Platform aims to build on and create new positives in town

By Robert Williams

Editor

This summer’s Miss Frazee pageant and acquiring the crown of Miss Frazee was perfect timing for Frazee-Vergas 2023 High School graduate Madison Olson.

She previously ran in 2022, the year Marcella George was crowned, and at the time, that seemed like the last of crowns and sashes for Madison.

“I said that’s the last time I’m going to do a pageant; I didn’t think I would do it and I was shocked I even got myself to do that one,” she said.

Outgoing Miss Frazee Teen Sophia Strand had a plan and that was inviting Madison and her younger sister Analise, 16, to make a big push for Sister Queens.

“Sophia reached out to my sister and I and we said we’ll do it…and then my sister bailed on me,” Madison laughed.

She also considered checking out of running for the title with school and work already taking up a big portion of her summer schedule.

“I realized I’m really busy; I’m working two jobs and I was doing a summer class,” said Olson.

Then, as often happens to girls who are on the fence about running for Miss Frazee, a few of the pageant committee’s heavy hitters appeared.

“Heather (Perrine) called me and Alice (Furey) called me and I was like, okay, I guess I’ll do it,” said Madison.

By the time she agreed, Madison was past the due date for essays and got a 24-hour extension until noon of the following day to complete the five essays that are required of each contestant.

“I wrote five essays in five hours,” Olson said.

They were not just page fillers. Madison was awarded all of the essay-based scholarships by the judges at the pageant and earned more than $2,000 in scholarship money.

Earning the crown of Miss Frazee was another special surprise.

“Winning was the plan I was hoping for, but I was still so nervous,” Olson said. ““I had a lot of support so that was nice.”

Becoming Miss Frazee was not a childhood dream like it is for many local girls. 

“Not at all,” Madison said.

Olson grew up in Kenyon, Minnesota until she relocated to Frazee as a fifth grader with her mom in 2015. The household of all girls included her older sister Kayla, 26, who still lives near Kenyon and her mom Angela.

Becoming Miss Frazee was a dream Madison’s mom had for her since she was a child, which she explained in a pair of touching social media posts after the pageant.

“I cannot think of anyone more deserving, who will represent this crown and the city of Frazee better than you,” Angela said. “And I don’t say that just because I’m mom. I say that because I truly believe that anyone who has the opportunity to work with you, interact with you, observe you when you are with others in the schools and community is positively impacted by you.”

Being on the stage of the old gymnasium was also something special for Madison. Her affinity for her high school is still with her and is leading her into a career where she can teach students in a similar environment.

“I loved high school, probably peaked in high school,” she laughed. “I was very involved and I wasn’t trying to take anything away from it.”

Her efforts while in school were lauded by many, including the 2022 Elementary School’s Teacher of the Year JerriAnne Burton.

By connecting with Burton, Madison decided she wanted to pursue a career in teaching during her senior year of high school, while student assisting Burton’s first grade classroom.

“She’s great; I just loved it,” said Olson.

Madison also has an innate ability to relate to people of all ages. 

She works with children at Roots & Wings Forest School and the Frazee Care Center. Both are also sponsors of the Miss Frazee Pageants.

“I work with little kids and elderly people and that’s another thing too,” she said. “I want to get the residents of the Care Center involved and they love it when younger kids come in so I definitely want to get them involved as much as I can.”

After high school, Madison attended the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis for one semester, but a technicality causing her to have to attend five years for a Master’s Degree made her decide to transfer to Bemidji State University.

“That was too long,” she said. “College is not really my thing. I loved high school and now college, I could be done with this anytime now.”

The transfer to BSU will allow Olson to attain her teaching license in just three years. To complete that, she is moving to fully online classes to finish by 2026.

“Whatever gets it done quickest for me; I’m ready to get into the field,” she said.

Olson and her boyfriend Kale Ovsak share an apartment in Bemidji, but both have plans to be in Frazee during Madison’s year with the crown. Ovsak works at Esser Plumbing & Heating in Perham.

“I’ll be coming home a lot and my sister is still playing sports in high school; I want to be able to watch her,” Madison said.

Upon completing her degree at BSU, hopes are to return to teach in the area.

“Somewhere around here for sure,” she said.

Being in Frazee and working with the community is the basis of Olson’s platform “Disconnect to Connect – Building a Community beyond screen.”

“My goal is to host events and activities to build more community within our town,” she said. “I feel like Frazee is growing so rapidly right now. The community has really come together with CornerStone and everything going on. I think it would be super cool to get the community together more.”

Having witnessed many of the recent, positive changes in Frazee only fuels her desire to be part of it.

“It’s taking off; I just want to capitalize on that and help keep it going and work with the community club and the city,” she said. “I just have a lot of goals to do a lot with my platform. I want to host a lot of events and activities and get everyone involved – people of all ages.”

Olson and  her new partner Miss Frazee Teen Neveah Wirth got a quick and busy first experience being community-focused attending many events and being the focal point of the parade the day after the pageant.

“We had talked about winning but we didn’t think about after winning,” said Olson. “After the pageant we took all these pictures and then reality set in. I’ve got to get my life together. Who’s pulling the float tomorrow? What the plan is. When are we going to meet? Where are we going to meet?”

The two met at Madison’s house at 10 a.m., and were on duty the rest of Sunday.

“We went to the tractor show and after that it was busy all day; by the end of the day our cheeks hurt really bad but it was so fun,” she said. “Definitely one of my favorite days of the summer.”

Becoming Miss Frazee also is an invitation to joining a club of successful women, many of whom are still making a difference in Frazee to this day.

“I don’t remember who it was but someone came up to me at the turkey luncheon and said, ‘Just think, you’ll be remembered for this forever.’ That’s really crazy to think,” Olson said.

Both Neveah and Madison have a packed schedule before school begins this fall beginning with Looney Days events in Vergas Aug. 8-11.

“I love Looney Days – big fan,” Olson said.

The schedule includes parades in Wolf Lake and Richville and plenty of other appearances.

From her duties as Miss Frazee to beginning her soon-to-be teaching career, Madison has a mindset of making things happen and the sooner the better. 

“I just want to get going and just start doing everything,” she said.

Editor’s Note: Miss Frazee Teen Neveah Wirth will be featured in next week’s Forum.