FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 14, 2012

(SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.) — Commenting that while her reign as Miss America has ended, her passion for agriculture continues on, Miss America 2011, Teresa Scanlan, addressed the annual meeting of the crop insurance industry today and assured attendees that her heart still remains in rural America.

“This is one of my first appearances ‘post-crown,’ and I have to say, it’s so nice to feel like I’m still a part of the farming community,” Scanlan told the group. “Agriculture really has been one of my favorite groups to work with… I mean, why else would I agree to spend Valentine’s Day with you?”

Scanlan became a favorite daughter of rural America when she made defense of modern- day agriculture one of her public platforms. Raised in Gering, Neb., Scanlan told the group she knows how important agriculture is to this country’s economy and security, and how devastating natural disasters can be to farming communities.

Scanlan, who did not grow up on a farm, said she learned a lot amount about crop insurance this past year while traveling the country, meeting with farmers and lawmakers.

“The fact that growers will be able to plant again this year after the record floods, droughts and freezes of last year shouldn’t be taken for granted,” she said.

As for the ongoing Farm Bill discussions, she gave some perspective about where she thinks agriculture and crop insurance should fit into tight federal budgets.

“I may not know much about the federal budget, but I do know that in my family, food is the first priority, and the last thing that would ever be cut from our budget,” she said.

“And if American families think that way, shouldn’t the American government take that into consideration?” NCIS is a not-for-profit trade association whose members include every crop insurance company that participates in the Federal crop insurance program. NCIS and its predecessor organizations have provided members support in their crop insurance businesses since 1915. NCIS is also a licensed advisory organization and statistical agent for the crop insurance industry and assists the industry in meeting its state regulatory requirements.