Fair Queen
and Little Miss Pageant


Meet the candidates for
this year's pageant!

Fair Queen

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Little Miss

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Anna Washausen

Anna Washausen

Anna Washausen

Sponsored by   Monroe County Shrine Club and Gregson Farms.
Anna is the 18-year-old daughter of Bryan and Julie Washausen of Waterloo. She stands 4’11” tall with brown hair and green eyes. She is a 2025 graduate of Waterloo High School. This fall she will begin pursuing her degree in stenography at Mark Kislingbury’s Academy of Court Reporting to become a stenographer and eventually obtain a degree in Spanish to become a translator at the Federal Level. She is currently employed as a Livestock Feeder and is completing an internship at the St Louis Federal Courthouse in their Pre-Trial division.
Anna enjoys thrifting, traveling, photography, reading, and cooking. She is involved in competitive and sideline cheerleading, Yearbook Club Leader, and FFA. She enjoys teaching Spanish to young students, working Ainad Sportsman Raffles, Cancer benefits, and Federal Pre-Trial Work.
Anna’s special honors include Top Dog Award, National Honors Society, March Student of the Month, Student of Character recipient for Responsibility, Bulldog Award, Sportsmanship Award, High Honor Roll, Pin It Forward recipient twice, and Best Oral Presentation Award. 

Emma Carter

Emma Carter

Emma Carter

Sponsored by  Knight Hawk Coal and Pyramid Oaks Golf Course. 
Emma is the 17-year-old daughter of Joshua and Abigail Carter of Red Bud. She stands 5’9” tall with brown hair and blue eyes. She will be a 2026 graduate of Red Bud High School. After high school she plans to attend college majoring in either Ag Education or another agriculture related field. She currently works as a babysitter, house/pet sitter, and teaches horse riding lessons.
Emma loves playing sports, reading books, hanging out with her friends, and riding her horses. She is involved in many sports and clubs at her high school including volleyball, basketball, track, FFA, Student Council, Class Officers, FBLA, and ACES. She is also involved in her local 4-H chapter. Emma completes community service through her FFA Chapter and 4-H Chapter, as well as volunteering as a youth league basketball coach in the local youth league.
Emma’s special honors include being voted captain of her high school basketball team, Vice President of the Red Bud FFA Chapter, President of the Junior Class at Red Bud High School, State 4-H Champion for animal science projects 2 years in a row, First in her Class, and on High Honor Roll at Red Bud High School. 

Erin Halleran

Erin Halleran

Erin Halleran

Sponsored by Schwarze Trailer Repair, Waterloo Animal Hospital, Invision/Hisoy Seed, and DEKALB/Asgrow Seed.
 Erin is the 18-year-old daughter of Jim and Amy Halleran of Waterloo. She stands 5’6” tall with dark brown hair and brown eyes. She is a 2025 graduate of Waterloo High School. This fall she will be a freshman at Lake Land College working on an Ag Transfer Degree while on the livestock judging team. Afterwards she plans to transfer to Kansas State to major in Pet Feed and Food Science or Livestock Nutrition. She is currently employed at Maurice’s.
Erin enjoys showing sheep, judging livestock, baking, hunting, training her dog Boone, and playing the hunting horn. She is highly active in Waterloo FFA,Backyard Bandits 4-H, and the 4-H Federation. She is on the American Junior Hampshire Sheep Association Board and currently operates as their secretary. She is also a member of the Waterloo Marching Bulldogs, Monroe County Sheep Producers Director, Coordinator of the MoCo SHowcase Sheep Show, volunteers during fair workdays and the fair, attends, FBC Columbia, and assists with 4-H club Blessing Boxes.
Erin’s special honors include I Dare You 4-H Award, Top Dog Award, 2023 Monroe County Master Showman, Marching Band Outstanding Senior and Outstanding Musician, Waterloo FFA Vice President for 2 years, Band Section Leader for 2 years, 4-H President for 3 years and current Treasurer, and 4-H Federation President and current Secretary. 

Olivia Stechmesser

Olivia Stechmesser

Olivia Stechmesser

Sponsored by Shelby’s Automotive Repair Inc and Gateway FS Inc. 
Olivia is the 19-year-old daughter of Shane and Leanna Stechmesser of Waterloo. She stands 5’8” tall with brown hair and green eyes. She is a 2024 graduate of Waterloo High School. This fall she will be a Sophomore at Southwestern Illinois College, with plans to transfer to Southern Illinois University Carbondale to pursue an Agricultural Business degree. She has worked as a Cashier at Rural King for the last 3 years.
When not working, Olivia enjoys spending time outdoors, hiking with her cousins and siblings, taking her two dogs on adventures, spending quality time with her family, and going on long bike rides in the summer. She is involved in Holy Cross Lutheran Church of Wartburg, Golden Eagles 4-H (10 years), Waterloo FFA (4 years), Monroe County 4-H Federation, Waterloo FFA Livestock Judging Team, and Waterloo FFA Conduct of Chapter Meetings Team. She has volunteered for many workdays to prep for the Monroe County Fair, Section 22 VoAg Fair, led local daycares in tours of the fairgrounds during fair week, and has worked with Adopt-a-Family, food drives and pet drives (both with 4-H and FFA), and Farm-to-Store events with the Monroe County Farm Bureau.
Olivia’s Special Honors include FFA Greenhand, Chapter, State, and American Degrees, 2024 Waterloo FFA Outstanding Senior, FFA Record Book winner at Section and District, Section Star in Ag Placement, FFA Secretary, 2024 Top Dog award, Monroe County Farm Bureau and FFA Alumni Scholarship recipient, 4-H Historian, President, and Vice President, Superior Young Producer, and Master Showmanship winner. 

