The 2014 Miss Idaho Judges

The Miss Idaho Organization is pleased to announce the judges for the 2014 competition. On July 11 & 12 this panel will select the 65th Miss Idaho to be crowned. This diverse group of judges will evaluate the contestants throughout all sections of the pageant - interview, lifestyle & fitness, talent, on stage question, and evening gown. The 2014 Miss Idaho judges are:

Debbie Kling is the President/CEO of the Nampa Chamber of Commerce. She is motived by her desire to help others succeed and to make a difference in the lives of her children, grandchildren and community. 

Prior to joining the Nampa Chamber of Commerce, Debbie served in several leadership roles; VP of Legal Management for Unity Media Group, General Manager of then Qwest Arena and Executive Director of Team Idaho, (organizing the National Governors’ Association meeting, hosted in Idaho, for then Governor Dirk Kempthorne). Debbie has served on numerous national industry and community boards. She has a tremendous love for this community, a passion for the business community and a desire to help others succeed.

Debbie lives in Nampa and has been married to Jim Kling III for 39 years. They have three married children and eight grandchildren.

Jeffrey A Johns has been involved with the Miss America Organization in many capacities from local executive director, producer, host, judge, and dancer at the Miss California Pageant.

Jeffrey has performed in national and international tours, in regional theatres throughout the country (including Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre in Idaho), on television shows like “America’s Got Talent,” and in various independent films.  He’s also the author of the children’s book,  “Have You Ever Tried To Stop The Rain?”

In addition, Jeffrey wrote the feature film entitled, Waiting In The Wings: The Musical where he had the thrill of performing opposite Sally Struthers, Shirley Jones, and former Miss America, Lee Meriwether. www.WaitingInTheWingsTheMusical.com

Nanci Wudel has been involved with the Miss America Organization for more than 30 years and has judged numerous state pageants. She served as an officer on the Board of Directors of the Miss Arizona Scholarship Pageant for 12 years and was state traveling companion to Miss America for five years. She also served as an interim traveling companion for Miss America 2003, Erika Harold, and in state competitions, she judged Sharlene Wells, Miss America 1985, and Laura Kaeppeler, Miss America 2012, prior to their winning national titles. 

Professionally, Nanci works in film, television, and theater production. She was executive director for “The Finalists’ Show,” featuring the Top Ten finalists from NBC’s “America’s Got Talent.” Recently, she completed filming a cast role in T.C. Christensen’s feature movie, “The Cokeville Miracle,” scheduled for theatrical release next year. She is represented by FORD Talent Agency and has appeared in many national television commercials, and in the feature film, “Chaplin,” with Robert Downey, Jr. 

Nanci has worked as an entertainment consultant for various tourist attractions, including the Polynesian Cultural Center in Laie, Hawaii, as well as directing pre-tour concerts in Nashville, Tennessee. She has also been the artistic director of “The George Dyer Show” and the Polynesian extravaganza “Island Fire,” both in Branson, Missouri. 

Currently, Nanci works as Creative Director for The Dutton Theaters, in both Branson and Phoenix. 

For nine years, she served as Director of the Mesa Arizona Easter Pageant, the largest, annual outdoor Easter Pageant in the world – featuring a cast of 500 and audiences of nearly 100,000, during an annual ten-performance portrayal of the Easter story through song, drama, and dance. 

Nanci has directed numerous vocal and dance productions for the past 20 years, and is a classically-trained pianist, having studied for three years in Caracas, Venezuela, with Polish concert artist, Margot Schmidt. 

She holds a B.A. in Journalism from Brigham Young University, and a secondary major in Theater Arts. She has interviewed dozens of high-profile personalities, including Dan Rather, Mitt Romney, Daniel K. Inouye, and Barbara Smith. 

Nanci serves on the Board of Directors of “Time To Blossom,” a personal development program for girls, and she also sits on the National Advisory Board for Southern Virginia University. 

She and her husband, John, are the owners of “Nanci’s Frozen Yogurt,” distributed throughout the U.S. and in 45 countries internationally. They are the parents of four children and reside in Mesa, Arizona.

Philip Michael Casias is an interior designer for Carols Design House in Boise Idaho. Formally educated at Mississippi State University School of Architecture and the University of Louisiana school of Architecture and Design, Michael is a modern renaissance man who has worked as a design professional for the past fifteen years.

In his career, Michael has been a design partner for fine residences, restaurants and commercial spaces including Hilton Hotels, Brennan’s Restaurants, and the Academy Share Center for Oliver Finley Cosmetology.  He has renovated rare and historic buildings in New Orleans, Alaska, and Idaho. He has also served as a gourmet food educator and sous chef, most recently for William Sonoma Incorporated.   

