The 2026 Marion County Fair Queen Pageant field of contestants has been set. There are 8 young ladies competing for the title of Miss Marion County. The pageant is set to happen on August 3rd at 7pm.
Ella Douglas, the reigning 2025 Miss Marion County currently attends University of Illinois Champaign Urbana earning her degree in Sustainability in Food and Environmental Systems Prelaw degree in May 2027. Upon graduation she plans to attend law school.
The reigning Miss and Jr Miss Queens Ella and Jane Taylor along with the Miss and Jr Miss contestants will be serving dinner at the Elks Chicken Dinner is this Sunday, July 12 from 11-1.
The Miss Marion County Candidates include:
#1 Kenzi is the daughter of Justin and Carissa Coffey of Salem. She is a December graduate of Salem Community High School. She has completed her freshmen year at Kaskaskia College and plans to attend Maryville University to double major in Elementary and Early Child education. She is sponsored by the EPOC Experience, Mom Photography, Big R and Farm, and Coffey Construction.
#2 Madison is the daughter of Tim Thrash & Julie Lowery of Salem. She is a 2026 graduate of Salem Community High School and plans to attend Kaskaskia College to earn her nursing degree. She is sponsored by Renaissance Salon, KCDC Transportation, and Peoples State Bank.
#3 Lorelai is the daughter of Jared and Sara Rose of Kinmundy. She is going to be a senior at South Central High School. Upon graduation she will also have earned her associates degrees from Kaskaskia College and will continue her education at Murray State. She is sponsored by Riechmann Brothers John Deere Dealership, Tri-Ag Distributors, and Rose Family Farms & General Stores.
#4 Kallie is the daughter of David & Randa Walsh of Salem & Erin & Ricky Jones of Mount Zion. She will enter her 2nd year at Southern Illinois University pursuing her bachelors in nursing with a minor in business. She is sponsored by Schmidt Ford of Salem, The Equity of Alma, and Riechmann Brothers of Farina.
#5 Jillian Green is the daughter of Jason and Trina Green of Salem. She is a graduate of Salem Community High School and the nursing program at Kaskaskia College and will attend Southern Indian University while also beginning her nursing career. She is sponsored by Jason Green of Shelter Insurance and TSS Photography both of Salem.
#6 Sierra is the daughter of Shaun and Stacey Ford of Junction City. She is a 2026 graduate of Sandoval High School and plans to attend Kaskaskia College to pursue her associates in nursing. She is sponsored by Jett’s Sheep Farm
#7 Abigail is the daughter of James and Danna Patrick of Salem. She is a 2026 graduate of Salem Community High and will attend Illinois State University in the fall majoring in integrated marketing and communications. She is sponsored by Redbrick Coffee and Deli, Black Tie Affair, and Somer Real Estate
#8 Hannah Duncan is the daughter of Dustin and Robyn Duncan of Salem. Hannah will be a senior at Salem Community High School. After graduation, she plans to attend Southern Illinois University of Carbondale to pursue a degrees in Business and horticulture. She is sponsored by the Iuka State Bank, Christy Gillett at Somer Real Estate, and Shakespeare Oil.
