Tonight (Sept. 14) is the annual Miss America Pageant, which will air on ABC at 7 pm Central.

Missouri will be represented by 23-year-old Jessica Hartman, who is a broadcast student at Lindenwood University in Columbia.

Each woman has a program that they promote during their reign as Miss Missouri and Hartman is focusing in on 'Leaders For Tomorrow: Empowering Youth with a focus on STEM education.

"Being a third generation member of 4-H and spending 10 years as an active member on the local,  state, and national levels of the program, I hope to create a national cooperation between Miss America and 4-H to encourage youth leadership development and Stem education," said Hartman in her Miss America bio. "I encourage people to to look past the stereotypes associated with 4-H, in order to take part in the learning experiences and youth development opportunities. By bringing Miss America and 4-H together, I would be able to encourage more of America’s youth to develop their leadership skills and create a greater interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics."

I wish Hartman good luck tonight at the Miss America and hope we get to see her make it through to the final contestants.

Hartman has already received one award in the preliminary rounds and received the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh's Award.

The last time a Miss Missouri won Miss America was in 1990, when Debbye Turner was crowned.

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