If you see a poised and smiley young fair-goer with a bright blue cape this year, say hi. It’s 10-year-old MaKayla Maynard, the fair’s new “living logo.”
The new Little Miss Friendly was caped Tuesday evening, the first day of the Southwest Washington Fair. In her glittery dress, a poised MaKayla tearfully accepted her new role — which came with a shiny bike, flowers, a plaque and the famous cape.
“I’m feeling pretty good!” MaKayla told The Chronicle off-stage, grinning. “Kinda nervous.”
The north end of the fair had noticeably more tiaras than the rest of the grounds. There to watch the coronation ceremony were Miss Lewis County, the Jubilee Queen, Winlock Egg Days royalty and former Little Miss Friendlies from as far back as 2006, when Bailey Peters — who was born during the fair — was crowned.
When judges asked MaKayla why she wanted to be Little Miss Friendly 2021, the answer was simple.
“The reason why I want to be Little Miss Friendly is so that I can show people that they can come out of their comfort zones and follow their dreams,” she said.
MaKayla enjoys barrel racing and wants to be a police officer when she grows up. She’s excited for the rodeo this Saturday.
And Tuesday night, the bright young local had her eyes on one thing: her favorite carnival ride, “the bears.”
And she’ll have plenty of friends to join her.
“She met five amazing girls,” mother Samantha Maynard said of MaKayla’s fellow contestants.
After that, MaKayla has a lot on her plate, from parades to festivals and events. Just ask 2019 Little Miss Friendly, Haiden Bartel.
The incoming seventh grader — who ended her two-year reign this week and handed on the cape — said she’s gone to 64 events, passed out 5,000 stickers and tossed 195 pounds of candy.
But who’s counting?
On stage, Haiden thanked a multitude of supportive folks, including her parents, who helped her “from driving me to events to helping me go full-out on parades, painting my nails for almost every event and helping me find matching shoes.”
She thanked Miss Lewis County 2019, Rebecca Parker, “for being the sister I never had.”
“I knew we were going to be great friends when we showed up to the fair in matching outfits, and hadn’t even planned it,” Haiden said.
She also gave a thanks to 2018 Little Miss Friendly Natalie Butler, “always so optimistic and sweet,” and Miss Lewis County 2021, Sophie Moerke, who was “so supportive, happy and spunky.”
Haiden, the only Little Miss Friendly to reign for two years, was a “trooper,” said emcee Jerry Owens, showing up to last winter’s Borst Park Drive-Thru Light Display to volunteer despite the weather.
“It was miserable. Rainy, windy, cold. And she did not miss a beat,” Owens said.
Catch the fair’s new “living logo” MaKayla Maynard at the fair, which opens at 10 a.m. each day through this Sunday.
