2025 Miss Illinois County Fair
Johnna Fulcher, Geneseo
One of the highlights of the annual event is the Miss Illinois County Fair Queen Pageant, held January 19.
Johnna Fulcher, 20, of Geneseo was crowned the 67th Miss Illinois County Fair Queen. Johnna represented Henry County at the 114th Illinois Association of Agricultural Fairs Convention on Sunday. Johnna is the daughter of Margo and David Hohe. She is currently attending Blackhawk College and will graduate this spring with an associate degree in art. She plans to continue her education at Carl Sandburg College to pursue a degree in dental hygiene.
Fulcher will be a summer employee of the Department of Agriculture. She will travel to about 30 county fairs and will be the official hostess of the Illinois State Fair in Springfield and the DuQuoin State Fair in DuQuoin. As queen, Fulcher’s main duty is to emphasize the importance of agriculture and county fairs to Illinois.
Delaney Epley of Christian County was named the first runner up, Claire Oliver of Sangamon County was named second runner up, Kaylee Ford of Western Illinois Fair was named third runner up, and Paris Van Dyke of Clay County was named fourth runner up.
Dressed in a sparkling purple gown, Fulcher described the moment her name was announced as Miss Illinois County Fair Queen as “surreal”
“I nearly blacked out,” she said. “It was an amazing moment. I thought everyone on that stage could have been chosen. The fact it was me, I feel so honored. I’m so grateful. I’m overjoyed with emotion and really happy right now.”
In addition to being employed by the Geneseo Park District, Fulcher enjoys playing soccer the past 16 years, hanging out with her three younger brothers, reading in her spare time and going on coffee runs with friends. She also enjoys coaching youth basketball, cooking with her grandmother and playing the baritone ukulele.
The top 15 finalists were: Ella Horn of Williamson County, Claire Oliver of Sangamon County, Olivia Shike of Champaign County, Kyandra Zerrusen of Effingham County, Colleen Schumann of Calhoun County, Haley Bode of Monroe County, McKinley Rexroast of Warren County, Paili Davis of Georgetown Fair, Paris Van Dyke of Clay County, Annalyse Richter of Madison County, Johnna Fulcher of Henry County, Claire Meyer of Moultrie-Douglas County, Kaylee Ford of Western Illinois Fair, Elizabeth Corrie of Schuyler County, Delaney Epley of Christian County and Gracie Lindley of Bond County.
Non-finalist awards went to: Ella King of Mercer County, Ruby Crum Award; Addison Earley of Macoupin County, Best in Stage Presence; Bella Welch of Okawville, Best in Communications Skills Competition; Olivia Pawlak of McHenry County, Best in Beauty and Physique competition. Emersyn Fleisher of Knox County was the People’s Choice Award Winner.
