2023 Iowa State Fair Queen Kalayna Durr 'definitely did not think it was going to be me'

As Kalayna Durr sat on stage waiting for the introduction of the next Iowa State Fair queen, she ran through all the girls she thought might win, listing over and over the wonderful young women — now friends — she believed would be fantastic representatives for Iowa.

But then she heard her name. “I definitely did not think it was going to be me,” she said.

Durr, who hails from Henry County, was crowned Iowa State Fair queen Saturday night in front of more than a thousand fans packed in and around the Anne and Bill Riley Stage. In addition to the crown, Durr will take home $8,000 in scholarships, a $600 gift card, cowboy boots, diamond earrings, an Iowa State Fair Brick and, of course, a sash.

For the rest of the fair’s eight days, Durr will make appearances all over the grounds, participating in everything from measuring facial hair at the annual longest beard contest to presenting this year’s favorite fair food to handing out blue ribbons in the show ring.

Outside of the fair, she’ll be tasked with representing Iowa’s annual get-together at events all across the state. And next summer, she’ll attend as many county fairs and expos as her schedule allows. (This year’s queen, Mary Ann Fox, wove her way across the state, attending 76 county fairs and putting 12,000 miles on her car.)

As Durr, 18, was crowned, teary-eyed contestants swarmed her in a supportive group embrace. After five days of workshops, interviews and evaluations, she beat out 103 other girls for the title — yes, there are more fairs than counties in the state.

Durr was inspired to run for State Fair queen this year by Kelsey Smith, who was not only the 2013 queen, but also her 4-H Clover Kids leader.

“I looked up to her so much, and to the other County Fair queens, and I just wanted to be someone who little girls from my community could look up to, too,” she said after winning, shaking with excitement.

Raised in New London, a small town in southeastern Iowa, Durr has loved agriculture her whole life, she says. But she had to join FFA in a neighboring district because her school didn’t have a chapter. As queen, she’s hoping to establish not only an FFA group, but a larger agriculture program at her alma mater.

“These ladies have exuded elegance and pose not only in their county fairs, but they are also making a positive impact in their communities,” Hailey Swan, a former queen and one of the night’s emcees, said as she introduced this year’s class of contestants.

With a combined GPA of 3.76, the candidates included 90 4-H and 87 FFA members. Most of the women’s CVs read more like grocery lists than resumes. From honor students to student council presidents, the women represent all walks of life: Calhoun County’s entrant owns her own baking business. Dallas County’s competitor is a respite care provider. And Hancock County's nominee is the crew chief for her dad’s drag racing team.

Durr was not only the president of her teen council, but also showed sheep and cattle, volunteered over 900 hours during high school and helps run one of the largest haunted houses in Iowa.

“They’re smart. They’re talented. They’re committed. They are strong and they are leaders,” said Jerry Parkin, a longtime fair board member and the evening’s co-emcee.

“They are the future,” he continued. “We need to make certain they have every possible opportunity to succeed.”

Durr’s already got a solid plan for the long-term: She’s attending Des Moines Area Community College to study agriculture and business in the fall. And with Halloween season coming up, she’ll be busy at the haunted house.

But right then, she said, all she was really looking forward to was sharing a burger with her family.

Additional State Fair queen awards:

First runner-up: Kiley Langley of Muscatine County. Second runner-up: Lillian Howe of Fremont County. Third runner-up: Taylor Bartholomew of Washington County.

Personality plus winner: Molly Chapman of Cedar County.Outstanding leadership: Maria McGowan of Woodbury County.

Courtney Crowder, the Register's Iowa Columnist, traverses the state's 99 counties telling Iowans' stories. Her State Fair food must-get is the ice cream brick known as the Bauder's Peppermint Bar. Don't be ashamed to have seconds! Reach her at ccrowder@dmreg.com or 515-284-8360. Follow her on Twitter @courtneycare.