CO - OP LIVI NG
Step into the Spotlight S
uccess is often thought of as a series of steps. For Betty Thompson, current Miss Oklahoma and First Runner Up at the Miss America Pageant, one of those steps was being selected as a Youth Tour winner from Central Rural Electric Cooperative in 2006.
“Just going and meeting all those students was amazing. You start your networking at such a young age, and I can honestly say it is still the best trip I’ve ever been on,” Thompson said of the all-expenses-paid trip the Oklahoma rural electric cooperatives sponsor every year as an investment into Oklahoma’s youth. Thompson also sped up the process; she took a few hundred steps in a matter of minutes. Thompson, no stranger to success, is an award-winning Irish dancer on an International scale. The petite queen from Davenport, Okla. is the first Oklahoman to medal at the All- Ireland Irish Dance Championships. She also represented the USA at the World Irish Dance Championships for four years.
“Being able to compete on an international level prepared me wonderfully for this competi- tion,” Thompson said. “Nothing is more nerve- wracking than having nine professional Irish dancers judge your dance in Ireland.” Thompson’s talent of traditional Irish step dancing captivated both the judges and the viewers. During and soon after the Miss Amer- ica competition, Thompson discovered her tal- ent had trended on Twitter. To “trend” means that, of more than 200 million active accounts, Thompson’s dancing was one of the top Twit- ter topics worldwide.
Thompson said she simply couldn’t believe it.
“It was just amazing,” Thompson said. “To think that many people watched, cared and were wowed was a dream come true.” Many little girls dream about being on stage at Miss America someday. Thompson was no exception. However, many leadership aspira- tions with other organizations, such as 4-H, FFA, and youth ministries took place of what Thompson thought would never be a reality. Thompson says competing in the Miss Amer-
ica pageant was not a true personal dream until she was a sophomore in college. Once she be- came Miss Oklahoma State University, those childhood games of make believe became a re- ality again.
“I still keep asking myself, ‘Is this really hap- pening?’” Thompson said. “I’m from a little town in Oklahoma!”
22 OKLAHOMA LIVING
Thompson is proud to have grown up on a small Jersey dairy farm. Her rural roots inspired her to spend the last three years developing her platform, “Milk: It Really Does a Body Good.” The program and curriculum are designed to teach young students on healthy eating habits, which includes having a glass of milk three times a day.
She also partners with Southwest Dairy Farmers and utilizes their Mobile Dairy Class- room program.
Students get to see how milk makes its way
from the cow to the store, which helps make agriculture come to life. Thompson continues to inform people about agriculture, especially dairy, because she believes the industry and lifestyle need to be back in the spotlight on a national level. “The carpet you step down to, the wood
fl oor you walk on, the toothbrush you use, the toothpaste you put on that brush: everything you touch in a day comes in some way from agriculture,” Thompson said.
Thompson also helps promote “Fuel Up to
Play 60,” a program that helps children make a commitment to healthy eating and 60 minutes of physical activity every day.
Although the Miss America competition is over, Thompson continues to remain active in fi nishing her reign as Miss Oklahoma, as well as planning for life after the pageants. Thompson says she is thrilled to be named First Runner Up. She says she is not in the least disappointed, and was equally as excited to see Laura Kenegel crowned Miss America. “I thought it would be wonderful if I got to go, but my big goal was Miss Oklahoma,” Thompson says. “I just took being there as icing on the cake.” Thompson plans to fi nish her degree in el- ementary education with a minor in history at Oklahoma State University and possibly look into a master’s program focusing on counsel- ing.
“After that, I’ll be looking for a job along with every other OSU graduate,” Thompson said. “But for now, I’m just taking it one step at a time.” OL
crowning achievements
• First Runner Up MiSS America 2012 • America’s Choice for Miss America • PreLiminary Talent Winner at Miss AmeriCA 2012 • Miss Oklahoma 2011 • Miss Oklahoma State University 2011
Former Miss Oklahoma Emoly West passes the crown on to Thompson in 2011.
Thompson visits with older brother Nathan Thompson, a Youth Tour alum, at the WWII Memorial while on Youth Tour in 2006. Photo by Jennifer Dempsey/OAEC
Central rural electric cooperative member betty thompson shines at national Miss America pageant By Hayley Imel
On all FourTra
Thompson takes her talent to the stage in Las Vegas at the National Miss America pageant. Photos courtesy of Leigh Thompson Photography.
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