TRACY, Calif. – Ashley Avila of Lemoore was selected as the 2016 Dairy Princess for the California Milk Advisory Board’s (CMAB) District 7. Brigit Simas of Lemoore was selected as the 2016 Alternate Dairy Princess. The coronation took place before a crowd of approximately 400 dairy industry members, their families and friends, on Friday, June 24, 2016, at the Hanford Civic Auditorium in Hanford.
Retiring Dairy Princess Macey Pearson and Alternate Dairy Princess Jacqueline Ocampo ended their reigns by relinquishing their titles to Ashley and Brigit, and wished them well as the ladies represent the California dairy industry throughout the coming year.
Ashley will represent District 7, which includes Kings County. As Dairy Princess, she will play an important role on the CMAB’s Communications Services team in meeting community relations objectives.
Ashley is the daughter of Luis and Ann Avila of Lemoore. She is a recent graduate of Hanford High School and plans to attend West Hills College in the fall and transfer to California State University, Fresno to major in agriculture education. She wants to be an agriculture teacher in animal science.
First Alternate, Brigit Simas, is the daughter of Randy and Marlene Simas of Lemoore. She attended Lemoore High School and is currently self-employed as a mobile cosmetologist and works for her father’s dairy construction business, assisting with bookkeeping duties.
Brigit will assist the new District 7 Dairy Princess in her duties, which include speaking on behalf of the California dairy industry at schools, service clubs, with the media, and at numerous public events throughout the year.
In addition, the Dairy Princess and her Alternate will attend a training session, including presentation skills, etiquette training, a CMAB orientation, and industry tours.
Along with the excitement of naming the new Dairy Princess, Ashley was awarded the Lori Paulo Memorial Scholarship. Also, the Kings County June Dairy Month committee recognized the Joe Sozinho Family of Hanford as the 2016 Kings County Dairy Family and John and Mary Mello as the Distinguished Dairy Couple. The Master of Ceremonies for the event was James Garner, Director of Communications for Cogent Consulting and Communications, Inc. Contestants were judged on poise, personality, speaking ability, education and dairy background. Judges for the contest were Ellen Durrer of Modesto, MacKenzie Gomes of Willows and Dante Migliazzo of Atwater. The Dairy Princess Co-Chairpersons was Jackie Giacomazzi and Debbie Raven.
California is the nation’s leading milk producer. It also produces more butter, ice cream and nonfat dry milk than any other state. The state is the second-largest producer of cheese and yogurt. Dairy products made with Real California milk can be identified by the Real California Milk or Cheese seals, which certify that the products are made exclusively with milk produced on California dairy farms.
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About the California Milk Advisory Board
The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB), an instrumentality of the California Department
of Food and Agriculture, is funded by the state’s more than 1,400 dairy families. With headquarters in Tracy, the CMAB is one of the largest agricultural marketing boards in the United States. The CMAB executes advertising, public relations, research and retail and foodservice promotional programs on behalf of California dairy products, including Real California Milk and Real California Cheese, throughout the U.S. and internationally. For more information and to connect with the CMAB through social media, visit RealCaliforniaMilk.com, like at Facebook, view videos at YouTube, follow at Twitter and Instagram, and pin at Pinterest.
.Source: California Milk Advisory Board