Home Sweet Home

This past Thursday (July 8th), I was in Isanti for the Isanti Rodeo Days Parade with my dear friend and supporter, Lisa McKinnis. Lisa operates “In His Steps” Dance Studio in Cambridge at the Willow Bridge Wellness Center. I had the opportunity to make an appearance there as Miss Twin Cities, and Lisa kindly invited me back as Miss Minnesota to join her float with all of her dance students. Being around all of these sweet girls made me wish all the more that my mother had put me in dance lessons! As we rode down the street we all smiled, waved and some of the girls even danced…now that’s talent to be able to dance on a moving trailer!

On Friday, I was at the Miss Northwest Pageant. It was so exciting to be in my hometown again! Hearing and seeing all of the support when I introduced myself and performed an original composition on piano was a bit overwhelming! Congratulations to Melissa Paakh on winning Miss Northwest, a senior in high school no less! We are all proud of Lexy Okeson, now former Miss Northwest, for her great job representing the northwest area at Miss Minnesota this year.

After a very busy first few weeks as Miss Minnesota with appearances, paperwork, recording my new CD “Blessed Beyond Measure” (available soon!), photoshoots, and more, I was blessed to spend most of Saturday with my family and close friend, Bethany Beniek (Miss Moorhead). Bethany and I participated in the Pelican Rapids Parade in the morning, and then Bethany was in for a whole new experience - water-skiing! If anyone comes to visit the Knuttila family at the lake, they can’t leave without at least trying to water ski. It’s not an option; it’s a rule! No doubt, it produces lots of fun and plenty of laughs!!


From fun to work. I am still working at the Catholic Church in Frazee as the music director so I was blessed to have Bethany sing with me at our Saturday mass. Then, Aja Majkrzak (Miss South Central) joined us on her violin for the Sunday mass. Both ladies are so talented; it was a great treat for the parish to hear such beautiful music!


After mass on Sunday, I was in a boat parade on Detroit Lake, which is an event they just added back into the Water Carnival this year. It was a perfect day for a boat parade; we couldn’t have asked for anything more with the warm sunshine mixed with a bit of a breeze. The best part was that my little nephews joined me on the boat to wave to everyone on the beach.

In the mix of pageant appearances and work, this weekend was also my opportunity to celebrate the birth of the most special man in my life - my dad! With so much focus on my year ahead as Miss Minnesota, it was nice to be able to place the focus on him for a day – he certainly deserves that and so much more! HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!!

Have a blessed week!
Kathryn Knuttila
Miss Minnesota 2010