Shining at state

Gretchen Link walked into the Indiana State Fair Queen Pageant over the weekend with the mindset that she was simply there for the ride.

But as the weekend progressed, Link zoned in on her goal — to brightly represent Jay County.

She found confidence on the stage and made it through the first two finals rounds.

“I felt like I had won just being in the Top 10,” she said.

Then the judges named her to Miss Indiana State Fair Queen’s court.

Link earned fourth runner-up at the state fair queen competition Sunday, making her the second Jay County queen in history to earn a spot on the state fair queen court. She joined Miss Indiana State Fair Queen Presley Hampton of Jackson County, first runner-up Kylie Cox of Tippecanoe County, second runner-up Addison Buckley of Hancock County and third runner-up Lexi Wilhoite of Vermillion County. Addie Morris of Johnson County received the honor of Miss Congeniality.

“I don’t think that it has even sunk in yet,” Link said. “I know to some people, it might not be a huge deal, but I think for me knowing how much it means to Jay County as a whole, and just how rare it is obviously for a county to make it to the Sweet 16, to the Top 10, to be on court, I feel so accomplished. I’m definitely proud of myself, but still so shocked and feeling so, just, humbled.”

There have been four other Jay County representatives who have made the Top 10, but only one other local queen has made the court — Tina (Schwieterman) Easton, who earned the Miss Indiana State Fair Queen title in 1986. The others who made the top 10 were Beth Ninde in 1978, Jessica Howell in 2006 and Rachel Heitkamp in 2024.

Link faced off against 77 other women in the three-day competition, which started with interviews and speeches Friday at Indiana State Fairgrounds. The contest continued Saturday with additional preliminary judging open to the public. Final rounds kicked off Sunday, with 16 semi-finalists delivering speeches in professional wear. Ten finalists then answered an on-stage question while sporting formal wear before judges named court members.

“I would definitely say in the finals round, it’s more pressure,” Link recalled. “There are a lot more nerves on the second competition night with the finals. With the quick elimination … and more quick changes for outfits.”

She talked about her experience getting to know the other contestants. She said they joked around with the idea of hosting a 2026 Indiana State Fair Queen pageant reunion someday.

“Spending three days with so many girls who are all so uplifting, so kind, so accomplished, so professional, it does something to your heart,” she said. 

She also spoke highly of her time rooming with 14 other contestants. Two of them — Miss Indiana State Fair Queen Presley Hampton and third runner-up Lexi Wilhoite — also made the court.

“I got to hang out and chat with Presley a lot during the weekend,” Link said. “Nobody knows and expects the winner, but I knew that she was definitely a special one. I felt very proud that I was able to connect with her.”

Link, a graduate of the 50th class of Jay County High School, attends Ball State University. She’s studying exercise science with plans to become an occupational therapist. Link has also considered becoming a clinical exercise physiologist. Either way, she said, she plans to stay in the health care field.

She also continues to serve as a cantor at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Portland.

Link will return to Indianapolis in early August for the Indiana State Fair Queen court day, an event celebrating the court while they wear state fair sashes and their county crowns. She’ll also be there for queens day, which involves honoring all newly crowned queens across the state.

In the mean time, she’s looking forward to her home county pageant this summer.

“I’m even more excited for (this) year’s Jay County queen pageant,” she said. “I cannot wait to find out who the next Miss Jay County is and help her through the process of the state fair pageant, and I hope that we can continue growing and bettering as a county pageant. I have several new ideas to bring up with Optimists, and I am just very optimistic about the future of Jay County’s pageant.”