Miss America And 4-H - A Tradition

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For decades the reigning Miss America traditionally attended National 4-H Congress each year, always a highlight of the 4-H delegates. For many of these years, during the 1950s, 60s and 70s, she appeared at the Thursday noon All-Congress Luncheon sponsored by General Motors Corporation in honor of the state and national 4-H safety program winners. Often part of the routine during Miss America's luncheon performance, she would select one of the safety winners... always a young man, to come up on stage in front of the 2,000+ audience where she would perhaps sing directly to him, much to the delight of the audience and to the red-faced embarrassment of the "chosen one."

Miss America then also appeared individually with the national safety winners in television interviews to send back to hometown stations. It was always a special delight when the current Miss America was a former 4-H member.

Miss America still occasionally appears at National 4-H Congress today, and former Miss Americas can often be found on state 4-H programs as speakers.