Have you ever wanted to be the queen of beef or princess of the peas? It sounds kind of silly but these are real titles! There are a wide variety of agriculture-based pageants in the U.S., including watermelon, dairy, rodeo, corn, asparagus, and more.
Wearing a crown is one of many ways to raise awareness about agriculture while being involved in the community. Want to learn more about different opportunities? This list is home to just a few of the biggest examples of agriculture pageants, but these event provide young #womeninag with fun and creative opportunities to advocate for the industry.
Miss Agriculture USA
No, not Miss USA, Miss Agriculture USA. Starting in 2018, this nonprofit organization created a national space for women of all ages to build confidence, develop public speaking skills and shape strong leaders all while advocating for ag. Any girl from the ages 2 and up can compete. While looking professional is part of the competition, contestants also complete an interview, impromptu question, speech and writing an essay. During their reign, the queens attend agricultural events, such as rodeos, cattle shows, farm shows, and more.
Interested in traveling the country to advocate for agriculture? Visit their website to learn more!
Alice in Dairyland
In Wisconsin’s centennial year (1948), a competition was created to be the state’s most recognizable spokesperson for agriculture, Alice in Dairyland. Wisconsin is known as the cheese state, so dairyland makes perfect sense! The chosen queen works with the media, youth organizations, civic groups, and many other local events to enhance the state’s understanding of agriculture. The 2022 Alice in Dairyland, Taylor Schaefer, attended the U.S. Cheese Contests, classrooms, senior living centers, and food shows to advocate about the state’s $104.8 billion industry.
Want to compete? First you must make sure you fit their criteria here.
Watermelon Queen
I bet you didn’t know there was a National Watermelon Association, let alone a Watermelon Queen! For more than 50 years there has been a Watermelon queen advocating for the industry. The 2022 queen, Bethany Barfield, will travel the country and potentially foreign markets to promote the watermelon industry at fairs, festivals, and in supermarkets. She also gives tips on how to select a watermelon along with its nutritional and economic value.
Love watermelon and want to educate others about it? Learn more on their website!
Cattle Breed Queens
Many cattle breed associations have queens, including the National Hereford Association. Many girls who grow up showing Hereford cattle dream about wearing the white boots and leather sash. First, a state title must be earned and then you can run for the national title at the American Royal. The queen travels across the country to attend shows, sales and connect with producers of the breed. Since this title requires a great deal of time to promote and educate, the Hereford Youth Foundation started a scholarship fund, which provides each queen with $10,000 when their reign is over.
Ready to promote the breed you love? Find all the details on their website. If Hereford isn’t your breed, check out your association to see if they have a queen!
Miss Rodeo USA
Starting in 1966, the International Pro Rodeo Association Board of Governors created a pageant knowing the importance of having a representative for the IPRA. A new queen is picked each year during the International Finals Rodeo. Each contestant is judged on personality, appearance and horsemanship. A few examples of events they complete in are speech, horsemanship patterns, style shows, and interviews. On average, Miss Rodeo USA travels 100,000 miles across the United States and Canada to represent the IPRA and spread their knowledge about the western industry.
Do you want to compete or book Miss Rodeo USA to visit your event? You can do it easily by clicking here!
There is no doubt these women turn heads walking by in fancy clothes and crowns. But it is what lies within that shows their true character. Each one is carefully picked to represent an association with poise. They are a face of each association, one that so many young girls look up to and aspire to be.
“I really enjoyed connecting with people, sharing my passion for agriculture, and the opportunity to advocate for agriculture,” said Kady Figge, the 2020 Kansas Miss Agriculture USA.
The titles mentioned in this article are just the tip of the iceberg — start a Google search to find out if your passion collides with a pageant! Not all heroes wear capes. Some wear crowns, John Deere hats, cowboy hats and more … all while driving a combine or working in a barn.
Michelle Miller, the “Farm Babe,” is an internationally recognized keynote speaker, writer, and social media influencer and travels full time to advocate for agriculture. She comes from an Iowa-based row crop and livestock farming background and now resides on a timber farm in North Central Florida.
