MEET 2020 MISS UNITED STATES AGRICULTURE

SHELBY LYNN KIRTON OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA, WINS THE TITLE

Written by: Kathy Ann Gregg

In the midst of this crazy year, life has gone on as normal as we could make it. And that includes the pageants that celebrate the many and varied things we are surrounded by on a daily basis. Because the Sunshine State is still largely an agricultural state, it comes as no surprise that this year's Miss United States Agriculture title is held by a young woman from Okeechobee, Florida—Shelby Lynn Kirton.

Her journey to the top started a year ago: In mid-December of 2019, Kirton was chosen as Central Florida Miss United States Agriculture—through the submission of photos. Her fondest memory of holding that title was when she assisted the Okeechobee Women's Pregnancy Center by donating her prom dresses to its local thrift store.

For the national title, a live pageant was held June 19 to 20 in Orlando, in which Kirton rose above 11 other qualified young women in the categories of interview, state wear, onstage introductions, beauty, and impromptu questioning. When asked what her favorite portion of that pageant was, she responds, “The ‘State Fun Fashion,’ because that allowed me to showcase Florida's state flower, the orange blossom.”

The daughter of Dudley and Cheryl Kirton, the new titleholder is a fifth-generation cattle rancher. At the age of 5, she began her agricultural career by showing livestock all over the state with her older brother, Bailey. The duo started out showing shorthorns and slowly transitioned into Brahman cattle, and the next 13 years took them to shows all over the country.

Although Bailey currently serves his country as a member of the U.S. Navy, the family, including the two children, raise and sell registered Brahman cattle from their Okeechobee ranch.

Kirton is a 2018 graduate of Okeechobee High School and Indian River State College, under their dual enrollment program. She received a bachelor’s degree in animal science, with an equine specialization, in 2020 from the University of Florida. Kirton is currently attending Oklahoma State University and pursuing a master’s degree in agriculture communications.

Prior to earning her current title, Kirton was the 20152016 Florida High School Rodeo Association Queen, and competed for the national title in Rock Springs, Wyoming, at the National High School Rodeo Finals. During her years in the state organization, she competed in the events of goat-tying, barrel racing, pole bending and breakaway roping. She is a member of the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association, competing in barrel races at the pro-rodeo level, as well as local events.

Kirton credits Matt Pearce of Okeechobee as her agriculture role model. Pearce was the 2019-2020 Florida Cattlemen’s Association president. As Kirton notes, “His dedication to the agriculture industry inspires me in my role as the national Miss United States Agriculture.”

The new titleholder plans on using her position to be a positive promoter of agriculture nationwide—in any way that she can. She plans on attending national livestock shows, as well as events that are held within the industry. The show Kirton looks forward most to attending is the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo in March, which is known as the world’s largest livestock show and richest regular-season Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association event.

And it’s pretty easy to guess what the favorite food is of this through-and-through Floridian: steak! FCM