LANSING – State Representative Terry Brown (D-Pigeon) today hosted Rebecca Doerr of Cass City at the State Capitol on her first official outing as the newly crowned Michigan Sugar Queen.
"It was an absolute delight to welcome Rebecca to the Capitol in her new role as an ambassador for the sugar industry, which is a major employer and an essential economic force in the Thumb," Brown said. "The 2008 Michigan Sugar Queen's visit to the Capitol created a lot of excitement, as well as opportunities to educate my fellow legislators about how the sugar industry can contribute to Michigan's economic growth and job creation. Everyone was very impressed with how well Rebecca represented our sugarbeet growers and the Thumb in general."
Rebecca, 18, was crowned this weekend at the 44th annual Michigan Sugar Festival in Sebewaing. She will represent Michigan Sugar Co. and the sugarbeet industry over the next year as she visits with public officials, food industry leaders and the public at various events. Rebecca, who is also the Cass City Chamber of Commerce Junior Citizen of the Year, will attend Delta College in the fall and plans to study dental hygiene.
Rebecca visited the Capitol along with her parents, David and Jan; her sister Libby; and Ray Van Driessche of Michigan Sugar Co. She was officially introduced to the Michigan House of Representatives by Brown and to the Michigan Senate by State Senator Jim Barcia (D-Bay City). She also taped a public service announcement with Brown promoting Michigan-made products.
Michigan Sugar Co. is a cooperative owned by about 1,250 sugarbeet growers that employs about 50 full-time workers, plus 1,200 seasonal employees. With factories in Caro, Sebewaing, Croswell and Bay City, the company now processes all sugar produced in the state of Michigan – about 1 billion pounds a year, under the Pioneer and Big Chief brand names.
"I'm very honored to be down here today to represent the Michigan sugar industry," Rebecca said. "I appreciate the kind hospitality that Representative Brown and Senator Barcia and everyone else here have shown me at the Capitol. I've been given a great opportunity and I really appreciate the chance to represent the Michigan sugar industry in the capital city."