BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – April 22, 2024 – Three young women will compete for the prestigious title of Dairy Princess during the District 6 Dairy Princess contest on May 4, 2024. The contest will begin at 11 a.m. at the Kern Ag Pavilion in Bakersfield
This year's contestants are Sienna Surgener and Claire Banducci, both of Bakersfield, and Olivia Vieira of San Luis Obispo.
Sienna is the daughter of Lester and Melinda Surgener. She is a junior at Garces Memorial High School and plans to attend Cal Poly San Luis Obispo to study Animal Science. She raised and showed dairy heifers through Garces Memorial Future Farmers of America. Sienna is very active in her high school and has been playing Albion Development Player League Soccer for the past eleven years. She is a Junior Ambassador for the fair and a Junior Leader for the Kairos Retreat.
Claire, daughter of Jamie and Candice Banducci, is studying Animal Science at Bakersfield College and would like to become a High School Agriculture Teacher. Over the past four years, she raised and showed dairy cattle through Garces Memorial High School Future Farmers of America and served as the Chapter Sentinel her senior year. Claire is a member of the Bakersfield College Agricultural Club and is applying for the Future Farmers of America American Degree.
Olivia is the daughter of Mechell Vieira and is a senior at Mission College Preparatory Catholic High School. She plans to attend Cal Poly San Luis Obispo to major in Bioresource and Agricultural Engineering. Olivia is an active member in Edna 4-H, serving as both the Vice President and Senior Leader, and is involved in the Dairy Showmanship Program and the Dairy Judging Team. She is a member of the Mission College Preparatory Future Farmers of America program serving as the Swine Project Senior Leader and Chapter Parliamentarian. She is active in her high school as a Varsity Cheer Team Captain, Student Council Senior Class Spirit Leader, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and the Agriculture Club.
The young lady crowned as Dairy Princess will represent the dairy industry in Kern, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Barbara counties where 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 mandatory training, provided by the California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB), where they will receive professional development coaching.
To learn more about the program or to purchase tickets for the contest, please contact Pam Brunni at (661) 201-4298 or kernag_ed@yahoo.com.
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.