Emma Benoit, left, was crowned the 2026 Austin County Fair Queen and second runner-up ticket queen Oct. 3 at the Austin County Fair Convention and Expo Center in Bellville. The queens court includes, beginning second from left, Kayleigh Kendrick, ticket queen and third runner-up queen; Teaghan Eckelberg, first runner-up queen and first runner-up ticket queen; Ellie Sowa, second runner-up queen; Bexley Nelson, third runner-up ticket queen; and Kaitlyn Kloss, Miss Congeniality. For more winners see Austin County Fair, Page 6. Photo by Ramona Ferguson, Banner Press
Winners of the Austin County Junior Mister Contest held on Oct. 3 at the Austin County Fair Convention and Expo Center in Bellville were, from left, junior mister August Pickering; second runner-up Miller Lowrance; and, first runner-up and best western wear Peach Ba ranowski. Not pictured was most photogenic Bregman Coldwell.Winners of the Austin County Junior Fair Queen Contest on Oct. 3 at the Austin County Fair Convention and Expo Center in Bellville were, from left, second runner-up Mary Pettus; junior fair queen and most photogenic Catalea Castro; and, first runner-up and best western wear Rinley Nelson. Banner Press photos by Ramona FergusonWinners of the Austin County Little Miss Contest on Oct. 3 at the Austin County Fair Convention and Expo Center in Bellville were, from left, little miss Madelynn Villasenor; first runner-up and Harlee Sandoval; second runner-up Ella Spiess; most photogenic Harleigh Cotton; and, best western wear Lavea Ramirez.Winners of the Austin County Little Mister Contest on Oct. 3 at the Austin County Fair Convention and Expo Center in Bellville were, from left, little mister and best western wear Cooper Kolojaco; second runner-up and most photogenic Deacon Pickering; and first runner-up Jaidyn Mejia.Winners of theAustin County Junior Miss Contest on Oct. 3 at the Austin County Fair Convention and Expo Center in Bellville were, from left, junior miss and best western wear Kline Springs; first runner-up Blaire Branscum; second runner-up Lucille Cody; and, most photogenic Caroline Jo Pickering.
