Janine Thompson says growing up on a dairy farm in rural Oklahoma helped instill a work ethic and sense of responsibility in her children. One of her daughters, Betty Thompson, showed the world how those values helped her become a confident, poised young woman when she was named first runner-up in the Miss America pageant Jan. 14. Betty was crowned Miss Oklahoma in June 2011.

Betty grew up helping out on the Thompson family’s Kendrick, Okla., dairy farm, milking twice a day and helping with other farm chores. She also took time to be active in 4-H, FFA, Davenport High School student council and in church youth ministry.

In 2006, Betty traveled to the nation’s capital to represent Oklahoma and Central Rural Electric Cooperative as a delegate to the national Rural Electric Cooperative Youth Tour to Washington, D.C. Betty wasn’t the only Thompson to win the CREC Youth Tour essay contest. In 2004, her brother, Nathan, went to Washington, D.C., as a Youth Tour delegate.

“All of my children have benefited from growing up in rural America and being involved in farming,” Janine said. “I don’t think they would trade that experience for anything.”

Look for a full story on Betty Thompson, Miss Oklahoma 2011, in the next edition of REsource.

Betty Thompson, runner-up Miss America, Miss Oklahoma 2011