Blakelee Anderson crowned Little Miss Spat
Kallie Robins was crowned Queen of the 68th Urbanna Oyster Festival and Blakelee Anderson was crowned Little Miss Spat at the Urbanna firehouse on Friday, Nov. 7.
As the 2025 Urbanna Oyster Festival Queen, Robins received a $5,000 college scholarship.
As the 2025 Little Miss Spat, Blakelee Anderson received $150.
Lorelei Cooke was the Queen first runner-up and received a $3,500 college scholarship and $250 for the Academic Award for best school grade point average (GPA).
Ashlynn Sears was chosen as Queen Miss Congeniality by committee and received $1,500.
Skyler Epperly was first runner-up for Little Miss Spat and received $100.
Macon Kissman was second runner-up for Queen and received a $2,500 scholarship.
Blakelynn Moore was second runner-up for Little Miss Spat and received $50.
(Queen and Little Miss Spat contestants are judged separately. However, this year the judges selected both spat contestants, Blakelee Anderson and Blakelynn Moore, who happened to be partners with Queen Kallie Robins. Robins had two spat contestants because a queen contestant dropped out of the competition.)
Queens
Oyster Festival Queen Kallie Robins is a senior at Middlesex High School, where she serves as president of the National Honor Society, is a member of the Key Club, and participates in varsity cheerleading. She resides in Deltaville, and plans to attend Longwood University after graduation to pursue a degree in nursing, with the long-term goal of becoming a nurse practitioner serving rural communities. Kallie is the daughter of William and Tiffany Robins of Deltaville, and granddaughter of Frances and Ed Robins of Deltaville, and Marian and Larry Adams of Quinton.
First Queen runner up Lorelei Cooke has maintained a 4.0 GPA at Middlesex High School and earned the Academic Award.
She has been an active member of the Key Club and Spanish Honor Society. Lorelei also participates in marching, jazz and pep bands.
She resides in Deltaville, and plans to attend Mary Baldwin University to pursue a degree in psychology. Her long-term goal is to become a licensed therapist and work close to her hometown of Deltaville. In her free time, she enjoys baking, playing her instrument, and hanging out with her friends.
Lorelei is the daughter of Frank Cooke and Kristen DeGraw, and granddaughter of Patricia Figueroa, and of the late Frank and Joanne Cooke.
Queen second runner-up Macon Kissman attends Christchurch School and lives in Deltaville. She has participated with the volleyball team. After graduation, she plans to attend either East Carolina University, High Point University, or the College of Charleston to pursue a degree in marketing. In her free time, she enjoys working, babysitting and attending church.
Macon is the daughter of David Kissman and Rosabeth Ward, and granddaughter of Helen Ward and the late Floyd Ward.
Little Miss Spat Blakelee Anderson of Hartfield is a first grader at Middlesex Elementary School. She enjoys singing, roller skating, and dancing. When she grows up, she wants to be a police officer. She is the daughter of Heidi and Daniel Anderson and granddaughter of Bonnie and Dwayne Thomas, Deborah and Daniel Anderson Sr., and Clinton and Sherry Smith and great-granddaughter of Catherine Ferree.
Little Miss Spats
Little Miss Spat first runner-up Skyler Epperly is a first grade student at Middlesex Elementary School and lives in Hartfield. She enjoys painting. She wants to be a police officer when she grows up. She is the daughter of Eric and Crissy Epperly, and the granddaughter of Wayne and Liz Rainier, Rick Welsh, Mike and Mary Epperly and Steve and Nancy Volk.
Little Miss Spat second runner-up Blakelynn Moore is a first grader at Middlesex Elementary School and lives in Hardyville. She enjoys going on boat rides, hunting, and twirling. When she grows up, she wants to be a physician like the ones who helped her. She is the daughter of Dylan and Taylor Moore; the granddaughter of Kris and Richie Moore, and Billy and Missy Newman.
Community service
Kallie Robins and her Little Miss Spat contestants, Blakelee Anderson and Blakelynn Moore, created the Nourish Middlesex Project to support Middlesex County families facing food insecurity. Inspired by data and input from the Middlesex Department of Social Services, Robins sought to help residents affected by issues such as stolen SNAP benefits and limited access to fresh food. Together, the trio raised $4,800 and contributed 168 hours of community service through food drives, raffles, and local events. Their efforts provided direct aid to families, supported local organizations including Hands Across Middlesex, Bay Aging, Helping the Homeless Ministries, and Something Different’s community meal program, and even helped educate produce stands on accepting SNAP benefits. Funds totaling $1,050 were given directly to families identified by the Middlesex Department of Social Services as $150 Food Lion gift cards to supplement losses associated with stolen SNAP benefits. Funds totaling $2,000 were donated to the Middlesex Department of Social Services to provide further assistance to families who may experience a need in the future.
Queen first runner-up Lorelei Cooke, and her Little Miss Spat, Emersyn Soles, spent their summer creating Paws Across Middlesex, a heartfelt project dedicated to supporting Middlesex Pet Friends for Life and the Middlesex County Animal Shelter. They raised $4,000 and collected generous donations of pet supplies to help care for homeless animals and find them loving homes.
Queen second runner-up Macon Kissman and her Little Miss Spat Camdyn Putney dedicated their summer to raising awareness about the importance of social connection for the elderly. Partnering with Bay Aging, they interviewed seniors, caregivers, and community members to learn about the challenges of isolation and the joy that comes from companionship.
Other service projects
Elisabeth Gobush and her Little Miss Spat, Charlee Parsley, dedicated their summer to protecting the Rappahannock River through education, conservation, and community involvement. Their project highlighted the importance of oysters and clean waterways, raising more than $700 for Friends of the Rappahannock, a nonprofit focused on river restoration.
Cara Moss and her Little Miss Spat, Sawyer Edwards, dedicated their project, Adopt an Oyster, to raising funds and awareness for oyster restoration in the Chesapeake Bay. Through creative community engagement — allowing donors to “adopt” and name baby oysters — Cara raised $2,100 for the Tidewater Oyster Gardeners Association (TOGA), supporting the planting of thousands of spat to improve water quality and habitat.
Taylor Newman and her Little Miss Spat, Marilyn Major, created The Sunshine Project, a community initiative focused on helping children and families in need across Middlesex County. Their mission was to raise awareness and provide resources for those lacking essentials like food, shelter, and school supplies.
Ashlynn Sears and her Little Miss Spat, Skyler Epperly, dedicated their summer to raising awareness and funds for suicide prevention through their heartfelt project in partnership with Middle Peninsula Northern Neck Behavioral Health Prevention Services. Inspired by the loss of her father in 2021, Ashlynn turned her grief into purpose by organizing a golf tournament at Piankatank River Golf Club, creating and selling T-shirts and wristbands, and hosting a booth at the Urbanna Farmers Market to share suicide prevention resources.
Sponsors
Sponsors for the competition include Bethpage Camp-Resort, Grey’s Point Camp, Rosegill Development, River Woodworks, Westgate Marketing, C&F Bank, J&W Seafood, Jason and Emilie Rowe, Price Properties, Primis Bank, Ryman’s Inc., Thurston Properties, Towne Insurance, C. Ben Lennon DDS, Faulkner Funeral Homes, River County Pet Loss, Noblett Appliance, In Remembrance of Diane Gravatt and River Birch Gifts.
Also thanked were the Town of Urbanna, Lower United Methodist Church, Deltaville Maritime Museum, Chesapeake Inn, Bethpage Creamery, and River Birch Florist for the floral arrangements on the stage.
