The 145th Annual White County Fair will open in just about a week and reigning royalty will look to crown fresh new faces Monday, August 5th. Brenna Russell, the retiring 2023/2024 White County Fair Queen visited with Carmi Kiwanis Thursday ahead of the pageant to talk more about her experience.
As I’m sure many past queens have told you, the Illinois County Fair Queen Pageant was the experience of a lifetime. There’s truly nothing like it. I was so blessed to have the love and support of my community behind me. Even though I was in Springfield, I really appreciated all the texts and messages I got on social media…I really appreciated everybody thinking of me during that time. I appreciate all the people who helped me prepare for that pageant, some of them in this room right now.
She says she owes all of her interviewing skills to the pageant system and credits pageants for some of the people she’s met that she never would have otherwise. Among those individuals are her sister queens, Little Miss Graecelyn O’Neal and Junior Miss Alexandria Vaupel. While bittersweet, Russell says she’s ready to turn crown fresh royalty as school is keeping her busy. She’s just finished her freshman year at the University of Illinois where her studies include a double major in Political Science and Communications with a minor in Legal Studies on the Pre-Law path. This summer, she’s been interning at the Hamilton County State’s Attorney’s office and somehow is still finding time to fill shifts on the wait staff at Dimaggio’s.
Judges will have a hard time, Russell says, choosing from four Miss Contestants.
I can promise you two things. White County is guaranteed an excellent representative. And two, our judges are going to have a very tough decision on their hands. Our four contestants are Lydia Vinyard of Norris City, Katelyn Allen of Norris City, Jayleigh Sullivan of Norris City, and Andi Garner of Carmi.
The Carmi Kiwanis Club made a donation to help fund the Queen scholarship. Russell says she was able to use the monies she won to help her pay for school. Hannah Sailer is the White County Fair Queen Pageant Director.
The Fair kicks off in the grandstand on Saturday, August 3rd this year with the first of two demolition derbies. There will be a livestock show on Friday, August 2nd and Saturday, the 3rd. The queen contest starts at 7pm at the grandstand. Admission is $10. You can learn more about this year’s fair events online at http://www.whitecountyfair.com.
