Lydia Holmes Named Miss Arkansas Rice

11/16/09 03:50 PM Filed in: Miss Arkansas RIce
Lydia Holmes Named Miss Arkansas Rice
Lydia Holmes, 2009-10 Miss Arkansas Rice, is crowned by 2008-09 Miss Arkansas Rice Jillian Russell.”
LITTLE ROCK, AR — Lydia Holmes, a 17-year-old from St. Francis County, was named 2009-10 Miss Arkansas Rice Saturday. She is the daughter of Byron and Brenda Holmes from Forrest City.

Piper Veazey of Monroe County was first runner-up and second runner-up was Hannah Hodges of Craighead County.

Representatives from six counties participated in the contest. Other contestants were Elli Fowler, Cross County; Jordan Foushee, Jackson County and Chelsea Benson, Lee County.

Contestants were judged on rice promotion, rice cooking skills and knowledge of the rice industry. Holmes' recipe was Rice Romanoff.

The goal of the Miss Arkansas Rice program is to encourage youth interest in rice and to publicize the importance of the Arkansas rice industry to the state's economy. The Arkansas Rice Council, in cooperation with the Arkansas Farm Bureau and the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, sponsor the annual contest.

Chuck Wilson, (870) 673-7541, cwilson@usarice.com