WILSON — Haley Piroutek of Belleville was crowned the 2019 Miss Kansas Czech-Slovak Queen Saturday, during the 31st annual pageant conducted as part of the Wilson’s After Harvest Czech Festival.

More than 30 spectators watched the pageant in the Wilson School commons.

“I feel really good,” Piroutek said of her title. “This is something I’ve been working on for a long time. I’m so excited about it.”

Piroutek, the daughter of Russ and Stacia Piroutek of Belleville, will be a senior at Republic County High School and was sponsored by the Republic County Czechs. During her one-year reign, Piroutek said her goal is to travel and experience more of the Czech heritage in other states.

“I really want to get involved with more people,” she said. “I love meeting people and talking with people — that’s how I learn more about my family and my heritage.”

She also wanted to go to more festivals during her year as the Miss Kansas Czech-Slovak Queen.

“I’ve heard that festivals in Oklahoma and Nebraska are so much fun,” she said.

As queen, Piroutek received a $500 scholarship to the school of her choice from the Wilson Chamber of Commerce and scholarship money to the school of her choice from the LaVange Shiroky Trust.

Shiroky, owner of LaShiro’s Boutique in downtown Wilson, helped organize and was a longtime supporter of the Miss Kansas Czech-Slovak Queen Pageant. She died in 2010.

Piroutek also received flowers, luggage, crown and sash, jewelry, a trip to Washington, D.C. to meet the Czech Republic ambassador and to attend activities at the embassy, and travel expenses to the 2019 Miss Czech-Slovak USA Queen Pageant in Wilber, Neb.

She also won the Heritage Award, the Oratory Award, the Kroj Modeling Award, and the Talent Award.

First runner-up was Jessica Wonderlich of Topeka. She received a sash, scholarship money and other prizes.

Ernie Jezek of Holyrood served as master of ceremonies.

Cathy (Dowling) Grosscup, the 2004 Miss Kansas Czech-Slovak Queen, took over the director’s duties this year. She credited longtime director Lynn Kasper, who retired last year after 30 years, with making the pageant a success.

“I’m just so grateful for all the work she did for 30 years,” Grosscup said. “It made my work half of what it would have been.”

Grosscup also thanked several past Kansas Czech queens for their assistance with both the Miss Kansas Czech-Slovak Queen Pageant and the Kansas Miss Czech Princess Pageant.

“It was a group effort,” Grosscup said.

Pageant judges were Janae Buckley, the 2018-19 Miss Czech-Slovak US; Emma Doherty of Salina and Doug Ptacek of Hutchinson.

Emma Carlin of Osborne, the 2018 Miss Kansas Czech-Slovak Queen, will compete this weekend, Aug. 3 and Aug. 4, for the title of 2019-20 Miss Czech-Slovak US in Wilber, Neb.

Three Miss Kansas Czech Queens, Christy Dowling of Hays, Jennifer Salva of Olathe and Anna Hand of Ellsworth, won the national title back-to-back during the years 2011-13. According to Lynn Kasper, former longtime director of the Miss Kansas Czech-Slovak Queen Pageant, this is known as the “trifecta” at the national competition.