About Us

The Miss Red Wing Organization began in 1965 and continued until 1973. After a brief hiatus, the program restarted in 1983 in conjunction with Red Wing's River City Days festival and was restructured as a scholarship program.

At this time, the Organization shifted from a talent and beauty program to a program that focuses on preparing the young women who participate in interviews, public speaking, building self-confidence, and future careers.

In 2011, the program changed again from selecting one Queen and two Princesses to selecting three equal Royal Ambassadors.

Red Wing Royal Ambassador Board + Committee

The Red Wing Royal Ambassador Committee is made up entirely of volunteers who work throughout the year to put together the Candidate and Ambassador programs.

They are led by a Board of Directors made up of five volunteer members.

  • Tori Campbell

    Tori, Prairie Island Tribal Member, has been on the Red Wing Royal Ambassador Committee since 2016 and has been helping organize Prairie Island’s coronation since 2011.

    She works as the Treasurer for Prairie Island's Community Council and also runs her own Travel Advisory and Consulting business.

    Tori has three beautiful children Jayme, Emma, and Liam that are competitive dancers.

  • Courtney Colwell

    2022 Red Wing Royal Ambassador | Kodaciaypi Recipient

    Courtney graduated from Red Wing High School in 2020, earned her bachelor’s at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, and received her Masters in Sports and Health Sciences from American Military University.

    She joined the committee shortly after completing her reign as a 2022 Red Wing Royal Ambassador.

    Courtney currently works for Eden Prairie Schools in their Community Education Department.

  • Leah (Wipperling) Garsteig

    CANDIDATE COORDINATOR

    2008 Miss Red Wing | 2015 SPWC South Wind Princess

    Leah graduated from Red Wing High School in 2008 and attended Century College, earning her degree in dental assisting. In 2022, after working 9 years at Zirbel Orthodontics, Leah decided to stay home with her own children and start “Leah’s Littles” an in-home daycare.

    She currently lives in Cottage Grove, Minnesota, with her husband Dale; three kids, Caelynn, Noah and Lainey; and a Chololate Lab, Tucker.

    Leah has been involved with Red Wing Royal Ambassadors since she was a young girl as a flower and crown bearer. She officially joined the Red Wing Royal Ambassador Committee in 2023.

  • Kylie Griffin

    2023 Red Wing Royal Ambassador | Kodaciaypi Recipient

    Kylie graduated from Red Wing High School in 2023 and graduated from St. Paul college in 2024 with a certificate in Baking and Pastries.

    She joined the committee after completing her reign as a 2023 Red Wing Royal Ambassador and 2024 Aquatennial Ambassador Candidate.

    Currently, Kylie resides in West St. Paul where she works as a Pastry Chef at Omni Viking Lakes Hotel.

  • Vanessa Jeske

    TREASURER

    1991 Red Wing Princess

  • Sarah Kiczula

    Sarah was born and raised in Red Wing and currently resides in the twin cities with her two dogs and fiance. She graduated from Red Wing High School and attended St. Catherine University to earn her degrees.

    Growing up, Sarah and her mom would avidly listen to each Red Wing Royal Ambassador candidate on the radio with “Action Jack,” though Sarah never participated in the program.

    Now, she volunteers her time as a professional photographer with the Red Wing Royal Ambassador Organization Committee.

  • Ashley Knowlton

    2017 Red Wing Royal Ambassador

    Ashley currently resides in Maple Grove, Minnesota, joining the Red Wing Royal Ambassador Organization Committee shortly after completing her reign as a 2017 Red Wing Royal Ambassador. She graduated from St. Olaf College in 2021 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Nursing and is currently working in the field.

    Ashley started as a Registered Nurse in 2021 at Abbott Northwestern on a Spine unit with Medical Surgical overflow patients and shortly after took on the role of a charge nurse.

    After a little over a year, Ashley moved to Maple Grove Hospital where she now works as a Registered Nurse on a Postpartum Floor taking care of mothers and babies 1-2 hours after delivery up until discharge from the hospital.

    Both of Ashley’s parents, Rick and Deb Knowlton, were born and raised in Red Wing where they still reside. Her older brother, Lucas, graduated from Red Wing in 2014 and now lives in Blaine with his soon-to-be wife working as an environmental analyst at Xcel Energy.

  • Kyley Lindholm

    2008 Red Wing Princess

    Kyley Lindolm graduated from Red Wing High School and still calls Red Wing home. She currently serves the community as part of the City of Red Wing Police Department.

    Kylie has been a member of the Red Wing Royal Ambassador Organization committee since returning from obtaining an associate’s degree from Rochester Community and Technical College and a bachelor's degree from Minnesota State University-Mankato. The program had such a huge impact on her life she knew it was something she wanted to continue to be involved in after serving her year as an ambassador.

    Kyley has been married to her husband, Jon, for 11 years. They have three wonderful, energy-filled boys, Keston, Sawyer, and Vinny; and Torque, the Cheweenie dog who has been part of the family for 12 years.

  • Gabrielle Mueller

    2022 Red Wing Royal Ambassador

    Gabrielle graduated from Red Wing High School and is currently pursuing a degree in nursing at Minnesota State College Southeast in Winona, Minnesota. She joined the Red Wing Royal Ambassador Organization Committee shortly after she completed her reign as an ambassador.

    While she studies, Gabrielle is also working at Fusion Dance as a Dance Teacher and at Michelle Dunlap Design as a Wedding Hairstylist.

  • Brianna Smith

    Brianna was born in Chula Vista, CA and lived in various parts of the US before moving and graduating from Red Wing High School in 2001.

    After graduating high school, Brianna joined the military and now works as a Registered Nurse at Twin Bluff Middle School and occasionally works at St. Crispin Care Center.

    Currently, she lives in Red Wing and has two daughters, former 2024 Red Wing Royal Ambassador, Cadence Moffett who is in college, and Kylie Moffett, who is in high school.

    After watching her daughter Cadence grow and learn as a Red Wing Royal Ambassador, Brianna decided to join as a committee member.

  • Linda Wipperling

    FUNDRAISING CHAIR

    Linda has volunteered for 13 years with the Red Wing Royal Ambassador Organization and continues to serve on our committee as Fundraising Chair.

    She earned her bachelor’s degree from St. Ben’s University and her master’s degree from the University of Minnesota.

    Linda currently lives in Red Wing with her husband, Brad and is a retired Early Childhood and Family Education teacher.

    They have three children and five grandchildren.