Brittani Schisler, of Fox Lake, was crowned 2012 Miss Illinois County Fair Queen on Jan. 22. (Photo from the Illinois Association of Agricultural Fairs)

Brittani Schisler ended her beauty pageant career on a high note, winning her most recent crown as Miss Illinois County Fair Queen.

“It’s probably going to be my last hurrah, but it’s a good last hurrah,” said Schisler, 21, who also won the 2011 Lake County Fair queen title.

The Fox Lake resident competed with 70 other county fair queens and was crowned Jan. 22 at the Illinois Association of Agricultural Fairs convention in Springfield. She received a $1,000 scholarship.

Schisler said she was truly surprised when she heard her name called.

“I was in shock. I didn’t know what to think,” she said. “I was in awe.”

Her duties will include serving as the official hostess at the Illinois State Fair, Aug. 9-19 and DuQuoin State Fair, Aug. 24 – Sept. 3. She also plans to travel around the state this summer to visit other county fairs. In March, she will speak as an advocate for the Illinois Department of Agriculture in front of the Illinois General Assembly on Legislative Day at the state capitol.

Judging criteria in the Miss Illinois County Fair Queen pageant included performance in interview, bathing suit and evening wear portions. For the communication portion of the contest, Schisler said she prepared a one-minute speech about the 4-H kids she met while serving as the Lake County fair queen.

“They worked so hard with the animals,” Schisler said. “It was inspiring to me.”

Schisler said she started competing in pageants when she was 8 at the urging of her mother, who was also a pageant competitor. She competed in 12 pageants, including the Lake County Fair queen pageant, which she won on her third try.

“Every time I came back, I had more life experience behind my belt,” she said. “I know it sounds corny but I wouldn’t give up. I loved it too much to give up.”

Schisler said pageants have helped her develop public speaking skills.

“It’s a confidence builder,” Schisler said. “It teaches poise and how to talk to people and being polite. I’ve gained nothing but valuable life lessons from pageants.”

A student at Eastern Illinois University in Communication Disorders and Sciences, Schisler said she ultimately hopes to work with children. She is a member of Sigma Kappa sorority. She graduated in 2009 from Grant Community High School in Fox Lake.

Miss Effingham County Fair Melissa Mellendorf of Montrose was the second runner up for Miss Illinois County Fair Queen.