Arcadia Valley Fall Festival Queen Candidate and Life in the 573— Country Living with a Red Dress
Nothing in life is more complex and as simple as a beautiful red dress.
I've lived in both large cities and now what most people call the country. Personally, I think living in the country is a better deal because I value clean air, clear water, and all the wonderful parks in the 573. I am 55 minutes away from all a big city, St. Louis, has to offer and a billion miles away from all the bad stuff a large city offers—I do have it made.
City kids grow up shaped by different rhythms of life—crowded streets, constant noise, and endless options (good and bad). They learn to be quick, adaptable, and defensive around strangers. Independence is not just valued; it is a survival requirement. The latest trends dominate their world—like it or not.
A country kid, by contrast, has a much slower, more deliberate pace. Their life circle is smaller, and their skills more practical. A country kid might wake up to feeding the chickens, drive long distances to school, and then back home to assist with the family farm—self-reliance is not just a favorable skill—it’s mandatory. Community matters more than the latest trends, and most are less impressed by surface glamour.
Plenty of city kids crave quiet and roots, while many country kids are ambitious, stylish, and worldly. Upbringing influences habits and expectations, yet personality, family, and choice still decide who a kid becomes. The strongest versions of both know when to lean on their environment’s strengths and when to outgrow its limits.
Recently we met a tried and true country girl. At 16 she knows where she is going and has a plan to get there. She lives in the middle of nowhere and plans to have the best of both worlds. Meet Adriana Miesner.
Meet Adriana Miesner
When asked if she would consider bringing her beautiful red dress to the rocks at Johnson's Shut-Ins, she replied simply and quickly—"What time?" Typical country girl response.
My name is Adriana Miesner. I am a 16 year old girl and I attend Arcadia Valley High School. I have a very big personality. I’m very talkative, outgoing, driven, involved, caring and friendly to everyone. I am very involved in school. I am currently in my 6th year of band, my second year of student council, my first year of science club, my 3rd year of scholar bowl, my 3rd year of being selected for the Wall of Fame, I did two years of golf, 3 years of Science Olympiad, and one year of FFA. I was also selected as my sophomore for the Women's Sophomores of Pilgrimage. I like being involved in all of the school activities and I love getting other people involved too!!
Adriana's mom, Sherry, was a big help on the shoot.
My parents are Kevin and Sherry Miesner. I am the youngest of 3 girls. My oldest sister is Courtney, and she is married to my brother in law Bradley, together they have a daughter named Emerson. My other sister's name is Kadynce and she is engaged to her fiancée Ethan.
...helping my grandpa on the farm in the summer, and hanging out with my boyfriend and all of my friends—and I like to hunt with my father.
I have always had so many hobbies. I am constantly trying to learn new things. I like to stay busy and I love being creative. I am interested in scrapbooking, crafting, playing my trumpet, baking, listening to all kinds of music, singing, being outside, occasionally playing a round of golf, helping my grandpa on the farm in the summer, and hanging out with my boyfriend and all of my friends—and I like to hunt with my father.
Sometimes, you just have a lot to smile about.
My plan after I graduate high school is to attend State Tech in Linn, Missouri. I will
hopefully get accepted into their electrical technology program and earn my electrician certification. From there I plan to land a good job doing residential electrical work. I will either look for a job local to where I live or potentially land a job elsewhere.
What one person sees as foolish or out of touch, another can't imagine life without.
Each year Ironton will host their annual fall festival. A queen candidate will be selected from each grade by their peers. This year I was selected to represent my grade!! It was the 100th anniversary of this small town tradition- A Centennial Celebration. Each year there is a huge parade filled with each class's floats. The floats are made and worked on throughout the whole week following up to the parade. Later that night the school will host the coronation. At coronation each candidate will put on a 10-12 minute skit for everyone there. When your talent is over you will go down and get ready; your hair, makeup, jewelry and the big dress. Once each girl is done with their talents the candidates will be introduced when walking in, then will walk up on the stage and bow down to the retiring queen. Once each queen is introduced the master of ceremony will release who won in each category and who won queen overall.
Adriana tells us about hey, chickens, and the red dress.
To me the red dress is more than just a dress.
To me the red dress is more than just a dress. It’s more than jewels and tulle and beads. It represents all of my hard work and dedication that I put into the fall festival. Being able to wear that dress is an amazing opportunity that not very many girls get to experience. Wearing that red dress means that my classmates thought I was worthy enough to represent all of them. That is more of an accomplishment to me than anything I’ve done—the red dress means that I tried my hardest to represent my class and that I gave it my all.
There you have it. Now, GET OUT THERE!
Take a hike. Start a business. Buy a red dress. Do anything. Do something. Get out there, that sunken sofa won't miss you—time's a-wasting!
—Pics & Words by T. Smugala.
Special thanks to Kelly Medley for wrangling the dress at Johnson's Shut-ins.
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