Submitted by Ruth Strong, Committee Chairman
The 50th Tioga County Dairy Princess Coronation was held on June 1, at the Countryside Community Center in Owego, NY. One-hundred-ten dinner guests were present for the delicious dinner as the three candidates presented their milk promotion speeches with much confidence and poise.
Each of the three candidates met individually with the judges before presenting well-prepared and very interesting speeches. Following judging, Kristy Alexander, daughter of Arlene and Michael Alexander of Barton was crowned the 2013-2014 Tioga County Dairy Princess by Taylor Mead, 2012-2013 Tioga County Dairy Princess. Alex Aman and Alexis Zuck were selected as 2013-2014 Tioga County Dairy Princess Alternates.
Kristy Alexander is presently a junior at Tioga Central High School. She is employed on a 75-cow dairy farm in Owego. Kristy is a member of the 4-H Dairy Club, Cornell Junior Dairy Leaders, YES Leads, National Honor Society, SADD, and the Girls Varsity Club. Her plans are to go to college to study Dairy Business/Dairy Nutrition.
Alex Aman is the daughter of Aaron and Becky Aman of Candor and will serve as Alternate Dairy Princess for 2013-2014. Her family owns and operates a large dairy farm in Candor. Alex is presently a junior at Candor Central High School. She is a member of National Honor Society, Drama Club, and AMBC youth group and participates in volleyball and softball. Alex plans to study architecture in college.
Alexis Zuck is the daughter of Melissa Zuck of Richford and will serve as Alternate Dairy Princess for 2013-2014. She is presently a sophomore at Newark Valley High School where she is a member of the Varsity Field Hockey team. Alexis has been a dairy ambassador for two years. Her future plans are to go to college and study criminal justice.
The following young ladies will serve as Dairy Ambassadors for the upcoming year: Abigail and Katelyn Eaton, daughters of Paul and Heather Eaton of Owego; Leah Ludwig, daughter of Scott and Sharon Ludwig of Newark Valley; and Paige Steinhilber, daughter of Jenifer Steinhilber of Richford. These four young ladies will work with our Princess Court to promote the dairy industry throughout the year.
A highlight of this year’s coronation was our celebration of promoting the dairy industry in Tioga County for 50 years. All of the former dairy “Royalty” were invited to attend a “meet and greet” reception which took place before the coronation banquet. There were 19 former dairy princesses in attendance. During the coronation, special recognition of the “Royalty” was given for their dedication and to help us celebrate what the program has become and remember those who helped us to where we are today.
The Carolyn B Donnelly Memorial Service Award was established in 2008 in recognition of the 45 years of service that Carolyn had given to the dairy princess program. Taylor Mead, 2012-2013 Tioga County Dairy Princess, was presented this award in recognition of her dedication and service to the promotion program this past year by Janet Schuster, daughter of Nathan Donnelly and the late Carolyn B Donnelly.
Madeline Kuhlman of Owego, 2011-2012 New York State Dairy Princess, represented the American Dairy Association and Dairy Council. Madeline presented a short update message on ADA/DC promotion programs and expressed her appreciation to be able to continue to represent the New York State Dairy industry.
Dave Wheelcok served as Master of Ceremony and he gave recognition to all former Dairy Princesses in attendance. Taylor Mead gave her farewell speech as the 2012-2013 county princess, remarking on the activities she had participated in during the year of her reign and that by serving as dairy princess she has had the opportunity to meet many people of all ages and to promote the importance of consuming dairy product.
Tioga County Dairy Promotion begins its 50th year of representing the farming industry. The Dairy Princess Program plays a very important part in the promotion of the industry and helps develop the lives of our young ladies as they communicate the nutritional value and health benefits of dairy products to consumers of all ages.
The promotion committee appreciates the commitment of young ladies, their parents and all the individuals and businesses for their support for 50 years to the program. We salute the dairy farming industry of Tioga County which continues to provide employment and economic growth in the county.
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