Rural Royalty

Ag Ambassadors Are More Than Just Farm Girls

McKayla Stock isn’t your average beauty queen. She was actively involved in 4-H and FFA while growing up, and is now pursuing a nursing degree. (Progressive Farmer photo by Rhonda Stock)

A swarm of 102 young women saunters across a stage, each wearing a sparkling tiara, blue sash and high heels. This seems an unlikely place to find dyed-in-the-wool farm girls, but nothing’s amiss here. It’s the annual Iowa State Fair (ISF) queen competition.


The tradition dates back 50 years, when the first queen was selected in 1964. The public voted for participants then via paper ballots.


“When we crown the new queen each year, she becomes the focal point of the fair,” notes Gary McConnell, ISF board member and queen liaison. “All the little kids are just in awe of the Iowa State Fair queen.”


Today, county fair queens from every corner of Iowa participate in the state contest. The contestants face several rounds of interviews from a panel of five judges before one can be crowned queen. The young women are evaluated on leadership, character, personality, charm and beauty. The winner wears the coveted crown and sash and, for the remainder of the fair, performs such royal duties as handing out ribbons and trophies, judging various contests, attending promotional events and even getting soaked in a dunk tank. She represents the state fair until crowning her successor the following year.


Setting a Standard. At first glance, a group of county fair queens could be mistaken for Miss America contestants. Looking beyond the ball gowns and tiaras, however, you’ll find these young women are proud representatives of their local communities and of agriculture. They cherish their time as county fair queens and describe the experience as “unbelievable” and “awesome.”


McKayla Stock, 2014 Allamakee County fair queen, recalls, as a shy girl, she looked upon county fair queens in awe. “I used to be fascinated with them,” she says. “My babysitter was the queen. I thought I was so cool because she came to my house, and I got to hang out with the queen.”

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This past year, it was Stock’s turn to smile as cameras flashed and little girls admired her. She even got to share the county contest experience with her younger sister, Bethany, who was named Allamakee County princess the same time Stock was crowned queen.


“It was very special to share that week with her. It made us closer,” Stock says.


The pair tag-teamed on royalty duties throughout county fair week. They met people who didn’t know the difference between a beef cow and a dairy cow, and other fairgoers with similar questions about modern agriculture.


“My sister and I were able to answer those questions about farm life,” Bethany says.


The sisters grew up showing cattle from a young age. Stock also began her own cattle herd as a high school freshman and now sells her calves to 4-H members.


She mentors the members by teaching them what to look for in a good beef animal and how to direct the animal in the show ring. Stock also educates members on preparing animals for judging so they can have the same positive, memorable 4-H experience she had growing up.


“Regardless of what county you’re from, there are a lot of commonalities and traditions that are the same for every county fair, and that’s the tie to agriculture,” explains Abrah Meyer, crowned ISF queen in 2012.


“We represent our small-town county fairs, and even though we dress up and have a fancy crown, we are still farm kids,” adds Rachael Ostrem, the 2014 Hardin County fair queen. Ostrem’s family lives on the same land her grandparents settled when they emigrated from Norway in 1885.


Other contestants agree with Ostrem’s comment and joke that their fake nails and manicures won’t last very long after the competition.


“Being fair queen shows that agriculture can have a beauty side. Agriculture isn’t always beautiful sometimes, when we think about scooping manure on our farms,” notes Hannah Gunn, 2014 Decatur County fair queen.


Critics say pageants are often too focused on style above substance. But nothing could be further from the truth with these young women, who serve as agriculture ambassadors across the country. Their actions make them worthy role models, McConnell notes.


“Fairs are all about tradition and young people,” he says. “What better way for our youth to express themselves than to be in this contest.”

(CZ/SK)

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