New royalty was crowned in Carlinville on Wednesday evening as 18-year-old Ruby Lowder of Girard was selected as the 2026 Miss Macoupin County Fair Queen.

Lowder was chosen from among 10 contestants, and right before the new queen was announced, she had no idea whose name would be called.

“I was thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, it could be any one of us,’” an emotional Lowder said as she greeted well-wishers after the pageant. “All of the contestants worked so hard for this experience.”

Lowder is looking forward to her reign as the Macoupin County Fair Queen.

“I’m so happy that I’ll be able to make an impact for my community,” Lowder said. “I’m looking forward to promoting all that Macoupin County has to offer.” 

The Macoupin County Fair in Carlinville began its annual run on Monday and concludes this weekend. Queen Ruby will reign over the remainder of this year’s fair and help to open the 2027 fair. She will also compete with more than 70 other queens at the Miss Illinois County Fair Queen Pageant in Springfield during January 2027

Macoupin County Fair Pageant Director Hilary Lunt explained what’s in store for the new queen.

“Her first role is to represent the Macoupin County Fair, but more importantly to represent agriculture here in the county,” Lunt said. “She will travel the state showing everyone how proud we are of our county.” 

The retiring Macoupin County Fair Queen, 19-year-old Alyssa Carriker of Carlinville, had this advice for the new fair royalty.

“Be yourself, make it your year, have fun, and never get tired of showing up and giving it your all,” Carriker said. 

Carriker added that serving as the 2025 Macoupin County Fair Queen was the thrill of a lifetime.

“It’s been very memorable, exciting and breathtaking,” Carriker said. “It’s such an incredible experience.”

Also during the Wednesday evening pageant, Charlee Steward of Carlinville was chosen from nine contestants to be the 2026 Junior Miss Macoupin County Fair, and Mae Isabel Lewis-Hahn from Girard was selected from 13 contestants to be the new Little Miss Macoupin County Fair.