Mom, daughter enjoy the most special of nights at Adams Co. Fair Queen Pageant

MENDON, Ill. — That Madalyn Gibbs stood late Tuesday night as Adams County fair queen was not only a testament to the human spirit, but that of the strongest of bonds between a daughter and mother.

It was a special moment, in every imaginable way.

In fact, very, very special. Almost surreal.

Gibbs, 17, was in the same blue dress that her mom, Amanda, 42, wore when she was named fair queen 24 years ago. Granted, that in itself would normally be a pretty good story, but much more than that came to light following Gibbs’ coronation as Miss Adams County Fair at the 82nd pageant.

“I was named queen in July 2000 … and in February 2001 I found I had cancer,” Amanda said.

Amanda explained she was not expected to live more than about five years, and the idea of being able to have children was next to non-existent.

But she never surrendered, and through the aid of modern medicine and a fighting spirit she was eventually able to survive the cancer, and a few years later Madalyn arrived. 

The punctuation to that heart-warming family profile was provided on a damp Wednesday evening inside the fairgrounds where Madalyn emerged as the fair’s 59th queen. Not even the intermittent showers during the pageant had a chance of spoiling this glorious night. 

“This is a blessing, such a huge blessing,” Amanda said.

Madalyn, too, enjoyed the moment.

“This is special, super special,” said Madalyn, who will be a senior at Liberty High School in the fall.

The strength of Amanda can be seen in Madalyn, who plans on using her year as fair queen to “advocate” for a number of causes important to her.

Madalyn talked of “giving back,” in terms of life skills that can benefit her community. It’s important, she said, to be “confident in yourself” and try and impact the young girls who will be following her.

“It’s about the way you carry yourself,” said Madalyn, who became the fourth queen from Liberty since the 1965 inception of the pageant.

And there’s little doubt she will carry herself quite well. 

Along with her crown, Gibbs was presented a $2,000 scholarship and will compete in the 65th Miss Illinois Fair Queen Pageant on Jan. 19 in Springfield at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.First runner-up was Madison Hester, 18, of Golden, who was awarded a $500 scholarship. Hester’s near miss of the throne denied Golden its first-ever fair queen.Second runner-up was Ashley Walbring, 17, of Quincy.Other participants in the eight-girl field were Genavieve Zengel, 19, of Liberty, plus four other Quincy entrants: Charlotte Smith, 17; Sierra Miller, 18; Maddie Cramsey, 17; and Olivia Williams, 18.Walbring was named Miss Congeniality, Hester earned the Don Russell Memorial Award for her interview prowess, Miller was singled out for her speech and stage presence, Smith for swimsuit competition and Cramsey for evening gown competition.

The contestants took part in pre-pageant interviews with judges, plus evening gown and swimsuit wear during the event itself. All four contestants also answered an at-large question in front of the audience before the judges’ final deliberation.

A pre-pageant interview with the judges was worth 35 percent of a contestant’s score, which accounted for the largest chunk of her competition. The remainder of a contestant’s score came from a short speech (30 percent), swimsuit competition (20 percent) and evening gowns/overall appearance/on-stage grace (15 percent).

Outgoing queen Morgan Widmer of Quincy thanked the crowd for the year she enjoyed representing Adams County across the state at a wide variety of functions. “I am so proud to be a part of Adams County,” Widmer said.

The pageant has drawn eight entrants over the past two years. The last time back-to-back pageants had at least eight girls in each field was 2014-15 when a combined 29 participants competed.The last time there were double-figure entrants was 2014 when 14 girls took part. The most recent pageant that attracted double-figure entrants was 2014 when 14 girls were involved. 

Only three times since 2007 has the pageant boasted 10 or more participants.

The last time more than 20 girls competed was 2005 (21). The event’s record number of entries came in 1975 with 26.

Tegan Orpet served as pageant announcer. Melissa Shriver-Hackemack was pageant chairman and Kayla Huber pageant director.

The 14th annual Little Miss and Mister competition drew 18 entrants. Baylor Grace Gunther, 6, was named Little Miss and Riggin Wietholder, 4, was tabbed Little Mister. Other award winners were Maelynn Lucille Gosney, 5 (Be Like Grace Award), Marcus Buck, 6 (Little Mister People’s Choice) and Faith Sigmund, 3 (Little Miss People’s Choice).

The non-competitive eighth annual Sweetheart of Adams County Pageant was also held Wednesday night. The pageant allows people of any age with intellectual or physical disabilities to experience being a queen or king for a night. 

