Miss Adams County Fair Queen to compete in state pageant in Springfield this weekend

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Miss Adams County Fair Queen Madalyn Gibbs will compete this weekend in the Miss Illinois County Fair Queen Pageant in Springfield against more than 70 other county fair queens from all over Illinois vying for the title of Miss Illinois County Fair.

The Illinois County Fair Queen Pageant will be held Saturday and Sunday at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Contestants will arrive Thursday to participate in rehearsals and interviews before the preliminary round at 3 p.m. Saturday.

Gibbs said in a press release that she’s been working toward this pageant week since she was crowned in July.

“Going into the state competition, I’m feeling excited and nervous,” she said. “Competing against 70 other amazing girls brings out some overwhelming feelings, but I’m so excited to get to know everyone and compete. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Gibbs stays busy representing the Adams County Fair at many community events.

She is a busy senior at Liberty High School, where she is on the honor roll and takes AP and dual credit classes. She is an Illinois State Scholar, Society of Academic Achievement award winner and a science department award recipient.

Gibbs also excels at sports. She has been named to all-tournament and all-conference teams and received all-state recognition for volleyball. She is the varsity volleyball team captain, varsity basketball team captain and team captain for her club volleyball team.

Gibbs, 18, is a daughter of Jason and Amanda Gibbs of Liberty. After graduation, she plans to play volleyball at Southwestern Illinois College and join the ROTC or the Air Force Reserves.

Gibbs is the 59th Adams County Fair queen to be crowned since the pageant began in 1965.

Gibbs says she knows all of Adams County will be rooting for her this weekend.

“I absolutely love this county and its people,” said Gibbs. “The support I have felt in my first half of my reign has been unreal. The whole fair week, the people of Adams County congratulated me and had many kind words to say. I am grateful for every single one of the people who have sponsored me, had a kind word to say, and just overall have supported me. I am so blessed to have you, Adams County.”

This year’s Adams County Fair will be held July 23-29.