It’s  that time again, and the annual DYW competition (formerly the Junior Miss contest) for Oneida County will be held next weekend, with a rehearsal at 7:00 p.m. on April 25, and the final event will take place at 7:00 p.m. on the next day, April 26.  While the program will in most ways be the same as it has been in the past, one significant change is that it will be held at the Marsh Valley Performing Arts Building, just off I-15 north of Arimo, next to Marsh Valley High school.  The program has traditionally been held at the Malad Elementary School auditorium.  The old MES building was recently demolished, and the the event was booked before any decision about holding the program at the new school could be made.

The season for DYW began bright and early in January, when the Opening Social gave the girls a chance to meet one another, the organizers, and their hostesses. The participants have been training, practicing, and working on their talents, interview skills, and maintaining their academics ever since, and the moment of truth is nearly here.  This year’s theme was announced as “Fierce.”

This year’s participants introduced themselves, their families, and their hostesses.  The young women who have taken up the DYW challenge this year are (alphabetically) Cale Carter, Jaylee Ekstrom, Jaezie Jensen, Rebecca McCracken, Braylee Price, and Adilyn Schow.

The categories the participants will be judged on include Interview (25%), Scholastic (25%), Talent (20%), Fitness (15%), and Self-Expression (15%).  While it is common for each participant to have one area they are strongest in, being named DYW for Oneida County requires a level of skill and comfort with all of the judged skills involved.

Oneida County DYW for 2025 Madelyn Shaw was named the winner of the Malad DYW competition in May, taking over the title from the previous winner,  Alexus Tarbet.  Tarbet was the winner of the Talent portion of the competition at the state level, and a state finalist.  She was preceded by Raegan Smith, who was named the state first alternate for 2023.  Malad’s participants have had a lot of success at the state level, due in no small part to the support of the local organization, chaired by Nikki Schawrtz, and the backing of many individuals and groups throughout the community.  The state competition will be held a quick drive up the interstate in Idaho Falls during the first weekend in October. 

The 2025 Malad DYW Committee is made up of Nikki Schwartz, Chair; Callie Werk, Production Chair; Pamela Mills, Judges’ Chair, Christy Jenkins, Judges’ Co-Chair; Paula Davis, Treasurer; Shawna Daniels, Interview Committee; Nacona Smith, Scholastic Judge Chair; Alaina Schrenk, Fundraising; Heidi Kimberling, Beth Bastian, Hailee Hanks, Be Your Best Self; Jeff Richins, Stage Manager; Ashlee Jensen, Social Media Specialist and Tickets and Programs; Tori Green, Kami Willie, Lyndsey Thomas, Sherrie Evans, Catering; Jaclyn Nielsen, Fun Run.

Here are the profiles of this year’s particpants:

#1 Rebecca McCracken

Parents: Laurie McCracken,
Gregory McCracken

College Preference: Boise State University and Silverhawk Aviation

Career Goal: American Airlines Pilot

Talent: Mat-Pilates Demonstration

Favorites—

Song: “Drivers License” Olivia Rodrigo

Musician: Olivia Rodrigo

Novel: “Come Fly the World” Julia Cooke

TV Show: Pan Am

Magazine, Computer or Phone App: Lemon8; Instagram

People looked up to: Madison Marsh; Hedy Lamarr

Activities—

Activities: Student Pilot at Murray Aviation; Malad High School Cheerleader; Member of the Ninety-Nines; Utah Airparts Chapter

Achievements: 1st place Youth Poetry Award, Welsh Festival 2023; Best Jumps, MHS Cheer Banquet 2024

Community Service: Aiding in 2nd Grade Classroom; Technology Specialist for church and community events

Other Interests: Flying Cessna 150s; Mat-Pilates; Social Media; Aviation; Working with children

#2 Jaylee Ekstrom

Parents: Heather Ekstrom, Brandon Ekstrom

College Preference: Idaho State University or Boise State University

Career Goal: Radiographic Science

Talent: Jazz Dance Solo

Talent Selection: “Fabulous,” Cut

Favorites—

Song: “You’re Gonna Go Far”

Musician: Taylor Swift

Novel: The Hiding Place

TV Show: Greys Anatomy

Magazine, Computer or Phone App: TikTok; Instagram

People looked up to: Ava Wagner; Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Activities—

