Mercedes Spickerman, 2013-2014 Susquehanna County Dairy Princess passed her reign on to Rachael Grosvenor on May 23rd at the County Dairy Princess Pageant held at the Episcopal Church in Montrose.

Rachael is the daughter of Paul and Susan Grosvenor of Brooklyn. Rachael is studying nursing at Misericordia University and works part-time at her uncle’s dairy heifer raising facility.  Rachael teaches Sunday school, coaches a young swim team and volunteers at Gracious Living assisted living facility. Rachael was the 2013 Harford Fair Queen. She enjoys sports, cooking, baking, scrapbooking and especially enjoys time with her family that includes nine siblings.

Pictured (l-r) are: Rachel Johnson, Alternate Susquehanna County Dairy Princess; Rachael Grosvenor, Susquehanna County Dairy Princess; Chelsea Empet, Crown Bearer; Mercedes Spickerman, 2013 Susquehanna County Dairy Princess.

Alternate Dairy Princess Rachel Johnson, daughter of Dennis and Kim Johnson of Factoryville will be a senior at Lackawanna Trail High School in the fall. Rachel brings with her lots of dairy background as she helps on her uncle’s dairy farm where they milk over 100 cows each day. Rachel is a 4-H member showing Brown Swiss heifers. She is active in her church and enjoys field hockey and running track at Lackawanna Trail High School.

The new Dairy Princess and Alternate Dairy Princess will fulfill their duties with support from Dairy Maids Kendra and Kaelynn Brant, Alivia Hughes, Samantha Warner and Megan Johns, and Dairy Ambassadors Emory Bewley and Katrina Vidota all working together educating the public about the importance of dairy products in their diets and being advocates for their county dairy farmers.

Once again the evening program was presented by former Dairy Princesses Allison Kiefer, Abbey Puzo, Kelly Diaz Young and Callie Curley. Also taking part in the program was Pennsylvania State Dairy Princess Lu-Anne Antisdel.

Abbey Puzo, 2007-2008 Dairy Princess welcomed everyone to Pageant and then 2011-2012 Princess Allison Kiefer introduced each of the dairy court members as their dad’s ushered them to take their place on stage.

Dairy Maids Kendra and Kaelynn Brant, Alivia Hughes, Samantha Warner and Megan Johns each stepped forward making comments about their relationship to dairy and spoke a bit about how they will be fulfilling their responsibilities as Dairy Maids. Next to speak were Dairy Ambassadors Katrina Vidota and Emory Bewley, each with promotion plans they will be carrying out. Crown Bearer Chelsea Empet introduced herself and made a few comments.

Dairy Princess candidates Rachel Johnson and Rachael Grosvenor each gave excellent speeches about the dairy industry here in Pennsylvania and beyond.

2012-2013 Dairy Princess Callie Curley honored Betty Reibson, Pennsylvania Dairy Princess & Promotions Northeast District Director for her many years supporting the Dairy Princess and Promotion program presenting her with a lovely hanging plant.

Abbey Puzo commented on the importance of promotions the girls have done this past year, mentioning the many school promotions done to encourage children to include three servings of dairy in their diet each day. Abbey thanked Rick and Dana Empet, Keith and Pam Brant and the Pavelski/Bewley farms for opening their doors to allow young children to learn about what happens in the dairy barn to get milk to the children’s homes.

2001-2002 Dairy Princess Kelly Diaz Young presented top scrapbook awards to Emory Bewley, Alexis Parks and Reese Allen. Outgoing Princess Mercedes went home with a scholarship award provided by the county dairy promotion committee to be used when she begins college in the fall of 2015.

Mercedes gave her farewell speech complementing the members of her court on the excellent job they did working with her during the past year. She thanked Evie Goff and Mary Puzo and the other members of the county dairy promotion committee for the support she received from each of them.

Mercedes crowned Rachel Johnson as Alternate Dairy Princess and then crowned Rachael Grosvenor as the new Susquehanna County Dairy Princess assisted by crown bearer Chelsea Empet, daughter of Rick and Dana Empet of Kingsley.

Special thanks were giving to photographer Jessie Blaney and Cathy Rezykowski, pianist for the evening.

The evening concluded with a reception to meet and congratulate Susquehanna County’s dairy promotion team, and guests were given the opportunity to browse the scrapbooks on display.

Just days into her reign, new Princess Rachael, joined by several members of her Court will visit school groups at Angel Beginning and all of the classes at Choconut Valley Elementary School as well as other promotions planned for the month of June.

Any school or organization wishing to have the presence of members of the Susquehanna County Dairy Promotion team at an event please contact County Chairperson Evie Goff at 570-278-1212 or Dairy Princess Rachael Grosvenor at 570-289-4952. Enjoy your 3-Every Day of dairy.

Hi, my name is Rachael Grosvenor and I am the 2014-2015 Susquehanna County Dairy Princess.  I am very excited to have this opportunity to share my love of farming with the community as well as educate people about the importance of the dairy industry.  The dairy industry has influenced my life in many ways.  My Grandpa owned a dairy farm, and I was often there helping him feed the calves and washing up the equipment when I was little.  Now that I am older, I am able to help my uncle on his farm. I thoroughly enjoy working on a dairy farm and look forward to promoting our local dairies throughout my reign as the County Princess.

June is National Dairy Month.  I think this is a great time to appreciate all that the dairy farmers do for our community.  In Pennsylvania, over 60,000 people can attribute their jobs to the dairy industry! Just knowing that your job might have been created because of a dairy farmer will make you that much more thankful for farmers.  Take a moment to consider all of the delicious dairy products that you find on your dining room table every day.  Without our dairy farmers, our meals would be lacking the many nutrients found in dairy products; calcium, protein, vitamins A, B2, B12 and vitamin D, potassium, niacin, phosphorus and riboflavin.  During this month make sure you support the dairy industry by consuming three dairy products every day, and by taking the extra time to thank your local dairy farmer for all that he does.

If you would like to learn more about the dairy industry, ask how you can support your local farmer, or if you would like me to attend or speak at your event, please do not hesitate to contact me.  You can reach me at 570-289-4038, or by email at rachysue@frontier.com.