Concerns about the operations of last year’s Kendall County Fair Association Queen’s Court are being raised by some of the girls’ mothers, who are asking event leadership to address several grievances.
A meeting involving the mothers, parents of several former contestants and KCFA representatives originally scheduled for Friday is now on hold, the Star was told.
In addition, the Star contacted the association multiple times seeking comment but did not receive a response by publication time.
The parents’ concerns revolve around their views of the conduct of pageant leadership, canceled events and non-reimbursements during the year, the mothers said.
The fair and rodeo prompting the parents’ complaints took place Aug. 29 and Aug. 30, 2025.
However, the controversy came to a head during the fair this month when the microphone of 2025 KCFA Queen Makenna Jureczki was cut off during her address at the 2026 pageant.
Her mother, Tiffany Jureczki, said the issues really began much earlier this year.
Jureczki said new directors took over In January with a contract that “stated the fair would reimburse us for the girls' clothes, so we went and bought outfits.”
According to her, those costs have not been met.
Jureczki said she and fellow Queen's Court mothers Mercedes Bryant and Cori Gilroy — whose daughters, Collins Bryant and Ellie Gilroy, served as Little Miss and Junior Miss, respectively, in 2025 — were encouraged to purchase outfits for appearances, primarily parades, they said were frequently called off the day before or the day of the event.
The mothers said they are also waiting for reimbursements for hotel stays that became unnecessary because of last-minute cancellations.
"We gave them the receipts,” Jureczki said.
Bryant said her young daughter also heard inappropriate speech among KCFA officials that led to an uncomfortable conversation.
"Collins came up to me and asked, 'Mommy, what does it mean to sleep with someone?'" Bryant said. "I was like, 'Oh my God.' She's 10. Literally 10 years old."
The mothers said they repeatedly raised concerns with senior KCFA leadership and are still waiting for answers.
Gilroy said her daughter frequently returned home upset following interactions with pageant leadership.
The frustrations culminated during the 2026 pageant in September, when Makenna Jureczki prepared a speech outlining her concerns with the KCFA board.
Audience members did not hear the comments during the Sept. 3 pageant after the microphone was silenced shortly after her introduction.
Paige Sowa, whose daughter competed in the 2026 pageant, said she witnessed an event official tell a sound technician to turn off the audio.
Tiffany Jureczki recorded the full speech and later posted it online, where it received more than 60,000 views and generated numerous comments supporting Makenna.
In the full speech, Makenna expressed disappointment over the number of canceled events and said the primary bond formed among members of the 2025 Queen's Court stemmed from shared hardships rather than the positive experience they had expected.
"There may be moments where adults disappoint you," Makenna said in the speech. "There may be moments where you are lied to, disrespected or treated unfairly. Do not let those moments put you down or change who you are."
The Star will continue to reach out to KCFA leadership.
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