PHOTOS BY BRENNA WHITE / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
PAST AND PRESENT … (Left to Right) 2024 Miss Pioneer Mackenzie Frame, 2026 Miss Pioneer Rosalee Mills, 2026 Teen Miss Pioneer Makayla McElroy, 2024 Teen Miss Pioneer Candace Gendron, 2024 Junior Miss Pioneer Kensington Creek, 2024 Little Miss Pioneer Skylar Roth, and 2026 Junior Miss Pioneer Gracelynn Dye. VIEW 19 PHOTOS OF THIS EVENT FOR FREE AT WWW.THEVILLAGEREPORTER.COM
TEEN MISS … Makayla McElroy, sponsored by Chad Laney Trucking, was crowned the 2026 Teen Miss Pioneer.
MISS PIONEER … 2024 Miss Pioneer Mackenzie Frame passed on her title to newly crowned 2026 Miss Pioneer Rosalee Mills.
By: Brenna White
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
brenna@thevillagereporter.com
Community spirit and hometown pride took center stage Saturday evening as the Pride of Pioneer Pageant returned to the North Central School Auditorium for its 2026 competition, celebrating the crowned queens under this year’s “Yeehaw America!” theme.
The pageant was held Aug. 1, 2026, and featured summer wear, talent, evening wear and onstage questions throughout the event.
Although this year’s competition featured just three contestants, each earned the crown in her respective division.
Crowned as Miss Pioneer 2026 was Rosalee Lois Mills, daughter of Randy and Stephanie Mills, and was sponsored by the Pioneer Police Department.
Makayla Marie McElroy, daughter of David McElroy and Nicole Farris, was crowned Teen Miss Pioneer 2026.
Receiving the title of Little Miss Pioneer 2026 was Gracelynn Ann Dye, daughter of Derek and Raegan Dye.
Following tradition, the evening also honored the reigning 2024 royalty, who completed two years of service after the pageant was not held in 2025.
Returning for their final walk were Miss Pioneer 2024 Mackenzie Frame; Teen Miss Pioneer Candace Leigh Gendron; Junior Miss Pioneer Kensington Creek; and Little Miss Pioneer Skylar Roth.
With no contestants entered in the Junior Miss division this year, no 2026 title was awarded. Kensington Creek will continue to serve as Junior Miss Pioneer and is expected to return during the 2027 pageant to pass on her crown to the next titleholder.
The 2026 Pride of Pioneer Pageant was directed by Kaitlyn Mills and Rachel Entenman.
With another year of community events, parades and appearances ahead, the 2026 Pride of Pioneer royalty now begin their reign, carrying on a tradition that continues to showcase the pride and spirit of the Pioneer community.
