The Midwest Old Threshers Reunion has introduced its 2026 Miss Sweet Sixteen Court, recognizing four young women following a busy Reunion week filled with volunteering, interviews, presentations and plenty of interaction with visitors.
Becoming a Sweet Sixteen is about much more than wearing the traditional dress. The program begins during the summer, when candidates get to know one another, learn their way around the Old Threshers grounds and meet with members of the Board of Directors. The goal is to prepare the young women to serve as ambassadors for the Reunion — or, as organizers put it, become “walking information booths” for visitors.
During Reunion week, the candidates volunteer throughout the grounds, helping at locations including admission gates, the ground trains, souvenir stand, Log Village, carousel, church tents and other attractions. Most of this year’s candidates put in between 40 and 55 hours of volunteer work during the Reunion.
Candidates also complete an interview and presentation. This year’s assignment challenged them to create an advertisement promoting the Midwest Old Threshers Reunion. Throughout the week, secret judges also observed the candidates while they volunteered, looking at qualities including customer service, knowledge of the Reunion, friendliness, helpfulness and their willingness to step up when someone needed assistance. Interview and secret-judge scores are then combined to determine the court.
The 2026 Midwest Old Threshers Miss Sweet Sixteen Court is:
Joanna Wissmann — Miss Sweet Sixteen
Swaylin Henderson — First Runner-up
Quintrie Lee — Second Runner-up
Brianna Wibstad — Miss Volunteer
The Sweet Sixteen tradition highlights the volunteer spirit that makes the Midwest Old Threshers Reunion possible, while giving young women an opportunity to build confidence, leadership skills and connections with the people who return to Mount Pleasant year after year.