Submitted Photo Sidni Kast of Minot is new Miss Norsk Høstfest

The title of Miss Norsk Høstfest was passed on Saturday when Sidni Kast, 21, of Minot was crowned.

Kast, who is of Norwegian and German heritage, is the daughter of Scott and Brenda Kast and grew up in Minot, according to information from Norsk Høstfest.

“I’m really happy for her,” Brenda Kast said as Sidni spoke with others after the crowning. “I think she’ll enjoy learning a lot more about Scandinavian heritage and continuing with what she does know.”

According to the release, Kast has attended Norsk Høstfest for as long as she can remember. For a few years, she was part of the festival’s entertainment as a member of Western Plains Children’s Choir. “That was so much fun,” she said. “Not only did you have to learn how to sing the songs but to pronounce the words in different languages.”

She has also served as a volunteer, spending hours scooping ice cream.

A 2016 graduate of Minot High School and a 2019 graduate of Minot State University, Kast is currently applying for dental school. She’ll put the $1,000 scholarship she received as Miss Norsk Høstfest to use there.

Kast is familiar with crowns. She was crowned Homecoming Queen at both Minot High School and MSU. “It humbled me,” she said, “because it was my classmates choosing me. They thought I could represent them well and I appreciate that.”

Now during Norsk Høstfest, Sept. 25-28, and throughout the year, Kast will represent the Scandinavian festival that is known around the world. One of her goals is “to get the youth more aware of what Høstfest has to offer them.” She hopes to speak in elementary school classrooms and to raise awareness among high school and college students.

There were 16 applicants for the pageant this year, with 13 being able to attend on competition day. Landry Maragos received the honor of being first runner-up for the pageant and Rachel Blessum was second runner-up. The pageant was open to women age 17 through 23.