The local dairy industry is now accepting applications from young women wishing to compete for the District 5 Dairy Princess crown.
The winner will represent the dairy industry in District 5 as a spokeswoman and will also represent the California dairy industry in appearances at schools, fairs, industry meetings, service clubs, parades, and with the media. The newly selected Dairy Princess and alternate will participate in a mandatory training, July 9 through 12, in which they receive professional development coaching.
Contestants must meet the following requirements: Be at least 17 years old by Sept. 1 of the contest year and not over 21 years of age by contest date; be unmarried; and the family, a parent or grandparent, must own a dairy farm. Parent must work for the dairy industry or have a dairy-related background. More detailed eligibility requirements can be found on the application, which is available at www.californiadairypressroom.com/ca-dairy-princesses. Applicants are urged to submit their applications as soon as possible. The application deadline is Thursday, April 19.
The District 5 contest is sponsored by the District 5 Dairy Princess Committee and the California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB). The event will be held Wednesday, June 6 at Chez Sheri in Manteca. The evening begins at 6 p.m. with a social hour and is followed by the contest and dinner at 7 p.m.
Current Dairy Princess Sarah Weststeyn of Linden will relinquish her crown to the winner who will represent the dairy industry in Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, Contra Costa, El Dorado, Sacramento, San Joaquin and Yolo counties. Scholarships will be awarded.
Application forms may be accessed online at www.californiadairypressroom.com/ca-dairy-princesses. Questions can be directed to District 5 Dairy Princess Co-Chairpersons Kerri Visser, onthemoov@velociter.net or 209-765-4384, Anastasia Stuyt, a_stuyt@yahoo.com or 209-918-5680 or CMAB office cmacedo@cmab.net or 209-484-0690.
California is the nation’s leading milk producer. It also produces more butter, ice cream and nonfat dry milk than any other state. The state is the second-largest producer of cheese and yogurt. Dairy products made with Real California Milk can be identified by the Real California Milk seal, which certifies that the products are made exclusively with milk produced on California dairy farms by California dairy farm families.
The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB), an instrumentality of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, is funded by the state’s more than 1,300 dairy families. With headquarters in Tracy, the CMAB is one of the largest agricultural marketing boards in the United States. The CMAB executes advertising, public relations, research and retail and foodservice promotional programs on behalf of California dairy products that carry the Real California Milk seal throughout the U.S. and internationally.
