Missouri State Fair queen an advocate for ag

COLUMBIA, Mo. – You might say that 2025 Missouri State Fair Queen Bailey Schneider has royal blood: Three of her cousins were also state fair queens.

Yet it still came as a shock when she heard that the crown would go to her. “Going into the competition, I wasn’t expecting anything. I just wanted to have fun, meet new girls, and enjoy the state fair.”

Bailey’s grounded approach carried her through the multiday competition, which required contestants to win at their county fair before advancing to interviews, a speech or talent presentation and an evening gown competition.

Her winning speech drew on the fair’s theme, “Step on In,” encouraging others to step into opportunities for advocacy.

“I’ve always said that your platform has a purpose,” Bailey said. “No matter where you are in life, you can use that point to speak about what you’re passionate about. You can be a fair queen, a community service volunteer, or just a student—you can use your platform for good.”

Rooted in agriculture

She grew up on her family’s generational farm near Warrenton, Mo., where her grandfather raised crossbred Angus cattle and her father raised row crops and show pigs.

“I was always around agriculture,” she said. As a 4-H’er, she exhibited beef and pigs and participated in a range of other projects, from cake decorating to shooting sports. She also participated in 4-H leadership experiences such as the Public Speaking Institute and Teen Conference. “Those were leadership opportunities that really helped me develop the skills to help me become the woman I am today.”

At Mizzou, Bailey found a natural fit in agricultural education with an emphasis on communications and leadership.

“I’m scared of math and science,” she said. “I wanted a degree where I could focus on communication and storytelling. I loved that I could tailor my classes—taking everything from political science to food science to floral design—and be a jack of all trades.”

This past summer, Bailey interned as a policy intern with the Missouri Soybean Association, where no two days were alike. “I wrote policy briefs to help farmers understand new legislation, attended campaign events, even traveled to Washington, D.C.,” she said. “Every day was different, and I loved it. It really deepened my interest in agricultural policy and advocacy.”

A legacy of queens — and mentors

Though she entered the competition, she didn’t expect to follow in the footsteps of her cousins who had worn the crown—Ashley Bauer (2012), Hannah Keene (2013) and Chloe Mumford (2019) all held the title before her.

“I saw my cousins as so cool, so beautiful, and thought, ‘I could never do that,’” she said. “Now, I get to live in the moment and hopefully inspire other girls to do the same.”

Her parents’ influence is never far from her mind.

“My mom and dad are my best friends, but they believe in tough love,” Bailey said. “They’re not afraid to tell me where I need to work on some things, and I love their honesty. It’s created a great bond between us.”

At CAFNR, Bailey found more mentors who shaped her path. “These professors really want you to succeed, and they’ll actively help you get there,” she said. “When you do succeed, they make sure you feel celebrated. That’s what I love most about CAFNR—it’s a family.”

“I appreciate Bailey’s professionalism and her ability to think critically about complex issues,” says Rebecca Mott, CAFNR assistant professor in the Department of Applied Social Sciences. “She sets high expectations for herself and works hard to meet them – and she often exceeds them. I look forward to seeing how and where Bailey will contribute to agriculture when she completes her degree here at MU.”

As queen, Bailey has traveled, toured businesses in her county, participated in interviews, and was even recognized by the Missouri House of Representatives.

“There are no set duties. It’s just who wants me to show up,” she said. “It’s been an absolute blast and something I’ll never forget.”

One event close to her heart is the No Limits Pig Show, where children with special needs have the chance to show pigs during the state fair.

“It puts your life into perspective and reminds you not to take anything for granted,” Bailey said. “It’s heartwarming and emotional, and it brings me so much joy to see those kids have opportunities they might not otherwise have.”

Away from the crown, Bailey describes herself as a “girly-tomboy” with a love for football, NASCAR, hunting, fishing and hiking.

“People see the pageant queen in a sparkly dress and crown and probably don’t picture me out in the mud on the farm—but that’s just as much who I am,” she said.

She is already looking ahead to the 2026 Missouri State Fair, which will celebrate America’s 250th birthday, and she’s eager to crown her successor. She also hopes more people will support youth programs like 4-H and FFA.

“I’m passionate about helping people understand agriculture—how we feed, clothe, and fuel the world,” she said. “There are a lot of misconceptions out there, and I want to help people find good information and feel confident about how they feed their families.”

For Bailey, the crown is more than a symbol of achievement. It’s a reminder to keep stepping into opportunities to advocate for agriculture—and to inspire the next generation to do the same.