Washington

Adelyn Huston of Wellman was crowned the 2026 Washington County Fair Queen during Sunday's Washington County Fair Queen Pageant. Huston, a senior at Mid-Prairie High School, is involved in FFA, 4-H, County Council, National Honor Society, Student Council and Silver Cord.

Averi Janecek of Keota, also a Mid-Prairie High School senior, was named Fair Princess, while Sophia Puttmann of Keota, also a Mid-Prairie student, received the Miss Congeniality award. The other contestants were Brynn Conrad of Keota, who attends Keota High School, and Chloe Sexton of Riverside, who attends Highland High School.

Janecek is active in 4-H, 4-H County Council, FFA, FCCLA, National Honor Society and Silver Cord. Puttmann participates in softball, basketball, 4-H and archery. She also coaches her younger sister's Nitro softball team, saying it has taught her patience and given her a greater appreciation for coaches.

Conrad, a senior at Keota High School, participates in golf, basketball, 4-H and FFA. Sexton, who will be a senior at Highland High School this fall, is involved in volleyball, wrestling, trap shooting and FFA. While most contestants were escorted by their fathers, Sexton was accompanied by her younger cousin. After graduation, she plans to attend college and become a special education teacher.

Before the crowning, 2025 Fair Queen Morgan Leichty reflected on her year of service and shared her plans to attend Kirkwood Community College this fall to study nursing. A member of the Crooked Creek 4-H Club, Leichty said one of her favorite 4-H memories was serving as the 2025 Washington County Fair Queen.

The evening concluded with Huston being crowned the 2026 Washington County Fair Queen.