The 2022 Miss Marion County Fair Queen is Delaney Kell of Salem.
“It means a lot. I’ve been dreaming of this since I was a little girl so to say I did it is huge.”
The 19-year-old grew up at the fair attending each year since she was a baby.
“I couldn’t believe it. I was shocked. It was a lot of emotions that were right at the surface all day that just came out at the moment. I was so excited and so happy, I couldn’t do anything but cry.”
Kell who is a Salem Community High School graduate now attends Southeastern Missouri State University where she is working towards a Master’s Degree in Communication Disorders. She is the daughter of Charyl and Jamie Kell of Salem.
First runner-up was Brylee Dukes of Centralia and Second Runner up was Sara Timm of Iuka.
Timm also won for Best Speech and Communications as well as the first-ever Rustler Award named after long-time fair secretary Russell Vandaveer. The winner was chosen based on enthusiasm, organization, and love for the fair.
Kailey Brubaker of Salem was named Miss Congeniality. Makaela Draege of Odin won Most Photogenic and Best in Swimwear. Abigail Smith of Salem won for Best Stage Presence.
Kell received her crown from outgoing 2021 Miss Marion County Fair Maggie Telford.
“In all, it has been a really really super fun year. I am so thankful I got this opportunity to represent the county I love most. I am so proud of each and every one of the contestants. They all worked so hard over the summer. They truly shined on the stage tonight. And congratulations to our new Miss Marion County Fair Delaney Kell. She has been my best friend for many many years. We ran around the fairgrounds together every single year. I’m so excited for her.”
The Little Miss selected by drawing to ride in the Little Egypt Festival Parade with the queen was Tatum Larson, the daughter of Nick and Kristen Larson of Odin.
Pageant Co-Coordinator Morgan Crouse is pleased with the winner.
“I think Dulaney will be a great one to work with. She grew up on the fairgrounds and she knows the ins and outs of the fair and I think she is going to make a great candidate for us.”
Crouse now looks forward to the crowning of the new Junior Miss Marion County from among the 20 candidates Thursday night.
2022 Marion County Fair Queen Delaney Kell of Salem and outgoing Queen Maggie Telford of Salem. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
Marion County Royalty. Left to right: Miss Congeniality Kailey Brubaker; 2nd Runner Up, Rustler Award Winner and Best in Speech and Communication Sara Timm; 2022 Miss Marion County Fair Delaney Kell; and 1st Runner Up Brilee Dukes.
