Jason Futch
reporter2.riverbendnews@gmail.com
Recently, local teen Kimberly Tanner was crowned the 2025 Miss Agriculture USA Agvocate, representing the State of Florida. She joins several other “agvocates” across the United States as advocates in agriculture, encouraging the next generation of women to participate in agricultural activities.
According to its website, Miss Agriculture USA is a non-profit organization dedicated to celebrating and promoting the wonders of agriculture. As a non-profit organization, it is focused on building confidence, promoting self esteem, developing public speaking skills, shaping strong leaders, networking, and forming lasting friendships through its pageants.
Tanner became interested in the organization when she met someone who had been involved and served as an Agvocate for the organization. “I wanted to do that too,” Tanner said. She put the effort in, and was ultimately appointed the 2025 Agvocate. “I earned the role by showing the qualities of an agvocate, like spreading the word about agriculture and having a passion for it.”
Tanner has been in Future Farmers of America since sixth grade and has been advocating for the public to learn more about how the food goes from farm to fork. “I don’t think it’s something that nobody knows about, what goes on behind the scenes,” Tanner said. “Everyone knows they get their food at the grocery store, and that food ends up on their table. They don’t see what happens at the farm.”
Tanner understands how difficult farming can be, and the shortages that farmers tend to face. It is something that she hopes to educate the community on as she maintains her title through the year.
Tanner hopes that serving as the current Miss Agriculture USA Agvocate will inspire another girl in her area to want to achieve the title and advocate for agriculture in the community. Tanner is currently in ninth grade and is on the Suwannee High School weightlifting team. She is also a beekeeper and also shows pigs at community events.
She hopes that when she graduates, she will be able to attend the University of Florida and study agriculture so that she can make a difference in the field. “Do it,” she says as words of encouragement to those interested in pursuing the Miss Agriculture USA title. “The sky is the limit!”