The winners of Galva’s 2025 Little Mr. and Miss Firecracker contest were announced at the June 29 Levitt AMP concert in Wiley Park.
Presleigh Currier, daughter of Logan and Valerie Currier, was crowned Miss Firecracker, and Jude Hoenig, son of Joe and Holly Hoenig, was given the Mr. Firecracker title.
Miss Currier will enter Kindergarten in the fall and enjoys swimming and dance lessons. She also spends time at her grandmother Currier’s farm, where she helps tend to the horses, goats and other farm animals. According to her other grandmother, Nancy Sutton, she’s a bit of a “horse whisperer,” and shares stories of how they communicate. Like many little girls, she loves to wear princess dresses and helps her mother at the Krans Kafe in Bishop Hill, where they frequently host fashion shows. However, her biggest interest is in stories of the Loch Ness Monster. She and other family members are traveling to Scotland later this month, hoping to catch a glimpse of the fabled long-necked creature.
Mr. Hoenig will be a second grader in the fall, and his mother shared that he has a host of friends that he enjoys. He also has a large number of cats for which he cares. His biggest interest centers around trains, and he’s a big fan from diesel to steam-driven.
With his mother’s new shop, Nightshade, just north of the railroad tracks, he keeps watch for them and whether or not they are on schedule. His role at the store is “door greeter,” where he guides visitors into the shop. His mother has deemed him her business partner, as he enjoys helping her select some of the many items she has for sale.
His mother reported that, sadly, just a day after he was crowned, Jude fractured his leg. The injury will likely require surgery, and healing will take up most of the rest of his summer. “Once he’s settled in, he hopes to hear from his friends and store customers,” his mother said.
Both Currier and Hoenig were selected from a field of ten contestants as part of a fundraiser for Galva’s Freedom Fest. Containers with the first names and photos of each entry were placed in the lobbies of Community State Bank and the State Bank of Toulon. The two that collected the most money in their container won the contest.
This year’s duo each received a special sash. Miss Firecracker was given a crown, and Mr. Firecracker was awarded a special ball cap.
According to Melissa Halsall, chair of the Freedom Fest Committee that sponsored the event, “the contest raised over $2,000, which will help cover some of the costs of the annual celebration.” This was the largest amount raised since the contest began in 2007. Halsall added that all of the contestants were winners and deserved many thanks for their participation. “We look forward to selecting another set of winners in 2025.”
Mr. and Miss Firecracker will ride on the Freedom Fest float in the Fourth of July parade and participate in Galva’s Old Fashioned Christmas Celebration. The pair will also hand out trophies at the Freedom Fest Car Show on August 25.
Galva’s Freedom Fest started Thursday, July 3, with a pork chop dinner in Wiley Park.
