2026 Missouri State Fair Queen Tess Bauer aiming for educational role

Newly crowned Missouri State Fair Queen Tess Bauer said she wasn’t expecting the beat out 31 other contestants to earn the title at last week’s competition, held at the Mathewson Exhibition Center on Thursday.

“I wasn’t expecting it at all,” she said on Saturday afternoon -- “very surreal.”

As for her required speech, Queen Tess said she talked about “all of the things that agriculture has taught me, and it was ‘Wizard of Oz’ themed.”

There was also a personal interview that was conducted with all of the judges last Wednesday, one day before the Fair officially opened.

The evening gown and talent portion took place Thursday afternoon. Tess made top 10 and all of the finalists were asked an on-stage question.

When asked by this reporter when did it hit you that you are now the new State Fair Queen, Tess responded “Honestly, not until today. It’s such a surreal thing, you know? I don’t feel any different, like I still just feel like myself. And so, it’s weird as I’m riding around on my golf cart, people wave at me, and it takes me a second to be like ‘why are they waving?’ But it’s a role that I’m super proud to be having. And I’m glad that I can be a role model to a bunch of younger kids. And also, just a shining light to other fairgoers, you know put a smile on their face,” Tess told KSIS.

When told she was officially a celebrity now, Queen Tess responded “I guess you could call me that, although I really don’t feel like it.”

Accompanying and chauffeuring Queen Tess around the Fairgrounds all this week are her parents, Doug & Lori. All are from St. Charles.

“They are my chaperones, so they come with me everywhere, which is also super cool that they get to experience all of the fun events that I get to go to,” Queen Tess said.

“So actually, we’re going to have a do a little tag teaming. I’m a teacher, and you know we’re getting close to school time, so I have meetings starting on Monday. So I’m going to go to ‘Day One’ of meetings, then I’ll be back,’ commented Lori Bauer reference the Fort Zumwalt School District in O'Fallon. It is the largest school district in St. Charles County, and the district includes all of Saint Paul, most of Josephville, much of Dardenne Prairie, Flint Hill, O'Fallon, and Saint Peters, and parts of Cottleville and Wentzville.

Lori said she is extremely proud of her daughter.

“Tess, like she said, has just been herself throughout this whole process, and made us very proud, just showing who she is as a young lady and we couldn’t be more proud of her platform and she just wants to be out there and inspire other people in the field of agriculture,” Lori stated.

Queen Tess was asked if she likes to travel, because that will be a requirement as State Fair queen over the next year, making appearances all over the state.

“I like to go see new places and always meet new people,” she said, adding that she’s a lot of experience with public speaking through 4-H and FFA.

She explained that you can join 4H at age eight, and FFA starts once you enter high school. “But you can be in both at the same time,” Queen Tess said.

The two clubs help leadership an communication skills.

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“Obviously they’re both agriculture based. But it’s so much more than that. THre’s so many opportunities to network, meet new people, make amazing friendships. Some of my best friendships were made in 4-H and FFA. And it’s just full of so many opportunities,” Queen Tess stated, referring to the Pointe Prairie 4-H Club and the Orchard Farm chapter of FFA.

“Coming from a real small area that Saint Charles County used to be when I grew up, to now being close to a million people, and going from rural to be urbanized – it’s really cool for her to represent the county at this Fair, said Doug Bauer.
Queen Tess said she’s excited to continue being a role model and learn new things over the next 12 months.

“I’m always looking for opportunities to gain some knowledge, and I know the people that I met and the places that I get to go with this crown … I’m going to learn so much from it,” said the St. Charles County Fair Queen.

Queen Tess has two older siblings – a sister and brother.

“My sister is working in the poultry barn as an assistant superintendent. And before I was crowned, I was also a poultry barn employee.  So I had plans to be at the state fair the whole time working in the poultry barn. So you could say I upgraded a little bit,” she laughed.

Queen Tess will have to report back to MU for classes which start on the 24th. The last day of the 2026 Mo State Fair is Sunday, Aug. 23.

“I will come home from the State Fair and get one night of good sleep in my bed ad be up for my 9 a.m., class on Monday,” she noted.

“I’m studying agriculture education (using teacher certification routes) so I want to be a high school Ag teacher and FFA Advisor,” Queen Tess told KSIS.

“This summer, I actually had the opportunity to work for St. Charles County 4-H as their intern. I got to go to 4-H Camp, working with the youth and in high school FFA. And in high school FFA, we also work with the youth too, so I do love working with the kids,” Queen Tess said.

Is becoming an educator her lifelong ambition?

“Yes, that’s what I plan to do,” she stressed. Is she following in her mom’s footsteps?

“Yes. Obviously, my mom was a teacher, but I was also very inspired by my high school FFA teacher. She was always pushing me out of my comfort zone and making me try new things. And so she’s really the reason I chose to do agriculture education,” Queen Tess said.

She went on to explain that even though FFA met weekly, “I was in her classroom every day, every lunch period. She was just the person I was always with.”