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A Palmyra woman is now state royalty.

Miss Marion County, 19-year-old Emily Wood was crowned the 2012 Missouri State Fair Queen in Sedalia last week.

As queen, she will receive a $1,500 scholarship and will reign over remaining State Fair events.  She will also be an ambassador for the Missouri State Fair and agriculture throughout the coming year.

The Missouri State Fair runs through Sunday.

Contestants vying for the crown were judged in multiple areas including interviews, speech and talent and evening gown. Miss Wood received the highest score out of 54 contestants in the talent competition with her clogging performance, and was crowned by the 2011 Missouri State Fair Queen, Meredith Jones, of Dawn.

Miss Wood is the reigning Miss Marion County, and is the daughter of Gary Wood and Sheri Wood.

“I was so nervous to hear all the ties that we had, but it really just shows how much talent we had at the Queen Contest,” Miss Wood said. “I am so honored to be the 2012 Missouri State Fair Queen.”

Wood studies nursing at Moberly Area Community College. As queen, she will receive a $1,500 scholarship to continue her education.

The 2012 Missouri State Fair is currently underway in Sedalia and will run through Sunday, Aug. 19. For more information, visit www.mostatefair.com, or call 1-800-422-FAIR (3247). The Fair is also on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and YouTube.