ABAC student Katelyn Lindsey, who is a junior agricultural communication major with an agribusiness minor, was awarded the National Watermelon Queen Title by the National Watermelon Association.
The National Watermelon Association is nationally recognized and promotes watermelon growth across the United States. The National Watermelon Queen is seen as the esteemed ambassador for the association and must serve as a regional ambassador before being eligible for the Queen title. This year’s Watermelon Queen is ABAC’s own Katelyn Lindsey.
Contestants for the National Title must serve as a regional ambassador first, and Miss Lindsey served as the Georgia Watermelon Ambassador, promoting Georgia grown watermelon across the country. She educated elementary school students on the nutritional benefits of watermelon, promoted Georgia watermelons at grocery stores, and even spoke to legislators in Washington DC to advocate for grower’s rights.
Miss Lindsey did this in coordination with eight other ambassadors as part of the National Watermelon Association, each ambassador representing a different region. Throughout this process, Miss Lindsey learned more about the regional differences in the watermelon cultivation process and is better equipped to represent the industry on a national scale as a result. The collaboration with other ambassadors also led to wonderful friendships, and even when crowned queen and competing against the other girls, she was surrounded by support.
The competition is based not only on presentation, but as Miss Lindsey said, “It’s also about character and how you hold yourself in professionalism and how well you can speak, alongside how you performed as a regional ambassador.” The year she served as the Georgia Watermelon Ambassador played a huge role in how she was judged in the National competition.
Miss Lindsey spoke highly of her time traveling the country and promoting Georgia watermelon, citing the experience she gained in this role as part of the reason why she was crowned queen. Her preparation for this pageant included mock interviews, helping with the Georgia Watermelon Annual Convention, and speaking to girls with experience.
When Miss Lindsey was crowned National Watermelon Queen, she described the experience as “Very rewarding, but you know, even though this is such a great thing to accomplish, it’s also very humbling because now I get to work for and advocate for growers and represent them for another year, but now on a national scale.”
Miss Lindsey is excited to begin working as the National Watermelon Queen and has already made public appearances as the National Watermelon Queen. Another ABAC Student is representing Georgia in the National Watermelon Association as the Georgia Watermelon Ambassador, Gracie Bananto, who is an agricultural communications major.