Bel Air Teen Wins Miss Maryland Agriculture 2020 Contest

TIMONIUM, MD — A Bel Air teen was named Miss Maryland Agriculture 2020 at a contest sponsored by the Maryland State Fair. With her new title, 17-year-old Kylan Keehan will represent the Maryland agriculture industry at events around the state.

"I was once one of the consumers who didn’t understand agriculture," Keehan said in a statement. "But I have grown to appreciate agriculture and its importance through my involvement with 4-H, the Maryland Farm Bureau, and with the help of the many dedicated farmers whom I met along the way. They have helped me to become my best self."

Keehan began working in agriculture at 12 years old leasing Guernsey cattle from Avondale Acres.

Her interest grew, and she is now president of the Harford County Dairy Club and Blue Ribbon 4-H Club. Keehan also writes for Pink Tractor, a national magazine promoting women in agriculture, according to a statement from the Maryland State Fair. This spring, she was named the alternate Maryland Dairy Princess, an honor that carries the responsibility of educating people about the importance of the state's dairy industry.

In 2021, Keehan plans to graduate from the agriculture magnet program at North Harford High School and study agriculture economics at the University of Maryland.

For winning the title of Miss Maryland Agriculture 2020, Keehan earned a scholarship and cash awards up to $8,000 in value, according to a statement from the state fair.

While the title has changed over the years — from Miss Timonium in the 1940s to Maryland Farm Queen in the 1950s to Maryland Agriculture Ambassador thereafter — officials say the goal of the contest has remained the same.

The purpose is "to surface young women with an agricultural background to serve as leaders who will promote our agricultural industry and the Farm Bureau organization throughout the year and in the future," said May Amoss, Miss Maryland Agriculture coordinator and Maryland State Fair & Agricultural Society board member.

To earn the title, Keehan competed against 15 other young women who won contests sponsored by their counties' respective farm bureaus. She demonstrated her knowledge and experience through Zoom meetings in what was the first-ever virtual Miss Maryland Agriculture contest.

The competition was held online due to the coronavirus pandemic, which resulted in the cancellation of the 139th Maryland State Fair.

One component of the fair will still be happening but will not be open to the public. Youth and open class exhibitors from Maryland are presenting their animals in livestock shows following all proper protocols this week, enabling the Maryland State Fair to fulfill its mission to showcase Maryland Agriculture and provide education about the state's agriculture industry.

In her new capacity as Miss Maryland Agriculture 2020, Keehan has promoted the events using Facebook Live, broadcasting from the Maryland State Fairgrounds, where she also seized the opportunity to educate people about the economic impact of the agriculture industry.

See Also:

• Maryland State Fair Is Canceled For 2020
• Harford County Farm Fair Canceled; Youth Livestock Show To Go On