Adams County Beef Queen and Ambassador crowned at Adams County Beef Producers’ annual meeting

LIBERTY, Ill. — The Adams County Beef Producers and Beef Auxiliary held its 49th annual meeting and banquet on Jan. 25 at St. Brigid’s Hall, and Lily Baker was crowned the Adams County Beef Queen and Tucker Shupe was crowned the Adams County Beef Ambassador.

The queen and ambassador each received a $1,500 scholarship.

Baker is a 16-year-old daughter of Bobby and Kelly Baker of Quincy. She is a junior at Quincy High School, where she is a member of the track team, Beta Club and FFA. She is serving her second term as FFA chapter president and is the Section 11 FFA treasurer. She has been in 4-H and showing cattle since she was 8 years old. In her free time, she enjoys camping, traveling, working with cattle and spending time with family. Baker is employed at the Western Illinois Vet Clinic. After high school, she plans to pursue a career as a large animal veterinarian.

McKenna Davis was first runner-up, receiving a check for $500, and Linnlei Burnett was second runner-up receiving acheck for $250.

Shupe is a 20-year-old son of Darren and Emily Shupe of Lima. He is a 2022 graduate of Unity High School and 2023 graduate of the Quincy Fire Academy. He is a junior at Western Illinois University, studying ag science, and a member of the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity. Shupe is a volunteer firefighter at the Lima Tioga Fire Department.

In a press release, Shupe said, “Throughout life, I have had a passion for raising and showing cattle with my family and barn families. Showing cattle has taught me many life lessons, with the greatest lesson being respect. Thank you all for your support.”

Cody Liggett was first runner-up receiving a check for $500, and Grady Shaffer was second runner-up receiving as check for $250.

Other announcements at the meeting were:

• Shupe was the winner of the Neil Waner Memorial Scholarship
• Gary and Marilyn Starman and family were named Beef Producer of the Year.