Karlie Lawson crowned Queen of the 175th Shelby County Fair

The 175th Shelby County Fair now has a queen.

Karlie Lawson was crowned Queen of the Shelby County Fair Sunday night at Lewis Creek Baptist Church, topping nine other contestants for the honor.

Ellie Gosser was crowned First Runner-up while Oakleigh Goedde was selected Second Runner-up. Destiney Johnson completes the fair court after being named Miss Congeniality.

Lawson, the daughter of David and Anne Lawson, is a 2023 Shelbyville High School graduate who just completed her first year at Purdue University.

The field of 10 met at Lewis Creek Baptist Church Sunday afternoon for an interview session with the three pageant judges.

The 64th Annual Shelby County Fair Queen Pageant kicked off Saturday night with the contestants modeling casual wear outfits of their choosing. They returned to the stage twice more modeling professional wear and evening gowns and answered a random question drawn before they took the stage in evening gowns.

The afternoon interview session as worth 50 points; the professional wear 20 points; and the evening gown and response to the question was worth 30 points.

Johnson (photo, back row, center), a rising senior at Shelbyville High School, was crowned first as Miss Congeniality. Goedde (photo, back row, left), a 2023 Morristown graduate who just finished her freshman year at Purdue, followed as Second Runner-up. Gosser (photo, back row, right), a 2024 Southwestern graduate who will attend Purdue in the fall, was then crowned First Runner-up.

Lawson (photo), age 20, felt she was well-prepared for the pageant experience Sunday.

“A lot of my mentors have been queens in the past and I look up to them as very devoted to what they do and are inspirational. They encouraged me to come up and do this,” she said. “My sister was queen nine or 10 years ago and that is why I wanted to do it because she is one of my biggest mentors.”

Despite all the preparation, Lawson admitted she was still nervous when she arrived for the pageant Sunday.

“It was a roller coaster of emotions. I didn’t really know what I was signing up for,” she said with a laugh. “Interviews this afternoon, we were all super nervous but after that was out of the way, I think we were all focused on our on-stage question. After that question, we were all backstage just chilling out and that was so much fun. It was a really good experience.”

During a break in the pageant, 2021 Shelby County Fair Queen Julia Prickett took the stage to emcee the Little Miss and Little Mister Pageant. Waldron Elementary School second grader Alex Hatfield, son of Jennifer and Dustin Hatfield (photo, front row, right), and Hendricks Elementary School first grader Myah Clouse (photo, front row, left), daughter of Molly and Alex Clouse, were crowned the winners and will take part in fair-week activities.

The 2024 Shelby County Fair runs from June 10-15 at the Shelby County Fairgrounds. Lawson is ready for what turns out to be a very active week.

“I hope it’s not too hot,” she said. “I am excited to see the young kids that I grew up showing with that are probably in high school now. I’m excited to see their exhibits and what they brought and worked so hard for.

“And for the fair food … I am excited for the fair food.”

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