2026 Soap Box Derby Queens Crowned
mrandolphadvance@gmail.com
Preparations for the 2026 Southeast Georgia Soap Box Derby are underway, as the Derby crowned their newest members of royalty during the annual pageant on Saturday, September 21. The local Soap Box Derby first began rolling down Derby Hill at Partin Park in Lyons in 1992, and has since grown into a staple race to qualify for the International Soap Box Derby in Akron, Ohio. The Derby was even named Georgia’s Official Soap Box Derby, and often pulls racers from around the Southeast United States to compete.
Each year, several queens are crowned in the annual Southeast Georgia Soap Box Derby Scholarship Pageant, as judges determine who will serve as ambassadors for the event throughout Derby weekend. Scholarship money is also awarded to winners in some of the categories – Petite Miss Interview, Young Miss Interview, Junior Miss Interview, Junior Miss Southeast Georgia Soap Box Derby, Teen Miss Interview, Teen Miss Southeast Georgia Soap Box Derby, 2nd Runner Up Miss Southeast Georgia Soap Box Derby, 1st Runner Up Miss Southeast Georgia Soap Box Derby, Miss Interview, Miss Southeast Georgia Soap Box Derby, Ms./Mrs. Interview, and Ms./Mrs. Southeast Georgia Soap Box Derby. Scholarship prizes vary based on category.
Winners of this year’s pageant were Baby Miss Southeast Georgia Soap Box Derby Baylor Hope Gay, Toddler Miss Southeast Georgia Soap Box Derby Avery Prickett, Tiny Miss Southeast Georgia Soap Box Derby Athen Darley, Little Miss Southeast Georgia Soap Box Derby Kenni Reign Dixon, Petite Miss Southeast Georgia Soap Box Derby Avery James Wommack, Young Miss Southeast Georgia Soap Box Derby Sydney Black, Junior Miss Southeast Georgia Soap Box Derby Raegan Harvill, Teen Miss Southeast Georgia Soap Box Derby Karleigh Horton, Miss Southeast Georgia Soap Box Derby Kylin Miller, and Ms./Mrs. Southeast Georgia Soap Box Derby FlorAnne Cruz.
The Southeast Georgia Soap Box Derby events are slated for May 1-2, as the Super Kids Race for individuals with special needs will be held Friday morning, May 1; Run What You Brung, a comedic event where participants bring their own four-wheeled creations to ride down Derby Hill, will occur Friday night, May 1; and the annual Southeast Georgia Soap Box Derby will roll down the hill on Saturday, May 2.
To participate or volunteer at the Derby, call Southeast Georgia Soap Box Derby Director Jonathan Gordy at (912) 2935763.
ATTENDING LOCAL CAREER DAY – Wheeler County Sheriff Glenn Giles and three deputies recently attended Wheeler County Schools Career Day, where they spoke to students about the realities of a career in law enforcement, answered questions, and demonstrated proper use of several tools which the deputies use daily. The men provided students interested in a future career in law enforcement with guidance on steps they can begin taking now to prepare for the future career. Sheriff Giles commented on the day, as he said, “It was an honor to spend time with so many bright, motivated young men and women who are thinking about their futures. Thank you to the school for inviting us to be part of such an awesome event. We truly appreciate the opportunity to connect with the next generation and hopefully inspire a few future deputies along the way!” L to R: Sheriff Glenn Giles, Chief Deputy Jesse Webb, Deputy Bryan Vickery, Deputy Donnie Brantley.
