Experience the glamour and excitement of the Iowa State Fair Queen Contest—highlights of the contestants, interviews, and unforgettable fair moments.
The Iowa State Fair Queen Contest is more than crowns and sashes—it’s about confidence, community, and celebrating young women who represent Iowa with pride. In this highlights video, we showcase standout moments from the contest, from elegant interviews to the thrill of the final stage.
Transcript
♪ ♪
[Hailey Swan] Tonight is the culmination of five days of workshops, interviews and evaluation.
Without further ado, it is our honor to introduce to you your 2025 County Fair Queens.
Adair County Chloe Rardin.
Adams County, Reagan Sonntag.
Allamakee County, Breelyn Dahlstrom.
Appanoose County, Emery Hawkins.
Audubon County Emily Foran.
Benton County, Alana Fleming.
Black Hawk County Elsie McIntosh.
Boone County, Morgan Christensen.
Bremer County, Jamie Jones.
Buchanan County, Kaydence Zeien.
Buena Vista County, Magdalene Dahlhauser.
Butler County, Hannah Wangsness.
Calhoun County Expo, Madison Becker.
Carroll County, Claire Behrens.
Cass County, Lily Johnson.
Cerro Gordo County, Avah Hanig.
Cedar County, Kennedy Crist.
Cherokee County, Lily Schulenberg.
Chickasaw County, Carrie Schwickerath.
Clarke County, Addie Eckels.
Clay County, Nevaeh Brauhn.
Clayton County, Mindy Keehner.
Clinton County, Natalie Schroeder.
Crawford County, Kennedy Eischeid.
Dallas County, Kelsey Greenslade.
Davis County, Madi Bridgman.
Decatur County, Mildred Waugh.
Delaware County, Holly Gudenkauf.
Des Moines County, Josie Parrott.
Dickinson County, Kendal Niemeier.
Dubuque County, Kylie Donovan.
Emmet County Hanna Paulson.
Fayette County, Alexandria Kent.
Floyd County Mayzie Bruening.
Franklin County, Abby Schoning.
Fremont County, Lana Alley.
Great Jones County Fair, Brooke Heying.
Greene County, Addison Gannon.
Grundy County, Riah Schrage.
Guthrie County, Shyann Young.
Hamilton County, McKenna Miller.
Hancock County, Brinley Hiscocks.
Hardin County, Gracie Andrews.
Harrison County, Trinity Konsbruck.
Henry County, Morgan Meyer.
Howard County Fair, Kennedy Linkenmeyer.
Humboldt County, Jaynee Depue.
Ida County, Abigail Bergman.
Iowa County, Alannah McKibben.
Jackson County, Alia Schmidt.
Jasper County, Meredith Chipps.
Jefferson County. Nicole Robb.
Johnson County, Taylor Vittetoe.
Keokuk County Expo, Carley Clarahan.
Kossuth County, Ashton Peters.
Lee County, Audrey Sturdivant.
Linn County, Emmalee Kratz.
Louisa County, Kylie Morrison.
Lyon County, Kiann Blomgren.
Madison County, Lillian Burkett.
Mahaska County, Eden VanZante.
Marion County, Abigail VanderLinden.
Marshall County Madelyn Thompson.
Mills County, Joli Johnston.
Mitchell County, Reagan Hollatz.
Monona County, Brooklynn Hupke.
Monroe County, Morgan Hoskins.
Montgomery County, Delaney True.
Muscatine County, Kaylynn Huot.
National Cattle Congress, Keely Recker.
O'Brien County, Ashlynn Gunnerson.
Osceola County, Claire Vreeman.
Page County Ella Johnson.
Palo Alto County, Leah Hoffman.
Plymouth County, Addison Kovarna.
Pocahontas County, Kaylee Dirks.
Polk County, Elise Cornelder.
Pottawattamie County, Grace Pauley.
Poweshiek County, Gracie Kaufman.
Ringgold County, Kaley Murphy.
Sac County, Denae Thayer.
Scott County and the Mississippi Valley Fair, Delaney Engler.
Shelby County, Brooklyn Buck.
Sioux County, Kolby Oldenkamp.
Story County Ella Henningsen.
Tama County, Rhianna Murty.
Taylor County, Danielle Robinson.
Union County, Annalise Buxton.
Van Buren County, Rylee Caviness.
Wapello County Expo, Autumn Damm.
Wapello County Fair, Mya Sampson.
Warren County, Maci Darr.
Washington County, Morgan Leichty.
Wayne County, Natalia Brown.
Webster County, Blessing Cunigan.
West Pottawattamie County, Kendal Jensen.
Winnebago County, Emma Eichenberger.
Winneshiek County, Rylee Averhoff.
Woodbury County, Grace Flannigan.
Worth County, Kamryn Backhaus.
Wright County. Lily Pigman.
Wyoming Fair, Sophia Hunter.
[Travis Graven] Tell me what the past year has been like. How did this change your life?
[Elli Blackford, 2024 Iowa State Fair Queen] It's been a whirlwind, and I'm gonna get emotional just talking about it, because it's truly just a dream come true. And all of the girls behind stage I know are just feeling the same way right now. It was a lot more than I ever expected. It's something I never even saw myself in.
But I've spent the whole year advocating for agriculture, the industry I've grown up in, visiting the county fairs, seeing the communities, and that's what Iowa is all about. And Queens Weekend itself is life changing. And our next queen has a very, very busy and impactful year ahead of her. She has lots of girls looking up to her and even all of the girls looking on stage.
As a little girl, I always looked up to each and every person up there knowing that I wanted to be one of them one day.
[Hailey] And your 2025 Iowa State Fair Queen hails from Grundy County, Riah Schrage.
[Riah] Wow. I can't even think straight right now. I'm so excited. I mean, there's so many girls here that deserved it, and I'm just so honored to be picked. It's just amazing.
Watch More
Experience the Iowa State Fair through the eyes of four individuals maintaining its traditions.
The story of the Iowa State Fair — Iowa's annual showcase and its biggest celebration.
On Saturday, August 15 at 7 p.m., Iowa PBS will offer a live broadcast of the 2026 Iowa State Fair Queen Contest. The event will also be livestreamed on iowapbs.org and YouTube.
The Iowa State Fair parade, featuring high school marching bands, floats, cool cars, special causes and more.
The Bill Riley Talent Search showcases young Iowans' talents and an Iowa State Fair tradition.
Knock-knock! Who’s there? Some of the funniest kids in Iowa. The State Fair’s Joke Telling Contest is full of charm, chuckles, and pint-sized punchlines.
Bags fly and rivalries ignite at the Iowa State Fair Cornhole Tournament. Watch fierce teams compete for bragging rights in this fun, fast-paced showdown.
Get a whiff of tradition! The Cow Chip Throwing Contest at the Iowa State Fair is messy, hilarious, and surprisingly competitive. Watch the chips fly!
Think you know your plants? At the Iowa State Fair, contestants race to identify dozens of weeds in a unique contest that’s part quiz, part nature walk.
Watch skilled utility workers climb, race, and compete at the Iowa State Fair’s Lineman’s Rodeo—a thrilling display of strength, speed, and precision.