Heather Wasson, of State College, recently crowned the 2012- 13 Centre County Dairy
Princess, is trying to raise public awareness of the labor that is involved in putting dairy products on consumers’ tables.
Wasson, who will be a junior in the fall at State College Area High School, won the dairy princess contest on May 19 at Zion Lutheran Church in Boalsburg. Contestants were judged on a skit/creative presentation, a prepared speech, an interview with the judges and an impromptu question. Wasson’s speech, “Milk from the Cow to You,” focused on the dedication that is exhibited by dairy farmers.
“People think (dairy farming) is such a simple thing,” she said. “They don’t know how much hard work, passion and time goes into the product.”
June is National Dairy Month, which started out as National Milk Month in 1937 as a way to promote drinking milk.
Wasson’s role as representative of the Centre County dairy industry will involve making appearances at schools, businesses and fairs. She is joined on the Centre County dairy promotion team by two alternates, Halee Wasson, her twin sister; and Terren Lesher, who is also entering her junior year at State High.
For Heather Wasson, a daughter of Ronald and Candace Wasson, dairy roots run deep. She grew up and works on her family’s fifth-generation dairy farm on Route 45 between Boalsburg and Pine Grove Mills.
She said growing up on a farm taught her about discipline and time management. The farms ships milk to Land O’ Lakes, a national company that produces butter.
In addition, her sister, Krystal, a 2011 State High graduate, was named Pennsylvania Dairy Princess; and another sister, Nicole, who graduated in 2010, was an alternate in the local competition.
Wasson’s extracurricular activities include being a majorette for the State High marching band, acting as manager for the varsity wrestling team, and serving as recorder for the State High chapter of Future Farmers of America.
She said the Pennsylvania dairy industry comprises 400 dairy farms.
“What better way to salute the dairy farmers than to consume dairy products?” she said.
Wasson, who plans to major in agricultural communications at Ohio State and work for a major corporation in the agriculture industry, will compete in the Pennsylvania Dairy Princess Pageant on Sept. 22 at the Radisson Penn Harris Hotel in Camp Hill.
‘Berry’ good time
The season for local strawberries has arrived, and once again, the Lemont Village Association is inviting the entire community to celebrate.
The 31st annual Strawberry Festival, benefiting the Granary Project, will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday on the Village Green. The festival will feature fresh strawberries, homemade cakes, ice cream, strawberry smoothies and lemonade. Pony rides will be offered from 5 to 6 p.m., and there will be live music provided by OverheaD and Dreams and Bones.
“It’s just a nice feeling of community,” said Sue Smith, president of the LVA.
A new feature this year, she said, will be short rides on a “speeder” — a vehicle similar to a go-kart — offered by the Bellefonte Historic Railroad.
For more information, call Sue or Ron Smith at 238-1288 or visit www.lemontvillage.org.
Stephanie Koons writes this weekly column featuring news from the Centre Region. Contact her at 235-3927 or skoons@centredaily.com.
