PETALUMA, Calif. – March 20, 2024 – Four young women will compete for the prestigious title of Dairy Princess during the District 2 Dairy Princess contest on April 27, 2024, at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds.
This year's contestants are Yesenia Rivas of Sonoma, Anna Graham of Cotati, Caleigh Wilkes of Santa Rosa, and Karlee Ramirez of Petaluma.
Yesenia Rivas is the daughter of Antonio Rivas and Anaibed Munoz. She is a senior at Sonoma Valley High School and will continue her education at Santa Rosa Junior College where she will pursue a degree in Agricultural Education. Yesenia’s grandfather owned a dairy farm for 50 years and passed it down to her uncle. She grew up working on the farm and has enjoyed watching it expand. This summer Yesenia will show a heifer at the Sonoma Marin Fair and Sonoma County Fairs. She is honored to be nominated as the Agriculture Community Leader from her high school for the Youth Services Awards. She is very active in her school’s Future Farmers of America program where she has served as an officer and spends countless hours volunteering in community service projects.
Anna Graham is the daughter of Samantha and John Graham. She is a senior at Petaluma High School, and plans to pursue a degree in Veterinary Science. Anna is a member of the Petaluma Future Farmers of America program where she is on the Dairy Judging Team and is serving as Chapter Secretary. She uses the knowledge she has learned from being on the team to pick out dairy cattle to show at the local fairs. Anna works as a ranch hand at Mt. View Dairy where she feeds and takes care of the calves. Anna is on the Petaluma High School Girls’ Soccer Team and was the Junior Varsity Girls’ Soccer Captain.
Caleigh Wilkes is the daughter of Laura and Kevin Companey, and is a senior at Analy High School. She plans to continue her education at Feather River Junior College where she will major in Veterinary Science. Caleigh’s father is a custom hay farmer in Sonoma County, and she has grown up showing dairy cattle at the Sonoma Marin Fair, Mendocino County Fair, and the Sonoma County Fair through 4-H and the Sebastopol Future Farmers of America. Caleigh also competes on the Junior High School and High School Rodeo Team.
Karlee Ramirez is the daughter of Shana and Erik Ramirez. She is a senior at Petaluma High School and plans to attend California State University, Chico where she will major in Agriculture Education. Karlee is an active member of the Petaluma Future Farmers of America, where she serves as the North Coast Region Sonoma Section Vice President and the Sonoma Section President. She is on the Petaluma Future Farmers of America Dairy Judging Team, and is a member of the Redwood Empire Holstein Association. She plans to show dairy at the Spring Show, Sonoma County Fair, and the Sonoma Marin Fair. Karlee was on the Varsity Cheerleading Team at Petaluma High School, and served as the Class of 2024 Assisted Student Body President while attending Casa Grande High School.
The young lady crowned as Dairy Princess will represent the dairy industry in Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Napa, Solano, and Sonoma counties. She will serve the area as an ambassador for the dairy industry with various audiences. The newly selected princess and her alternate will participate in a mandatory training, provided by the California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB), where they will receive professional development coaching.
The contest is sponsored by the North Bay Dairy Women and the California Milk Advisory Board. Doors will open at 5 p.m. with a buffet dinner by Jimmy’s Catering served from 5:30-6:15 p.m. The coronation will begin at 7 p.m. followed by dancing. To purchase tickets for the contest, please contact Judy Buttke via email at dist2dairyprincesscommittee@gmail.com. Tickets can also be purchased in Petaluma at John’s Dairy Supply and Jay Palm’s Saddle Shop.
California is the nation’s leading milk producer, and produces more butter, ice cream and nonfat dry milk than any other state. California is the second-largest producer of cheese and yogurt. California milk and dairy foods can be identified by the Real California Milk seal, which certifies they are made with milk from the state’s dairy farm families.
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About Real California Milk/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 dairy farm families who lead the nation in sustainable dairy farming practices. With a vision to nourish the world with the wholesome goodness of Real California Milk, the CMAB’s programs focus on increasing demand for California’s sustainable dairy products in the state, across the U.S. and around the world through advertising, public relations, research, and retail and foodservice promotional programs. For more information and to connect with the CMAB, visit RealCaliforniaMilk.com, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.