Erica Roberg: Finalist in Miss Arkansas Rice Contest

Little Rock, AR, November 20, 2007 — Erica Roberg, 16, represented Lonoke County in the Miss Arkansas Rice state contest held on Nov. 10. She is the daughter of Rex and Jetta Roberg from Cabot.

Scarlett Drake of St. Francis County was named Miss Arkansas Rice. 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. Roberg’s recipe was Grandma Kathleen’s Rice Pudding with Praline Sauce. Contest judges were: Amy McClelland, University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, Karen Williams, Citadel Broadcasting and Jennifer Victory, Arkansas Farm Bureau.

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

Erica Roberg photo

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The USA Rice Federation is the global advocate for all segments of the U.S. rice industry with a mission to promote and protect the interests of producers, millers, merchants and allied businesses.