Jocelyn Spigler, of Prince Edward County High School, has been named the 2020 Virginia Teen Miss United States Agriculture and looks to compete for a nation-wide title this summer.

Spigler, who is the junior chaplain of a chapter of Future Farmers of America (FFA), explained how the opportunity to earn the Teen Miss title came about.

“I’m in the FFA, and we have talked about the pageant before, and my chapter leader, her daughter is Teen Miss West Virginia, and she was like, ‘Hey, this would be a great opportunity for you to put yourself out (there) and just be a part of something big like that,’ because they don’t really make agriculture stuff big anymore, and I think it deserves a lot more appreciation, because we wouldn’t have farmers without it,” Spigler said.

She signed up and wrote a required essay, explaining why she wanted to be part of the competition to earn the Teen Miss title.

She noted that she is aiming to go to Orlando, Florida, in June to participate in a nationwide pageant.

“I really need sponsors to help get down there, and everybody that would sponsor me would get their name in the (event program) under my name, that they sponsored me and they helped me,” she said.

Nationals will be held June 20, according to National Contest Coordinator Megan Keller, who said Miss United States Agriculture’s mission is to teach, inspire and advocate for agriculture. Areas of competition for the teen division, which is ages 13-16, include photogenic, interview, introduction, formal wear, on-stage question and state fun fashion.

“On top of division titles we award a cover Miss title, Miss Agriculture title and a People’s Choice title,” Keller said. “We also award $5,000 in scholarships. Each contestant is to obtain a $500 sponsorship, and with that they get a full ad page where they can highlight their sponsors, plus their sponsors will be recognized on our Facebook page and website.”

The website is missunitedstatesagriculture.org.

Those interested in sponsoring Spigler can contact her at Jocenae@gmail.com.