Washington County crowns new Fair Queen Court

WASHINGTON — Three young women who have never participated in a pageant before now make up the 2022 Washington County Fair Queen Court.

Maddie Peiffer earned the title of Fair Princess and the contestants voted Ally Rees Miss Congeniality, and Katie Leichty, who happens to be Rees’s cousin, won the title of 2022 Washington County Fair Queen.

“This is my very first pageant,” Leichty said.

“I’m just so excited for this opportunity,” Leichty said. “I am so excited for what the week at fair is going to hold for me… I get to go around and meet everyone. I am an extrovert. I love talking to people. It is one of my greatest joys. I love talking to little kids and letting them know what they can do. I am so excited.”

The pageant beautifully displayed not only pretty dresses, sweet smiles, and well-spoken women, but the feeling of family and friendship was clearly evident.

“I did it [the pageant], because I thought it would be a great experience, and it would be a great time to spend with my friends,” Leichty said. “It was something I would regret not doing.”

“I’ve heard from past queens that it was really fun and really good experience for meeting new people, and gaining interview skills,” Rees said.

The cousins took the pageant as an opportunity to spend time together, and cheer one another on.

“We snapped constantly,” Rees said of her and Leichty. “We’d ask each other ‘Is this a good answer? Should I wear this?’”

“We were picking out our outfits like an hour ago,” she said.

“I thought she [Leichty] would win Miss Congeniality,” Rees said.

“I thought she [Rees] would,” Leichty said. “She is the funniest, sweetest person I’ve met.”

The cousins’ family agreed with Leichty, that Rees was the perfect Miss Congeniality.

“It fits her,” Mindy Rees, Ally’s mother said.

While Fair Princess Maddie Peiffer is not related to Leichty and Rees, she was fully embraced.

“I didn’t even know her before, but I am so glad to have met her” Ally Rees said.

“I’m so excited,” recent Highland Graduate Peiffer said.

She, however, would admit her excitement was only a bit more than her excitement about her evening gown having pockets.

“It has pockets!” Peiffer said.

According to Peiffer and her mother, pockets are a huge deal in women’s clothing.

Rees appeared to agree as she proclaimed, “The princess and her amazing princess pockets.”

Peiffer was excited to also try something new this year by participating in the pageant.

“My FFA teacher sent me the flyer and I wanted to do it last year but didn’t get a chance so I wanted to do it this year,” Peiffer said.

Pageant Coordinators Katy Norman and Shawna Sieren helped prepare the new girls, arranged for Miss Rodeo Iowa, Emma Bair, as the Master of Ceremonies, and put together the judging panel consisting of 2021 Iowa State Fair Queen, McKenna Henrich, 1995 Queen contestant and Miss Iowa contestant, Jade Halvorsen, and Cedar County Fair Board Member and Queen Coordinator, Molly Haub for the well-organized pageant.

Plans to meet and discuss fair week scheduling could be overheard as the crowd slowly began to disperse, and all three of the young women enthusiastically chatted about their excitement for fair duties throughout the week.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com