Published on January 19, 2026 6:17 am
Last Updated on January 19, 2026 8:31 am
Krista Phillips of Effingham County was selected from a field of 75 contestants Sunday evening as the 68th Miss Illinois County Fair Queen and will reign over the 2026 Illinois State Fair and DuQuoin State Fair. Phillips was chosen during the final day of the 115th Annual Illinois Association of Agricultural Fairs (IAAF) convention at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Springfield.
Krista, 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 the Effingham area to pursue her dream of opening a small business and giving back to the community. Phillips, 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. As queen, Phillip’s main duty is to emphasize the importance of agriculture and county fairs to Illinois.
Riley McDermott of Monroe County was named the first runner up, Bella Evans of Morgan County was named second runner up, Ruby Mulvaney of Ogle County was named third runner up, and Laney York of White County was named fourth runner up.
Phillips described the moment her name was announced as Miss Illinois County Fair Queen as “surreal. I didn’t think my name would even be called,” she said. “This is just such a blessing.”
It was a long journey for her. She 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 had been 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.”
Krista enjoys caring for her 12 pet chickens, 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 also loves all things Disney and shopping at local Farmer’s Markets.
The top 16 finalists 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; and Laney York, White County.
Non-finalist awards went to: Sophia Thornton of Cumberland County, Ruby Crum Award; Amanda Brink, Clinton County, Best in Stage Presence; Maci Wolf, Washington County, Best in Communications Skills Competition; and Jordyn Fourez, Best in Beauty and Physique competition. Maggie Wankel of Menard County was the People’s Choice Award Winner.
Earlier at the IAAF annual convention, Talent Show winners were chosen. Winner in the senior division went to Jaycee Bates of Sangamon County with a dance solo; second place went to 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. Cole Burrell of Effingham County finished in seventh place.
In the Junior Division Talent Show, Ariel Moreno of McHenry was the winner with vocal solo. Second place went to a jazz dance troupe from Calhoun County that included Ahna York, Braelyn Labby, Adalynn Tarrez, and Clancy Dunker; third place went to Daphne Slusser of Jersey County with a vocal and piano solo; and 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,