Samantha Kammerman is a beauty pageant winner with an unusual goal. She dreams of expanding her cattle operation to 60 cows.
Kammerman, who won the Miss Blackhawk Valley pageant last month, said she doesn’t care about the sparkly dresses and high heels typically associated with pageantry.
“It’s not the girly pageants,” Kammerman explained. “There is a stereotype for the pageant industry that its just about looks and dresses…but it’s not just girls with no brain in a pretty dress.”
Even so, Kammerman admitted she is usually the only pageant contestant with a farm background. Currently, her family raises 20 cows on their farm in Milan, Ill.
It took Kammerman and her parents almost 15 years to grow their operation from one heifer to 20. She said they raise both Shorthorn and Angus cattle, and then sell the beef all-natural, with no added steroids or antibiotics.
“It’s a lot of hard work, bailing hay in 100 degree temperatures, and moving and fixing everything,” she said.
And sometimes, the farm work takes priority over her school work, as Kammerman finishes up her senior year at Augustana, with a double major in Psychology and Religion and Ethics.
“One day (Kammerman) was sitting in class and got a text, and ran right out of class,” said Dan Lee, professor in the Religion and Ethics Department. “Later, she emailed me apologizing for leaving so abruptly, but apparently she had gotten a text saying her cattle was out! In 41 years of teaching, I think that was the first time I’ve had a student leave because their cattle got out.”
But, Kammerman said working on a farm has taught her valuable skills.
“Mostly just toughness,” Kammerman said. “It’s taught me to be able to finish a job and get over huge hurdles. It teaches you to be strong, independent and work with a group well.”
While she appreciates the skills she’s learned, Kammerman never thought she would use them in a beauty pageant.
“I started doing it on a dare about five or six years ago,” she explained. “I had a friend who did pageants and was also from a farm background, so I got started. And the scholarship money is good, so I’ve kept doing it.”
But, turning in her work boots and dirty jeans for heels and a dress wasn’t the easiest transition.
“I grew up in a male-dominated culture,” Kammerman said. “I’ve been surrounded by all men farmers. And, there aren’t a lot of agriculture-based women in the pageant industry. I’m usually one of the only ones at the state level who have cattle and live at a farm. It’s different to work with different people. You just have to learn how different people work.”
Currently, Kammerman is training for the Miss Illinois pageant. It involves practicing the “pageant walk,” preparing interview answers and perfecting her talent (singing and playing guitar).
Last time she went to state, Kammerman was fourth runner-up, out of 32 contestants.
“When it’s your first time, you have no idea what you’re doing,” she said. “It’s a learning experience. You learn about yourself and what you’re capable of. I can perform and speak to hundreds of people at a time now. I used to be shy and introverted, so it’s good to know that. You find your inner confidence…and grow into a strong, confident, independent woman.”
Also during the competition, each contestant has to have a platform they are interested in talking about, which is the part of pageantry Kammerman is most passionate about. She uses it as an opportunity to share her love of volunteerism.
“I think (volunteering) not only helps a community in donation or advocating for something, but it helps kids grow up and develop into individuals,” she said. “There was no mandatory volunteering credit in my school, and a lot of kids were selfish and didn’t understand what was going on in the community.”
She said sharing the importance of volunteering will help spread diversity and make future generations more aware of the world around them.
Outside of pageantry, Kammerman takes her beliefs to the streets. She runs a program called “Operation Read” for student United Way, and goes to different after-school programs to read and play games with kids.
Kammerman has also played on Augustana’s volleyball team, works in the Sports Information Office and has sung the National Anthem before games, according to Dave Wrath, Associate Director of Athletics.
For now, Kammerman continues to make time in her schedule to practice for Miss Illinois. If she wins, she said she will take a year off to prepare for Miss America.
While she enjoys the diversity and excitement of pageantry, Kammerman said her family’s farm will always be home.