Maria Lueken Crowned 2017 Fair Queen

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Published on August 8 2017 10:55 pm
Last Updated on August 9 2017 10:19 am
Written by Greg Sapp

(2017 MISS EFFINGHAM COUNTY FAIR QUEEN MARIA LUEKEN)

Maria Lueken of Teutopolis has been named 2017 Miss Effingham County Fair Queen.

Maria was chosen by a three-judge panel during Tuesday night's pageant at the fairgrounds at Altamont. She was one of nine contestants for the title and for the right to succeed Ashley Jamerson of Effingham as queen. She is the daughter of Bob and Donna Lueken.

Queen Maria will reign over the balance of this year's fair. She will also compete in January at the Miss Illinois County Fair Queen Pageant in Springfield. If she wins there, she would reign over the 2018 Illinois State Fair and DuQuoin State Fair.

Anna Wines, daughter of Jason and Kathy Wines of Effingham, was chosen first runner-up, and Shayna Phillips, daughter of Glen and Jeni Phillips of Effingham, was chosen second runner-up.

Lindsey Stephenson, daughter of Terry and Jeanine Stephenson of Effingham, won the highest ticket sales competition. Serena Strullmyer, daughter of Joe and Sherri Strullmyer of Altamont, won the People's Choice Award and won the Biggest Fan Club Award. 

The Miss Congeniality Award, voted by the contestants, went to Jodi Thoele, daughter of Tony and Sue Thoele of Dieterich.

Other contestants Tuesday were Kacie Phillips of Altamont, Elizabeth Brackney of Beecher City, and Kirstin Lindsey of Effingham.

The scoring for fair queen is as follows: 35% interview skills, 20% stage speech, 20% physical fitness in a swimsuit, 20% evening gown, and 5% pop question.