Wayne County Dairy Princess Wins State Pageant

From the American Dairy Association North East

Left to right: 2nd Alternate Erin Armitage, State Dairy Princess Natalie Vernon and 1st Alternate Rachel Rouland.

Natalie Vernon of Wayne County was named the 2020-2021 New York State Dairy Princess Tuesday night at the Holiday Inn in Salina, outside Syracuse.

She has served as the Wayne County Dairy Princess since spring of 2019. She will now spend the next year advocating for the dairy industry throughout New York state.

As state princess, she receives a $1,200 scholarship and will serve as a dairy industry ambassador and spokesperson, working with the American Dairy Association North East to represent dairy farmers at a variety of special events, including the New York State Fair, county dairy princess pageants, farmer meetings, fairs and school visits.

She will also play an integral role in the training and mentoring of new county dairy princesses.

Named first alternate state princess was Rachel Rouland of Monroe County. Erin Armitage of Washington County was named second alternate state princess. They receive a $700 scholarship and $600 scholarship, respectively. Both will assist the New York State Dairy Princess with training, appearances and other duties.

Twenty-two county dairy princesses competed in the state pageant, which included a personal interview, impromptu questions, a prepared adult speech, a product knowledge exam, writing skills test, and informal interaction with others.

Judges evaluated the contestants on their communication skills, knowledge of the dairy industry, poise and personality. Judges were: Tracy Smith, Warren County, N.J., Dairy Princess Coordinator & So-N-So Acres Farm; Mike Weimer, Classifier, Holstein Association USA; and Holly Pullis, Hollywood Enterprises & Roedale Farm.

Heidi Kovalewski, Onondaga County Dairy Promotions chairperson, was presented with the Golden Cow award, given annually to recognize outstanding service and dedication to local dairy promotion in New York state.

The American Dairy Association North East sponsors the dairy princess competition each year. This was the 57^th annual pageant.

The outgoing state dairy princess was Reegan Domagala of Lewis County.  

Lewis County Teen Named New York State Dairy Princess

The 2019-2020 New York State Dairy Princess Court includes New York State 1^st Alternate Dairy Princess Morgan Hungerford (left) from Delaware County, New York State Dairy Princess Reegan Domagala (center) from Lewis County, and Alyssa Roorda (right) from Chemung County.

Reegan Domagala from Lewis County was crowned the 2019-20 New York State Dairy Princess Feb. 19 at the Holiday Inn in Salina, outside Syracuse.

Having served as the Lewis County Dairy Princess since spring of 2018, Domagala will devote an additional year to promoting milk and dairy products with American Dairy Association North East.

As state princess, she receives a $1,200 scholarship and will serve as a dairy industry ambassador and spokesperson, working with the American Dairy Association North East to represent dairy farmers at a variety of special events, including county dairy princess pageants, farmer meetings, fairs, and school visits. 

She will also play an integral role in the training and mentoring of new county dairy princesses.

Alyssa Roorda from Chemung County was named first Alternate State Princess, and Morgan Hungerford from Delaware County was selected as second Alternate State Princess. They receive a $700 scholarship and $600 scholarship, respectively. Both young women will assist the New York State Dairy Princess with training, appearances and other duties.

Twenty-two county dairy princesses competed in the state pageant, which included a personal interview, impromptu questions, a prepared adult speech, a product knowledge exam, writing skills test, and informal interaction with others. Judges evaluated the contestants on their communication skills, knowledge of the dairy industry, poise and personality.

Pageant judges were: Judi Dixon, International Sales, Dot Foods; Katherine Brosnan, New York Beef Industry Council, Director of Industry Relations & Consumer Promotions; and Holly Pullis, Hollywood Enterprises & Roedale Farm. 

Sponsored by the American Dairy Association North East, the 56^th annual coronation completed the yearlong reign of Hailey Pipher of Elmira, Chemung County.

American Dairy Association North East is the local affiliate of the National Dairy Council® and the regional consolidation of three promotion organizations including the American Dairy Association and Dairy Council, Inc., Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association and Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program.

The New York State Dairy Princess and Her Court

The New York State Dairy Princess for 2017-18 was crowned Feb. 21 outside Syracuse. She is Sarah Rohe, center, from Onondaga County. At left is first alternate Sydney Parkin, Orange County, and at right is Grace Harrigan of Clinton County.

Sarah Rohe of Onondaga County Named 2017-18 New York State Dairy Princess

Sarah Rohe

Sarah Rohe of Onondaga County was named the New York State Dairy Princess for 2017-18 at the conclusion of the dairy princess contest Tuesday night outside Syracuse.

Sydney Parkin of Orange County was named first alternate and Grace Harrigan of Clinton County was named second alternate.

Rohe is a senior at Marcellus High School and the daughter of Steven and Patricia Rohe of the town of Onondaga. She is a member of 4-H, Junior Holsteins and volunteers at K.C. Heffernan Elementary School in Marcellus. She has been involved in dairy promotion for 11 years.

The Rohe family is no stranger to dairy royalty. Sarah's older sisters, Erica, Caitlin and Meghan, wore the Onondaga County dairy princess crown as well. Caitlin went on to become the 2006-07 New York State Dairy Princess. Meghan was first alternate state dairy princess in the 2013-14 year.

The New York State Dairy Princess contest concluded Tuesday with the crowning after a two days of judging at the Holiday Inn in Salina, north of Syracuse. 

Sydney Parkin

A total of 27 girls who had already won their county dairy princess contests participated in the state pageant. They had to take tests to judge their dairy knowledge and writing skills, go through intensive interviews with the three judges, give both impromptu and prepared speeches and also were judged on their informal interaction with others.
 
Judges evaluate contestants on communication skills, knowledge of the dairy industry, poise and personality. 

Grace Harrigan

About 30 teens competed for the title. Miss Ooms will serve as New York State Dairy Princess for one year and will promote dairy farmers and dairy products throughout the state in schools, industries, companies and at special events.

The big event for the dairy princess each year is the New York State Fair in Geddes, west of Syracuse. She and other county dairy princesses man the dairy princess booth inside the Dairy Products building and make special appearances throughout Dairy Day on the first Monday of the fair.

The new princess takes over for Emily Ooms of Columbia County,  who was New York State Dairy Princess for 2016-17.