Lancaster County Dairy Promotion Selects Court
Submitted by Editor on Fri, 06/20/2008 - 12:49pm.
Joyce Zimmerman
Southeastern Pa. Correspondent
LANCASTER, Pa. — In celebration of June Dairy Month, Lancaster County’s dairy industry crowned and installed a new dairy princess on Saturday, June 14, at the Lancaster County Farm and Home Center.
Before a crowd of dairy farm families and industry representatives, Laken Hoffer, daughter of Melvin and Sandy Hoffer of Mount Joy, received her title from outgoing Lancaster County Dairy Princess, Stephanie Kauffman, daughter of Harold and Ann Kauffman of Denver.
Hoffer, a 2008 graduate of Elizabethtown High School, is employed by Blossomelle Holsteins in Elizabethtown. In addition, she is active in her church youth group and enjoys photography, raising and showing dairy cattle, music and sports.
When asked what prompted her to become a dairy princess, Hoffer replied, “I am very passionate about the dairy industry and since I am out of high school, I was looking for something new and exciting. I am looking forward to getting to know everyone and experience many new opportunities.”
In order to receive the dairy princess title, applicants need to write and deliver an adult oriented speech promoting dairy products and the importance of dairy farming in Pennsylvania and their local communities. In Hoffer’s well delivered speech, “Walking on Rough Terrain,” she reminded the audience that even though things do not always go as planned and you experience personal disappointments, new possibilities and opportunities become available
“Anyone may experience change, however, the willingness of dairy farmers to meet new challenges has helped Lancaster County dairy farmers to provide milk for millions of people,” said Hoffer. “Thanks to you, agriculture is the number one business in Pennsylvania. I feel very blessed to work on a dairy farm.”
In addition to her speech, Hoffer entertained the audience with a delightful skit, “Small Drop, Big Dreams.” Dressed in white from head-to-toe, she portrayed a “drop of milk” excited about the many opportunities to become part of a delicious and nutritious dairy product. After passing all tests and graduating to the tune “Pomp and Circumstance,” the drop of milk went on its way to become part of a dairy product. During the entertaining skit, Hoffer explained the pasteurization and homogenization processes and talked about the many tests preformed on milk before it reaches the consumer.
Elizabeth Ackerman, mistress of ceremonies at the event, asked Hoffer an impromptu question of significance to the dairy industry. “Over the course of the past year, food prices have increased dramatically because of the price of feed, especially corn. This causes food prices, and particularly the price of milk to go up in the store. What would you tell the consumer who thinks farmers must be getting rich?”
In response, Hoffer replied, “I would try to explain that not nearly all the money goes to the farmer, but some goes to the whole process along the way.”
In addition to the dairy princess, the 2008-2009 Lancaster County dairy promotion team includes 10 dairy ambassadors, six dairy maids and three dairy darlings.
Prior to the pageant, the dairy ambassadors delivered speeches to a panel of judges consisting of James Barnett, Amanda Good and Carla Martin. The two top dairy ambassador speech winners included, Deidra Bollinger, daughter of Daryl and Ruby Bollinger of Manheim, and Terri Kauffman, daughter of Harold and Ann Kauffman of Denver. Both girls spoke about the lifestyle of dairy farming families and the many vitamins and minerals in milk, emphasizing the importance of a healthy diet rich in dairy products.
In addition to Bollinger and Kauffman, other dairy ambassadors include Toni Kauffman, Karisa Martin, Lindsay Royer, Sarabeth Royer, Carolyn Lawrence, Karla Neff, Jennifer Royer and Angela Weiler.
Dairy Maids on the promotion team include Lydia Brubaker, Kelli Kauffman, Victoria Peila, Emily Hershey, Kirsten Kauffman and Tiffany Weiler. Completing the team are Dairy Darlings Megan Peila, Jordan Smith and Madison Weaver.
Ambassadors, maids and darlings assist the dairy princess in promoting milk and dairy products at many different events throughout the year.
Before passing her crown to Hoffer, retiring Lancaster County Dairy Princess Stephanie Kauffman delivered an emotional farewell speech, officially ending her career in dairy promotion.
“Excuse me for crying, but dairy promotion has been a huge part of my life for the last 10 years and it is hard to say good-buy,” said Kauffman. After thanking her mother and dad, brother and sisters, friends, committee members and the promotion team, Kauffman added, “I especially want to thank all the dairy farmers for the amazing, memorable year and especially Dale Smith (dairy promotion committee chairperson) for encouraging me to get involved in dairy promotion.”
In conclusion, she added, “Always remember to smile; it will get you through a lot.” Kauffman plans to attend Delaware Valley College in the fall to pursue a career in the dairy industry.
Because of a school trip to Europe, retiring 2007-2008 Alternate Lancaster County Dairy Princess Leslie Hoover, daughter of Gordon and Carole Hoover, was unable to attend the pageant. In her absence, her mother, Carole, secretary of the Lancaster County dairy promotion committee, read her farewell speech wherein she expressed regret for not being able to attend the pageant, thanked her family for their support and extended best wishes to the incoming royalty team.
During the evening, three Lancaster County dairy farm families received a farm sign, presented by James Barnett, in recognition for receiving the coveted “Dairy of Distinction” award. They include; Mike and Nancy Nissly of Riverview Farms in Washington Boro, the Donald Eckman family of Eckman Acres in Peach Bottom and Eugene and Susan Hess of Hessdale Farm in Marietta.
Throughout the pageant, the audience was entertained with several solos by Abigail Martin, with piano accompaniment by Carla Martin, a past Pennsylvania dairy princess.
