Mackenzie L. Jones

My name is Mackenzie (Underwood) Jones and I am excited to see how this position can allow me to fulfill two of my life goals. The first is to bridge the gap between farmers and consumers. The second is to educate consumers about where their food comes from. These goals stem from my passion and love for agriculture since I was a young girl. I am a part of the 5th generation of Pioneer Valley Farm, a dairy farm owned by my grandparents, Ronald and Janette Underwood. I am a 4-H Alumna and have been a 4-H volunteer for 6 years. I was a member of the Rising Sun Milk Squirters 4-H club. While being a member, I held elected positions of club secretary and club president. As a 4-H youth, I showed dairy cattle, beef cattle, and swine. From 2014 to 2018, I served on the Cecil County Jr. Fair Board and the agriculture education, 4-H promotion, and Cecil Celebrity event committees. In 2016, I went to the U.S. Virgin Islands with a USDA program called AgDiscovery. I spent two weeks on the island of St. Croix, where I learned all about agriculture in a tropical climate. I was also the 2016-2017 Maryland Dairy Princess and the 2017 Miss Maryland Agriculture. Holding these two state titles allowed me to form a love for agriculture education and communicating directly with consumers. In 2021, I became a committee member of the Maryland Dairy Princess Association (MDPA) and in 2022, I was voted Vice President. At the beginning of this year, I became one of the two state coordinators for the MDPA. When I am not working, volunteering, or on the farm, I spend time with my husband, Nick. I look forward to working with current 4-H youth and volunteers and future 4-Hers through various outreach programs.