Highland woman named Miss Madison County Fair Queen
Peyton Gehrs was named the 2015 Miss Madison County Fair Queen during the fair’s 24th annual Miss Madison County Fair Queen Pageant on Saturday in the Highland Elementary School auditorium. Missy Huddleston of Williamson was named Junior Miss Madison County.
Gehrs, the daughter of Matt and Jill Gehrs, is a 2013 graduate of Highland High School and is currently a junior at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, where she is studying agriculture education and working on a double minor in animal science and marketing. At SIUC, she serves as the public relations coordinator for the university’s Leadership Conference, as well as the programming officer for the Illinois Collegiate Farm Bureau.
Gehrs, 20, has always been active in both 4-H and FFA, and she continues to volunteer for both organizations. She hopes to one day working marketing and communications for an agriculture company or teach high school agriculture.
Gehrs has also worked as a summer camp leader at the Korte Recreation Center in Highland and enjoys fishing, hunting, do-it-yourself projects and St. Louis Cardinals baseball. She also loves watching professional bull riding.
In addition to her title, Gehrs will receive a $750 scholarship and a prize package of items from businesses throughout Madison County.
Amy Raymond, 20, of Alhambra, the daughter of David and Laurie Raymond, was named first runner-up, as well as People’s Choice, which is voted on by pageant attendees, and Miss Congeniality, which is voted on by other contestants.
Raymond was also named the first-ever Miss Heart of Hartlieb award winner, which was voted on by contestants, judges and pageant committee. The honor was named for longtime pageant director Wendy Hartlieb of Highland, who passed away from cancer this spring. The award goes to the young lady with the biggest heart and passion for our community and the fair. As Miss Heart of Hartlieb, Raymond will also represent the pageant throughout the county and be involved in community events and causes. She also received a $500 scholarship.
Layne Paubel of Highland, the daughter of Kerry and Karen Paubel, was named Miss Madison County Fair second runner-up.
Chyann Taylor of Troy earned the Community Sponsorship Award.
Missy Huddleston, 14, of Williamson was named Junior Miss Madison County.
Huddleston is the daughter of Lisa and Ken Huddleston and attends Staunton High School. She hopes to one day become a pharmacist. She enjoys collecting snow globes, reading books about history and mystery novels. She also enjoys volunteering in the community, playing soccer, swimming, singing and doing tricks on her trampoline.
Tyler Zobrist of Highland was named the Junior Miss People’s Choice winner, as well as Junior Miss Congeniality.
Adelynn Evans of St. Jacob won the Junior Miss Community Sponsorship Award.
Katie Gartner, 6, of Granite City was appointed with the title Little Miss Madison County Fair. She is the daughter of Autumn and Joe Gartner. The Little Miss program is for young girls ages 6 to 8 years of age. The 2016 pageant will have a full Little Miss pageant.
This story was originally published July 29, 2015 at 5:22 AM with the headline "Highland woman named Miss Madison County Fair Queen."