Mrs. Montana ready for national competition

Family and friends of Tana Johnson held a "super hero send off" at the Vine 19 wine bar at the Beaver Creek Golf Course Saturday evening to wish her luck before she leaves for Las Vegas Wednesday to compete in the Mrs. America Competition.

Johnson, 41, of Havre, a Walmart Pharmacy manager, wife, mother and stepmother from Havre who was crowned Mrs. Montana in June, will compete against women from 50 other states and the District of Columbia in the Mrs. America competition in Las Vegas Aug. 19-26. 

At the party, Johnson sported her crown while other people wore T-shirts emblazoned with superhero logos. Johnson said the theme was to celebrate the super hero in everyone.

She said the last two months have been "pretty surreal" and has allowed her do things she had never been able to do before and grow as a person.

"It's like a dream," Johnson said. "I am truly blessed, it's awesome."

Johnson said it has been a longtime goal of hers to represent Montana.

Since her crowning, Johnson has appeared at events and brought attention to various causes in her capacity as Mrs. Montana. In June, she took part in the  Bullhook Blossoms Garden Club's unveiling of a Blue Star Memorial marker at Memorial Park in Havre. The marker is meant to honor the service of past, present and future armed service personnel.

Johnson worked the scone booth at this year's Great Northern Fair for Montana State University-Northern's Chi Alpha, a Christian student organization; and helped out at this year's Red Ants Pants Music Festival in White Sulphur Springs.

She has also worked to bring attention to the issue of prescription drug abuse, part of her platform as Mrs. Montana.

Johnson said she keeps telling herself she will win the Mrs. America competition.

If she does win, Johnson said, she looks forward to educating the public about a host of different issues by partnering with organizations such as the Susan G. Koman Foundation to address the subject of breast cancer, Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

Johnson said that throughout the last year her boss has been "super supportive" in working to accommodate her schedule so she can fulfill her duties as Mrs. Montana,

She first competed for the title of Mrs. Montana last year, where she finished second in an-eight candidate field.

Brian Johnson, Tana Johnson's husband, was wearing a T-Shirt with the Captain America logo at Saturday's party.

He said the role of Mrs. Montana plays to his wife's strengths as it relates to engaging with people and her passion for the issues she speaks out on.

"It's really good for her, she likes it," he said. " She does a really good job at it."