The newly crowned ambassadors for the cities of Brundidge and Goshen have quite a bit in common. Both Candace Harvey and Leana Vinson will represent small towns and are thrilled and excited to do so. Both attend academies within their schools, are proven leaders and have tentative plans to pursue careers in the area of agribusiness on The Plains.

Harvey, a senior at Pike County High School, was crowned Miss Brundidge on March 7 and said that, when her name was announced, a dream had come true.

“It was surreal,” Harvey said. “It was a dream come true. To be nestled into the title and to have an opportunity to represent and promote my hometown is so exciting.”

Harvey said Brundidge is her hometown and it’s where her heart is.

“I love Brundidge,” she said. “It’s a close-knit community where you know just about everybody. What’s so cool is that you know the mayor and most of the city officials and the people that own the businesses.”

Harvey is president of the PCHS Student Government Association, senior class vice president and a Bulldog representative. She is a member of the National Honor Society and the Gospel Choir and attends the Business and Finance Academy.

“I love math and I have a strong interest in agribusiness that begin in 4-H,” she said. “I would like to pursue a career in accounting and communication in the area of agribusiness. Right now, I’m looking at Auburn, but my choice of universities is open. I just want to see what opportunities are out there.”

Vinson, a senior at Goshen High School, is always looking for opportunities and transferring to Goshen was way to begin her career path.

She lives in the Henderson community and transferred from Zion Chapel to Goshen as a junior to attend the Agriculture Academy.

“My plans are to be a teacher and teach agriculture,” she said. “Attending the Ag Academy would better prepare me for the career that I want and it also gave me the chance to take college courses.”

Vinson is vice president of the FFA, a member of the Key Club, co-captain of the Rodeo Equestrian Team and a mentor for the Abstinence in Motion program.

Both ambassadors will represent their communities in parades, at ribbon cuttings and other events. They will also participate in the National Peanut Festival in Dothan in November.

Harvey is the daughter of Randy and Marilyn Harvey of Brundidge and Vinson is the daughter of Ricky and Ginger Vinson of the Henderson community.