Du Quoin State Fair Winning smiles on display

About 60 guests filled the stage area of the Heartland Coco-Cola Expo Hall to watch as 20 contestants sported their smiles for the judges in the Du Quoin State Fair Smile Contest on Saturday.

The event attracted competitors between the ages of 0-12 from across several southern Illinois counties. Baylie Devall, the Miss Marion County Fair Queen, presided over the event.

"We thought this would be fun," said Chris Winstead, the mother of Ely and Ayden of Herrin, both winners in their categories.

The winners included Lillyann Gill of Centralia and Silas Browning of Cobden (0-2), Belynda Trail of Tamaroa and Ely Johnson of Herrin (3-4), Alexiz Gill of Centralia and Ayden Johnson of Herrin (5-8), and Trinity Savin of Salem and Noah Savin of Salem (9-12).

Lucas Steele of Pinckneyville Dental Care sponsored the contest, providing a prize package for all of the winners as well as a toothbrush for each competitor.</group><group id="88C7D5F