The local dairy industry is now accepting applications from young women wishing to compete for the District 6 Dairy Princess crown.

The winner will represent the dairy industry in District 6 as a spokeswoman and will also represent the California dairy industry in appearances at schools, fairs, industry meetings, service clubs, parades, and with the media. The newly selected Dairy Princess and alternate will participate in a mandatory training, July 9-12, in which they receive professional development coaching.

Contestants must meet the following requirements: 1) Be 17 years old by the date of the contest and not over 21 years of age by contest date; 2) Be unmarried; and 3) Family – parents or grandparents – must own or previously owned a dairy farm; parents work for the dairy industry; or have a dairy-related background. More detailed qualifications can be found on the application, which is available at www.californiadairypressroom.com/ca-dairy-princesses. Applicants are urged to submit their applications as soon as possible. The application deadline is May 11.

The District 6 contest is sponsored by the District 6 Dairy Princess Committee and the California Milk Advisory Board. The 60th anniversary event will be held Thursday June 14 at Our Lady of Assumption Hall in Turlock. The evening begins at 6 p.m. with a social hour and is followed by the contest and dinner at 7 p.m.

Current Dairy Princess Makayla Toste, of Newman, will relinquish her crown to the winner who will represent the dairy industry in Alameda, Mariposa, Merced, Monterey, San Benito, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Stanislaus and Tuolumne counties. Scholarships will be awarded.

For more information about the contest, contact at Linda Teixeira 634-4500 or CMAB office at cmacedo@cmab.net or 484-0690.

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.