Shelby Bosnick of Moro, Miss Lee County Rice, was named 2017-18 Miss Arkansas Rice on Saturday at the Brinkley Convention Center. Bosnick, 17, is a senior at Lee Academy and is the daughter of Jason and Ashley Bosnick.

Anna Mae Roemer of Jonesboro (Craighead County) was first runner-up. Second runner-up was Kalyah Edwards of Pine Bluff (Jefferson County). Other county winners participating in the state finals were Harley Bishop of DeWitt (Arkansas County), Addy Thornhill of Wynne (Cross County), Mallory Perkins of Lonoke (Lonoke County), Lawson May of Forrest City (St. Francis County) and Courtney Dorton of Judsonia (White County).

The goal of the Miss Arkansas Rice program is to encourage interest in rice promotion and to publicize the importance of the Arkansas rice industry to the state’s economy. Contestants were judged on their promotion activities and knowledge of the rice industry. They also cooked a rice dish at the competition on which they were judged. Bosnick’s recipe was “Parmesan Shrimp and Rice Casserole.”

To see Bosnick's recipe, visit TasteArkansas.com.

The Arkansas Rice Council sponsors the annual contest in cooperation with Arkansas Farm Bureau and the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service. Arkansas Farm Bureau is a nonprofit, private advocacy organization of more than 190,000 families throughout the state working to improve farm and rural life.

For more information, contact:

Keith Sutton
501.228.1274
keith.sutton@arfb.com