The 2024 Miss Marion County Fair Queen is Preslee Harris of Iuka.
“I was like I don’t know what to do, I’ve never been a Queen. I don’t know what to say. I just looked at Kaitlyn [Banning], oh my gosh put that crown on my head. That crown is mine now!”
The 17-year-old Harris will be a senior at Salem Community High School in the fall.
“Well I’ve always watched the pageant growing up and I just knew I wanted to represent my county and agriculture in my county and look like a princess doing it.”
Harris is looking forward to presiding over the rest of the fair week festivities and going to the state competition in January.
“I cannot wait. The next 365 days will be the best 365 days of my life.”
Harris was crowned at Tuesday night’s queen pageant by outgoing Queen Kaitlyn Banning who ended her reign, calling it the best year of her life.
“There’s no preparing for it because there is nothing like it. The best advice I got is to enjoy every minute. That’s all you can. It is such a gift of God that you get to represent so much, not just the Marion County Fair, but agriculture and the people. Like I said in my speech, that is the thing that makes me so proud of where I am from. I know she will take that to heart.”
As Marion County Fair Queen, Preslee Harris will receive more than $7,000 in prizes and scholarships. Harris wants to be a Business Major in college but hasn’t decided on the field.
First runner-up, Ms Congeniality, and Best in Interview was Ella Douglas of Salem. 2nd runner-up was Madelyn Dailey of Centralia. Bailey Maas of Centralia won the Rustler Award and Most Photogenic. Lydia Donoho of Bluford was named People’s Choice from online voting and Best in Stage Presence. Gabriella Curtner of Sandoval won Best in Speech and Communication and Katelyn Biegeleisen of Salem was Best in Beauty and Physique.
Preslee Harris reaches out to Junior Miss Aubri Landreth after her name is announced as 2024 Miss Marion County. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
Preslee Harris takes her first walk as Queen after receiving her crown at the Tuesday pageant. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
2024 Marion County Queen contestants with outgoing Queen Kaitlyn Banning. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
