Montana: Meet Your Newest “Cherry Blossom Princess”

The Montana State Society selected Ashley Spady to be this year's "Cherry Blossom Princess." Spady's family goes way back in Bozeman, Montana, and she is currently serving as a scheduler for Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke (R-MT).

Jayne Visser, President of the Montana State Society, shared the news with us Tuesday. Ashley Spady will represent Montana at the National Cherry Blossom Festival this week in Washington, D.C., a tradition celebrating the gift of friendship, the Sakura (Cherry Blossom) Trees from Japan in 1912.

In the photo above, Ashley is alongside Ambassador Shigeo Yamada,  Ambassador of Japan to the United States of America, at the Lantern Lighting Opening Ceremony.

Ashley Spady: "Being selected as this year’s Montana Cherry Blossom Princess is an honor, and I am very excited to embrace the opportunity to represent our state’s values with enthusiasm and grace. I look forward to fostering connections and celebrating the spirit of unity that the Cherry Blossom Festival embodies."

Congressman Zinke: “Everyone at Team Zinke is excited about this honor. A Bozeman, Montana native, Ashley is a bright and poised young lady who cares deeply for her community and will represent Montana well at the Cherry Blossom Festival.  We look forward to celebrating her success and the fellowship of all the young ladies serving as ambassadors for their states.”

One of the best times to visit our nation's capital is during the Cherry Blossom Festival each Spring in Washington, D.C. My wife and I both worked for a US Senator from Montana, and Jessica actually was selected as Montana's "Cherry Blossom Princess" one year. She had a whole week's worth of incredible events to partake in, which included visits to the Japanese Embassy and a meeting with the First Lady at the White House. It is an amazing opportunity for young women from Montana if you know a young lady to spread the word to for next year.