ADAMS COUNTY FAIR QUEENS BY TOWN

Quincy, 29
Mendon, 7
Camp Point, 6
Liberty, 4
Clayton, 2
Payson, 2
Fowler, 2
Paloma, 2
Ursa, 1
Coatsburg, 1
Plainville, 1

(Others, from outside Adams County, 2)

MOST RECENT ADAMS COUNTY FAIR QUEENS FROM

• Quincy: Morgan Widmer, 2023
• Camp Point: Caylee Hughes, 2022
• Mendon: Jersey Hesse, 2021
• Liberty: Madalyn Gibbs, 2024
• Clayton: Madelyn Heinecke, 2018
• Paloma: Stephanie Dearwester, 2015
• Ursa: Rachel Shriver, 2009
• Payson: Amy Ohnemus, 2002
• Fowler: Amanda Cramsey, 2000
• Coatsburg: Lucy Koetters, 1998
• Plainville: Michelle LaLonde, 1981

ADAMS COUNTY FAIR QUEEN PAGEANT WINNERS

Hometown, number of contestants (when available) in parentheses

• 2024: Madalyn Gibbs, Liberty (8)
• 2023: Morgan Widmer, Quincy (8)
• 2022: Caylee Hughes, Camp Point (4)
• 2021: Jersey Hesse, Mendon (3)
• 2020: No pageant due to pandemic
• 2019: Cheyenne DeWeese, Liberty (5)
• 2018: Madelyn Heinecke, Clayton (7)
• 2017: Kaylyn Orpet-Hulett, Quincy (9)
• 2016: Emma Hildebrand, Mendon (7)
• 2015: Stephanie Dearwester, Paloma (14)
• 2014: Lynsey Whitaker, Quincy (14)
• 2013: Kayla Bunch, Quincy (8)
• 2012: Montanna Neisen, Liberty (9)
• 2011: Erica Mitchell, Paloma (14)
• 2010: Lauren Whan, Camp Point (8)
• 2009: Rachel Shriver, Ursa (11)
• 2008: Casey Marquess, Liberty (7)
• 2007: Kate Leenerts, Quincy (13)
• 2006: Kari Miller, Camp Point (15)
• 2005: Randi Mixer, Camp Point (21)
• 2004: Lindsey Hess, Clayton (23)
• 2003: Kris Ann Douglas, Quincy (22)
• 2002: Amy Ohnemus, Payson (11)
• 2001: Nicole Edwards, Quincy (11)
• 2000: Amanda Cramsey, Fowler (12)
• 1999: Cathy Heckenkamp, Quincy (12)
• 1998: Lucy Koetters, Coatsburg (12)
• 1997: Amanda Hoosier, Camp Point (14)
• 1996: Christina Heckenkamp, Quincy (14)
• 1995: Danielle Sill, Quincy (11)
• 1994: Stevee Baker, Quincy (13)
• 1993: Amy Maguire, Quincy (12)
• 1992: Stacy Stuedle, Quincy (10)
• 1991: Michelle Davis, Quincy
• 1990: Jill Walbring, Quincy
• 1989: Buffy Kulbeth, Phoenix, Ariz. (14)
• 1988: Dawn Wild, Quincy
• 1987: Laura Menke, Quincy (12)
• 1986: Michelle Eberle, Knox City, Mo. (14)
• 1985: Dawn Smith, Quincy (15)
• 1984: Carol Tate, Quincy (16)
• 1983: Kelly Juette, Quincy (14)
• 1982: Karen Grunden, Quincy (15)
• 1981: Michelle LaLonde, Plainville (15)
• 1980: Becky Payne, Mendon (7)
• 1979: Julie Hardy, Camp Point (12)
• 1978: Sharon Allen, Quincy (14)
• 1977: Venita Little, Quincy (16)
• 1976: Donna Blickhan, Mendon (14)
• 1975: Janet Dittmer, Fowler (26)
• 1974: Peggy Maguire, Quincy (17)
• 1973: Trish Peter, Mendon (16)
• 1972: Barbara Branson, Quincy (23)
• 1971: Debbie Wilson, Quincy
• 1970: Toni Wand, Payson
• 1969: Leslie Durand, Quincy (7)
• 1968: Judy VonderHaar, Quincy (3)
• 1967: Shirley Smith, Mendon (12)
• 1966: Susan Frazier, Quincy (12)
• 1965: Patricia Tieken, Mendon (12)