Department 92
2026 Missouri State Fair Queen Contest
Queen Superintendents: Natalie Fifer & Maria Birdsong
Miss Missouri State Fair 2025 Bailey Schneider
Rules and Regulations
Exhibitors must comply with all general rules and regulations for exhibitors in this premium book.
Violation of these rules may result in any or all of the following:
- Withholding or return of payment for the animal or exhibit, premiums and awards.
- Suspension from future exhibiting at the Missouri State Fair for a length of time to be determined by the Missouri State Fair Commission or the Director of the Missouri State Fair on behalf of the Commission. Suspensions can be for any length of time and may be permanent.
- Probationary exhibiting at the Missouri State Fair for a length of time and under such terms and conditions to be determined by the Missouri State Fair Commission or the Director of the Missouri State Fair on behalf of the Commission.
- Assessment of any other penalty determined by the Missouri State Fair Commission or the Director of the Missouri State Fair on behalf of the Commission.
The Missouri State Fair Queen Contest is held annually in conjunction with the Missouri State Fair. Entrants agree to abide by all rules of the Missouri State Fair Queen Contest that are in effect now or as announced later. Entrants agree that the time, manner, and method of judging shall be solely at the discretion of the Missouri State Fair and the decision of the judges will be final. Entrants agree to pay an entry fee of $50.
- Contestants shall be citizens of the United States.
- Contestants shall be female and residents of the state of Missouri for not fewer than six months immediately preceding July 15, 2026.
- Contestants shall be single and not cohabiting with a male or female partner, or at any time have been married, pregnant, or have had a child. A contestant must have never been convicted of any crime or have any criminal charges pending.
- Contestants shall be not less than 17 nor more than 22 years of age on September 1, 2026.
- Contestants shall have won a current title of queen of a county fair or contestant may be sponsored by an agricultural group (such as 4-H or FFA) that is approved by the Missouri State Fair Queen Contest superintendent. The contestant must have competed for and won the title between July 15, 2025-July 31, 2026.
- Entries shall be submitted no later than July 15, 2026. Exception: Fairs held between July 16 and July 31, 2026, may “pre-enter” their queens by notifying the Missouri State Fair Queen Contest superintendent in writing of their intentions prior to July 15, 2026. Completed entry forms of such pre-entered queens must be received by July 30, 2026, and will be accepted only if all requirements listed in Item 7 are complete.
- A complete entry will include the following:
- $50.00 entry fee.
- Completed official entry form (on-line).
- Sponsor/sponsoring organization consent form.
- One 5″ x 7″ color photograph. Emailed to msfqueencontest@gmail.com
- The queen and each contestant shall be accompanied by a female who is at least 25 years of age or the father of the queen contestant for the entire competition or reign. If a chaperone is not available, the contestant will not be able to participate in the competition and the queen will have to relinquish her title and scholarship.
- Talent/Speech must be performed solely by the contestant without accompaniment or assistance from any additional individuals during her performance. Further, any speech or talent requiring a live animal, regardless of the animal’s size, must be approved by the Queen Superintendent at least two weeks prior to the contest. This decision will be made with consideration for safety and fairness to all competitors.
- The queen, the four runners-up, and award winners will remain for a short time immediately following the coronation for publicity photographs.
- The Missouri State Fair Queen will automatically relinquish her title if she enters into a marriage contract or if she chooses to cohabit with a male or female in lieu of a marriage contract.
- Conduct deemed to be improper and detrimental to the Missouri State Fair or the queen contest will be reason for disqualification and dismissal by the superintendent.
- If Miss Missouri State Fair fails to complete her term, the title will be passed to the runners-up in the order of their rank, beginning with the first runner-up.
- Selection of the queen will be based on the following scoring basis:
- 40% Personal interviews
- 40% Public speaking or talent performance
- 20% Evening gown
- The Queen and the four runners-up will receive a scholarship to the Missouri college or university of their choice and prizes as follows:
- Queen: $2,000 scholarship
- 1st Runner-up: $1,000 scholarship
- 2nd Runner-up: $750 scholarship
- 3rd Runner-up: $500 scholarship
- 4th Runner-up: $350 scholarship
- Scholarships not claimed prior to December 31, 2026, will be forfeited.
- The Missouri State Fair does not guarantee premium money, merchandise, prizes or special awards. Because the State Fair Commission is without constitutional or statutory authority to borrow money for its operation, it reserves the right to prorate premium money because of state budget restraints.
- To request a complete packet of instructions to enter, please email msfqueencontest@gmail.com. You can also email all questions regarding the contest to this account!
2026 Missouri State Fair Queen Contest Schedule
Wednesday, August 12
- 1 p.m. Interviews
- Mathewson Exhibition Center
(Closed to public)
- Mathewson Exhibition Center
Thursday, August 13
- 8:30 a.m. Speech and Talent Competition
- Mathewson Exhibition Center
- 1:00 p.m. Evening Gown Competition
- Mathewson Exhibition Center
- Queen Coronation
- Mathewson Exhibition Center
Tiara sponsored by:
Reed & Sons Jewelers, Sedalia, MO
