Hannah Montgomery of Memphis Crowned 2025 Teen Miss at 78th NEMO Fair

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Hannah Montgomery, 15, of Memphis, Missouri, was crowned 2025 Teen Miss at the 78th annual NEMO Fair Pageant, held Sunday, July 13, 2025, in the Multi-Purpose Building at the NEMO Fairgrounds in Kirksville.
She joins Kamy West, crowned NEMO Fair Queen, and Harlee Western, named Young Miss, as part of this year’s NEMO Fair Royalty Court.
The daughter of Chris and Paula Montgomery, Hannah is known throughout her community for her resilience, positivity and strong leadership. Though she uses a wheelchair, she doesn’t let that define her or hold her back.
She competed against seven other contestants in the Teen Miss division, which is open to girls ages 13 to 16. According to the contest rules, each contestant must be a Missouri resident and must attend all official events leading up to and during the fair.
Contestants were judged in three categories: personal interview (40%), talent or public speaking (40%), and evening gown presentation (20%). Hannah earned top marks in the interview portion and ultimately stood out to the judges for both her poise and authenticity.
For the talent portion of the pageant, she delivered a powerful speech titled “Resilience,” in which she shared how her life changed unexpectedly at age 10.
“On Jan. 2, 2020, I woke up and collapsed getting out of bed,” she told the crowd. “As the day went on, I kept losing feeling in my legs. Eventually, I couldn’t walk, crawl or move them at all.”
She was transported to St. Louis Children’s Hospital, where doctors diagnosed her with acute transverse myelitis, a rare inflammation of the spinal cord that led to paralysis in her legs.
“On March 5, 2020, I was discharged from the hospital in a wheelchair,” she said. “I thought my life as I once knew it was over. I thought I would never be able to do the things I loved again. But I was wrong. With my amazing family, friends and my faith, I am able to do what I do today. I continue to show my pigs every year. But not only that, I continue to hunt, fish, shoot trap, do archery, be in 4-H, FFA and other numerous activities.”
Despite her initial fears, Hannah has grown into a confident, capable young woman who remains active in agriculture and youth organizations. She believes her experiences give her a unique perspective and make her a strong ambassador for the NEMO Fair, where she has shown animals for the past eight years.
As Teen Miss, she will represent the fair at events throughout the year, including local charity activities. According to pageant organizer Cortney Diggins, “Hannah is fabulous, funny and kind.” Diggins said Hannah will participate in community efforts such as bell ringing for the Salvation Army Kettle Campaign during the holidays, helping with the Adopt-A-Child drive, and attending area father-daughter dances.
A sophomore this fall at Scotland County R-1, Hannah hopes to become a veterinary technician after high school. Her accomplishments include receiving the Dair County SB40 Kids Inclusion Spotlight Award and the Champion of Missouri Award, presented by U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt.
Montgomery also earned Best Interview during the pageant. She was sponsored by Prairieland FS.