Bundy Crowned 'Miss Ag USA'
Published: Friday, April 9, 2021
Southwestern Michigan College agricultural business student Shaelyn Bundy of Dowagiac was named the 2021 Michigan Miss Agriculture USA and will advance to national competition June 17-19 in Ohio.
Miss Agriculture USA is a nonprofit organization focused on positively promoting agriculture through queens of all ages who "agvocate," celebrate and educate about farming's diverse aspects.
Bundy, who will turn 21 next month, is the daughter of Brad and Stephanie Bundy. She attends SMC and Michigan State University, for which she is fulfilling her internship with Watervliet Fruit Exchange. She will walk in SMC's 54th commencement ceremony in May.
Her agricultural interests include dairy feeder steers, market hogs, draft horses and market chickens. The former Penn 4-H member was the Cass County (Mich.) Fair Queen in 2018.
More than agriculture, Miss Agriculture USA is about building confidence, promoting self-esteem, developing public-speaking skills, shaping strong leaders, networking and forming lasting friendships.
Bundy, who won the state crown on March 23, will compete in interview, introduction, ag wear, formal wear, impromptu question, prepared speech, photogenic and essay.
The president of SMC's agriculture club may not have grown up on a farm, but farming is part of her DNA.
"I've been in agriculture my whole life, though I actually live in the city," Bundy said. "My dad showed (livestock) when he was little, and my brothers got involved. I was probably 5, if that. I tagged along with them. I've had the most experience between swine and draft horses, which I showed at the Indiana and Iowa state fairs, St. Joseph County (Mich.) Fair in Centreville and the Michigan Great Lakes show at MSU in October."
While still at Dowagiac Union High School, from which she graduated in 2019, Bundy knew what kind of degree she wanted to pursue from participating in the two-year agriculture and natural resources program at the Van Buren Technology Center in Lawrence.
The tech center exposed Bundy to plant science, animal science, natural resources concepts, floral design, veterinary science, production agriculture, landscape management and wildlife management. She was also involved with FFA.
"It really exploded my love for agriculture," she said.
Bundy juggles being a student-worker in SMC's Office of First Year Experience and her own photography business with her 480-hour paid internship. She also reigns as Cass County Miss Agriculture USA, a title she received last August.
Since Bundy competed virtually, her crown will be mailed to her.
"It was definitely strange," she said. "The way the cameras were set up, I saw a side view of (the judges) who were looking straight ahead. I just looked at myself, then it looked like I was looking at them. I was nervous because you don't know exactly what they're looking for. They only see the top (of you).
"You could be wearing pajama bottoms with a nice shirt," she laughed. "But it was fun competing for Miss Agriculture because it's something I'm passionate about and I love talking to people about."
Just as she did at SMC's Ag Day on Feb. 12, 2020, during a formal presentation in Mathews Conference Center East and a more relaxed dialogue while at the greenhouse.
"I love helping students figure out what they want to do in their careers and make it easier for them," she said.
When Blossomtime's Key to the Cities tour stopped in Lawrence, she showed visiting queens around the tech center, which she credits for "making me not bashful. I used to be timid talking to people."
As things start reopening, she hopes to get involved with Growing Hope Globally, which helps developing countries with farming.
"I'm also going to start a YouTube channel (to spotlight producers)," Bundy said. "I've spoken to a farmer in Hartford about what he does for his fields, from planting to harvesting, so people can get insight."
In her role as Michigan Miss Ag, Bundy is available to appear at events by contacting info@missagricultureusa.org.
Another SMC student, Aubrey Allen of Niles, is the 2021 Michigan Miss United States Agriculture, which has its nationals in June in Orlando. And SMC student Andrea Lee of Hudson, is Bundy's first runner-up.
The SMC/MSU partnership makes earning an MSU certificate more affordable, as students are able to take SMC courses—and pay SMC's tuition rate—for a portion of the program, plus scholarships and financial aid are available.
SMC awards 10 scholarships of $2,500 each year to students who have been involved in FFA or an agricultural program through the Edward A. Guse Agricultural Scholarship.
The George Wuszke Memorial Agricultural Scholarship awards $1,000 to two qualified students in the MSU Institute of Agricultural Technology in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
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