Allison Powell’s roots in St. Charles Parish are deep, and now she will represent not only the parish but the entire state of Louisiana as the 2022 Louisiana Farm Bureau Queen.
“I have family members who were in the St. Charles Farm Bureau,” she said. “My grandfather AJ Melancon was the parish’s county agent between the 40s and the 70s and the farm bureau office in St. Charles Parish is located where his farm used to be. He gave up farming land for the office.”
Powell said her grandmother, Mary Claire Fisher, has cattle farm roots as well. The family ties, Powell said, makes her new title even more meaningful.
“Being named Louisiana Farm Bureau Queen means the world to me,” Powell said. “This once in a lifetime opportunity will allow me to advocate for all Louisiana farmers and ranchers along with their commodities.”
Founded in 1921, the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation is the state’s largest general farm organization representing more than 136,000 families.
Twenty parish queens from across the state – with Powell competing as the St. Charles Parish queen – participated in the three-day state pageant, which included an interview to test their knowledge of the agricultural industry and the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation, a style show at the Women’s Brunch and evening gown presentation. Powell and the other top 10 finalists were also asked to answer a final on-stage question.
Powell said at first she didn’t even realize that she had won the pageant.
“They named the second runner up and then they named the first runner up, and when they said my number I forgot my number,” she said laughing. “Then they said my name, but I had forgotten my name. I just keep watching the video and watching the girl getting crowned and keep realizing it was me.”
As a representative of the state’s largest general farm organization, Powell will spend the next year doing just that. She will represent the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation throughout the entire state at various festivals and events. Her title will also take her to the Mystick Krewe of Louisianians Mardi Gras Ball in Washington, D.C.
“Farm Bureau is not solely based just for farmers, it is to teach about the agriculture of each and every state across America,” Powell said. “This is not me just representing myself and my family, this is me representing my state and all of the farmers and ranchers and all of the hard work. I am looking forward to traveling the state and learning all about our commodities and the experiences of each farmer firsthand. I am also very excited to educate our youth as they are the future of agriculture in the State of Louisiana.”
Powell is the daughter of Connie Powell and the late Glennon Powell of LaPlace. She is a 2022 graduate of St. Charles Catholic High School and will begin her undergraduate studies at Tulane University this fall. She is majoring in neuroscience with hopes of becoming a pediatrician.
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