Another year has passed, which means another National Watermelon Queen has been crowned at the National Watermelon Association’s annual conference. This year’s queen is Miss Whitney Conner of Abbeville, Georgia. Despite her busy schedule, Whitney was able to answer a few questions about her newfound royal status and how her reign over the next 12 months will be different from those who have ruled before her.
THANKS FOR TAKING SOME TIME TO ANSWER A FEW QUESTIONS. HOW HAS YOUR LIFE CHANGED NOW THAT YOU’RE WATERMELON ROYALTY?
From the moment that I was crowned the National Watermelon Queen, I knew that my life would never be the same. Life is much busier now that I have the responsibility to be the best spokesperson for the National Watermelon Association that I possibly can be and get everyone to think about watermelon. Also, I realized how extremely blessed I was, because how many girls can say that they have the opportunity to travel the world and represent such a great association.
EVERY WATERMELON QUEEN HAS SOME SORT OF BACKGROUND IN WATERMELON. WHAT’S YOURS?
Agriculture has played an influential role in my life because it is my family’s livelihood. Growing up in a small, rural town, I can remember being utterly amazed at the fields of watermelons because the rows appeared endless. As a young girl, I had the pleasure of making boxes at the packing shed and trying to earn a few dollars at the farmers’ market. Some of my fondest childhood memories involve some aspect of the watermelon industry.
A LOT OF QUEENS HAVE REIGNED BEFORE YOU, AND EACH HAS FOCUSED HER EFFORTS IN DIFFERENT AREAS. WHAT AREAS OF WATERMELON EDUCATION WOULD YOU LIKE TO FOCUS ON DURING YOUR REIGN AS QUEEN?
Being a Registered Nurse, health and education are two areas that I consider very important. The vast majority of the population today are living and raising families in a fast food generation. The impact of this lifestyle is rapidly becoming apparent because disease and lifestyle-related illnesses are on the rise. I intend to teach consumers about healthy eating habits and the nutritional benefits of watermelon.
WHAT PART OF BEING WATERMELON QUEEN ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO?
Being a small town girl, I am so happy to have the opportunity to travel all around the world and meet new people. I am also looking forward to having many new cultural experiences and expanding my horizons.
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