Dairy Royalty Crowned in Chautauqua County

Dairy Princess and her court to promote milk and dairy products

-By Lisa Kempisty, Extension Educator

JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK (July 6, 2015) – Esteemed members of the Chautauqua County dairy industry recently gathered for the Chautauqua County Dairy Princess Pageant held in conjunction with the Dairy of Distinction Awards program, at the Falconer High School, to learn who would represent them as the new reigning dairy princess.

Madison Woodis, daughter of Michael and Heather Woodis of Dewittville, NY was crowned the 2015-2016 Chautauqua County Dairy Princess. Madison will be a junior this fall at Chautauqua Lake Central School where she is active in school government and volleyball, and serves as captain for the Cheetah West volleyball team. Madison is an active member of the Canadaway 4-H Club, shows her family’s dairy cattle at the Chautauqua County Fair, and currently serves as president of the Junior Holstein Club.

Alternate Dairy Princess, Jessica Morton, daughter of Karen and Stan Paszko from Sherman, NY was also recognized to help promote the dairy industry throughout Chautauqua County. Jessica will be a senior at Sherman Central School this fall and helps on her grandparent’s dairy farm. Jessica is very active in FFA, participating in FFA speaking contests and serves as Chapter Vice President and Junior FFA Advisor. Jessica plays volleyball, runs track and is a member of the National Honor Society.

Each candidate gave a presentation focusing on dairy products and our dairy industry and answered an impromptu question. The young women were also interviewed by a team of judges earlier in the evening in which they described their interests, background, future plans and answered questions about the dairy industry.

Chautauqua County’s outgoing Dairy Princess Mikaela Johnson, of Kennedy made her final dairy promotion appearance and shared a farewell speech. Congratulations to Mikaela on an outstanding job representing our dairy industry and continued success in the future.

This year’s dairy promotions court includes many ambassadors not yet old enough to compete for the dairy princess crown, but are eager to assist the dairy princess and her alternate in their efforts. The 2015-2016 Dairy Ambassadors were also introduced, who are looking forward to working with the Dairy Princess and Alternate in dairy promotion activities throughout Chautauqua County. This year’s Dairy Ambassadors are: Jasmine and Jocelyn Estabrook of Frewsburg; Autumn Gregory of Forestville; Emily Johnson of Kennedy; Tesika Kilmer of Kennedy; Katelyn Miller of Cherry Creek; LynnDee Nagel of Clymer; Sadie Steward of Kennedy; Joyce Wiltsie of Frewsburg; and Lily and Sophia Woodis of Dewittville.

Thanks to our Master of Ceremonies: Tim Bigham, from NYS Farm Bureau and Judges for the pageant: Sue Kimball Abers of Kennedy, NY; Michael McCaffrey of Homer, NY; and Jennifer Beightol Swanson of Falconer, NY for helping make our program a great success. Dinner was catered by Debbie Stearns, Classic Occasions.

A special thanks to Heather Gregory of Forestville, NY who serves as the chairperson of the Dairy Promotion Committee and to all of the committee members who assist with the many activities of the dairy princess and her court.

To help support our local dairy farmers and promote the nutritional value of milk and dairy products, the Dairy Princess and her court looks forward to teaching others about dairy farming and dairy products at their public appearances. They invite you to visit their dairy promotion display at the upcoming Chautauqua County Fair to be held July 27 through August 2, 2015 in Dunkirk, NY.

The Chautauqua County Dairy Princess program is made possible through the support of the American Dairy Association and Dairy Council, the local planning and management organization funded by dairy farmer checkoff dollars.

Congratulations to our new Chautauqua County Dairy Princess and her court and best wishes with your dairy promotion activities throughout the next year.

If anyone is interested in having the Dairy Princess and her court participate in an upcoming community event to educate others about milk and dairy products, and the importance of our dairy industry, please contact Heather Woodis, Booking Chair at (716) 753-2112.

L to R: Jessica Morton, 2015-2016 Chautauqua County Alternate Dairy Princess, Madison Woodis, 2015-2016 Chautauqua County Dairy Princess and Mikaela Johnson, 2014-2015 Chautauqua County Dairy Princess, look forward to promoting the dairy industry throughout Chautauqua County.

2015-2016 Chautauqua County Dairy Princess and her Court are available to make appearances to inform others about the dairy industry and the nutritional value of dairy products.

The Chautauqua County Dairy Promotion committee is one of many programs Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County participates in (CCE-Chautauqua), and meets the goals of the county’s 20/20 Comprehensive Plan. CCE-Chautauqua is a community based educational organization, affiliated with Cornell University, Chautauqua County Government, the NYS SUNY system, and the federal government through the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. For more information, call 716-664-9502 or visit our website at www.cce.cornell.edu/chautauqua. Cornell University Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities.

Last updated July 26, 2019