Miss Western Illinois Fair Kaylee Ford earns third runner-up in recent state pageant
Story and Photos by David Blanchette
Morgan County came close to having back-to-back Illinois State Fair royalty as a young woman from Franklin was third runner-up for the crown that was retired by a Jacksonville resident.
Kaylee Ford from Franklin, the current Miss Western Illinois Fair, was among 74 contestants for the 2025 Miss Illinois County Fair Queen title during the annual pageant held January 16-19 in Springfield. Ford sought to take over from retiring Queen Natalie Evans of Jacksonville and nearly did so, achieving third runner-up status while charming the judges and the crowd of 1,000 spectators.
“It’s been really exciting, a dream come true. I’ve always wanted to do this since I was a little girl,” said the 21-year-old Ford. “I knew it was going to be fun but I didn’t think it would be this fun. I’ve made a lot of friends.”
Ford is a multiple pageant title holder. She was the 2023 Miss Illinois Festival Queen, 2021 Miss Franklin, 2016 Junior Miss Morgan County, and Little Miss and Junior Miss Franklin. She also holds another title, and one that was the basis of her state pageant speech – cochlear implant recipient.
“I went from being ‘that deaf girl’ at school” to competing in, and winning, local pageants, Ford related during her speech. She went on to explain how the device, which could be seen behind her ear on stage, has made her want to be an otolaryngologist in order to help others who may benefit from the type of device which has provided Ford the ability to hear.
Speeches are important during the Miss Illinois County Fair Queen Pageant and Ford wanted to make sure her life-based oration was the best it could be.
“I practiced my speech 16 different times and I did not say it correctly any of those times,” Ford said. “On stage it also wasn’t what I had planned, but it came out OK.”
Ford encouraged other young women to try entering a local pageant like she did.
“I say go for it. It’s a good experience, you learn many life lessons and make new friends — it’s a great journey to go on,” Ford said. “I decided at the last minute to do the Western Illinois Fair pageant. I’m glad I did because I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t.”
The current Morgan County Fair Queen, Tate Morrisey of Jacksonville, was also among the contestants for the 2025 State Fair Queen title. She agreed with Ford that competing in pageants provides many benefits and opportunities for young women.
“It is the best experience. I have gained great communication skills and that’s something I will always use in my future,” said the 19-year-old Morrisey. “Preparing for this pageant I have also gotten to know so much about livestock and agriculture, and I got to experience it with my family and connect more with the community.”
Morrisey was thrilled with the support she received from the Morgan County Fair Board during her bid for State Fair Queen.
“They have been so supportive, the other night I actually went to dinner with them,” Morrisey said. “They gave me a ring and it was the sweetest thing. I really appreciate everything they do for me. They always made sure to have my back in Springfield and in Jacksonville.”
Morrisey attends Illinois State University and plans a career as a nurse anesthetist.
Another area pageant contestant was 19-year-old Alli Peterson of Winchester, the current Miss Scott County Fair. Although she is young, Peterson has a lifetime of experience with the Miss Illinois County Fair Queen Pageant.
“This is my 13th year here at the state pageant and I finally got to walk across that stage,” Peterson said. “In 2011, I was crowned Miss Western Illinois Fair Princess and I came and watched my miss that year and absolutely fell in love with this organization. I’ve continued to come back each year and watch all of the beautiful queens grace the stage.”
Peterson appreciated the atmosphere of camaraderie that the more than six dozen contestants from across Illinois brought to the state pageant.
“You always think you’re competing against each other and people are in the zone,” Peterson said. “But everyone here has been so incredibly kind and just wants to be friends with you and I’ve really appreciated it.”
Of course, it wasn’t all seriousness during those four long state pageant days.
“We were always goofing around and having fun. A lot of us were trying to dance on stage in heels and we had some who were dancers and some who were not,” said Peterson, who is a dancer herself. “That was really fun to watch everybody try to figure out how to dance on the carpet in heels.”
A 19-year-old Beardstown resident, Miss Cass County Fair Ava Schlueter, was also among the area queens who competed during the long January weekend. Things were a little bit stressful for her at first.
“The day before I showed up for the state pageant we had to completely re-alter my dress because we found a little problem,” Schlueter recalled. “So my dress definitely has a back story, but we pulled it off on stage.”
Schlueter “did a lot of mock interviews and practicing my walk” as she prepared to compete in Springfield. “I also learned to talk on stage and acquired more communication skills,” she added.
Schlueter couldn’t have been happier with the support she got from Cass County, including the boisterous group of backers who cheered her on during the state pageant.
“They have been amazing, I’ve had the best ever support from my county,” Schlueter said. “They are so kind to me and always make me feel like I’m at home. They have always been there to support me and cheer me in parades. I also see them around when I’m doing my volunteer work or going to events. They are just super great.”
And then there was the star of the show for most of the pageant, retiring Queen Natalie Evans of Jacksonville. Evans crowned her successor, Johnna Fulcher from Geneseo, during the pageant finale on Sunday, January 19, and had advice for the new 2025 queen.
“It can be a crazy, fast and overwhelming experience,” Evans said. “But if you just take the time to soak it in, you’re going to be amazing.”
The 20-year-old Evans, a student at Murray State University in Kentucky, will now focus on applying for veterinary school and a veterinary internship this summer with a career goal of focusing on large animal medicine. She spent a lot of time as the 2024 Miss Illinois County Fair Queen in the livestock show rings of the Illinois and DuQuoin State Fairs, and Evans has many years of cattle show experience herself as a 4-H member.
“Every single moment and opportunity I have had as queen was just extraordinary and I met so many amazing individuals across the state,” Evans recalled. “I had so much fun and grew as a person. A year ago I was terrified and nervous, but now I feel so fulfilled and grateful for this opportunity.”
Evans will always remember the way Morgan County welcomed her a year ago as the newly-crowned State Fair Queen.
“I came home to Jacksonville and we drove down Morton, along State Street and down side streets and people honked their horns and waved signs,” Evans said. “Then we ended up at the 4-H building on the fairgrounds where things pretty much started for me.”
