Miss Arkansas State Fair 2026 crowned as Carissa recalls surreal onstage moment

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KATV) — Two newly crowned Arkansas State Fair titleholders are looking ahead to a year of scholarship opportunities, community appearances and encouraging young people to get involved in agriculture.

Carissa Callicott, Miss Arkansas State Fair 2026, said the moment she was crowned felt “so surreal.”

“I was standing on stage with five other beautiful ladies and talented as well, and so I was thinking I was like, could really be any one of us,” Carissa said. “But there was some really good music going on, so I was just dancing and having a good time. I was just very greatly appreciative to hear my name be called. In that moment, I just kind of blacked out for a little bit.”

Carissa said she was also struck by the scholarship opportunities that came with the title.

“Oh yeah, and they were naming off all the scholarship opportunities that I got, and I was like, wow, this is a lot of money,” she said.

Carissa, a junior in college, said she attends the University of Arkansas at Pulaski Tech. She said she is studying psychology and hopes to become a pediatric neuropsychologist, while also planning to transfer to the UAMS medical program.

Raygen Tweedy, Junior Miss Arkansas State Fair, said she is from Pocahontas and has competed in the pageant before. She said the fair has long been a special part of her life because she shows livestock.

“I competed last year, and I’ve always grown up on the fair,” Reagan said. “I show livestock, being one of the first generous Arkansas State Fair that has that’s such a special opportunity. The state fair has always been such a special place in my heart too. So, to be given this opportunity is something so special, and it felt so surreal.”

Raygen said she attended a hog show the morning of the interview, where she showed her pig named Biscuit. She said she mainly shows Red Angus and Angus cattle, and has also shown at her local county fair.

As Junior Miss, Raygen said she is most excited to serve as a role model and help get younger generations more involved in agriculture.

“I’m just really excited to be a role model and get our younger generations more involved in agriculture,” Raygen said.

“Teach them where their food comes from and show them that they can they can follow all their passions and they don’t just have to choose one.”