Marci Manley Named Miss Arkansas Rice

Lee County, AR, December 2, 2004 — Marci Manley, 17, from Lee County, was named Miss Arkansas Rice at the state contest that was held Saturday, November 20, in Little Rock. She is the daughter of Franklin and Lisa Manley of Marianna.

Contestants were judged on rice promotion, rice cookery as well as their overall knowledge of the rice industry. Marci’s recipe was Marci’s Fruity Delight.

Amanda Simpson of Benton County was named first runner-up and Micah Jo Doepel of Monroe County was named second runner-up.

The annual contest is sponsored by the Arkansas Rice Council, USA Rice Council (a charter member of the USA Rice Federation), in cooperation with the Arkansas Farm Bureau and the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service. Contest judges were: Amy McClelland, University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service in Little Rock; Steve Eddington, director of public relations, Arkansas Farm Bureau in Little Rock; and Lindy Blackstone, promotion director for 103.7 The Buzz radio in Little Rock.

Representative from eight counties participated in the contest, which has a 43-year tradition. Other contestants were Kailee Kimrey, Arkansas County; Erin Dixon, Chicot County; Breana Watkins, Craighead County; Stephanie Smith, Crawford County and Lorin Hill, Lonoke County. The goal of the Miss Arkansas Rice program is to encourage interest in rice cookery and rice promotion among youth and to publicize the importance of the Arkansas rice industry to the economy of the state.

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Photo (L-R): Micah Doepel from Monroe County (Second Runner-Up) Marci Manley from Lee County (Miss Arkansas Rice) Amanda Simpson from Benton County (First Runner-Up)