Emma Hildebrand 2nd Runner-up at State County Queen Pageant

The 2016 Miss Adams County Queen, Emma Hildebrand, was named Second Runner-up at the Illinois County Fair Queen Pageant held in Springfield, Illinois Sunday night. Hildebrand competed against 71 other county fair queens for the state title from Friday through last night.

Emma Hildebrand is the 18 year-old daughter of Phil and Lori Hildebrand of Mendon. She is a senior at Unity High School and plans on attending a small liberal arts college to study environmental science and biology.

Just last year the 2015 Miss Adams County Stephanie Dearwester took the same honor at State competition. Before last year, it had been 14 years since a Miss Adams County has been selected as a top 15 state finalist.  In the history of the Adams County Fair Pageant, only two queens have ever taken home the state title.

The Illinois County Fair Queen Pageant was held in conjunction with the Illinois Association of Agricultural Fair's annual convention.

This year the 2017 Adams County Fair is scheduled for July 26-August 1.