Jeanne Sager | Democrat THESE ARE THREE of the fresh faces that will be representing the dairy industry in Sullivan County: From the left, Chris Whipple, Emily Hubbert and Dairy Princess Hannah Lindquist.

New princess
'knows' dairy

By Jeanne Sager
ROSCOE — Hannah Lindquist is the future of dairy promotion in Sullivan County.
Poised.
Articulate.
Passionate about farming.
But not raised on a dairy farm.
With the numbers of working dairy farms in Sullivan County dwindling, and the kids raised on actual farms already grown up, the Sullivan County Dairy Promotion Committee has had to look outward in recent years to find quality candidates to serve on its court.
You don’t have to live on a farm, they say, but you have to care about Sullivan County and an industry that’s been a vital part of the community virtually as long as the county’s been in existence.
Hence Lindquist, a teenager who has her eyes on a career in the law.
A sophomore at Tri-Valley Central School, 15-year-old Lindquist got involved with farming through the school’s FFA (formerly known as the Future Farmers of America) program.
She’s been part of a push to shove soft drink machines out of Tri-Valley and replace them with milk machines to improve the health of the students.
“Dairy is the option, not an option,” Lindquist said of her school’s drink choices.
Citing nutrition facts and laying out ways to bring dairy into more Sullivan County lives, Lindquist spoke to a packed room at the Rockland House on Friday night for the annual Sullivan County Dairy Promotion Court crowning ceremony.
She was joined by nine other Sullivan County youth who will make up the slate of dairy dudes, milk maids and dairy ambassadors circling the county in the coming year, to spread the word about milk, cheese and yogurt.
With kids from Glen Spey, Grahamsville, Youngsville, North Branch and other spots around the county, Committee Chair Amy Sykes said the court should be able to make a broad impact this year.
Lindquist will be joined by six ambassadors including fellow Tri-Valley FFA member Chris Whipple, Emily Hubbert, Adeline Bodnaruik, Michaella Burr, Matthew Edwards, and Danielle Sykes. Brandi Burk and MacKenzie Hubbert will serve as milk maids, with Eddie Sykes as the sole dairy dude.
Some have cows. Some don’t. All are eager to get out the door and chat up the county about cheese.
“I like milk, I drink it. Cheese is one of my favorite foods,” Whipple said. “But statistically speaking, I am not the norm.
“The dairy industry has had its ups and downs,” he added. “But with continued promotion, it will continue to wobble, but it won’t fall down.”
Want to find out where the dairy promotion court will be this summer? Check them out online: dairypromotion.homestead.com/Upcoming_Events07.html or call Booking Chairperson Tara Berescik at Tri-Valley Central School 985-2296, ext. 5503 (primary), 985-7836 (home) or by e-mail tberesci@tvcs.k12.ny.us.