here.” She was also asked about running cross country and track. Emcee Becki Strong asked where the team practices, and Isabelle answered, “We run up and down the highway, sometimes around the square. Sometimes we even run hiking trails at Caney Mountain [Conservation Area].”

Cami Strain was named this year’s deputy queen and will step into the queen’s role if Isabelle is not able to continue the role for some reason. Three princesses were also honored: Ella Sue Barber, Makayla Smith and Khloe Simmons. Simmons was also named Miss Sweetie Pie, a title that is voted on in secret by the contestants for the girl who has been the most uplifting and encouraging of the group. 

To qualify as a contestant, girls must be unmarried, between 14 and 18 years old, attend an Ozark County high school or a state approved homeschool program. The judges base their decision on poise, personality and appearance, particularly how their dress depicts the pioneer era that Hootin an Hollarin represents. 

This year’s judges were KY3 News Chief Meteorologist Brandon Beck of Springfield; Ava resident Melissa McGill, who has held the previous title of Miss Rodeo Oregon and has served on the board of Miss Rodeo Missouri Inc.; Rod Hamby, of West Plains, who began the Overland Group real estate group before retiring; Gainesville native Mike Breeding, who owns Mike Breeding State Farm Insurance Agency; and Kristen Speer, General Manager Twin Lakes Radio. 

The 2025 Hootin an Hollarin queen contestants were:

Shelby Smith, Gainesville High School, daughter of Corey Smith, sponsored by Karen Cunningham at Molly’s Salon; 

Moxie Similkier, Gainesville High School, daughter of Erik and Desiree Similkier, sponsored by Sultry Desires;  

Brycenne Young, Dora High School, daughter of Jessica and Johnathon Collier, sponsored by Bumper to Bumper; 

Isabelle Martin, Dora High School, daughter of Cassidy and Andrea Martin, sponsored by Century Bank and United Country Missouri Ozarks Realty, Inc.; 

Ella Sue Barber, Gainesville High School, daughter of Dr. Amy Parmenter-Barber and J.C Barber, sponsored by Pontiac Cove Marina; 

Lakely Anderson, Gainesville High School, daughter of Candice Collins and Bobby Anderson, sponsored by Crossroads Drips & Dips; 

Latasha Bowers, Dora High School, daughter of Angela Romans, sponsored by Collins Trucking; 

Caylee Watkins, Bakersfield High School, daughter of Samantha and Brandon Watkins; 

Nevaeh Smart, Gainesville High School, daughter of Leela and Terry Smart, sponsored by Pettit Canoe Rental; 

Emma Rose Wahmhoff, Gainesville High School, daughter of Mindy and Brad Foster, sponsored by Molly’s Salon; 

Annabell Ruth Snelson, Gainesville High School, daughter of Dustin and Shanna Snelson, sponsored by Gainesville Health Care Center; 

Abbi Angelo, Bakersfield High School, granddaughter of Connie and Ronnie Belt of Caulfield, sponsored by Belt’s Reconstruction & Drywall;

Lilly Hejdak, Gainesville High School, daughter of Tonya Burgett, sponsored by Top Dog Fitness Center; 

Cami Strain, Gainesville High School, daughter of Michael and Holly Strain, sponsored by Michael Strain Custom Concrete; 

Makayla Smith, Gainesville High School, daughter of James and Arlene Smith; sponsored by Hogan’s Farm; 

Aubri Freas, Bakersfield High School, daughter of Ashley and Dan Freas, sponsored by Roosting Roots Homestead; 

Cheyenne Wachtel, Gainesville High School, daughter of Mark and Sylvia Wachtel, sponsored by Robby Strain Concrete; 

Claire Turner, Gainesville High School, daughter of Ashley Turner, sponsored by Darla Sullivan, Ozark County Collector; 

Whitley Tetrick, Gainesville High School, daughter of Brandon and Wendy Tetrick, sponsored by Adams & Sons Plumbing and Electric; 

Allison Moseley, Gainesville High School, daughter of Avery and Julie Moseley, sponsored by Century Bank of the Ozarks; 

Khloe Simmons, Bakersfield High School, daughter of Rick Simmons, sponsored by Stacy and Stephanie Guffey of Guffey Farms; and 

Isabelle Workman, Gainesville High School, daughter of Aaron and Jessica Workman; sponsored by Ozark County Times and Century Bank of the Ozarks.