Scarlett Drake Named Miss Arkansas Rice

Little Rock, AR, November 19, 2007 — St. Francis County 16-year old Scarlett Drake was named Miss Arkansas Rice at the state contest held here Nov. 10. She is the daughter of William and Lisa Drake from Forrest City.

The first runner-up and second-runner up positions went to Kathaleene Meacham of Monroe County and Katie Waldrip of Lee County respectively.

Contestants were judged on rice promotion, rice cooking skills and knowledge of the rice industry. Drake’s recipe was Scarlett’s Southern Rice Salad. Amy McClelland, University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, Jennifer Victory, Arkansas Farm Bureau, and Karen Williams, Citadel Broadcasting judged the contestants.

Representative from nine counties participated in the contest, which has a 46-year tradition. Other contestants were Nadia Yancy, Arkansas County; Taylor Keller, Chicot County; Jessica Wilson, Craighead County; Kalyn Taylor, Cross County; Madeline Winemiller, Jackson County and Erica Roberg, Lonoke County.

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

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.

Caption: 2007 Miss Arkansas Rice Scarlett Drake.

High-resolution photo of 2007 Miss Arkansas Rice Scarlett Drakea link.

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.

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