OLDS, Alta. — Amanda Bacon’s friends check out her Facebook page to find out which Hereford shows she has attended.
As national Hereford Queen in the United States, the 18-year-old has a gruelling schedule of cattle shows and agricultural events that crisscross the country. Her itinerary included a visit to the World Hereford Conference, held July 16-17 in Calgary and Olds.
“It is more work than you think it is. My sister was queen before and I didn’t realize how much there was to it,” she said between classes at the open show.
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Raised on a purebred cattle and sheep operation at Siloam Springs, Arkansas, Bacon is a seventh generation Hereford breeder, involved with 4-H, Future Farmers of America and junior Hereford programs since she was a preschooler.
That background and knowledge of the breed are among the criteria for young women interested in applying for the job. Each candidate must also have been a state queen.
Bacon competed against five other girls and was crowned last October in Kansas City, Missouri. She will crown a new queen this fall and is encouraged to mentor the successor.
Although the queens are allowed to show cattle, Bacon has found there is little time to do so.
“I have my hands full. This year has been different because I wasn’t able to show as much.”
She is registered at Oklahoma State University this fall and will major in agricultural business and communications with an ambition to study law.
“I want to raise Herefords no matter what I do, but I am thinking of doing agriculture law,” she said.
Bacon attends all six national Hereford shows in the United States and is invited to numerous other events as an ambassador and to help at shows.
She wears a carved leather sash and crown, which is passed on from one queen to the next.
Every national queen is responsible for her wardrobe, which consists of white outfits for every occasion.
Her family are also partners in this year’s grand champion polled bull shown by Remitall West of Olds, Alta.
