Krista Phillips, a 21-year-old from Effingham County, has been crowned the 68th Miss Illinois County Fair Queen, a title that will see her grace the 2026 Illinois State Fair and DuQuoin State Fair. Her journey to this prestigious role began at the 115th Annual Illinois Association of Agricultural Fairs (IAAF) convention, where she was selected from a talented group of 75 contestants. Phillips, who will graduate from the University of Illinois-Champaign with a degree in business management and marketing, dreams of opening a small business and contributing to her community upon her return to Effingham. As the official hostess, she will travel to approximately 30 county fairs and represent Illinois at the state fairs, emphasizing the importance of agriculture and county fairs to the state.
The competition was fierce, with Riley McDermott of Monroe County named the first runner-up, Bella Evans of Morgan County as the second runner-up, Ruby Mulvaney of Ogle County as the third runner-up, and Laney York of White County as the fourth runner-up. Phillips' journey to the crown was not without challenges; she had previously competed twice at the Effingham County Fair pageant, finishing as the first runner-up both times. Her older sisters, both past Effingham County Fair queen winners, had also competed at the state level and finished as second runners-up for Miss Illinois County Fair Queen. This rich family history in the pageant made the achievement all the more meaningful for Phillips.
Krista's interests are diverse, ranging from caring for her 12 pet chickens to cheering on the Illini, baling hay on her grandparents' farm, traveling, golfing, playing the oboe, and performing in musicals. She's also a Disney enthusiast and enjoys shopping at local Farmer's Markets. The top 16 finalists included Makane Cass, Bella Evans, Alaina Ford, Chloe Martin, Sierra Compton, Kadence Smith, Riley McDermott, Ruby Mulvaney, Lydia Repscher, Malia Killey, Alyssa Wicks, Allison Worman, Rae Stucki, Avery Myers, and Laney York. Non-finalist awards were also presented to Sophia Thornton, Amanda Brink, Maci Wolf, and Jordyn Fourez, with Maggie Wankel of Menard County winning the People's Choice Award.
The IAAF convention, attended by over 2,500 people, also recognized talent show winners, including Jaycee Bates, Jaxson Dion, Isa Pina, and Isaac Goldman in the senior division, and Ariel Moreno, a jazz dance troupe, and Daphne Slusser in the junior division. The Friends of the Illinois Fairs Award was presented to H.R. Gentsh, Jerry Frankel, Susan Banks, and Wendell DeVries, further highlighting the dedication and talent within the agricultural fair community.