Committed to serving his community, Michael has designed art features for the Acadian Outreach Service, has provided services for the Boise Philharmonic Chef and Gourmet, and has assisted with charitable projects for the Idaho Botanical Gardens. He looks forward to his next collaboration with the Women’s and Children’s Alliance as they foster healthy and safe relationships for families across the treasure valley.

Michael is passionate about lifelong learning and the preservation of cultural heritages.  He enjoys celebrating culture through the bounty that is food, music, art, design, and architecture.  When he is not busy designing or volunteering, you may find him kayaking on the river or sea, landscaping and gardening, entertaining, fundraising, or collecting the unusual and obscure ephemera of science, history, and archeology.  

Brooke Bennett is a native of Idaho and a Boise State University graduate. She was crowned Miss Idaho 1995 and was first runner up for the distinguished Quality of Life Award at Miss America for her Get Into Reading program, which motivated children to become lifelong learners. Brooke traveled the northwest sharing her platform and participated in several national literacy campaigns, including one with former First Lady Barbara Bush. Brooke was also crowned Miss Idaho USA and represented Idaho at the Miss USA pageant in 2000.

Brooke served in the Office of the Governor for Dirk Kempthorne and First Lady Patricia Kempthorne, acting as personal assistant to the First Lady. In this capacity, she supported the First Lady on children and family issues. In late 2000, Brooke moved to Washington, DC to pursue a career in communications. Brooke was part of a corporate communications team at the prestigious global private equity firm, The

Carlyle Group. Brooke later became the Communications Director for an anti-trafficking organization, Shared Hope International. In this role, Brooke spearheaded an effort to bring media and public attention to the demand side of sex trafficking of women and children in both the U.S. and abroad. This included work in Singapore, Amsterdam, Mumbai, and other international cities. In addition to a variety of awareness campaigns, Brooke co-produced a documentary entitled DEMAND. This documentary focuses on demand factors for sex trafficking, one of the most significant being pornography. It also addresses how all forms of commercial sexual exploitation are connected to sex trafficking and sex slavery. DEMAND has been used by the U.S. Department of State Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, local law enforcement, and other advocacy organizations.

Brooke's passion to help women and children who have fallen victim to atrocities such as war, trafficking and poverty has continued with her involvement in a newly launched company, Ethic: Goods that make a difference. Ethic is committed to purchasing and creating beautiful items that create jobs for marginalized women. Each piece of jewelry is handcrafted by gifted artisans employed by Ethic. These artisans earn a sustainable income with dignity, and are able to provide opportunities for their families to rise above poverty and escape vulnerable situations.

As a classically trained violinist, Brooke shares her love for music through teaching violin lessons, performing with various bands, music artists and at social events. Brooke is also on the worship team for National Community Church (NCC) in Washington, DC. Her most recent project was a worship album entitled The God Anthology, produced by NCC.

Brooke resides in the Washington, DC area with her husband, Nathanael, and three beautiful children: Jude (5), Brell (3) and Hope (2). She homeschools her children and also serves as a tutor for a classical

education program in Alexandria, VA.

Middleton Mayor’s Youth Action Council Meeting | Miss Canyon County

Miss Canyon County, Megan Wilson, spoke about her platform and advocated for the Miss America Organization last month at the Middleton Mayor’s Youth Action Council Meeting.

Megan said, "Mayor Taylor was one of my Miss Canyon County judges and had a lot of great things to say about MAO. He said that there is no other competition like competing in a pageant; being judged and graded, perfecting a talent, staying current on world issues, and being engaged in the community “really is a condensed version of life.

I was invited to speak specifically about my platform, “At-Risk Prevention: Helping Girls Reach Their Full Potential.” We talked about my Dancing Queens program which provides a safe place for preteen girls to have open discussion regarding important teen issues like peer-pressure, self-esteem, and future planning all while learning a hula and Tahitian dance that will be performed at this year’s Cherry Festival."

World Traveler | Miss Magic Valley

“I met a lot of people in Europe. I even encountered myself”. James Baldwin, an American author, once said that; he summed up my journey in one sentence. On January 2nd, I flew to Europe for two amazing and literally life-changing months. I fulfilled a crazy dream that is on most people bucket lists, but doesn’t usually come true. I spent two months backpacking through Europe, and went to 11 different countries: Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Spain, France, Denmark, Sweden, England, Ireland and Scotland. I met lots of people and learned lots of things, but, just like Baldwin, I encountered myself and learned a lot about who I am and what I believe.

