MERCER COUNTY

The Mercer County Dairy Princess Committee recently celebrated "June is Dairy Month" with the crowning of Mercer County Dairy Princess on June 18 at Leslie N. Firth Learning Center.

The evening's festivities began with a Cow-Tail hour hosted by the 2000-2001 Mercer County Dairy Princess, Marsha Croskey.

Maggie Moore was selected as Mercer County Dairy Princess for 2002-03. She is the daughter of Ralph and Margie Moore, Cannery Road, Mercer. She currently works for Vanderstappen Dairy. She will be attending Penn State this fall majoring in agricultural extension education. Maggie owns 10 animals on the family's 310-acre Amoore Holstein Farm where they have a herd of 150 head. Maggie and her family are very active in local, state and national shows.

Nicole Cochran was selected Alternate Dairy Princess. She is the daughter of Raymond and Diane Cochran, Millbrook Road, Grove City. She will be a junior at Lakeview High School. She also helps out at home on the family's 250-acre Willow Valley Farm where they have a herd of 100 Holsteins, six of which are hers. Nicole is active in 4-H, County Council, and showing her animals.

Also competing for this year's title and given the title of Dairy Ambassadors were Emily Lou Davis, Mercer; and Karen Strouss, Sandy Lake.

The Dairy Darlings performed a dairy- related song. This years Dairy Darlings are Allisa Burnett, Hadley; Moriah Canon, West Middlesex; Jennifer Ferguson, Grove City; Brooke George, Jackson Center; Stephanie Jenkins, Greenville; Alyssa Miller, Sandy Lake; Amanda Minor, Grove City; Sarah Montgomery, Jackson Center; Sarah Patterson, Fredonia; Sarah Slater, Clarks Mills; and Elizabeth and Samantha Weber, Grove City.

Performing a dairy related story are this years Dairy Delights. They are Laurel Montgomery, Grove City; and Laura Sturgin, Fredonia.

Answering an impromptu question are this years Dairy Maids and Ambassadors. The Dairy Maids are Olivia Eperthener, Grove City; Franchesca Rapp, Grove City; Alisha Robinson, Grove City; and Sarah Snyder, Grove City. The Dairy Ambassadors for this year are Becky Aiken, West Middlesex; Melissa Hanna, Stoneboro and Crystal Robinson, Grove City.

Judges for the evenings festivities were Norma Baughman, Townville Pa., Brett Brumbaugh, Brockway, Pa. and Debbie Liggett, Bessemer.

The flower presenters for the evening were Morgan Minor, Grove City; and Cole Richael, Stoneboro.

Special guests for the evenings events were Sara Jennings, 2001-2002 Pennsylvania State Alternate Dairy Princess from Bradford County; Krista Braymer, 2002-2002 Crawford County Dairy Princess, Junia Isiminger, executive director of the Pennsylvania Dairy Princess and Promotion Program; Roberta McConnell, Southwest Coordinator of the Pennsylvania Dairy Princess and Promotion Program; Jim Detallo, Dean's Dairy and Ginny Steese-Richardson, Mercer County Treasurer.

Past Mercer County Dairy Princesses in attendance were Susan Slater Patterson, Elaine Hill Leise, Angela Haas George, Heidi Minner Minor, Cheri Clayton Slater, Jolene Nicoletto, Kelly Clark, Katie Hanna Ives and Marsha Croskey.

The flowers and stage for the evening were done by Minors Decorating Due and plants from Graceland Farm Market.

Users for the evening were Jonathan Robinson and Dominic Eperthener and props were done by Andrew Sturgin. Photography was done by Mark Canon and videographer was Kim Croskey.

Anyone interested in having the dairy royalty attend their function, please contact the booking chairperson, Tammy Hanna at (724) 475-2502.