Lisa Liefer, the 17-year-old daughter of Les and Kathleen Liefer of Waterloo, was crowned Miss Monroe County Fair Queen at the fairgrounds on Sunday night to kick off this year’s Monroe County Fair.

Leah Worley, the daughter of Dan and Jody Worley of Waterloo, was crowned Little Miss Monroe County Fair.

Due to rain in the forecast, the fair queen and little miss pageants were held under the covered food pavilion rather than in the main arena. It turned out to be the right call, as heavy rain hit the fairgrounds early into the ceremony.

Amanda Hartman was chosen by judges as first runner-up in the queen pageant, and Melody London was second runner-up. Emilee Mosbacher won Miss Congeniality. Other contestants were Paige Whipple and Hailey Weber.

Other contestants in the little miss pageant were Autumn Whelan, Hailey Francis, Lily-Marie Moss, Ava Hoagland, Alexis Hutchinson, Kendra McNiel, Katelyn Davis, Janella Neary and Sophia Meyer.

A special auction of pies baked by queen contestants and last year’s queen and little miss raised more than $2,000 for local veterans organizations.

The Monroe County Fair runs through next Sunday, July 28, at the fairgrounds in Waterloo.

For a schedule of events, click here. To view and purchase photos from the fair and pageant, click here.

The phone number for the fairgrounds is 939-7796.