FITHIAN — It’s a good thing Dolores B. Green doesn’t mind traveling. As newly elected queen of the International Flying Farmers, she’ll be visiting various chapters around the country in a public-relations capacity.
Green, of rural Fithian, was selected from among six chapter queens at the 65th annual International Flying Farmers convention in Fond du Lac, Wis., last month.
The contestants were judged on their poise, personality, answers to questions from a five-judge panel and their promotion of the organization.
Green said she was surprised and honored to be chosen — especially because this is the first time that the Illinois chapter has had an international queen.
Bob Finley of Danville, who was recently re-elected president of the Illinois Flying Farmers, said it’s an honor for Green to be chosen.
“I think it’s really nice and she’ll do a nice job representing the Flying Farmers,” he said.
The Illinois group was pleased when she won, he said.
Green, who was Illinois queen before winning the national honor, didn’t expect to ever get this far. She got involved with Flying Farmers through her friendship with Finley, and, she said, “It just sort of evolved.”
As queen, she will travel to the chapters and become acquainted with the people. “I’ll see what different ideas they have to promote flying and preserving our farm lands,” she said.
She also will represent the organization at conventions in the coming year. The International Flying Farmers includes Mexico and Canada.
Next weekend, she and Finley will attend a Flying Farmers convention in Ontario.
Finley, who’s in his 80s, still holds a pilot’s license, but sold his plane a few years ago. Green doesn’t fly planes, so the two probably will drive to chapters and conventions, he said.
Green is owner of Rose Haven Farm near Oakwood, and Finley farmed in an area north of Danville and west of Bismarck much of his life.
Green said she enjoyed the convention in Fond du Lac, which included a tour to the Paine Museum and Oshkosh Air Venture. There also were seminars, business meeting, John Deere banquet and election of officers.
In June 2011, the International Flying Farmers Queen’s fly-in will be at the Vermilion Regional Airport in Danville.
The Flying Farmers group, founded in 1944, promotes the practical use of the airplane in the agriculture industry. Members use their aircraft to monitor irrigation systems, check livestock and the development of crops, dust fields, and especially to deliver and pick up supplies and parts.
The group also helps reduce unnecessary regulations for general aviation, promotes safe flying through continued education and upgrading, expresses the ideas and opinions of farm families at a national level and encourages the conservation of soil and water.
FYI
For more information about the Illinois Flying Farmers, visit the Web site http://www.illinoisflyingfarmers.org/ or call Bob Finley at 474-6633.
More Than 350 Die in Honduran Prison Fire
Defiant Iran Loads Own Fuel Rods Into Reactor
Lawmakers Move to Cusp of Payroll Tax Cut Deal
Raw Video: Syrian Army, Rebels Battle in Homs
Video Essay: Saving the Miami Blue Butterfly
NYPD Officer Shot During Subway Confrontation
Obama's Valentine's Advice: 'Go Big'
San Francisco's Valentine's Gift to Tony Bennett
Iranian Boats Shadow US Aircraft Carrier in Gulf
Hundreds Rally Against Alabama Immigration Law
Whitney Houston Funeral to Be Invitation Only
New Details in Search for Missing Utah Mom
Raw Video: Protesters, Security Clash in Bahrain
Obama: Good US-China Ties Help the Whole World
School Pays Students to Attend Class
Raw Video: 5 People Injured in Bangkok Blasts
Trial Opens for Ala. Man in Bride's Diving Death
Baltimore's 'Crime Stopper' Is a Basketball Star
Arm Wrestler Not Guilty Plea in Wife's Death
Jessica Alba's Bold Cut-Out Couture
Mass. Student Pictures End Up on Porn Site
Kobe Bryant and Wife Back Together?
Bulldog Becomes Mom for Wild Piglets
Eyewitness Account of Brandy's Whitney Breakdown
Relatives wait for information about inmates
Are Diem & CT No Longer 'Exes?'
Defense Begins in UVA Player Murder Trial
Model Falls on Runway
Google Street View Catches Bizarre Moments
Lin Tracker
Kate Upton Bares Her Killer Bod
Video captures dramatic attack on Mexican newspaper
Raw Video: Randy Travis DUI Arrest Released
Marc & J.Lo: 'Q'Viva!' is Our Family 'Legacy'
Shakira Attacked By Sea Lion
Passenger steals Rolex from security at airport
Jennifer Aniston's Sexy Spread
Man organizes in-flight proposal for girlfriend
Kate Upton MLB 2K12 Commercial
