| Caleb DeVan won the first-ever Living History Farms Spelling Bee on Saturday. Caleb, a 14-year-old eighth-grader at Southview Middle School in Ankeny, outlasted nine other competitors with the winning word jackal and earned a spot at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., in May. “We’re honored to be a Regional Partner in the Scripps National Spelling Bee and very, very proud of Caleb,” said Living History Farms President Ruth Haus. “We know he’ll represent Iowa well at the national competition.” Other spellers who qualified for the regional bee were:Tyler Beare, 14, MarshalltownAshvika Karwal, 11, Cedar FallsLucille Kleiss, 11, FredericksbrgIliana Nissen, 13, Forest City Katy Pontius, 14, Des MoinesBrenna Ruda, 12, AnkenyJudah Sturgeon, 11, AmesMarin VandeKrol, 9, Windsor HeightsHarlow Youngren, 11, Odebolt. The presenting sponsor was Bankers Trust. The Living History Farms Spelling Bee represented 74 Iowa counties that have not had a Regional Partner in the Scripps National Spelling Bee since 2017. “Caleb DeVan spelled his way into history—and into the Scripps National Spelling Bee,” said Corrie Loeffler, Executive Director of the national bee. “We are so proud to welcome him to Washington, D.C., and grateful to Living History Farms for bringing this opportunity back to Iowa students after nearly a decade.” The Urbandale museum will host a regional bee again in 2027. |
