Events leading up to the annual Park Fete weekend in Escalon saw some new royalty selected and a local couple honored for their contributions to the community.
Tuesday, July 23 was an opportunity for Glenn and Terri Van Ruler to be in the spotlight, chosen as the 2024 Senior Mr. and Mrs. Escalon. A luncheon hosted at the Escalon Community Center featured plenty of accolades for the couple, with some of their work in the community highlighted. Congratulatory proclamations were presented from both local and state officials as friends and family looked on. Capping off the meal was a ‘Senior Mr. and Mrs.’ cake, with the honorees wearing their sashes and looking forward to riding in the Saturday morning Park Fete parade.
Wednesday evening, July 24 was the Miss Escalon Pageant, also at the Community Center. Ten hopefuls were vying for the crown and the pageant was coordinated by Renee Snow and Emelyn Mancilla, with outgoing Miss Escalon Aileen Aguirre serving as emcee.
Dinner, an opening act by the Miss Escalon participants, then a casual wear session was followed by formal wear modeling and questions for the contestants. Seeking the title this year were Charlotte Shaddix, Carolina Sandoval, Natalee Martinez, Claire Barkus, Riley Ogilvie, Saray Larios, Chloe Fraser, Nevaeh Mancilla, Tessa Junqueiro and Katherine Romero. Representatives of Manteca Youth Focus served as judges. In the formal wear portion, each contestant was escorted to the stage by a family member and modeled for the judges while some biographical information was shared about them. They also each had to answer two impromptu questions.
Receiving the title this year was Katherine Romero with Tessa Junqueiro the first runner up and Chloe Fraser the second runner up.
Thursday, it was back to the Community Center for the Little Miss and Mr. Escalon Pageant. The patriotic theme saw the ‘littles’ doing a dance and most wearing red, white and blue to go along with the theme.
They also answered a couple of questions, after telling the audience their name and age.
Candidates for Little Miss Escalon were Presley Merritt, Lucy Merritt, Laikyn Sharp, Sarai Macias, Capri Ciccarelli, Kelsey Merrill, Kora Camacho, Kinsley Lowery, Avery Messersmith, Taylor Thompson, Maci Bennett, Audriana Ogilvie, Rylie Messersmith, Hadley Jefferson and Liv Sharp.
Little Mr. Escalon candidates were Austin Ferber, Olivar Ceja, Grayson Jefferson and Jordan Miller.
Manteca Youth Focus once again provided the judges.
Crowned as the new 2024 Little Miss Escalon was Liv Sharp, 7, daughter of Chris Sharp and Emily Martin; and Jordan Miller, 5, was selected as Little Mr. Escalon. He is the son of Clayton and Brandi Miller.
Miss Escalon and her full court, plus the new Little Miss and Mr. Escalon, all had the opportunity to ride in the Saturday morning parade at Park Fete and spend some time throughout the day mingling with the crowd.
