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N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Sara Hatlewick has been named one of five finalists for the Miss American Angus title by the American Angus Auxiliary. She will be participating in the selection process at the National Angus Convention in Indianapolis, Ind., on Nov. 4-7.

As part of the selection process, Hatlewick will undergo a trio of evaluations including an etiquette test, a written test, and a prepared speech. Based on the cumulative scores of those tests, the title of Miss American Angus will be crowned. Hatlewick was notified of her nomination at the 2016 National Junior Angus Show in Grand Island, Neb., in July. She is the first finalist to ever be selected from North Dakota.

“The initial reaction was complete shock,” said Hatlewick, noting it was also a “bittersweet” feeling knowing she was the first selection to ever come out of her home state.

The American Angus Auxiliary, who offer individuals interested in the welfare of the Angus breed the opportunity to work together to provide educational, promotional and social programs and activities, base their selections off of a contestant;s Angus involvement, as well as other extracurricular activities and community involvement.

Six years ago Hatlewick started a food drive called “Stock the Stock Trailer,” and she’s also served at various homeless and animal shelters. As far as Angus activities, she was a participant at nationals as well as various leadership conferences throughout the state.

For over 60 years, the American Angus Auxiliary has been working with the American Angus Association and the National Junior Angus Association to promote youth and the Angus breed. Through their Miss American Angus contest, the winner serves in the public eye promoting the Angus breed at shows, schools, and conferences throughout her reign.

They also present more than $10,000 in scholarships, each year, to 10 young men and women involved in the Angus industry.

Hatlewick is currently a freshman at North Dakota State University where she is pursuing a degree in agriculture education. She is hoping to one day teach in a smaller school, a job that’s in high demand currently throughout the state.

“That would give me summers off and it would still allow me to farm and be a part of the agriculture industry and use those skills to teach kids more about the farm and all that it has done for us,” she said.

Hatlewick will be joined in November in Indianapolis for the National Angus Convention by her father, Bruce, and her mother, Deb.