Henry County’s Claudia VanOpdorp, Annawan, was crowned the 58th Miss Illinois County Fair Queen in January. The Illinois Department of Agriculture will employ VanOpdorp for the summer as she travels to roughly 30 county fairs and hosts the Illinois State Fair and the DuQuoin State Fair. VanOpdorp's priority is emphasizing the importance of agriculture and county fairs in Illinois. 

Prairie Farmer sat down with VanOpDorp to talk fairs, food and agriculture.

PF: Congratulations on becoming the 2017 Miss Illinois County Fair Queen. What was the first thought to cross your mind when you heard your name?

VanOpdorp: I love any time I can make my parents proud because they’ve done so much for me. I knew where they were sitting, I could see them, and I just wanted to see how excited my parents were because I was so excited. I have a really big family — there are seven of us, I have four siblings — and we get so excited for one other. I just wanted to see how excited they were. They were my first thought.

PF: How long has the Miss Illinois County Fair Queen title been your goal?

VanOpdorp: I was the Little Miss Henry County Fair Queen, and then I was the Junior Miss Henry County Fair Queen. When I won Junior Miss, people started talking about being the first Triple Crown winner and then winning state. And I thought no way, that’s far-fetched; I’d have to be really lucky. When I decided to do the Miss pageant, I knew that I’d want to go to state and do my best. I knew it wasn’t going to be a luck thing — that it would take a lot of work to get educated on current issues in agriculture. I did so many mock interviews over break and kept up with all the politics going on right now, which is a lot, and I studied things I knew I probably wasn’t going to have to know, but I wanted to be prepared.

PF: The pageant itself is a workout. How did you stay on task?

VanOpdorp: I didn’t realize how exhausted I was until I got to school the next week and I got very sick. I went to the health center and they diagnosed me with influenza A and B. So, I was very exhausted. I didn’t know it because it’s so fun and you just keep going. I got there Wednesday night and was there through Monday morning. At state, you get back to your room after rehearsals or preliminaries around 10 p.m. But you stay up and talk to the other girls or practice for the next day, so I ended up going to bed at midnight and getting up at 5 in the morning. But it’s so fun. Practicing the dance routine was a huge workout, and you’re in heels. I’d lie in bed at night with the worst leg cramps. But the girls you meet and the nerves and the adrenaline before going on stage — I just love all of it.

PROUD MOMENT: Claudia VanOpdorp waves to the crowd after
receiving her crown as the 58th Miss Illinois County Fair Queen.

PF: How has agriculture played a role in your life?

VanOpdorp: I was involved in FFA all four years of high school. I got to go to National Convention in Louisville, Ky., which was so fun. I was in 4-H growing up, and I entered so many ceramic projects in the Henry County Fair, where I got my first blue ribbon. My first cousin has a farm, and for about three years in a row, her family would pick me up at 6 a.m. during fair week, and I would help them show their pigs. Mostly, I was in charge of cleaning the backs of the pigs before she showed them, but I got in the arena a few times. I have some experience there.

PF: Why are county fairs important?

VanOpdorp: I think they are super important in the state of Illinois. They’re important everywhere, but not everyone understands the importance of agriculture. But people who come from a small community really do. So I think county fairs are important in bringing people who don’t know much about agriculture in for fun while teaching them why agriculture is important. I love that county fairs are full of small-town values, work ethic and everything we’re about here in Illinois.

PF: What is your favorite part of the Henry County Fair?

VanOpdorp: By far, my favorite part is the demolition derby. I know I don’t always come across as the girl that likes to be muddy, but I do work in the cornfields in the summer detasseling for Pioneer, so I do some dirty work in the summer. But I just love the engines and the mud flying — it’s my favorite part.

PF: How will you promote Illinois agriculture as Miss Illinois County Fair Queen?

VanOpdorp: I think an interesting topic is the controversies over genetically modified organisms, hormones and pesticides. Everyone has a different view, so it’s my goal to get very educated on those topics, find the right research, and go across the state and inform people on them and help farmers by getting people on the same page.

PF: What are you most looking forward to during your time as Miss Illinois County Fair Queen?

VanOpdorp: Oh, so much. The child in me says all the fair food. But mostly, I love people, and I know I’m going to meet so many amazing people all across the state and make so many connections — that’s what I’m really excited about. I think this year is going to make Illinois a lot smaller for me and really make it my home.

PF: Both state fairgrounds have been in the headlines this year. There are several deteriorated buildings that need repair and restoration, the Coliseum was condemned, and there were significant flooding issues in Springfield last year. Will you play a role in helping the IDOA and the new Illinois State Fairgrounds Foundation encourage donor support to restore the fairgrounds?

VanOpdorp: I hope so. It’s all very new to me, but I hope I can get my foot in the door and help wherever I can. I think this is something that needs a lot of attention. I have friends that show horses in the Coliseum, and they are just heartbroken over this. I think there are a lot of people that want to see it fixed, and I am one of them. So, I’d love to help be an advocate for getting all the renovations done.

PF: What’s your favorite part of the Illinois State Fair?

VanOpdorp: I’m a foodie, so I love the food. I love that there’s something new every year. You could go every year, and it’s always going to be different. I also just love the goats. I’m a big goat fan. It’s the little things; it’s not hard to make me happy.

2017 Miss Illinois County Fair Queen quick facts

Name: Claudia VanOpDorp
Hometown: Annawan
Parents: Tony and Juliet VanOpdorp
Age: 19
School: University of Illinois
Sorority: Kappa Alpha Theta
Major: pre-dental, biology
Favorite class: Integrated Biology
Least favorite class: Cellular Biology