At Cook Building Center, we love cheering on the people who help make our Northland communities stronger, more creative, and more connected. That’s why we were honored to sponsor Rachel Betterley, Miss Minnesota USA 2026, on her journey to the national Miss USA stage.
If you’ve met Rachel or followed her story, it makes perfect sense why she’s become such a source of pride for Cook and the Iron Range. She’s an artist, an art teacher, a community advocate, a mom, and now the woman representing Minnesota at Miss USA.
Rachel recently gave Cook Building Center a shoutout on social media, and we couldn’t be more grateful. In her words:
“As an artist and art teacher on the Iron Range, ya girl has design standards…😉✨ So it only makes sense to spotlight Cook Building Center! Whether you’re building a cabin in the northland or remodeling your home from the ground up, CBC has you covered. Thank you so much for sponsoring my journey to Miss USA! 🇺🇸 Incredibly thankful for the businesses that help empower the journey and my community advocacies along the way.”
A Northland Story We’re Proud to Be Part Of
Rachel Betterley has been an art teacher at North Woods School in Cook since 2014, and over the years she’s become a familiar and inspiring face in the community. Originally from the Twin Cities area, Rachel attended the University of Minnesota Duluth before making her home in northern Minnesota. Cook and the Iron Range aren’t just where she works, they’re part of the story she carries with her everywhere she goes.
This year, Rachel made history when she was crowned Miss Minnesota USA 2026. According to local coverage, she is the first married woman, first mother, and first woman over 30 to win the title in Minnesota—an achievement that reflects not only her determination, but the evolving, more inclusive future of pageantry.
But what stands out most about Rachel isn’t just the crown. It’s the way she uses her platform.
More Than a Title
As an educator and advocate, Rachel has spoken openly about how art helped shape her own life and healing journey. Today, she brings that same belief into her classroom and into her advocacy work, encouraging kids to find their voice, embrace creativity, and not be afraid to make mistakes. She also uses pageantry to support Sketchbooks for Kids, an initiative focused on getting art supplies into the hands of children who have experienced hardship and trauma.
That kind of work matters. It matters in schools. It matters in small towns. And it matters in communities like ours, where investing in the next generation can take a lot of different forms—sometimes it’s through a classroom, sometimes through mentorship, and sometimes through simply showing young people what’s possible.
Why This Sponsorship Means So Much to Us
At Cook Building Center, we spend our days helping people build. Cabins. Homes. Garages. Remodels. Pole buildings. Projects big and small. But we also believe strong communities are built by the people in them, he teachers, families, small business owners, volunteers, and local leaders who care deeply about this place.
That’s one reason sponsoring Rachel felt like such a natural fit.
She represents so much of what we value here in the Northland: creativity, grit, community pride, and the willingness to show up fully for others. She’s proud of where she’s from, proud of the Iron Range, and passionate about using her platform to make a difference. We’re proud that Cook Building Center can play even a small role in supporting that journey.
We also loved her line about having “design standards.” We get it.
At Cook Building Center, design, craftsmanship, and quality matter. Whether you’re dreaming up a new cabin near Lake Vermilion, planning a major remodel, refreshing a kitchen, or tackling the kind of home project that starts with one idea and quickly turns into ten, our team is here to help you bring it to life with the right materials, guidance, and Northwoods know-how.
Cheering Rachel On All the Way to Miss USA
As Rachel prepares to represent Minnesota at Miss USA in Miami this August, we’ll be cheering her on from Cook.
Rachel, thank you for letting us be part of your journey. Thank you for representing the Iron Range, your students, and your community with such grace and authenticity. We’re proud to sponsor you, proud to celebrate your success, and proud to have you shining a light on Cook, Minnesota in such a big way.
From all of us at Cook Building Center: good luck at Miss USA, we’ll be rooting for you every step of the way.
Planning a project in the Northland?
Whether you’re building a cabin, remodeling your home, updating a space, or starting from the ground up, stop by Cook Building Center. We’re proud to help Northland homeowners, builders, and DIYers create spaces that are built to last—and built to feel like home.