Come try your hand at our Old-Time Spelling Bee! There are 3 age categories for our competitors. Grade Levels are those as of September:

  • First/Second Grade
  • Third/Fourth Grade
  • Fifth/Sixth Grade

Each Spelling Bee participant will receive a participation ribbon.

First and Second Place winners in each age group will receive ribbons and a $10 gift certificate to the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum.

The Spelling Bee rules will be reviewed on stage prior to the competition.

Spelling Bee Guidelines

  • We will begin with the youngest category and ask them to the stage to be seated.

  • The pronouncer introduces the contest and starts things off by explaining the rules to the contestants

  • The first contestant is called and the pronouncer announces the word to be spelled. They speak slowly and clearly, without distorting the normal pronunciation of the word. They use the word in a sentence and then say the word again.

  • The speller listens carefully to the pronouncer and if necessary, asks for the word to be repeated.

  • When the speller is sure they understand the word, they pronounce it, spell it, and then say the word again. They must say it loudly enough for the judge to hear (Judge is seated in the first row of the audience)

  • The judge determines whether or not the word was spelled correctly

  • If the correct spelling was given, the speller remains in the contest

  • If the spelling was incorrect, that speller is eliminated from the contest. The pronouncer then gives the correct spelling of the word

  • The speller leaves the stage.

  • The pronouncer then reads a new word to the next student

  • When there are only two spellers left, if one contestant misspells a word, the other player must spell that word correctly to win. If they cannot, another word is given back to the first player and they spell until one person misspells and the other spells correctly

Spelling Bee Featured

Registration

Contestants may preregister online with the form below.
Registrations will be accepted the day of the contest at the Laura Days Information Booth.

Registrations will continue until each category is filled. Limit 15 competitors in each category.

Competition begins at 3:00 pm on Saturday, September 12.
All contestants must be at mains stage 15 minutes prior to start of contest.

Spelling Bee Pre-Registration (2026)

Name(Required)
Age Category
Competitor will enter at their grade level this fall.