Effingham County woman crowned 2026 Miss Illinois County Fair Queen

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) - A woman representing Effingham County was crowned the 2026 Miss Illinois County Fair Queen at the competition this past weekend.

Krista Phillips was chosen from 75 contestants Sunday evening and will reign over the 2026 Illinois State Fair and DuQuoin State Fair.

She was crowned during the final day of the 115th Annual Illinois Association of Agricultural Fairs convention at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Springfield.

Phillips, 21, of Effingham, will graduate from the University of Illinois-Champaign in May 2026 with a bachelor's degree in business management and marketing. She plans to return to Effingham and pursue her dream of opening a small business.

She is the daughter of Glen and Jeni Phillips, will be a summer employee of the Department of Agriculture, and will travel to about 30 county fairs and be the official hostess of the Illinois State Fair in Springfield and the DuQuoin State Fair in DuQuoin. Her main duty will be to emphasize the importance of agriculture and county fairs to Illinois.

First runner up was Riley McDermott of Monroe County. Second runner up was Bella Evans of Morgan County. Ruby Mulvaney of Ogle County was third runner up, and Laney York of White County was fourth runner up.

Phillips said of the moment she was crowned, "I didn't think my name would even be called. This is just such a blessing."

Phillips competed twice at the Effingham County Fair pageant and was named first runner up both times. Her two older sisters were past Effingham County Fair queen winners as well. Both had competed at the state level, and both sisters were second runner up for Miss Illinois County Fair Queen.

"I saw the behind the scenes of queen competition and becoming Miss Illinois County Fair Queen became a dream for me."

Phillips said she cares for her 12 pet chickens, spends time deepening her faith, cheering on the Illini, baling hay on her grandparents' farm, traveling, golfing, playing the oboe, watching and performing in musicals, and driving a stick shift. She loves Disney and shopping at local farmer's markets.

The Top 16 finalists in the pageant were:

Makane Cass - Williamson County
Bella Evans - Morgan County
Alaina Ford - Western Illinois Fair
Chloe Martin - Edgar County
Krista Phillips - Effingham County
Sierra Compton - Pana Tri County
Kadence Smith - Wayne County
Riley McDermott - Monroe County
Ruby Mulvaney - Ogle County
Lydia Repscher - Christian County
Malia Killey - Warren County
Alyssa Wicks - Macon County
Allison Worman - Shelby County
Rae Stucki - Iroquois County
Avery Myers - Fayette County
Laney York - White County

Non-finalist awards went to Sophia Thorton for the Ruby Crum Award, Amanda Brink from Clinton County for Best Stage Presence, Maci Wolf of Washington County for Best Communication Skills, Jordyn Fourez for Best in Beauty and Physique, and Maggie Wankel of Menard County for the People's Choice Award.

Earlier in the IAAF annual convention, Talent Show winners were chosen. Winner in the senior division was Jaycee Bates of Sangamon County with a dance solo. Second place was Jaxson Dion of Morgan County with a guitar solo. Third place went to Isa Pina of Iroquois County with a vocal solo. Fourth place went to Isaac Goldman of Perry County with a guitar solo.

In the Junior Division Talent Show, Ariel Moreno of McHenry was the winner with a vocal solo. Second place was a jazz dance troupe from Calhoun County. Third place went to Daphne Slusser of Jersey County with a vocal and piano solo. Fourth place went to Menai Evans of Sangamon County with a piano solo.

Selected for The Friends of the Illinois Fairs Award were H.R. Gentsh of Monroe County, Jerry Frankel of Adams County, Susan Banks of Boone County, and Wendell DeVries of Stephenson County.

More than 2,500 people attended this year's IAAF convention.

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