BRINKLEY — Lynnsey Bowling of McCrory (Woodruff County) was named 2015-16 Miss Arkansas Rice on Aug. 22 at the Brinkley Convention Center. Bowling attends McCrory High School and is the daughter of Roger and Carrie Bowling.

Emma Williams of Searcy (White County) was first runner-up, and second runner-up was Benton Harvey of Marianna (Lee County). Other county winners participating in the state finals were Delia Barrett of DeWitt (Arkansas County), Callie Wells of Lake Village (Chicot County), Ragen Caroline Hodges of Jonesboro (Craighead County), Madi Driver of Newport (Jackson County), Tristan Bennet of Carlisle (Lonoke County), Destiny Swindle of Cotton Plant (Monroe County), Sara Elizabeth Toll of Hazen (Prairie County) and Haven McElhanon of Forrest City (St. Francis 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. Bowling’s recipe was "Reuben Rice Dip."

The Arkansas Rice Council sponsors the annual contest in cooperation with Arkansas Farm Bureau and the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service.

Arkansas’ rice industry supports 2,500 rice farms, employs more than 35,000 Arkansans and contributes more than $4 billion annually to the state’s economy. 

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2015-16's Miss Arkansas Rice, Lynnsey Bowling of McCrory, was crowned Aug. 22 at the Brinkley Convention Center by the 2013-14 Miss Arkansas Rice, Jenna Martin of Hickory Ridge.