The first Miss Buffalo VFC pageant was Sunday as a fundraiser for the Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Company. Contestants included, back row, from left, Molly Freehling, Marlissa Miller and Alexandra Shetron; second row, from left, Neva Radovich, Anna Hardt and Gillian Chapman; front row, from left, Kendall Nace, Madelyn Hall, Annette Hall, Abigail Hall, Mya George and Gianna Shwallon; and seated, from left, Sadie Kish, Mariah George.

SARVER — The Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Company traded its hooks and ladders for tiaras and gowns Sunday as it hosted its first beauty pageant.

Fourteen contestants, ranging in age from 12 weeks to 21 years old, completed before an audience of 75 in the first Miss Buffalo VFC.

The event was conceived as a fundraiser for the department by Veronica Smith of Sarver, who hopes to make it an annual event. “It’s open to any age, anybody who wants to compete,” said Smith.

“It’s for raising money for the fire department. It benefits the fire department,” she said.

“Miss Saxonburg is actually the same idea. They raise money for the fire department,” Smith said. “I competed in that pageant in high school.”

Smith said the event raised $1,928, which will go to the department.

“For a small event, that’s pretty good,” said her husband, Ken Smith, who is on the department’s board of directors.

“That’s about the same amount the 50/50 raffle at Lernerville brings,” said Ken Smith, referring to the sale of tickets on nights of races at Lernervill Speedway.

“She did very well at it, She worked on it a lot,” he said complimenting his wife.

While the Saxonburg contest is very restricted in its age divisions, Veronica Smith said, the Buffalo Township VFC had seven divisions: baby, tot, petite, little, preteen, teen and miss competing in causal wear and beauty wear events.

She said there was also an optional talent competition and a photogenic contest.

“Basically, it’s a $100 entry fee, and everything goes to the fire department. There is a charity title for girls who raise an extra amount of money,” she said.

Veronica Smith said she used her connections with various pageants to line up the three judges for the event, as well as get the word out to potential contestants.

“I have been planning it for about a year. Most of the harder planning has been done in the past six months,” she said.

“I’ve been advertising on Facebook, as well as word-of-mouth. I’ve had a lot of girls from other systems, but there are a few first timers,” she said.

“I’m, hoping that it could become an annual thing, each year just adding on and making it better,” she said.

“People are already asking about next year. I am excited to do it again.”

Pageant winners are: Sadie Kish, baby and photogenic; Gianna Shwallon. tot; Mya George, petite; Anna Hardt, little and peoples choice; Gillian Chapman, preteen and directors choice; Marlissa Miller, teen; Molly Freehling, miss; Neva Radovich, talent; and Kendall Nace, vharity.