Riley McDermott

Riley McDermott

Riley McDermott

Sponsored by  Monica Schmidt Real Estate Group brokered by eXp Realty and Monroe County Electric Cooperative.
Riley is the 18-year-old daughter of Tim and Mindy McDermott of Red Bud. She stands 5’4” with brown hair and brown eyes. She is a 2025 graduate of Waterloo High School. This fall she will be a freshman at University of Illinois – Urbana Champaign where she is pursuing a degree in Crop Sciences with a focus in Horticulture and minor in Agriculture Communications. She is the owner of Tilled to Table.
Riley enjoys gardening, being outdoors, baking, fishing, and playing softball. She is involved in FFA, 4-H, and softball. She has coordinated a pet supply drive, collected canned food items, donated extra produce from her garden, renovated garden beds for Oak Hill, planted trees for Baebler Educational Farm, and packaged meals for those in need.
Riley has been awarded her FFA Stage Degree and has been named the National FFA Vegetable Production Proficiency Winner and State FFA Agricultural Processing Proficiency Winner. She was the Waterloo FFA Chapter President, Section 22 FFA Secretary, and a member of National Honors Society and WHS Renaissance Club. She has also received the Optimist Youth Appreciation Award, Waterloo High School Top Dog, and Waterloo Student of the Month. 

Little Miss Candidates
  • BROOKLYN GRACE KUBELKA, sponsored by The Brooke Mitchell Real Estate Team.
    Brooklyn is the 8-year-old daughter of Heidi and Michael Kubelka of Waterloo. She stands 4’1” tall with light brown hair and blue eyes. This fall she will be in 3rd grade at Roger’s Elementary. She has a 10-year-old brother, Aidan, and a goldendoodle named Daisy Mae. Brooklyn enjoys riding her bike, roller skating, gymnastics, swimming, and spending time with friends and family. She enjoys local events such as the Fair, Pumpkin Fest, and the glow parades. She also likes to go to Branson and places like Great Wolf Lodge and amusement parks. She is active in WSA Cheerleading and Singers Company where she dances and sings one night each week. She is a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church and attends Vacation Bible School during the summer. She received a S.O.A.R award for “Caring.” When she grows up she wants to be a doctor.
  • Charlotte Klein, sponsored by Annbriar Golf Course and Monica Schmidt Real Estate Group brokered by eXp Realty. 
    Charlotte is the 8-year-old daughter of Jeremy and Amanda Klein of Waterloo. She stands 4’4” tall with light brown hair and green-brown eyes. This fall she will be in 3rd grade at Roger’s Elementary. She has a 5-year-old sister, Everleigh, 3-year-old sister, Ryleigh, 2 dogs, 4 cats, and 20 chickens. Charlotte enjoys camping, crafting, baking, trout fishing, horses, tumbling, golfing, gardening, and selling her chickens’ eggs. She loves volunteering at the Monroe County Fair. She is involved in gymnastics and horseback riding (with hopes of competing in a rodeo), is a member of WSA Cheerleading, Sunday School at St Paul United Church of Christ-Waterloo, and is looking forward to joining 4-H this fall!
  • Kelsey Schmidt, sponsored by Pie Hard Pizzeria and Kruse Chiropractic. 
    Kelsey is the 8-year-old daughter of Eric and Miranda Schmidt of Fults. She stands 4’1” tall with blonde hair and blue eyes. This fall she will be in 3rd grade at Monroe County Christian School. She has a 4-year-old brother, Wade, a dog named Bailey, cats, chickens, and ducks. Kelsey enjoys soccer, horseback riding, swimming, piano, reading, taking care of her farm animals, camping, and fishing. She is involved in church and helps cook and make dinner. In the past she has had a lemonade stand and sold crafts to raise money for mission trips at her church.
  • Sophia Nilges, sponsored by Schwarze Trailer Repair Inc and Kody Schwarze Straw & Seed. 
    Sophia is the 7-year-old daughter of Paul and Emelie Nilges of Waterloo. She stands 4’ tall with blonde hair and blue eyes. This fall she will be in 2nd grade at Roger’s Elementary. She has a twin brother, Sebastian. Sophia enjoys singing, cheer, drums, karate, board games, crafts, swimming, and playing with her friends and cousins. She is involved in Monroe County Cloverbuds, Monroe County Singers Company, and Waterloo Sports Association Cheer Team.
  • Taelyn Kilian, sponsored by Aces Wild. 
    Taelyn is the 8-year-old daughter of Ted and Dawn Kilian of Columbia. She stands 4’3” tall with blonde hair and hazel eyes. This fall she will be in 3rd grade at Parkview Elementary. She has a 28-year-old brother, Dakota, 18-year-old brother, Dalton, 26-year-old sister, Makayla, a dog named Cocoa, and a rabbit named Cotton Candy. Taelyn enjoys cheerleading, shopping, and camping. She is a member of competitive cheer at Power Haus Cheer.
  • Vivian Hewitt, sponsored by Prestige Painting, Studio B Dance Company, and Unterseh-Schreder Insurance Agency. Vivian is the 8-year-old daughter of Ashley and Shawn Hewitt of Waterloo. She stands 4’4” tall with strawberry blonde hair and hazel eyes. This fall she will be in 3rd grade at Roger’s Elementary. She has an 11-year-old sister, Evelyn, and a mini goldendoodle named Minnie. Vivian enjoys dancing, playing with her dog, riding her bike, and building Legos with her sister. She is involved in competitive dance and Piranhas swim team.