Iowa State Fair Queen Contest: Meet Iowa's County Queens

[Emcee 1] We are so excited for all of you to be here tonight as we introduce our 103 County Fair Queens. There are 75 members of 4-H, 81 members of FFA and a combined GPA of 3.8. And these are stellar young ladies tonight.

[Emcee 2] Ladies and gentlemen, your 2026 Iowa State Fair Queen contestants.

[Emcee 1] From Adair County, Kacie Ford.
From Adams County, Justyce Bradley.
From Allamakee County, Reegan Benzing. 
From Appanoose County, Kimmie Johnson. 
From Audubon County, Olivia Carter.
From Benton County, Jillian Hanson.
From Black Hawk County, Evelyn Schmitz.
From Boone County, Clara Fulton. 
From Bremer County, Addison Carlson. 
From Buchanan County, Emily Cook. 
From Buena Vista County, Hannah Brown. 
From Butler County, Colby Wix.
From the Calhoun County Expo, Peyton Davis. 
From Carroll County, Meredith Sturm. 
From Cass County, Clara Kennedy. 
From Cedar County, Madelyn Walshire. 
From Cerro Gordo County, from the North Iowa Fair, Ava Kappmeyer. 
From Cherokee County, Danika Ducommun. 
From Chickasaw County, Brenna Throndson. 
From Clark County, Victoria Rosales.
From Clayton County, Kara Knipper. 
From Clay County, Maggie Moser.
From Clinton County, Taylor Houser. 
From Crawford County, Brigid Bonner. 
From Dallas County, Eliza Schmidt. 
From Davis County, Kallee Nebel. 
From Decatur County, Leighanna Bundt. 
From Delaware County, Kate Ries. 
From Des Moines County, Lily Nalley. 
From Dickinson County, Brianna Swenson . 
From Dubuque County, Kendra Calonder. 
From Emmet County, Taylor Larsen. 
From Fayette County, Maggie Jones. 
From Floyd County, Madison Vance. 
From Franklin County, Carli Lyon. 
From Fremont County, Nora Martin.
From the Great Jones County Fair, Emma Dietsch. 
From Greene County, Kaliyah Minnhan.
From Grundy County, Josey Syhlman. 
From Guthrie County, Brooklyn Haines. 
From Hamilton County, Sophia Nibe. 
From Hancock County, Marissa Muff. 
From Hardin County, Alyssa Vierkandt. 
From Harrison County, Maci Bertelsen. 
From Henry County, Zenlynn Lee.
From the Mighty Howard County Fair, Mally Linkenmeyer. 
From Humboldt County, Adelyn Vinsand.
From Ida County, Allison Moore. 
From Iowa County, Hayden Wade.

[Emcee 2] From Jackson County, Abigail Schmidt. 
From Jasper County, Seriah Nolin. 
From the Greater Jefferson County Fair, Hailey Pedrick. 
From Johnson County, Haiden Gauley. 
From the Keokuk County Expo, Adalynne Tremmel. 
Representing the Keokuk County Fair, Gracen MacCready .
From Kossuth County, Charli Dodds. 
From Lee County, Allison Gruntmeir.
From Linn County, Allison Arnold. 
From Louisa County, Emma Salazar. 
From Lucas County, Emersen Gunzenhauser. 
From Lyon County, Lucy Doorneweerd. 
From Madison County, Denali Coffman. 
From Mahaska County, Sydney Bruxvoort. 
From Marion County, Emerson Hiemstra.
From Marshall County, Hannah Frahm. 
From Mills County, Hannah Swinford.
From Mitchell County, Lydia Koch.
From Monona County, Claire Smallwood.
From Monroe County, Maggie McAninch. 
From Montgomery County, Audrina Johnson.
From Muscatine County, Abigail Schell. 
Representing the National Cattle Congress, Cheyenne White. 
From O'Brien County, Abby Woodall. 
From Osceola County, Mariah Dake. 
From Page County, Jillian Dammann.
From Palo Alto County, Trista Guinn.
From Plymouth County, Isabelle Plueger. 
From Pocahontas County, Delaney Janssen.
From Polk County, Rylie Campbell.
From Pottawattamie County, Evelyn Scott.
From Poweshiek County, Leah Urfer.
From Ringgold County, Kelbey Greenland. 
From Sac County, Skylar Smith. 
From Scott County, representing the Mississippi Valley Fair, Ellie Weyeneth.
From Shelby County, Carly Torneten.
From Sioux County, Marnie Croatt.
From Story County, Emilee Kelly.
From Tama County, Belle Werner.
From Taylor County, LaraLynn England. 
From Union County, Kadley Bailey. 
From Van Buren County, Molly Johnson. 
Representing the Wapello County Expo, Alexandra Perry. 
Representing the Wapello County Fair, Isabella Sherwood. 
From Warren County, Anita Scholten. 
From Washington County, Adelyn Huston. 
From Wayne County, Brooke Hitt.
From Webster County, Aianna Kirby.
Representing West Pottawattamie County, Joanna Cook. 
From Winnebago County, Aubrey Olson.
From Winneshiek County, Jadrienne Langreck. 
From Woodbury County, Ashleyn Weber. 
From Worth County, Layla Scarlett.
From Wright County, Rylee Pals.

Ladies and gentlemen, your 2026 County Fair Queens.

[Riah Schrage] It is hard to believe that the little girl who once dreamed of wearing this crown and representing this amazing fair is getting ready to pass it on and close this chapter of a dream come true.

I mean, it has truly been so amazing and just a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I'm so glad and so blessed to be able to have had it.

I was able to go to 74 different county fairs and travel about 13,000 miles around Iowa, and I don't know when another time you get the chance to do that, so I'm super grateful.

[Emcee 1] And now I present to you your 2026 Iowa State Fair Queen. From Tama County, Belle Werner.

[Belle Werner] It's just truly an honor to get to wear this crown, get to wear the sash, and represent a state fair that's played such a huge role in my life.

[Emcee 2] Give it up for Belle Werner, ladies and gentlemen, from Tama County.

[Belle] I'm definitely looking forward to traveling the state to see all the county fairs, see what everyone does differently at their county fair. I'm excited to meet all the new people. I know Iowa is a lovely state and I want to meet all the Iowans I can. I'm super excited to be the 2026 Iowa State Fair Queen.