CALHOUN: Royalty Crowned in Calhoun, introducing Queen Lucy Kallal
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Calhoun royalty poses, following the coronation of the 2022 Miss Calhoun County Fair Queen Lucy Kallal on Sunday evening. Pictured front row, from left to right: 2022 First Runner Up and Miss Congeniality Gracie Main, 2022 Little Miss Karson Hillen, Kallal, 2022 Junior Miss Caroline Adams. Back row: 2021 Miss Alexis Klocke, 2022 People’s Choice Megan Colp. (Carissa Sitki/Calhoun News-Herald)
2022 Miss Calhoun County Fair Queen Lucy Kallal makes her first walk as queen, following her crowning on Sunday evening, Sept. 11. (Carissa Sitki/Calhoun News-Herald)
1953 Miss Calhoun Apple Festival and 1954 Miss Illinois Fruit Festival Bonnie Bunch Yeager (right) presents 2021 Miss Calhoun Alexis Klocke with a scholarship from the Queens Club on Sunday following the 2022 Miss Pageant. (Carissa Sitki/Calhoun News-Herald)
2021 Miss Calhoun Alexis Klocke makes a tearful final walk as queen, prior to the crowning of the 2022 Miss Calhoun Lucy Kallal, on Sunday evening. (Carissa Sitki/Calhoun News-Herald)
Country singer, Johnathan Len, provided his musical stylings in between events during the Miss Calhoun County Fair pageant on Sunday evening. (Carissa Sitki/Calhoun News-Herald)
By Carissa Sitki
Calhoun County crowned their 2022 Little Miss Karson Joy Hillen, Junior Miss Caroline Adams, and Miss Lucy Kallal, in three dazzling pageants over the weekend.
It was a busy few days for Calhoun County, as the fair made its way into the area on Thursday, Sept. 8, and stayed through Sunday, Sept. 11. Attendees enjoyed rides, games, fair foods, parade, demolition derby, live music, special events, and more. Among the festivities, the four-day fair was capped off with the crowning of Calhoun’s new Queen on Sunday evening, Sept. 11.
The pageant began at 6 p.m. and consisted of three young ladies vying for the title of 2022 Miss Calhoun County Fair Queen, to succeed 2021 Miss Alexis Klocke.
Competing alongside Kallal was Gracie Main who received Miss Congeniality and First Runner Up; and Megan Colp who was the People’s Choice and ticket sales winner.
Miss Kallal is the 19 year old daughter of Eric and Lisa Kallal of Hardin and she is a 2021 graduate of Calhoun High School. Her future plans include obtaining a doctorate degree in physical therapy.
Kallal said winning the title of Miss Calhoun County Fair Queen was something she has been dreaming of since she was little.
“Winning this meant so much to me,” said Kallal. “I’ve been waiting my whole life for this moment.”
This isn’t the first time Kallal has been Calhoun royalty, she was the 2015 Junior Miss and was royalty for two days alongside her sister, Molly Caselton, who was the 2014 Miss Calhoun.
“I look up to my sister so much,” said Kallal. “So I always wanted to be queen too.”
Kallal said she is most looking forward to competing at the state competition and getting to know and “hang out with” her Little Miss and Junior Miss.
The thing Kallal loves most about Calhoun County is the sense of community.
“This community that we have is so close,” she said. “It feels like home.”
Kallal extended her gratitude to all of Calhoun County for all of the love and support.
“I want to thank the Fair Board and the Pageant Directors for all of the hard work they put in every year to keep this fair going,” she said.
Additionally, Kallal thanked her friends, family, and sponsor, Hardin Package. Kallal and her mother came up with a slogan that they used throughout the process leading up to the pageant, “Let the good times grow.”
Kallal also gave the following message to her fellow 2022 Miss Calhoun contestants:
“To Gracie and Megan, I’m so glad we all chose to run this year. We may have been few, but we were fierce,” said Kallal. “You both are beautiful, amazing, and have so much to give and offer our community.”
Miss Kallal was presented the following gifts:
■ Calhoun County Fair Board: $500, entry fee, banquet and brunch tickets, hotel expenses for -Miss Illinois Fair Queen Pageant, and Trophy
■ T-Shirt Fundraiser: $1,000 State Wardrobe Fund
■ Gina Rose: 31 gifts
■ Bank of Calhoun: $50 cash
■ Bank of Kampsville: $100 cash
■ Maple Hill Photography: One photo session
The 2022 Miss Calhoun County Pageant was sponsored by Longnecker Optometry and Dr. Lori Franke-Hopkins emceed the event. The Miss Calhoun Pageant Director is Tara Adams, the Assistant is Stacey Grimes, and the Dance Choreographer is Emily McKinnon. Country musician, Johnathan Len, provided entertainment during the pageant breaks.
