Five-year-old Bailey Schneider would have passed out if she knew one day she would be wearing the Missouri State Fair Queen crown. 

The now 19-year-old nearly passed out as well. 

“I come into my room at night and I look in the mirror – I see this ginormous crown on my head and I get emotional because everything I ever wanted when I was little was to be like those queens,” Schneider said. “Now, I am one.” 

Representing Warren County as their 2024 fair queen, Schneider was crowned on Aug. 7 as the 2025 Missouri State Fair Queen. She came into the competition without high expectations. As she stood among the top 10 finalists – many of whom are also close friends – Schneider never thought she would hear her name called. 

Until she did.

Schneider physically shook with pure giddiness and excitement as her family and friends cheered loudly – some even cried. 

“I was just shocked, absolutely shocked. It’s still so surreal,” said Schneider, a 2024 Warrenton High School graduate and current student at the University of Missouri-Columbia. 

Schneider has been surrounded by queens for her whole life. 

Whether it was going to the Warren County Fair since she was little to follow the queens around or having two cousins, Hannah Keene and Ashley Bauer, also be crowned Missouri State Fair queen, Schneider has been constantly enamored by those around her. 

“(Keene) used to babysit me and when she got Missouri State Fair queen, I flipped out and I thought it was the coolest thing in the world,” Schneider said. “I had a basketball when I used to play and I made her sign it actually.” 

As a young girl, she doubted whether she could ever wear the crown herself. 

“I was like I could never do something like that – there’s so many girls and they’re all amazing and that’s something I could never do,” Schneider said. “Younger me would most likely pass out and be ecstatic because I wanted to be just like my cousins. Now, there’s probably other little girls who are thinking the same thing I did and I want them to know that they can do it.” 

Schneider also earned the top speech award during the pageant and has cherished every moment of her experience.

Whether it was talking with veterans or attending bacon-eating contests, giving out awards, connecting with other contestants or even being crowned in front of Gov. Mike Kehoe, the first governor to attend the coronation. 

“Everything has been such a blur and I’ve enjoyed it all,” Schneider said. “Several family members have come up to visit me and I’ve seen a lot of people from Warren County too. It means a lot and I think that goes to show how much of a community Warren County is and how much they support everybody.” 

During her reign, Schneider wants to help people embrace their authentic selves. 

“My biggest thing right now is no matter who you are or what your background is, you belong somewhere,” she said. “Your platform has purpose and it has a power, so use your voice to do good for others.” 

Schneider also emphasized the importance of agriculture. 

“I’m an ag girl at heart and you don’t have to be born on a farm to advocate for agriculture," Schneider said. “We need as many people as we can to spread the word about how amazing this industry is and why we need it.” Schneider expressed heartfelt gratitude to those who helped her along the way: her mom, dad, siblings, Uncle Kevin, Aunt Teresa, grandparents, friends, family, Lynda Chandler and the entire Warren County community.

“I’ve never felt more love in my entire life. I’m so grateful for everybody that has sent me a text or shown me support or wished me luck,” Schneider said. “I think part of the reason I did so well is because I didn’t have a lot of confidence in myself, but they did, so I want to say my thanks to that and show appreciation for everybody in the community – they’re pretty awesome.”