Jillian Harper Named Miss Arkansas Rice

LITTLE ROCK, AR, November 16, 2005 — Jillian Harper, a 17-year old from Benton County, was named Miss Arkansas Rice at the state contest held here Nov. 12. She is the daughter of Keith and Georgia Harper from Gentry.

The first runner-up and second-runner up positions went to Krista Westerman of Poinsett County and Rebecca Stiles of Lee County respectively.

Contestants were judged on rice promotion, rice cooking skills and knowledge of the rice industry. Harper’s recipe was Fiesta Rice Skillet Dinner. Contest judges were: Teresa Henson, University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service; Judy Rennicke, Arkansas Farm Bureau; and Christina Munoz, KATV Channel 7 anchor/reporter.

Representatives from seven counties participated in the contest, which has a 44-year tradition. Other contestants were Megan Thompson, Arkansas County; Amy Hale, Chicot County; Liz Roberg, Lonoke County and Nikki Nash, Monroe County.

The goal of the Miss Arkansas Rice program is to encourage interest in rice among youth and to publicize the importance of the Arkansas rice industry to the economy of the state.

The Arkansas Rice Council and the USA Rice Council (a member of the USA Rice Federation) in cooperation with the Arkansas Farm Bureau and the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service sponsor the annual contest.

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Photo caption: Left to right: Rebecca Stiles, second runner-up; Jillian Harper, Miss Arkansas Rice; Krista Westerman, first runner-up.

Contact: Chuck Wilson, (870) 673-7541, cwilson@usarice.com

USA Rice Federation is the national advocate for all segments of the rice industry, conducting activities to influence government programs, developing and initiating programs to increase worldwide demand for U.S. rice, and providing other services to increase profitability for all industry segments.