Mary Wood crowned 2021-2022 Miss American Angus

The sparkling crown, the bold, red jacket, the crystal-studded, black-hided sash — all staples of the iconic Miss American Angus. Mary Wood was crowned Miss American Angus at the 2021 National Angus Convention and Trade Show in Fort Worth, Texas, Nov. 7. Like many, Wood’s Angus story is centered around family.

“My family first got involved in the Angus breed when my brother was nine and first started showing Angus cattle,” Wood said. “As soon as I turned eight, I was showing at my local county shows. Then, when I turned nine, I moved on to the national stage, so I’ve been involved from the first chance I could get.”

Wood recalls memories from her first National Junior Angus Show in 2013, which ignited her interest in the breed, the industry and most importantly, the people.

“My first memory would probably be my first junior nationals,” Wood said. “The people I met, the connections I made, how I got started and just learning about the industry as a super young child was what really kicked it off for me and what made me realize this is what I want to do and where I want to be.”

That realization sparked Wood’s passion for the Angus breed, but the woman in the red coat sparked her passion for influencing the younger generation.

“I want to be a role model to someone and inspire them to have the same passion I do,” Wood said. “I always recognized the one woman in the ring wearing the red coat and I always wanted to be that woman. It’s a time-honored symbol of the Association, the Auxiliary, and the Angus breed as a whole.”

Wood hails from Willow Spring, North Carolina and currently attends Oklahoma State University. She is a freshman, double majoring in agricultural communications and agribusiness. After graduation, she plans to open her own livestock marketing company.

“I’m really into photography, writing, and potentially videography,” Wood said. “I want to be able to give back to the Angus breed and find a new, different way [to market cattle] that not everybody else is doing. That’s exciting to me.”

Look for Wood in the crown, red coat, and sash during her travels this year. For more information about the American Angus Auxiliary-sponsored contest, visit angusauxiliary.com.

— Written by Briley Richard, Angus Communications

ANGUS MEANS BUSINESS. The American Angus Association® is the nation’s largest beef breed organization, serving more than 25,000 members across the United States, Canada and several other countries. It’s home to an extensive breed registry that grows by more than 300,000 animals each year. The Association also provides programs and services to farmers, ranchers and others who rely on Angus to produce quality genetics for the beef industry and quality beef for consumers.

For more information about Angus cattle and the American Angus Association, visit www.angus.org.