Hiram – As Portage County’s Junior Miss Agriculture, seventh-grader Layleh Furner has the opportunity to shine a light on agriculture in her hometown of Hiram. No stranger to the pageant scene, Furner traveled to over 50 local festivals during her reign as the Potato Festival Junior Miss in 2018-2019. At each festival, she picked up a special charm to add to her bracelet. But according to her mom, Kayley Furner, it’s not about the crown or the trinkets.
The proud mother noted that other than the experiences these awards provide, they also offer her daughter the potential to win scholarship money for college. In addition, festival participation has become a family affair, with Layleh’s siblings serving with her on the Potato Festival Court. Her oldest sister also served as Miss Akron Canton Outstanding Teen. Layleh learned about Miss Agriculture while, during her Potato Festival Junior Miss reign, she met one at the Geneva festival. “She wasn’t dressed like a princess, she was dressed ‘country’,” Layleh noted. “I liked that she could just be herself.”
The young Bio-Med student participates in gymnastics, student council and has an orange belt in karate. She’s also involved in scouting, which she credits to open the door for her outdoor activities. Like many young ladies her age, Layleh loves horses; her family is currently looking for a horse to enable Layleh to participate in a local equestrian 4H chapter. They also grew a bumper crop of vegetables in their home garden this summer that enabled them to share the surplus with friends and neighbors. According to Kayley, the Miss Agriculture program has been beneficial to her daughter. “It’s not focused on what you’re wearing, but who you are as a person.”
In addition to the crown and sash she received, Layleh has the opportunity to compete at the State and National Miss Agriculture USA competitions. She’ll compete for the Junior Miss Agriculture Ohio title in March. If that goes well, she’ll compete for the National title in April. In addition to new titles, both competitions provide an opportunity to win scholarships as well, which will come in handy, since she hopes to become a doctor. She’s seeking sponsorships to help fund her expenses to attend these competitions.
Miss Agriculture USA is a national nonprofit organization that began in 2018 to celebrate and promote agriculture. The organization strives to help build confidence, promote self-esteem, and develop public speaking skills to help shape strong leaders and form lasting friendships. To be considered for a role as Miss Agriculture, applicants can be any age or ability and possess a love of animals and gardening. Find out more on the group’s Facebook page.
