GREENVILLE – Under a sky thick with anticipation, six sharp-eyed young women took to the firing line Wednesday evening in the finals of the 2025 Miss Annie Oakley competition.
True to tradition, the event unfolded with a mix of tension, pride, and pure marksmanship as the finalists—Alia Hunt, Hadassah Evans, Violet Evans, Samantha Beyersdorf, Racheal Wright, and Lacy Dillman—vied for one of Darke County’s most iconic titles.
The evening kicked off with a practice round, allowing each competitor to choose her own distance. The results set the tone: every girl hit at least one target from an impressive range, signaling that this year’s competition would be no walk in the park.
The official contest resumed at 75 feet—the point where shooting had stopped the previous evening. The format remained classic Annie Oakley: each round consisted of two shots at a target (a balloon), and only one needed to land for a shooter to advance. The distance increased in 5-foot increments, making each round more grueling than the last.
As the sun dipped behind the fairgrounds, one by one, competitors began to fall. The first shooter was eliminated at 85 feet. The second exited at 90 feet. The third bowed out at 95 feet. The fourth competitor was dropped at the 105-foot mark.
By the time the shooters reached 115 feet, only two remained. The tension was palpable as they stepped up to the line. The first runner-up couldn’t connect, missing both shots. That left Lacy Dillman with two chances to claim the crown.
Her first shot missed, but with nerves of steel and the crowd holding its breath, Lacy raised her rifle for a final attempt. With a crisp report and a burst of balloon fragments, she sealed her place in history—the 2025 Miss Annie Oakley.
The crowd erupted in applause for Dillman, whose calm under pressure and steady hand earned her the title. It was a thrilling end to a competition that honored not only skill but also the legacy of one of the region’s most legendary figures.
The first runner-up title was awarded to Samantha Byersdorf and the second runner-up title was granted to Alia Hunt.
Congratulations to Lacy Dillman, 2025 Miss Annie Oakley!
