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A jewel for agriculture
When Teresa Scanlan put on the 2011 Miss America crown, she didn't pull up her roots from the Nebraska soil. In fact, those roots are growing deeper and she's sharing what she knows all across America. For Scanlan, growing up in Scottsbluff, Neb., it was hard not to recognize the importance of agriculture to her community and the world. But now, with a shiny new crown atop her head, she has the stage to broadcast that message about agriculture even further. Recently, Scanlan discussed farmers and agriculture on the Fox News morning show "Fox and Friends" and then published an Op-Ed on FoxNews.com called: "Why all Americans have a stake in the success of our farmers and ranchers." In it, Scanlan points out the importance of growing a safe and abundant food supply for the growing number of mouths across the world. She asks, "Can we feed a growing world population, fuel our economy, and still offer wholesome food choices to Americans? Sure, just as long as we avoid weakening the very infrastructure that makes it all possible. "As I write this, America has just 210,000 full-time farms. That's it. And being from an agricultural community, I know these aren't large corporations with giant bank accounts. These are small businesses with huge overhead expenses and a history of modest profits. "Farming and ranching is expensive, and the risks associated with it are unlike any other profession, which is why we're faced with fewer and fewer U.S. producers to support more and more people." Scanlan is one of the youngest Miss Americas ever crowned, winning the title when she was just 17. But she's anything but a geeky teenager. She handles herself with the poise and grace that you would expect of a pageant queen, but she doesn't fit the stereotypical idea of a talking head. She speaks with the confidence of someone twice her age. In fact, listening to her it's hard to believe she was graduating high school just a few months ago. Scanlan plans to spend her time as Miss America raising awareness about the importance of agriculture to all Americans. Which only makes sense, she says. After all, she was Miss Nebraska first and folks in this part of the world understand the important work of U.S. farmers and ranchers. Unlikely as it may seem to have a pageant queen talking about agriculture, it works. If it takes a little bling and a crown to get the agriculture industry the recognition it deserves, then so be it. Holly Martin can be reached by phone at 1-800-452-7171 ext. 1806, or by email at hmartin@hpj.com.
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