Locals compete for Pa. Miss United States Agriculture
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By AMBER MORRIS
For The Express
LOCK HAVEN -- Three area young women will be packing up their crowns and heading south as they represent Clinton County in the Pennsylvania Miss United States Agriculture pageant tomorrow in Huntingdon.
The event, which consists of 10 divisions, is not one of those old fashioned beauty competitions where how contestants looks in a swimsuit is the most important quality, but instead focuses on "building confidence, promoting self-esteem, developing public speaking, building strong leaders, networking and creating friendships."
This year there will be representatives from 28 counties across the state including Mill Hall's Carly Walizer; Haili Frank from the Salona area, and Rylee Jo Shady from Sugar Valley.
CARLY WALIZER
Carly Walizer, 20, is the daughter of Greg and Mary Walizer, and is a 2016 graduate of Central Mountain High School. She is a sophomore at Lock Haven University, where she is majoring in Recreation Management with a concentration in Fitness Management. She will be representing the county for the title of "United States Agriculture Queen."
Carly, who is a part-time waitress at the Dutch Haven, has always loved horses and began riding at 2 years old. Her interest in equestrian sports was fostered through her five-year membership in 4-H where she came to love barrel racing, keyhole, and pole bending.
Carly, who holds the title of 2016 Clinton County Fair Queen, is a proud member of the Sigma Kappa sorority at Lock Haven University and also volunteers as a cheerleading coach for Central Mountain Youth Football. Upon graduating from university, her goal is to be a strength and conditioning coach.
HAILIE MARIE FRANK
Haili Marie Frank, 16, is the "Clinton County Miss Teen United States Agriculture" representative. She is the daughter of Eric and Clinta Frank, and is a sophomore at the Sugar Valley Rural Charter School where she is involved in many clubs and organizations, including the National Honor Society, and the school's FFA chapter where she holds an office. In 2017, she competed in the FFA Creed Speaking competition placing first in the county, and second in the region qualifying her for the state competition where she placed 10th in the state.
Haili is a great animal lover, and is a member of two 4-H groups. In the past seven years, Haili has exhibited pigs, goats, lambs, chickens and rabbits. She also shows lambs and goats at the PA Farm Show. In her other 4-H group, she shoots archery. In August, she competed in the archery competition at State Days in Rock Run, Pa. and placed second in her age division. Haili has recently started a speaker series for the Moose Lodge #100 were she is speaking to children between the ages of 5-9. She is teaching about healthy living including healthy snacks in her presentations. Recently, Haili was recognized by Congressman GT Thompson on the US House of Representatives floor in Washington DC on March 5.
RYLEE JO SHADY
Rylee Jo Shady, age 4, is the daughter of Justine and Seth Shady of Loganton, and is competing in the "Future Little Miss," division of the pageant. Rylee will begin kindergarten at Sugar Valley Rural Charter School in the fall. Rylee's mom affectionately refers to her as a "Farm Princess" as she will often wear dresses with her Muck boots and cowgirl boots down to the pig pens or out to the barn. She enjoys helping wherever she can and especially loves to help with the piglets on her family's small pig farm. She also enjoys bottle feeding her calves and collecting the eggs from the chickens. Rylee loves all farm animals and is looking forward to adding goats, sheep and ducks to her farm.
Rylee loves Disney princesses, singing, dancing, playing dress up, coloring and tumbling. She is the reigning 2017 Clinton County Fair Tiny Tot Princess and absolutely loves spending the week at her local fair each summer. Her future plans include beginning dance and gymnastics and learning to bake and cook. When she grows up Rylee states that she will be "a farmer and a princess."
The Pennsylvania Miss United States Agriculture pageant takes place on Saturday, April 14, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Huntingdon Area High School located at 2400 Cassady Ave., Ste 1, Huntingdon and is open to the public for a fee of $5.
Winners of the Pennsylvania Miss United States Agriculture pageant will have the opportunity to compete at the 2018 National Miss United States Agriculture competition on June 23, 2018 in Birmingham, Ala.