Henry County Fair Queen crowned

MT. PLEASANT — Wednesday evening, the newest Henry County Fair Queen, Junior Queen, and Princess were crowned.

Miss Iowa Bailey Hodson and Miss Iowa Outstanding Teen Emily Lerch helped judge the contest alongside America’s National Teenager Scholarship Organization Queen Killie Akers chose each winner, including the reigning 2022 Henry County Fair Queen.

With a look of complete shock, Chevelle (Chevy) Mills was selected as Henry County’s 2022 Fair Queen.

Not only was she loved by the judges, but her fellow contestants love her, too.

Upon receiving her Fair Queen Crown, Mills had to remove the Miss Congeniality one placed on her head only minutes earlier.

Miss Congeniality is the title given to a contestant without any influence from the judges and only votes from her fellow contestants.

“I just decided to do this because they said they needed more people and I thought it would be a good way to volunteer more hours,” Mills said. “I am shocked.”

2021 Henry County Fair Queen Madie Anderson elegantly handed over her title to Mills.

“I am so grateful that I decided to try something different by joining this competition,” Anderson said. “This competition taught me more about public speaking, communication, organizational, and people skills.”

“Throughout this year my favorite place to make appearances was at the Henry County fair itself,” Anderson continued. “I would like to give a special thank you to Summer Miller. Thank you for your countless help and advice with everything this year.”

"Henry County, it has been such an honor,“ she said.

2021 Junior Queen Ashlynn Beauchamp and Princess Bella Tedrow assisted in the crowning.

Tedrow ended up pulling double duty, however, as she was crowned the 2022 Junior Queen.

This was Tedrow’s first year in the new age bracket and she took it by storm.

The 2022 Junior Queen first runner-up went to the confident Jacie Campbell.

Kara Hoover took over Tedrow’s role as Henry County Princess.

Hoover competed with her twin sister Kendayl, and while having your sister win instead of you is difficult, the twins compete with one another often, and always support one another in the end.

The Hoover family is not unfamiliar with the stage, even Kendayl and Kara’s other sister Meghan, who is also a twin, competed in the princess portion of the pageant.

“She [Meghan] is 8 years old, so she and her twin are a year younger than Kara and Kendayl,” mother Kristina Hoover said. “Yes, I know, crazy. Two sets of twins only a year apart.”

Henry County Princess first runner-up shares an interesting trait with Hoover. They have the same first name.

Kara Campbell was excited to participate in her second county fair pageant.

“I want to show people what 4-H and agriculture and farming aren’t just something you do,” Campbell said. “It’s part of a lifestyle.”

Mills, Queen Runner-up Alexandra Farley, and the rest of the crowned queens could be seen throughout the fair helping throughout the week.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com