By Rikki Cason<br><a href="mailto:rikki.cason@journal-register.com">E-mail Rikki</a>
The new Niagara Orleans Dairy Princess has been grooming for her role for a long time. Ever since she was a little girl, Betsy McKenna has been fascinated by the dairy industry. After writing an essay when she was young on why she wanted a Guernsey cow, she was awarded a scholarship to purchase her own cow, and her love blossomed from there.
“I really, really always loved dairy cows,” McKenna said. “This is a stepping stone to reach my goal. It’s a chance to give back to the farmers that work so hard.”
Helping to achieve her career goal of becoming an agricultural politician, McKenna competed in this year’s Niagara Orleans Dairy Princess Pageant. During the competition, McKenna said she was interviewed and asked to do a presentation to children. Her presentation was about being a dairy detective and it asked the children to find the dairy in their diet.
McKenna won the title and will now serve both Orleans and Niagara counties and promote the dairy industry.
“She represents the county for a year,” said Niagara Orleans Dairy Princess Chairman Brian Waters. “She’s really done a great job so far.”
Waters and McKenna said that to be dairy princess, the winner must go around to different schools and talk to children about dairy nutrition. They also speak to nurseries, nursing homes and local legislature groups.
“You promote as much as possible,” McKenna said. “Three servings of dairy a day.”
In February, McKenna will compete in the New York state pageant against the other counties in the state. She said that Niagara and Orleans are the only two counties that are represented together.
This summer, McKenna will also be at both the Niagara and Orleans county fairs spreading the dairy message with her slogan “serving the three, kids and family are key, to helping the farm families.”
Besides being the 2009 Dairy Princess, the Albion High School senior is active in soccer, basketball and track and is an officer for her senior class. She is also the local chapter president of Future Farmers of America and the New York State Guernsey president. McKenna also enjoys showing cows at the Orleans, Erie and state fairs.
If interested in learning more about dairy or to have McKenna make a presentation to an organization, contact her at McKennaBetsey@yahoo.com.
