Northwest student Ashley Brincks was crowned the 2019 Ms. United States Agriculture in June. It’s the second consecutive year a Northwest student has claimed a national agriculture crown. (Submitted photo)

Each year, one woman from each state competes at the Miss United States Agriculture pageant for the chance to claim the title of Ms. United States Agriculture title, and this year’s winner is a Northwest Missouri State University student.

Ashley Brincks, a senior animal science student from Carroll, Iowa, was crowned the 2019 Ms. United States Agriculture in June. It’s the second consecutive year a Northwest student has claimed a national agriculture crown after Holly Hatfield, a senior agriculture education, horticulture and agronomy major from Kirksville, Missouri, won Miss United States Agriculture last year.

Brincks took first place in the interview, essay, onstage question, and evening wear categories. It was her first pageant.

“There were so many emotions,” Brincks said. “We found out when we all went on stage together, we were holding hands waiting for the results. It’s still so surreal.”

Brincks was crowned Ms. Iowa, which made her eligible for the national crown. She spent the last year visiting schools and educating children about the world of agriculture.

“My real goal is to empower young women and to teach them that farming isn’t just for boys,” Brincks said. “Agriculture is seen as something for just men. I am working to teach young women that it’s okay to follow their dreams.”

As a child, Brincks helped her dad raise cattle, hogs, corn, soybeans and alfalfa. Brincks still helps her dad during planting and harvesting seasons at her family’s farm.

“Since the time I started helping my dad on the farm, I’ve never imagined doing anything besides working with livestock and in the animal science industry,” Brincks said. “I couldn’t imagine doing anything else with my life.”

Brincks said Northwest faculty have prepared her for both her pageant success and her future career. Next year, she will begin working full-time as a marketing and genetics support technician for swine genetics company Topigs Norsvin.

“Jodi Strauch (assistant professor of mass media) has helped me so much,” Brincks said. “She helped me prepare myself for the marketing portion of my job as I will be managing the social media pages for the company. I’m more knowledgeable going into my career already.”

At Northwest, Brincks is a member of Agriculture Communicators of Tomorrow and Northwest Collegiate Cattlemen’s Association. She posts regular updates on her involvement with the pageant community by clicking here.