It’s more than two years since a new Indiana State Fair Queen has been crowned due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but when the Indiana State Fair starts this summer, Alyssa McKillip, Miss Wabash County 2020 will be wearing the crown.
McKillip takes over the reigns from Claudia Duncan from Vanderburgh County, who was crowned during the last pageant held in Jan. 2020 before the start of the pandemic. The Indiana State Fair was canceled in 2020 due to the coronavirus. Duncan was able to serve as queen during the 2021 Indiana State Fair.
McKillip was selected Miss Indiana State Fair 2022 over more than 100 other contestants each representing their home counties. Many counties had twice the representation from those who still held their fairs in 2020 when the Indiana State Fair was canceled.
The Indiana State Fair Queen plays a key role in promoting the Indiana State Fair by traveling over 6,500 miles during June and July to approximately 42 county fairs to promote the upcoming Indiana State Fair, July 29 – Aug. 21, 2022. The fair will be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Here are the results of the Top 10 finalists:
The Queen’s Court:
- 1st Runner-up – Sydney Dunkin, Miss Vigo County 2020
- 2nd Runner-up – Kalyn Melham, Miss Delaware County 2021
- 3rd Runner-up – Grace Brenneman, Miss Elkhart County 2021
- 4th Runner-up – Emma Yarber, Miss Posey County 2021
Other finalists, in no particular order:
- Jordyn Wickard, Miss Hancock County 2020
- Julia Prickett, Miss Shelby County 2021
- Kelsey Kendall, Miss Marion County 2020
- Keyton Romero, Miss Howard County 2021
- Jenna Zeider, Miss Pulaski County 2021
Julianne Bell, Miss Martin County 2020, was selected by the contestants as Miss Congeniality 2022.
Front Row, L-R
3rd Runner-Up: Grace Brenneman, Elkhart County 2021
1st Runner-Up: Sydney Dunkin, Vigo County 2020
Miss Indiana State Fair 2022: Alyssa McKillip, Wabash County 2020
2nd Runner-Up: Kalyn Melham, Delaware County 2021
4th Runner-Up: Emma Yarber, Posey County 2021
Second Row, L-R
Jenna Zeider, Pulaski County 2021
Grace Igleheart, Scott County 2020
Kelsey Kendall, Marion County 2020
Cassadi Colbert, Kosciusko County 2021
Carly James, Newton County 2021
Hannah Oelschlager, Marion County 2021
Libby Padgett, Orange County 2021
Courtney Lueking, Sullivan County 2021
Keyton Romero, Howard County 2021
Julia Prickett, Shelby County 2021
Jordyn Wickard, Hancock County 2020.
(Photo courtesy of the Indiana State Fair.)
For more information, visit www.indianastatefair.com.
