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First Black Rodeo Queen of Arkansas Teaches the Importance of Farming
When Ja’Dayia Kursh, Arkansas’ first Black rodeo queen, was 13 years old, she started to participate in rodeos and involving herself in the pony express, riding for the Arkansas Seven. She then spent two years with the Old Fort Days Dandies.
On her 17th birthday, Ja’Dayia made history when she was crowned as the first black rodeo queen for Miss Rodeo Coal Hill of Arkansas.
Since her crowning, Ja’Dayia has made it her mission to give back to her community in a tremendous way! She frequently visits her hometown, River Valley, to teach children about farming and farm life. She brings animals to show youth how agriculture impacts the everyday lives of community members.
“I love teaching kids about agricultural, especially kids that don’t come from a background that allows them to enjoy the beauty of animals,” she shares on her Instagram page.
“It’s important that kids know agriculture because that’s our future,” she tells 5 News. “Farming is our whole community. Even the food from Walmart comes from someone raising it.”
The rodeo queen credits animals with saving her life and hopes that she can pay it forward in the lives of other young people through her work.
Food insecurity plagues low-income communities, often leaving youth unaware of the benefits of eating healthy foods. Thank you, Ja’Dayia Kursh, for being an influence on youth in numerous ways!