PETALUMA, Calif. – May 28, 2024 – Karlee Ramirez of Petaluma was selected as the 2024 Dairy Princess for the California Milk Advisory Board’s (CMAB) District 2 in a crowning event on Saturday, April 27, 2024. Anna Graham of Cotati was selected as the Alternate Dairy Princess.
Karlee and Anna will represent District 2, which includes Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Napa, Solano, and Sonoma counties. As Dairy Princess and alternate, they will play a key role on the CMAB’s Communications Services team in meeting community relations objectives.
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 Agricultural 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.
Crowned 1st Alternate Dairy Princess, 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.
Candidate Yesenia Rivas of Sonoma won the Isolena Maestretti “Miss Vitality” Award which includes a scholarship. The Florence Gilardoni Scholarship, presented by the North Bay Dairy Women, was also awarded to Yesenia.
Anna will assist the new District 2 Dairy Princess in her duties, which include speaking on behalf of the California dairy industry to various audiences throughout the year.
As Dairy Princess and Alternate, Karlee and Anna will attend a professional development training focused on presentation skills, advocating for the California dairy industry, leadership, and business etiquette.
Candidates were judged on speaking ability, education, dairy background, poise, and personality. Judges for the contest were Kris Costa of Chico; Sales and Marketing at Golden State Farm Credit, Tina Machado from Escalon; Retired from Flying M Dairy, and Marlene Silveira of Orland; District 3 CMAB Dairy Princess Committee Chair.
For more information about the District 2 Dairy Princess contest and events, please contact District 2 Chairperson Judy Buttke at dist2dairyprincesscommittee@gmail.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.