Emma Walberg steps out of her comfort zone, wins Boone County Fair crown

By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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BELVIDERE — Emma Walberg took on a fitting platform for entering her first pageant at age 20.

The incoming Purdue University student and Belvidere native picked stepping outside of your comfort zone.

On Tuesday, she stepped out of her comfort zone and into the role of representing the Boone County Fair as its 2024 queen.

“This was totally me stepping out of my comfort zone, said Walberg, who spent past years at the fair showing market lambs in 4-H competitions. “I’m just very happy and honored to have this privilege.”

Walberg, a 2022 graduate of Belvidere North High School, was chosen to wear the crown from a field of six contestants on the first night of the six-day Boone County Fair.

The 2024 Little Miss is Delaney Olson, a 9-year-old Prairie Hill Elementary School Student who was also stepping out of her comfort zone a bit.

“I wanted to learn to how to speak more to people because I was always shy as a young girl,” Olson said. “This has really made me get vocal.”

Walberg is a fifth-generation farmer who will study agribusiness at Purdue.

“We own 1,500 acres of farmland here in Belvidere,” she said. “I wanted to continue my family’s legacy and continue to keep farming.”

Pageant contestants pick platforms on issues or causes they want to bring attention to, be it cancer awareness, anti-bullying, or issues around agriculture. Walberg’s platform is meant to encourage others to find new and rewarding paths in life.

She said her grandfather, former Boone County Board Chairman Bob Walberg, had inspired her to chose the platform of getting out of your comfort zone. He had encouraged her to take up golf as a high school freshman, and she ended up earning a golf scholarship to Judson University, where she just completed her second year.

“It’s a huge honor to represent Boone County,” she said. “I’ve grown up at the fair my whole life raising market lambs. I’m just excited to be Miss Boone County and represent our fair and to just encourage young girls to step outside of their comfort zone.”

Boone County Fair court

Queen: Emma Walberg

Little Miss: Delaney Olson

First runner-up: Kenzi Lusz

Second runner-up: Keara Watson

Miss Congeniality: Keara Watson

Miss Photogenic: Laney Dobbs

Miss Interview: Josie Yakey

Go for the Gold: Laney Dobbs

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