Davis named Georgetown Fair Queen

Jul. 10—If at first you don't succeed, don't give up.

That was the lesson Bismark resident Paili Davis learned Monday evening as she was crowned the 2024 Georgetown Fair Queen.

Davis, 20, a graduate of Bismark-Henning Rossville-Alvin High School, participated in the fair queen contest in 2022 earning the title of First Runner-Up. She was unable to participate in the 2023 pageant due to other obligations, but returned this year and took home the crown.

"It was totally unreal," Davis said of being crowned this year's queen. "I didn't know what was going on. I was just sobbing and hugging all of my friends."

"My goals are to represent the fair the best that I can, and I would really love to be involved in the community as much as I can as well. This year I would also like to establish a thank you to veterans program.

"I am all about servant leadership. Servant leadership was something I learned in my FFA leadership class at (the University of Illinois). It taught us all about the different parts of leadership and how it can be implemented in agriculture and FFA."

Servant leadership is about giving more than receiving, she said. "It is about giving to community, listening to community and their needs, and meeting those needs."

As an agriculture education major at the University of Illinois, Davis believes in the importance of Agriculture in the Classroom, a program where thematic lessons are taught to elementary students during the school year. Davis said she hopes to encourage young students to find an interest in the fair and agriculture.

"When I was in high school, my (agriculture) teacher put me in charge of Agriculture in the Classroom," Davis said. "I went into the elementary classrooms and taught five lessons throughout the year. We had two grade schools that fed into the junior high and high school, I taught at both.

"That is what made me what to be an Ag. teacher. I saw how much fun they had and how much knowledge they learned."

While in college, Davis has continued to work with the Vermilion County and Champaign County Agriculture in the Classroom programs. Her favorite lesson: making ice cream in a bag.

"I think a lot of kids don't realize ice cream comes from cattle," she said. "I would like to bring that to Kids Day (at the Georgetown Fair). It's always hot during the fair week. It would be a great treat."

During this year's fair, Davis will be helping hand out ribbons and awards with her court — Lilly Meeker, first runner-up; Kamryn Wright, second runner-up; and Haley Carlton, third runner-up. She said she is also looking forward to the Rodeo and the Joe Nichols and Walker Montgomery concert.

She will represent the Georgetown Fair at the Illinois State Fair Queen contest in January.