The importance of having been Mrs. Asparagus 1987

By Lynn Glaser, Mrs. Asparagus 1987

Believe it or not, at 45 years of age, I had never worn make-up. In fact, getting ready for the NAF Queen Contest was the first time I had worn make-up; actually, my daughter Tara Lynn had to teach me how to apply it! Battling acne, beginning as a pre-teen, and not being able to wear make-up, in addition to being so thin, I never felt pretty! Although I was married to my high school sweetheart, a successful Pharmacist, and the mom to three daughters, I never felt pretty! Although I had many other successes: earning two degrees in Education from Northern Illinois University; teaching elementary school as a substitute teacher; performing professionally as a folksinger; at 30, making a life-changing move from Illinois to Michigan to manage our new business, a 26-yearold log cabin resort on White Lake in Whitehall; simultaneously, managing our Chinese restaurant in Muskegon; coaching the Whitehall Cheerleading & Pom-Pon Squad; being a week-end

Board Engineer and Announcer on WBLV Fine-Arts Radio, and becoming a travel agent, I never felt pretty! Although attractiveness was probably not even a criteria to be chosen as Mrs. Asparagus, when chosen to be the 1987 Mrs. Asparagus, the shock and excitement being caught on film by my late husband Glenn, my perspective on my attractiveness changed as Cindy Rapes, Mrs. Asparagus of 1986, put the sparkling rhinestone crown on my head, the dark green velvet robe around my shoulders, and put the white satin sash emblazoned with Mrs. Asparagus across my chest. I finally felt pretty!!!

Although I was a young woman who loved life and learning, already feeling quite confident because of my successes, dressing the part, as odd and shallow as it may be, in June of 1987, being selected as Mrs. Asparagus really affected me! When I would proudly don my beautiful white gown with my special Mrs. Asparagus sash and my shiny rhinestone crown and climb onto our float with Nancy Frye, my second-in-command, being pulled by

Ray and Sheryl Sallgren in their green truck, I felt pretty! As I waved to thousands of waving and shouting onlookers at the White Lake Area Fourth of July Parade; the National Cherry Festival Parade; the Holland Tulip Festival Parade, and the other smaller parades, I had so much fun! However, It was humbling to have been chosen as Mrs. Asparagus, the one out of ten, to represent the Michigan Asparagus industry, appearing in so many families’ photos and videos, just like I was really a famous somebody! Therefore, I, Lynn Glaser, had my life changed by being Mrs. Asparagus of 1987, and it affected the following 36 years of it! It made me a whole self-confident young woman! Moving forward in my life, that total confidence, additionally, helped me to become and work as Certified Pharmacy Technician although math had always been a weakness. Also, it helped me to be able to stand in front of many classrooms of adults, young and old, as an Adjunct Instructor, teaching Oral Communication, Professional Speaking, Group Dynamics, and Music for the Classroom Teacher and Tutor in the Writing Centers.

So, even today, having ridden in many NAF parades on a special float with the Sisterhood of “Mature Stalks,” having fun together, singing, shouting and carrying on, as well as having attended many NAF Queen Contests, even judging the 2019 one, I am still so grateful for having had the opportunity to represent the Michigan Asparagus industry throughout the 1987-1988 season and to appear in the Stalkumentary, ASPARAGUS! STALKING THE AMERICAN LIFE!! Also, I will always be grateful to the creators of the NAF and the thousands of volunteers who have made it an annual event for 50 years! Although with the age spots and wrinkles of time, I no longer feel pretty, thinking of the fun and experiences as Mrs. Asparagus, such an important part of my life, will always keep me young-at-heart, happy and will always be deeply embedded in the fabric of this 80-year-old woman’s life! Thank you, NAF Board and Volunteers!