Walking across the Anne and Bill Riley Stage in Des Moines, Belle Werner gives one of her first waves as the 2026 Iowa State Fair Queen. Werner was crowned on Saturday, Aug. 15, standing out against 102 other fair queen candidates from across the state of Iowa. PHOTO COURTESY OF IOWA STATE FAIR

DES MOINES – A little more than a month after earning the crown at the Tama County Fair, Belle Werner of Toledo has added another — this time representing the entire state of Iowa.

Werner was crowned the 2026 Iowa State Fair Queen last Saturday evening, Aug. 15, on the Anne and Bill Riley Stage in Des Moines, rising to the top of a field of 103 county fair queens from across Iowa. She becomes just the second Tama County representative to win the state title and the first since Rebecca Earles of Traer was crowned in 1997.

For Werner, the road to the state crown was actually two years in the making. She first competed for Tama County Fair Queen in 2025, when she was selected as fair princess from a field of four candidates. She returned this summer and was crowned the 2026 Tama County Fair Queen on July 14 in Gladbrook, selected from a field that included Violet Jackson of rural Garwin and Kenzie Bartel of rural Marshalltown.

“I love the Tama County Fair for sure, and it has been such a staple part of my childhood,” Werner said in an interview with the newspaper following her state fair win. “I would say I truly grew up at the county fair.”

Werner said becoming Tama County Fair Queen was already an honor, giving her the opportunity to represent a community that has been part of her life since she was young.

With a shocked look on her face, Tama County’s Belle Werner is crowned by 2025 State Fair Queen Riah Schrage of Grundy County. Werner will have the same honor next year. PHOTO COURTESY OF IOWA STATE FAIR

At the Iowa State Fair, Werner joined 102 other contestants for several days of activities and judging. According to Werner, contestants went through three rounds of interviews: a five-minute individual interview, a group interview centered around current events, and a one-minute rapid-fire interview. Five judges were tasked with adjudicating.

Official judging criteria for the competition include personality, attitude, awareness, leadership, citizenship, contributions to the community, overall appearance, charm and poise.

While winning was always a possibility, Werner said the relationships she developed with other county queens became one of the most rewarding parts of the experience.

“I honestly met so many true, genuine girls from across the state,” Werner said. “I feel like everyone who’s a county fair queen is invested in ag and they’re invested in the future of Iowa. It was very refreshing to see so many girls passionate about agriculture and passionate about the work that they’re doing in their own counties.”

Unlike competitions that gradually announce a smaller group of finalists, Werner said the contestants did not know who had risen to the top until the names were announced on stage Saturday evening.

After two years of vying for the opportunity to compete for Iowa State Fair Queen, Belle Werner becomes emotional as she’s presented with her crown last Saturday evening. PHOTO COURTESY OF IOWA STATE FAIR

Werner was next to her friend Emilee Kelly from Story County during the ceremony, already feeling content with the friendships and memories she would be taking home.

“I was very satisfied with, honestly, just going home with all the new friends I made because I felt like I made so many good connections,” Werner said. “But when my name was called for queen, it felt very rewarding at that time. I was not expecting it. I was pretty shocked, but I was very honored.”

The person placing the crown on Werner’s head provided another area connection.

Outgoing 2025 Iowa State Fair Queen Riah Schrage of Grundy County crowned Werner as her successor, passing the statewide title across the adjacent counties’ lines.

Werner was joined in this year’s group of state fair honorees by first runner-up Jillian Dammann of Page County, second runner-up Jillian Hanson of Benton County and third runner-up Eliza Schmidt of Dallas County. Brigid Bonner of Crawford County received the Outstanding Leadership Award, Anita Marie Scholten of Warren County received the Personality Plus Award and Allison Gruntmeir of Lee County received the Queen Alumni Award in honor of Julie Wolterman.

Hanson’s second runner-up finish provides another local connection. The rural La Porte City native graduated from Union High School this past May as a member of the Class of 2026 before going on to be crowned Benton County Fair Queen, following in the footsteps of her older sister, Olivia Hanson. Olivia was crowned the 2024 Benton County Fair Queen before advancing to the state fair competition where she was one of seven finalists and received the Outstanding Leadership honor.

For Werner, being crowned queen did not leave much time for the excitement to settle in.

In the days following her coronation, she has kept busy attending livestock shows, walking the fairgrounds, meeting fair board members and sponsors, trying new fair foods and taking part in media appearances. She will also have the opportunity to hand out Queen’s Choice awards during the remainder of the fair.

Her responsibilities also stretch well beyond the final day of the 2026 Iowa State Fair. Werner said she already has county fair appearances planned for September and expects next summer to include visits to as many county fairs as possible, along with parades, meetings, and other events she is invited to attend during her year-long reign.

Werner will receive a $3,000 scholarship from the Iowa State Fair and another $1,000 scholarship from Dawghouse Concessions along with her crown, sash and trophy and several more prizes.

While becoming the Iowa State Fair Queen would make for a busy enough week on its own, Werner added one more major life event to the schedule– moving into Iowa State University the morning after she was crowned.

Werner, who graduated from Benton Community High School this past spring, plans to study agricultural business and finance at Iowa State University.

After Saturday night’s coronation, Werner left the fairgrounds, moved into her college dorm Sunday morning and was back at the State Fair later that day to begin her duties as queen.

“It was definitely not what I planned for, but I honestly would not have it any other way,” Werner said. “I’m very excited to be the face of the fair this year and represent Tama County and the State Fair.”

Getting settled into college, however, can wait a little longer.

“I just kind of put myself into the dorm, and I said that I would unpack later and get everything situated,” Werner said, “because right now the fair is my priority while this week plays out.”

Through everything that has happened since her name was announced Saturday night, Werner repeatedly returned to the community that helped send her to Des Moines in the first place.

Asked what she would say directly to the people of Tama County watching her journey unfold, Werner credited the atmosphere surrounding the county fair and the people who helped create it.

“Thank you for creating such a wonderful environment and community that we have,” Werner said. “We truly have such a close-knit bond in our county fair, and honestly whenever I go somewhere in Tama County, it’s very welcoming.”

During a year in which the nation is celebrating its 250th birthday, Werner will carry the Tama County name with her across Iowa as the 2026 Iowa State Fair Queen.

“I’m just very grateful for all the support Tama County has given me,” Werner said, “and I’m happy to be representing Tama County and the Iowa State Fair.”