Abigail Laing – Current Reigning Miss Weber County

BY ABIGAIL LAING

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”
– President Theodore Roosevelt

My name is Abigail Laing, and I have served as Miss Weber County for the last 20 months. This quote holds deep meaning to me, not only because it serves as a call to action, but also as a rallying cry to pick yourself up out of the dirt when life knocks you down. In the four consecutive years I have served with the Miss America Organization, I have formed incredible bonds with many nonprofits, community leaders, small businesses, and people just like you. There have been many times I have found myself knocked down, with my face “marred by dust and sweat and blood.” Each and every one of YOU served as the motivation I needed to get back up and keep pushing onward.

I have been awarded nearly $16,000 in scholarships during my time with the Miss America Organization, which paid for my bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. I am moving on from elementary education and will very soon begin graduate school at American Military University to pursue a master’s degree of Intelligence Studies (i.e., Homeland Security). I have collected and donated over 14,000 pairs of new and used shoes to send to third world countries through Soles4Souls. Hundreds of food, hygiene, and clothing items were donated to my drives that benefited the Ogden Rescue Mission. Thousands of dollars were donated by the communities of Weber County to benefit Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. None of this would have been possible without you.

I encourage you to go back and read the quote by President Roosevelt once more. Dare greatly. Spend yourself in worthy causes. Never find yourself with those cold and timid souls. Understand that we can only appreciate victory if we have known defeat.

Join me on October 14th at Peery’s Egyptian Theatre in Ogden to celebrate and support the brave women who will compete for the title of Miss Weber County 2022. It is only through community support that programs like this succeed. If you (or someone you know between the ages of 17 and 24) would be interested in learning more about the Miss Weber County Scholarship Organization and the Miss America Organization, please send me a message on social media (@misswebercounty.ut) or email me directly at misswebercounty@gmail.com.

Thank you, Weber County, for being in my corner: for helping me back onto my feet when I have been knocked down and for supporting, loving, and doing your best to help our community not just survive but to thrive. We truly live in the best county in the state.