By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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BELVIDERE — This year’s Boone County Fair Queen envisions a future when it won’t be a crown placed on top of her head, but a white coat wrapped around her shoulders.
Alivia Malcolm, a 16-year-old who is headed into her junior year at Rockford Christian High School, said she wants to follow in her father’s footsteps and pursue a career in medicine, although she hasn’t decided exactly what field yet. She is the daughter of Andrea and Andy Malcolm, who is a pediatric dentist in Belvidere.
On Tuesday, Malcolm won a $2,000 scholarship to go toward her future educational pursuits and the right to represent Boone County at the fair and other events throughout the year. She said she’s relishing the reward of the experience.
“It’s not a beauty pageant, and it really just takes you out of your shell,” Malcolm said. “I was little nervous about doing this, as confident as I hoped to come across. It really brings you out of your shell, it really boosts that confidence and it will prepare you for the future.”
Related: Fair season is underway: Here’s your guide to county fairs around the Stateline
Malcolm was selected from a field of seven contestants. She gave credit to her fellow contestants and said she was surprised to hear her name called as the winner as she stood among finalists Emma Cordray and Delphine Calabrese.
“I was so beyond excited,” Malcolm said. “Every since we had the interest meeting I’ve dreamed of wanting to win this.”
The finalists were asked to tackle a pair of tough questions in the final round before judges made their decision. The first covered the controversial topic of student loan forgiveness and caused a murmur throughout the crowd.
Malcolm said she was worried about answering the controversial question, but she did her best to deliver her response with confidence.
“I think it depends on the situation that the student is in,” Malcolm said in response to the question. “If a student is able to pay off their student loans, that is great, but if a student is struggling and it would help them to the next step I think the government should help.”
The second question asked contestants whether farmland was under threat of disappearing with continued urban development.
“I do believe so,” Malcolm said. “I don’t think people realize how much we take our farmland for granted.”
Haven Asbury beamed with a mix of shock and joy after the 9-year-old Lincoln Elementary School student’s name was called as the winner of the Little Miss pageant.
“I was surprised. I was happy and filled with joy,” Asbury said.
Asbury is the daughter of Dawn Bueche and John Asbury of Belvidere.
“She loves pageants. She watches it 24/7. She enjoys it,” Bueche said. “She knows as well winning isn’t everything. So she was just so happy to be here, regardless of who won.”
Malcolm said she looks forward to meeting people during the fair and her yearlong reign as queen.
“I cannot wait to meet more people in the community,” she said. “Please come up and say hi to me, I’d love to meet you.”
Boone County Fair Queen awards
First runner-up: Emma Cordray
Second runner-up: Delphine Calabrese
Miss congeniality: Jillianne Klinefelter
Miss photogenic: Nadia Escamilla
Miss interview: Nadia Escamilla
Go for the Gold most improved award: Isabelle Klinefelter
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This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas