Miss Iroquois County Fair Queen, Samantha Hasselbring, will reign over 2018 Illinois and DuQuoin State Fairs.
The 19-year-old from Cissna Park was crowned the 59th Miss Illinois County Fair Queen at the state Convention in Springfield Sunday.
The Illinois Association of Agricultural Fairs (IAAF) held its 108th annual convention at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Springfield.
One of the highlights of the annual event is the Miss Illinois County Fair Queen Pageant, held Jan. 21. The event also includes the IAAF Talent Show, featuring winners from individual county fairs.
Miss Hasselbring will now become a summer employee of the Department of Agriculture. She’ll travel to some 30 plus county fairs and will be the official hostess of the Illinois State Fair in Springfield and the DuQuoin State Fair. As queen, Hasselbring’s main duty is to emphasize the importance of agriculture and county fairs to Illinois.
Samantha was crowned the 59th Miss Illinois County Fair queen. Hasselbring represented Iroquois County at the 108th Illinois Association of Agricultural Fairs Convention Sunday
“The feeling is indescribable,” said Hasselbring, after being crowned. “ You never think it’s going to happen. It’s a dream come true.”
Hasselbring grew up on a family farm where her father raises cattle and her mother is a teacher. Her goal as the 2018 Illinois County Fair queen is to be a voice for agriculture.
“I want to show how important agriculture is,” she said. “ I’m the first from my county to be the county fair queen. I’m so proud to say I’m from Iroquois County.”
Samantha is the daughter of Troy and Lynn Hasselbring. She’s a 2016 graduate of Cissna Park High School. She’s attending Millikin University majoring in elementary education.
Kylar Craig of Richland County was named the first runner up, Emily Kuberski of Perry County, was named the second runner up, Meg Meeker of Logan County, was named third runner up, and Heather Simpson of Georgetown Fair in Vermillion County, was named 4th runner up. Also competing was Ford County Fair Queen Kelsey Vaughn of Paxton.
TALENT WINNERS RECOGNIZED .....
Earlier at the IAAF annual convention, Talent Show winners were chosen. First place in the senior division went to Corey Barlow of McHenry County for a vocal solo; second place to Madalyn Schmitt of Ford County; third place to Lexi Bergschneider of Sangamon County; fourth place to Jenna Zumbahlen of Jasper County and fifth place to Megan Schippert of Iroquois County.
In the Junior Division Talent Show competition, first place went to Meara Seelbach, Laney Teeter and Eliana Wilson of Sangamon County for a dance routine; second place to Lilly Nowak of DuPage County; third place to Olivia Novak and Karissa Brown of Kendall County; fourth place to Scarlet Potter of Morgan County and fifth place to Jaycee Bates of Scott County.
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