Following the pageant, attendees were treated to ice cream sundaes, compliments of the Lancaster County Dairy Promotion Committee.
Joyce ZimmermanSoutheastern Pa. Correspondent
LANCASTER, Pa. — In celebration of June Dairy Month, Lancaster County’s dairy industry crowned and installed a new dairy princess on Saturday, June 14, at the Lancaster County Farm and Home Center.
Before a crowd of dairy farm families and industry representatives, Laken Hoffer, daughter of Melvin and Sandy Hoffer of Mount Joy, received her title from outgoing Lancaster County Dairy Princess, Stephanie Kauffman, daughter of Harold and Ann Kauffman of Denver.
Hoffer, a 2008 graduate of Elizabethtown High School, is employed by Blossomelle Holsteins in Elizabethtown. In addition, she is active in her church youth group and enjoys photography, raising and showing dairy cattle, music and sports.
When asked what prompted her to become a dairy princess, Hoffer replied, “I am very passionate about the dairy industry and since I am out of high school, I was looking for something new and exciting. I am looking forward to getting to know everyone and experience many new opportunities.”
In order to receive the dairy princess title, applicants need to write and deliver an adult oriented speech promoting dairy products and the importance of dairy farming in Pennsylvania and their local communities. In Hoffer’s well delivered speech, “Walking on Rough Terrain,” she reminded the audience that even though things do not always go as planned and you experience personal disappointments, new possibilities and opportunities become available
“Anyone may experience change, however, the willingness of dairy farmers to meet new challenges has helped Lancaster County dairy farmers to provide milk for millions of people,” said Hoffer. “Thanks to you, agriculture is the number one business in Pennsylvania. I feel very blessed to work on a dairy farm.”
In addition to her speech, Hoffer entertained the audience with a delightful skit, “Small Drop, Big Dreams.” Dressed in white from head-to-toe, she portrayed a “drop of milk” excited about the many opportunities to become part of a delicious and nutritious dairy product. After passing all tests and graduating to the tune “Pomp and Circumstance,” the drop of milk went on its way to become part of a dairy product. During the entertaining skit, Hoffer explained the pasteurization and homogenization processes and talked about the many tests preformed on milk before it reaches the consumer.
Elizabeth Ackerman, mistress of ceremonies at the event, asked Hoffer an impromptu question of significance to the dairy industry. “Over the course of the past year, food prices have increased dramatically because of the price of feed, especially corn. This causes food prices, and particularly the price of milk to go up in the store. What would you tell the consumer who thinks farmers must be getting rich?”
In response, Hoffer replied, “I would try to explain that not nearly all the money goes to the farmer, but some goes to the whole process along the way.”
In addition to the dairy princess, the 2008-2009 Lancaster County dairy promotion team includes 10 dairy ambassadors, six dairy maids and three dairy darlings.
Prior to the pageant, the dairy ambassadors delivered speeches to a panel of judges consisting of James Barnett, Amanda Good and Carla Martin. The two top dairy ambassador speech winners included, Deidra Bollinger, daughter of Daryl and Ruby Bollinger of Manheim, and Terri Kauffman, daughter of Harold and Ann Kauffman of Denver. Both girls spoke about the lifestyle of dairy farming families and the many vitamins and minerals in milk, emphasizing the importance of a healthy diet rich in dairy products.
In addition to Bollinger and Kauffman, other dairy ambassadors include Toni Kauffman, Karisa Martin, Lindsay Royer, Sarabeth Royer, Carolyn Lawrence, Karla Neff, Jennifer Royer and Angela Weiler.
Dairy Maids on the promotion team include Lydia Brubaker, Kelli Kauffman, Victoria Peila, Emily Hershey, Kirsten Kauffman and Tiffany Weiler. Completing the team are Dairy Darlings Megan Peila, Jordan Smith and Madison Weaver.
Ambassadors, maids and darlings assist the dairy princess in promoting milk and dairy products at many different events throughout the year.
Before passing her crown to Hoffer, retiring Lancaster County Dairy Princess Stephanie Kauffman delivered an emotional farewell speech, officially ending her career in dairy promotion.
“Excuse me for crying, but dairy promotion has been a huge part of my life for the last 10 years and it is hard to say good-buy,” said Kauffman. After thanking her mother and dad, brother and sisters, friends, committee members and the promotion team, Kauffman added, “I especially want to thank all the dairy farmers for the amazing, memorable year and especially Dale Smith (dairy promotion committee chairperson) for encouraging me to get involved in dairy promotion.”
In conclusion, she added, “Always remember to smile; it will get you through a lot.” Kauffman plans to attend Delaware Valley College in the fall to pursue a career in the dairy industry.
Because of a school trip to Europe, retiring 2007-2008 Alternate Lancaster County Dairy Princess Leslie Hoover, daughter of Gordon and Carole Hoover, was unable to attend the pageant. In her absence, her mother, Carole, secretary of the Lancaster County dairy promotion committee, read her farewell speech wherein she expressed regret for not being able to attend the pageant, thanked her family for their support and extended best wishes to the incoming royalty team.
During the evening, three Lancaster County dairy farm families received a farm sign, presented by James Barnett, in recognition for receiving the coveted “Dairy of Distinction” award. They include; Mike and Nancy Nissly of Riverview Farms in Washington Boro, the Donald Eckman family of Eckman Acres in Peach Bottom and Eugene and Susan Hess of Hessdale Farm in Marietta.
Throughout the pageant, the audience was entertained with several solos by Abigail Martin, with piano accompaniment by Carla Martin, a past Pennsylvania dairy princess.
Following the pageant, attendees were treated to ice cream sundaes, compliments of the Lancaster County Dairy Promotion Committee.
