Each August, area residents head to Gridley for food, fun, and farm animals at the Butte County Fair, and every year at the fair, a new set of queens is crowned. In tonight's Kids In Action, Reporter Rick Carhart introduces us to the reigning Missette Butte County.
nats parade
Kirsten-Grace Baker isn't just another pretty face, saying, "I don't care about the crown or the sash, I didn't care if I even got a crown, I just wanted to do a bunch of community service."
The Miss Butte County scholarship program is open to girls aged 9 to 21. Unlike a beauty pageant, these kids aren't judged by how they look, but by what they do...and Kirsten-Grace is a perfect example.
Her mother Karla says, "she amazes me, there are days when she overwhelms me, she inspires me, and has a heart that's so giving and gifted."
Kirsten-Grace says, "I want to help people, it's just so much fun for me."
An avid reader, this sixth grader from Paradise spends many hours doing community service projects, and most of her free time with her best friend and twin.
Kirsten-Grace says, "I love to play with my brother doing anything from legos to nerf wars, anything."
Even though she's the youngest of the Miss Butte County queens, she doesn't take a back seat when she gets together with the older girls.
Miss Butte County Marcee Boggs says, "everyone helps everyone, there's not one individual, we're a group and we work as a group."
In addition to helping people through volunteering, the Miss Butte County Royal Court gets to appear in parades, and they recently took a tour of the state capitol, where, as usual, Kirsten-Grace left her mark.
Karla says, "she charms anyone, she's been with Senator LaMalfa, she's been with special needs kids, and she just fits in."
Fits in, yes...but nobody will mistake her for being "average".
Kirsten-Grace says, "I don't like to sit and watch TV all day, don't like to eat a lot of candy, I love school, I'm the weirdest kid you'll ever meet."
And she has big plans for her future.
Kirsten-Grace says, "I really like blood and gore, so I want to be a surgeon of some sort."
A great example of someone not waiting until she's an adult, to have a positive impact on her world.