Activities: MHS Drill Team, 2 years; MHS Cheer Team, 1 year; MHS Volleyball, 1 year; Student Council (2024-2025); Junior Prom Committee (2025); Health Occupations Student of America (2023-2024); Drill Team Public Relations Officer; Drill Team Secretary; Prom Committee Co-chairman

Achievements: A and B Honor Roll’ Drill Team, 4th place state (2 years); Drill Team Runner-Up District Champion (2 years); Cheer Team, 3rd place District Champions 

Community Service: Drill Team; Volunteer with Welsh Festival; Prom Committee, setup (2025); Student Council activities and community work

Other Interests: Competitive Dance; Kayaking; Snowboarding; Motor Sports; Shopping 

#3 Jaezie Jensen

Parents: Lacie Jensen, Anton Jensen

College Preference: University of Hawaii

Career Goal: EFL (English as a Foreign Language) Teacher 

Talent: Personal Narrative Sewing

Favorites—

Song: “That’s So True”

Musician: Gracie Abrams

Novel: Dance of Thieves, Mary E. Pearson

TV Show: Friends

Magazine, Computer or Phone App: Messages

People looked up to: Melania Trump, Princess Diana

Activities—

Activities: Soccer; Snowboarding; FFA; Hunting; Dirtbiking; Sewing; Reading; Farming; Skiing

Achievements: Presidential Award for Educational Excellence; FFA State Degree; Best Goal in Soccer, 2024; ServSafe Certificate; Microsoft Word Certified; Second Class for Oneida County Fair Pig Showmanship, 2023 and 2024; First Place in FFA State Scrapbook Competition; Top 25% Malad High School Sophomore Class, 2023

Community Service: Donating and wrapping Christmas gifts for those in need; raking leaves for the elderly; Assisting during move to new school building; making and donating sensory toys for the disabled; cleaning botanical gardens

Other Interests: Cooking, Traveling, Fashion, French, Music

#4 Cale Carter

Parents: Patty Carter, Adam Carter

College Preference: BYU-Idaho

Career Goal: Nurse

Talent: Vocal Solo

Talent Selection: “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” Elvis Presley

Favorites—

Song: “I’ve Got a Dream” from Tangled

Musician: Ella Langley

Novel: Understood Betsy

TV Show: Chosen

Magazine, Computer or Phone App: Pinterest; Gospel Library App

People looked up to: Harriet Tubman

Activities—

Activities: High School Wrestling team

Achievements: Madison Invitational Wrestling tournament 1st place; Ridgeline Invitational Wrestling tournament 1st place; Qualified for state wrestling 3 times

Community Service: LDS youth women’s president

Other Interests: Wrestling; ranching; roping

#5 Adilyn Schow

Parents: Candis Schow, Brent Schow

College Preference: BYU-Idaho

Career Goal: Graphic Design

Talent: Musical Theatre Performance

Talent Selection: “I’m Calm,” Stephen Sondheim

Favorites—

Song: “The Kiss of Venus,”
Dominic Fike 

Musician: The Beatles

Novel: The Giver

TV Show: Gravity Falls 

Magazine, Computer or Phone App: Canva; Pinterest

People looked up to: Simone Biles; Bob Ross

Activities—

Activities: Long distance running; Musical Theatre; Chamber Choir; Student Council; Journalism Staff; Religious Leadership

Achievements: Honor Roll; National Honor Society Member

Community Service: Malad City Mayor’s Youth Council Member

Other Interests: Art and Design; Fantasy and Dystopian Literature; Pursuing a Career in Graphic Design; Music; Vintage Music; Cars, Clothes and Lifestyle

#6 Braylee Price

Parents: Ashley Price, Kade Price

College Preference:

Career Goal: Registered Nurse

Talent: Piano Solo

Talent Selection: “Icelandic Rain,” Michele McLaughlin

Favorites—

Song: “Chicken in Black”

Musician: Johnny Cash

Novel: Little Women

TV Show: I Love Lucy; Gidget

Magazine, Computer or Phone App: 

People looked up to:

Activities—

Activities: Reading; Barrel Racing jackpots; Doing nails for myself and others using gel polish and acrylics 

Achievements: President’s list for grades, all semesters; CNA certification; Asked to serve as team captain for Girls’ Wrestling; First girl to make it to second day at State Wrestling tournament

Community Service: Served residents at the nursing home; cleaning yards of elderly neighbors; used CAN skills to help grandmother in hospice care; made and delivered food to elderly widows in area

Other Interests: Sports (soccer and wrestling); Boys; Food; Serving others; Shopping