Petaluma’s Veteran’s Hall to host 2017 Dairy Princess contest and Ball

At the conclusion of the Sixtieth Annual District 3 Dairy Princess Contest and Ball (Saturday, April 8, 2017) - co-sponsored by the North Bay Dairy Women and the California Milk Advisory Board – the organization’s outgoing Dairy Princess - Adrianna Begley of Santa Rosa - will crown her successor.

Who will it be? This year five high school senior young ladies will vie for the title to be the goodwill ambassador and to attend local fairs, schools and community events in District 3.

The Dairy Princess, of course, is the spokesperson for the Dairy Industry and represents local farmers and producers in Lake, Marin, Sonoma, Napa, Solano and Mendocino counties. There have been quite a few Dairy Princesses over the years.

This year’s theme, “Ruby Reflections,” will celebrate the last 60 years of District 3 royalty.

Here are this year’s contestants for the crown.

MARIA BARTLETT

Brian and Teresa Bartlett’s 17-year-old daughter Maria is a senior at Analy High School and currently lives in Santa Rosa. After high school, she plans on attending Santa Rosa Junior College, then Montana State to have a career in the agriculture industry specializing in accounting. Maria’s great-great-grandparents emigrated from Portugal and brought with them the first Guernsey cattle to Humboldt County, which instilled her love of showing dairy cattle. She believes in the future of the dairy industry and understands even though challenges will continue, the industry is invaluable and is looking forward to being the voice of the industry.

MELANIE HANLON

17-year-old Petaluma resident Melanie is also a senior at Petaluma High School and the daughter of Tim and Perri Hanlon. In the fall, she plans on attending Oregon State University, and will major in food science and technology, with a focus in either food chemistry and product development or fermentation. Melanie has been showing Jersey heifers for the past two years as well as being active in 4-H and FFA. She feels she has a unique perspective which will be useful when dealing with consumer perceptions as Dairy Princess especially since talking and communicating with others is a genuine passion of hers.

COURTNEY KING

Courtney is the 18-year-old daughter of Arnold and Dina King. Currently a senior at Petaluma High School, she plans to attend Oklahoma State University upon graduation, where she will pursue a major in Animal Science with the hopes of pursuing a career in animal genetics and feed nutrition. Courtney is proud of her legacy of four generations operating a dairy that her dad’s family purchased in Petaluma with a $20 gold nugget in 1889. If elected as Dairy Princess she would bring to the community a fresh perspective, new ideas and the drive to share the experiences of the dairy industry.

KENDAL MIDDLEBROOK

Analy High School senior, Kendal, is the 17-year-old daughter of Paul and Ann Middlebrook. This Sebastopol resident is planning on attending Santa Rosa Junior College then the University of Pacific in Stockton to ultimately become a dentist. Having been raised on a dairy she has been active in every aspect and can share her story of growing up on a dairy farm. She feels that the personal touch or story helps people understand and provides them with a powerful example so that she can give back to the wonderful industry that has provided so much for her and her family.

ELIZABETH PACHECO

Elizabeth is the 17-year-old daughter of Jim and Donna Pacheco of Petaluma. After graduating from Petaluma High School she plans on attending Santa Rosa Junior College and then Chico State University to major in Agricultural Business and Marketing and plans on returning to Petaluma to work with her family’s cheese company. With her family’s history in the dairy business and now the cheese company, Elizabeth is already educating students by giving tours and helping them start their own heifer projects. While all of her projects are time consuming she is working hard at something she loves and would continue doing as Dairy Princess.

Dairy Princess Contest and Ball, Saturday, April 8.

The gala will be held at Petaluma Veteran’s Memorial Building. Doors open at 6:00 pm and the coronation program begins at 7:00 pm. Buffet dinner served by Jimmy’s Catering Company will immediately follow the crowning of the new Dairy Princess. Dancing will be from 8:30-11:30 pm. Admission is $30 for adults and $15 for children under 12. Tickets may be purchased at John’s Dairy Supply and Jay Palms in Petaluma. Ticket sales are limited and no tickets will be sold at the door.