By WARREN DILLAWAY - Staff Writer
WILLIAMSFIELD TOWNSHIP — A 60-year tradition was extended Saturday night as more than 150 people gathered for the Ashtabula County Dairy Banquet.
Ashtbula County Extension Extension Agent David Marrison said the banquet is a time for dairy farmers to gather for social interaction and honor those who have been successful throughout the year.
It is also time to crown royalty as three area girls competed for the right to be the 2010 Ashtabula County dairy princess.
Courtney Fox, Jennifer Hall and Melinda Ring all had the opportunity to share their ideas on what they could bring to the community as dairy princess.
Marrison said 50 percent of the judging was from an interview and 50 percent was the vote of dairy farmers. “We have a mix to give the dairy farmer a voice,” he said.
Courtney Fox of Conneaut expressed the importance of educating the public concerning the dairy industry. “Some of the kids (during a high school educational program) didn’t know that the grains in the jars were in the foods they eat,” she said.
Fox also shared how her experience on the farm connected with her potential career as a respiratory therapist.
Jennifer Hall of Jefferson discussed her family’s generational connection to farming and hopes to go into business or finance. “I have been working on a dairy farm two days a week for almost two years,” she said.
Melinda Ring of Monroe Township expressed the need for education of the public and said she would like to be a conduit of information to clear up wrong perceptions of the dairy industry in the media.
Ring said she is a born and raised cow girl and has been home schooled her entire life. “I milk 300 cows at least three times a week,” she said.
After the voting, Ring was crowned dairy princess by 2009 dairy princess Rachel Kalas and will serve for a full year.
Kalas said she had a great year as dairy princess and showed a slide show of her adventures. “It has been a really great experience and a lot of fun.”
She also had a quick wit in her remarks to the banquet faithful.
“Hopefully milk prices will rise in the near future because I see some college bills in my dad’s future,” she said.
Other award winners included Deanna Comp winning the Stuart Struna Memorial Extra Effort Award and finishing second in the Calf Essay Contest. Elizabeth Coltman was the winner of the Calf Essay Contest.
Robert Wilson of Jefferson collected the Farm Family of the Year Award; Bossy’s Way Farm of New Lyme Township won an Ashtabula County Herd Award; Gaylord Millard and Son of Pierpont Township received the most improved herd award.
Awards for individual cow performance included Alfa-Creek Brown Farm for Brown Swiss and Crossbreeds; Bossy’s Way Farm for Holsteins and Ringbyre Jersey Farm for Jerseys.
