Miss Putnam County Fair Alyssa Smith; Charleston Sternwheel Regatta Queen Taylor Miller; Miss Yuletide in the Park Autumn Wooding; Miss WV Cupcake Festival Breanna Herrick; and Miss Hurricane Independence Day Madison Gill. (Photos courtesy of Ed Conner)

The West Virginia Association of Fairs and Festivals pageant is the premier statewide beauty event because every participant is a 2024 winner of a West Virginia fair or festival.

Four of the 88 contestants promoted Putnam County events — the Putnam County Fair, Hurricane Independence Day, Yuletide in the Park, and WV Cupcake Festival. A Putnam County winner also promoted the Charleston Sternwheel Regatta.

The 2025 WVAFF pageant was won by the WV Black Walnut Festival Queen, Sophia Wigal. She was crowned by current WV Agriculture Commission Kent Leonhart. She will reign as Queen of the West Virginia State Fair this summer.

Miss Putnam County Fair is Alyssa Smith, a Poca High senior; Miss Hurricane Independence Day is Madison Gill; Miss Yuletide in the Park is Autumn Wooding; Miss WV Cupcake Festival is Breanna Herrick; Charleston Sternwheel Regatta Queen is Taylor Miller, a 2024 Winfield High graduate.

Miss Putnam County Fair Alyssa Smith and Miss WV Cupcake Festival Breanna Herrick were among the top 15 finishers.