Kaley Sparling, the current Mrs. World, spoke at our Miss Idaho orientation and said something I think all of us pageant girls can relate to. Often in life, we can sometimes lose sight of who we are. Kaley told us how she was so focused on being the best mother and wife possible, that she had begun to lose herself. We can relate to it as well. The responsibilities of being a student or having a job, while important (just like being a mom and wife), can tend to take up a lot of our time, energy and thoughts. We forget to take time for ourselves, grow as an individual, learn, make a habit of improving ourselves, and figure out what we believe. Making time for ourselves a priority is not only important for remembering who you are and what your passions are, but also to help us best students, employees, or in Kaley’s case, wives and moms that we can be! For Kaley, entering the Mrs. Idaho (and eventually the Mrs. America and Mrs. World pageants) was how she accomplished this.

Traveling through Europe was a learning experience in so many different ways. It was one big history lesson, and made me realize how far we have come in the past few hundred years. We take so many things for granted, whether they are our rights as Americans, or inventions that have made our lives easier, that we wouldn’t have had if we were born at certain points in the past. I also learned about the people that brought about these changes, which inspired me to stand up for what I believe in, because without people who stand up for what’s right and are firm in their convictions, we would live in a very different world than we do today.

I met many different people, from all backgrounds and from all over the world. I heard many different opinions and worldviews that I had never considered before. Even more importantly, I realized that even though I was drastically different from a lot of the people I met, they were still amazing and there was so much I could learn from them. A lot of times, we find ourselves naturally being drawn towards and connecting with people who are similar to us. In Europe, I realized that even though differences may be a little scary at first, once you get past them and embrace the diversity that exists between you and someone else, valuable friendships can be gained and important lessons will be learned.

Finally, taking two months to travel around Europe gave me a little break from some of those responsibilities that make me lose sight of who I am. My traveling experience gave me time to read lots of books, write in my journal, and reflect on what I believe, who I am and who I want to become. Meeting new people with differing worldviews challenged me to know why I believe what I believe, and develop a more well-rounded worldview myself. Most importantly, having the time to do those things reminded me how important they are to fit into “real life”. Now that I am back home, I remember to learn something new everyday, strive to become the best version of myself I can be, and live life to the fullest.

The way Kaley Sparling rediscovered herself was not through traveling, but through pageants—an experience I am also familiar with. I am so grateful for the Miss Idaho and Miss America Organizations. Everyday that I have been involved with them for the past two years, I have been pushed to make myself a better person. Competing gives me a reason to have fitness and health goals. It pushes me to stay involved in my community, and actively strive to make a difference. It reminds me to be aware of the issues facing my community and my country, and be opinionated and passionate about those things in order to fight for change. It reminds me to make learning and reading a habit. It teaches me to carry myself with confidence. It helps me become the best version of myself possible.

Europe was a life-changing experience, and I recommend you all to make a trip like mine at some point in your life. However, in the meantime, do not lose track of who you are and what you believe. Backpacking through Europe is not the only way to find oneself. There are opportunities, books to read, and people to meet, right in front of you! For my fellow pageant sisters, remind yourself how lucky and fortunate you are to be involved in this organization. Just like Kaley Sparling, we can use pageants to become the best we can be and improve ourselves in order to better fulfill the responsibilities we have. 

Use everyday leading up to state to learn as much as you can, and touch as many peoples’ lives as possible. But once state has passed, or you age out of the Miss America Organization forever, remember what it taught you. Don’t just strive to be healthy for those few seconds you will be on stage in a swimsuit—make exercising and eating healthy a lifestyle. Don’t just know what’s going on in the world so you can impress the judges—know the issues facing our world and generation so we can fix them. Don’t stop making a difference in your community, exercising, eating healthy, reading, and striving to be your best just because the Miss Idaho has come and gone—take all these values the organization instills in us and make them life habits! This organization is about empowering us to become the best we can be and lead lives that inspire and impact others, so take advantage of this amazing opportunity and allow it to change you forever. You may not be able to travel the world, but don’t let that stop you from learning, living and loving!

