A Real Princess!

A lot of girls growing up dream of being a Princess. One pictures pink dresses, lots of twirling, and a Prince.

So this is the story of how my sisters and I were crowned as Princesses!

A little girl gasps as she see’s my sisters and I in the grocery store. “Mommy, look, LOOOK it’s a real princess!” The mother smiles and nods, “great sweetie, keep up,” but as they walk past the eggs to the Dairy products section of the store, the mom stops as well. “Oh my.”

This is a typical response to consumers seeing us in our “princess get up!”  Now, as a girl more comfortable in muck boots and T-shirts, it’s a bit strange getting ready for a promotion, but it’s fun to dress up every now and then right? What girl doesn’t have a nice dress, some heels, a tiara, and a sash in the closet?

Lindsay and I in our tiaras!

Ok, so I guess I should explain this now! My family is a part of the Pennsylvania Dairy Princess and Promotion Services, Inc. or PDPPS, which sounds kinda’ ridiculous, but is actually very neat. Who better to tell children to eat their 3 servings of Dairy products every day than a real life princess? And this is exactly what the PDPPS does.

We visit elementary schools to talk to children about the importance of consuming at least three Dairy products a day. This is why I can name all of the essential nutrients in milk. Which, in case you wanted to know are Protein, Vitamins A, B12, B6, and D, Riblofavin, Niacin, Thiamine, Pantothenic acid, Folate, Magnesium, Phosphorous, potassium, Zinc, Selenium, and of course Calcium! Whew, that’s a mouthful. It is very important to the organization to gear some promotions to children, because drinking milk is so important to skeletal growth, and starting healthy habits. Visit here to learn more about nature’s most perfect drink! //http://www.healthyeating.org/Milk-Dairy/Milk-Infographic.aspx

PDPPS also visits grocery stores to talk to consumers about Dairy products, and answer any questions they have about the Dairy Industry. We can also visit popular events like the Pennsylvania Farm Show, or local events like 5-K’s or town celebrations and parades. It is a great chance to talk to consumers about all facets of agriculture, and where milk really comes from. Check out the PDPPS website at http://www.padairy.org/ Fun fact, last years alternate State Dairy Princess went to my High School!

My mom did such an incredible job taking my sisters and I to these events, and making sure that we were warm enough during parades, looked sharp and professional all the time, and made sure to answer everyone’s questions. Not to mention, she can make a mean milk punch! Sounds gross,but is actually quite delicious! Try it sometime: http://recipehelpers.com/non-alcoholic/99272-pennsylvania-milk-punch.html

Favorite questions from events: 1) Where is the Dairy Queen

2) Does chocolate milk come from brown cows?

3) Why do cows smell so much?

The craziest part is that some of these questions were asked by adults too!

Sarabeth 14 A

My sisters! Alysha, Lindsay, Jen, me and Amanda

I am retired from the life of royalty now, sigh, but guess what… I still get to tell people about how awesome milk is!

Have a wonderful day,

-Sarabeth

 

 

Bovine Buddies

So my family moved to a larger farm on the Western side of Lancaster County when I was in 7th grade. The transition was pretty hard for me, but I always had my best friend Rosie to talk to. She’s the best, she always listens attentively, and looks at me with those big brown eyes when I am sad, or need someone to talk to. Rosie, is basically the best friend a girl could ask for. She enjoys nice long walks, a good slice of hay, and a nice belly rub. You have actually already seen a picture of her, Rosie happens to be a cow, and she is pretty awesome. For those of you who think cows are only good for eating grass and making milk, “Think AGain,” they are very smart animals! My cow Rosie, can even tell me and my twin sister apart! No lie, you can ask her (my twin I mean!) Whenever Lindsay calls to Rosie from the meadow, she will look up at her, and then kinda meh, walk away, but If I call at Rosie, you bet your sweet bipey she is going to come sauntering over. Cows are truly incredible animals, and are highly underestimated among many people! I have known cows to figure out how to open gates, or to know exactly when my Dad will go out to the barn in the morning.

This is my twin sister, Lindsay, and I next to one of our tractors! Doesn’t everyone get prom pics with the family tractor?

I bet not many of you knew that there are several different breeds of cows. What type is Rosie?

 

This is me taking a nap with my bovine buddy, Rosie, at a fair. We were both pretty tired!

Gotcha! That was kind of a trick question, because she is a Red and White Holstein. Photo courtesy of http://www.goldencow.com.au/golden_cow/kids_spot.html

Anyways, my family mostly has Holsteins, Red and White Holsteins, and Jersey cows, and I think they are truly incredible animals. We milk about 240 cows and have just as many baby calves around! It sure is a lot of work, but we love it.

I have four sisters, and while going outside in the barn and getting dirty was’t always our favorite thing to do in life, all five of us have done our fair share of farm work. And to be honest, I miss it now that I am at college. On any given day on the farm, we milk our cows twice a day! (Yes even on Christmas, and our birthdays, and when its snowing outside.) We clean the barn, feed the baby calves, take care of sick cows, fix machinery, and so much more. Life on the farm certainly isn’t dull. Working outside has taught me so many lessons I cannot file on a transcript. Like the real applications of new life that we learn about in Biology. Or the importance of hard work and responsibility. I treasure every memory working outside in the barn, alongside my family.

What you have to understand, is that for my family, farming isn’t just a job, it’s a way of life. My dad works hard all day milking cows, and stays up late every night getting field work done because he loves it. Because he has a passion for working on the land in nature. Because he loves working with animals. Because he finds joy in working with his hands.

You see, I’m the kind of girl who is blessed to have a family that has instilled in me this same passion for Agriculture. This passion for producing the worlds food. I am the type of girl who likes to wear jeans, an old t-shirt and barn boots. I’m the kind of girl who has more bovine buddies than most. I’m the type of girl who admires my fathers’ rough and scarred hands, because they are feeding the world.

I am the kind of girl who loves Agriculture, and isn’t afraid to show it!

This is a picture of my family’s Dairy Farm : )

 

Here is my family. (My mom was taking the picture.) Amanda, Lindsay, Jennifer, my Dad, myself and Alysha. Obviously these aren’t our barn clothes, but we decided to all get a picture with the tractor one day after Church!