VIENNA — Amanda Sandbothe, fair board president, crowned Kia Ross, 18, as the 2026 Maries County Fair queen during the Sept. 3 pageant.
There was only one applicant per pageant, meaning each …
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VIENNA — Amanda Sandbothe, fair board president, crowned Kia Ross, 18, as the 2026 Maries County Fair queen during the Sept. 3 pageant.
There was only one applicant per pageant, meaning each person was crowned. Oaklyn Willoughby, 7, was the fair junior, and Ella Wansing, 10, was the princess.
For the little mister, Riggs Feeler, 4, and Dallas Swarthout, 4, were the contestants. The judges selected Dallas as the little mister.
For little miss, Josie Juergens, 6, was selected by the judges. Hadley Russell, 6, and Harlow Lear, 5, were also candidates.
Dr. Loyal Henderson, who owned Vienna Veterinary Clinic for 50 years, was named the grand mashal.
Ross, a senior at Maries County R-1 School, was excited to be the first Black Maries County fair queen, and she was also excited that her mother Brittany Bull could see her be crowned.
Ross is involved in various extracurricular activities in school including, cheerleading, FFA, Students Against Destructive Decisions, and Family Career and Community Leaders of America.
Bull raised Ross as a single, teenaged mother. Ross said that Bull convinced her to compete for the county fair queen and that before doing anything, she texts her mother.
“I just need my mom’s approval, and I just need her uplifting words. So I say I really appreciate my mom. She’s the one that got me here today,” Ross said.
Ross also looks up to her father, Kevin Bull, a “brave” and “very country dude,” who gives her confidence to ignore others and do what she wants.
As queen, Ross said that her responsibilities are to be at the fair every day, take photos, and show what the county offers as a small community. Ross also wants to bring awareness to FFA and encourage other students to join.
“It might be small. We have a lot going on here. I love that we’re so close together,” she said.
As a career, Ross wants to be a traveling hospice nurse. After watching her late grandmother, Ross wants to let other patients know that they loved in their final moments.
CORRECTION: In an earlier version of this article, The Advocate labeled Dr. Loyal Henderson as the Maries County Fair grand master, but the title is grand marshal. The Advocate regrets this error.