Veganism Through the Eyes of an Omnivore

***Disclaimer - I am not a registered dietitian or health care professional. This blog post is my opinion based on my personal experiences. Always consults a doctor or dietitian before making drastic changes to your lifestyle or diet.*** As some of you may know, on March 8th I decided to try going vegan. I want to first start off by saying I am not still vegan. I lasted about a week, and boy, was it hard work! The first day I was eating dinner with the judges at Miss Meridian, and I realized I couldn't have the bread because it had milk, butter, and eggs, and then when I went for the ranch dip for my vegetables I realized it contained some kind of milk product. There are animal products in so many food items and we never stop to think about it. The breaking point for me was heading to the Portland Roaster Show. If you think being vegan is hard at home, it is 10X harder when you're on the road. When someone says we are having hotdogs for lunch and they ask you what you want on yours, your answer should be, "Ketchup please!", especially when you are trying to please sponsors! I'm not saying it cannot be done. I'm just saying it's definitely not easy and I have a new respect for people who have any type of restrictive diet. Monitoring food is a 24/7 job. My trip to Portland was one I will never forget, and I do not regret eating meat on my trip. Here is some insight on why I wanted to try a vegan lifestyle in the first place. Like most people in Idaho, I grew up in a family that hunts and eats meat everyday. My diet up to this point in my life has always included animal products; even more so when I was preparing for pageants (1/2 of my diet was chicken!) I care about nutrition, and I couldn't help but see the pattern of recommendations to eat more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and raw foods. Apparently consuming too many meat and dairy products can promote inflammation. Let me explain this in a little more detail...this might be valuable information! You know the Omega 6's and Omega 3's you always hear about? The approximate healthy ratio in our diet should be 4:1, but the average American's ratio is around 16:1. Omega 6's promote blood clotting and inflammation, and Omega 3's are anti-inflammatory. Both of these functions are necessary for your survival, but you can see how cardiovascular, autoimmune, and inflammatory diseases can arise from such a skewed ratio of the two. Some Omega 6 rich foods are corn-fed meat sources, corn oil, most vegetable oils. Omega 3 rich foods include seafood, almonds, edamame, wild rice, pasture-raised animal products, flax seeds, beans and walnuts. (Many foods, like nuts and oils, have both.) You can see why I was interested in the health benefits of a vegan diet! Not only did I want to live healthier, I wanted to understand what it meant to live a different lifestyle. I teach nutrition courses and talk to hundreds of people about the importance of what you eat; how can I preach to vegetarians or vegans if I have never experienced it for myself? For now, I will introduce animal products back into my diet with the goal of minimizing them to 1-2 per day total. I plan to encourage a "vegetarian" night for my family once a week. I think its fun to get creative with recipes, plus I LOVE beans and whole grains. I've tried couscous, quinoa, and lentils and they are amazing! Look for more "food talk" on the Miss Idaho Facebook page!

Locals Season

It's that time of year...time to round out the Miss Idaho Class of 2014! In case you're wondering, here are our titleholders so far:

1. Kim Ford - Miss Gem County

2. Paige Jensen - Miss Western Idaho 

3. Laura Haun - Miss Three Rivers 

4. Cynthia Huntsman - Miss Idaho Falls

 5. Kayla Jepson - Miss Southeastern Idaho 

6. Sierra Sandison - Miss Magic Valley 

7. Emma Humphires - Miss Canyon Rim 

8. Megan Wilson - Miss Canyon County 

9. Katelyn Strobel - Miss Pocatello 

10. Kalie Wright - Miss Gate City 

11. Carolyn Pace - Miss Boise 

12. Kristen Tatilian - Miss Capitol City 

13. Morgan Hill - Miss Tri-Counties 

14. Emily Hosman - Miss Nampa

Titles Still to Come: 

1. Miss Meridian 

2. Miss Treasure Valley

 3. Miss Syringa 

4. Miss Rexberg 

5. Miss Upper Valley 

6. Miss Riverview
*If you're interested in competing email missidahoboard@gmail.com*

We only have three local pageants left, and I cannot wait to see what ladies will be competing at Miss Idaho this year. Being able to spend time with the contestants at local pageants as Miss Idaho instead of a fellow competitor has been amazing. I get to relax and get everyone pumped up for each area of competition. One of my favorite parts is helping run the show from backstage...there's just a special feeling you get when you see everything come together as each girl goes from being nervous and shaky to rocking their area of competition. There is no doubt that the Miss America Organization is a launching pad for women's confidence!

Outside of local pageants, I have been busy with appearances. Now that the weather is warming up, I will have the chance to visit farmers' markets around the state and help get people starting on their personal gardens, including my own! The 11-week St. Luke's YEAH (Youth Engaged in Activities for Health) Program is only a few weeks from ending, and I have just started the 6-week Cooking Matters Program with the Idaho Food Bank. I will also be speaking to a class at Boise State on Nutrition, participating in the Speed to Feed Idaho 5K, continuing my nutrition series with the YMCA, starting a 30 day hot yoga challenge, getting some amazing photos taken, making school visits, touring the State Capitol, judging National History Day, attending the Miss New Hampshire pageant, visiting Philadelphia, and much more! Although my year is on the downhill slope, I can go full throttle until the very last day! If any of you have suggestions for appearances or you would like me to speak at your event, please contact me by emailing missidahoboard@gmail.com!