Queen Johnna
Johnna Fulcher proudly serves as the 2025 Miss Illinois County Fair Queen. She is the 20-year-old daughter of Margo and David Hone and hails from Henry County. A recent graduate of Black Hawk College, Johnna earned her Associate in Arts degree and will continue her education this fall at Illinois State University, where she will major in Marketing with a minor in Agriculture. She hopes to pursue a career that allows her to embrace her creativity while exploring her growing passion for the agriculture industry. Johnna played soccer for 16 years and wrapped up her athletic career as a two-year team captain at Black Hawk College. She is a member of Phi Theta Kappa and maintained high honors during her time at BHC. In her free time, she enjoys volunteering, singing, reading, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.
Johnna is honored to represent the Miss Illinois County Fair Queen program and has a deep appreciation for county fairs and what they do for our state! She wishes all of the contestants the very best as they take the stage tonight and can’t wait to see who the new royalty will be!
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.
