Five young women will compete for the title of Dairy Princess during ceremonies at the upcoming District 6 Dairy Princess Contest. The gala event will be held June 18, at Our Lady of the Assumption Hall, 2602 S Walnut Rd. in Turlock.
This year’s contestants are Colleen Allen of Los Banos, Kasadi Barcelos of Hilmar, Abigayle Durrer of Modesto, Joya Lemos of Waterford, and Deena Migliazzo of Atwater.
The young lady crowned as Dairy Princess will represent the dairy industry in Alameda, Mariposa, Merced, Monterey, San Benito, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Stanislaus and Tuolumne counties. She will serve the area as ambassador for the dairy industry at schools, service groups and with the media. The newly selected princess and her alternate will participate in a week of training, provided by the California Milk Advisory Board, which includes industry tours, presentation and etiquette training.
The contest is sponsored by the District 6 Dairy Princess Committee and the CMAB. The doors open at 6 p.m. with a no-host bar, dinner starts at 7 p.m. followed by the contest. To purchase tickets for the contest, contact Linda Teixeira at 634-4500 or 402-8305, or Lindsey Nunes at 678-2540. General Admission tickets are $20 and no tickets are sold at the door.
Colleen Allen
Colleen is the daughter of Sean and Mary Ellen Allen of Los Banos. Colleen attends Los Banos High School, and will graduate in June. While at school, Colleen has participated in FFA, S-Club, ASB, volleyball, soccer, among others. Colleen has also been a very active member of the California Junior Holstein Association, serving as Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Reporter and Representative. Colleen states that she “wasn’t born into the dairy industry and [has] no family affiliation or background,” but she is very enthusiastic about the dairy industry. Colleen was mentored at a young age by a local dairy family who encouraged her to show dairy cattle, and she has never looked back from her agriculture journey, as she plans to study Agriculture and Environmental Sciences at the University of California, Davis, in the fall.
Kasadi Barcelos
Kasidi is the daughter of Jackie Barcelos of Hilmar. Kasidi graduated from Hilmar High School in June 2012, and currently attends Modesto Junior College, studying Dairy Science. At MJC, Kasidi participates in Young Farmers, Dairy Club and softball. Kasidi also served as the co-chairman at the MJC Dairy Heifer sale in 2013. Kasidi raises registered Holstein and Jersey cattle; she has been raising cattle since she was nine years old. Kasidi is a member of the Holstein, Jersey and Milk Shorthorn associations. Kasidi has also served as a Jersey Queen for California, attending the All American Jersey Show in Kentucky, where she competed in the National Jersey Queen contest.
Abigayle Durrer
Abigayle “Abby” Durrer is the daughter of Anna McCourt of Modesto. Abby graduated from Gregori High School in May 2013 and currently attends MJC studying Agriculture Business. At MJC and in high school, Abby was a busy student participating in FFA, Young Farmers, Academic Decathlon and dairy cattle exhibiting. Abby has had plenty of opportunity to be around dairy cattle as her family owns and operates Durrer Dairy/Lorita Holsteins; Abby grew up on the dairy farm, which helped to instill how imperative agriculture is to everyday life. As Abby puts it, she understands “AGvocating.” Abby states that although California “produces half of the nationally grown fruits, nuts and vegetables,” dairy is the state’s leading commodity. Understanding the value of dairy is something that Abby lives and breathes, and she feels this knowledge will help her promote the dairy industry as the next District 6 Dairy Princess.
Joya Lemos
Joya is the daughter of Darin and Maureen Lemos of Waterford. Joya graduated from Central Valley Christian Academy in 2011, and currently attends MJC and California State University, Stanislaus, studying Dairy Science. Joya has been a member of the Waterford 4-H Club since 2005, and is a current MJC Dairy Club member; Joya also participated on the MJC Dairy Cattle Judging Team. While completing her studies and extra-curricular activities, Joya has been on the Dean’s List each semester she has been attending school. Joya grew up on her family dairy, but it is just in the past three years, she has realized how much the dairy life has formed her. Joya has chosen to give back to the industry that has been part of her family legacy; she wants to share the positive role the dairy industry played in her life, and she hopes to share that story with the community if she is crowned Dairy Princess.
Deena Migliazzo
Deena is the daughter of Dino and Alicia Migliazzo of Atwater. Deena attends Buhach Colony High School and will graduate in June 2015. Like other candidates, Deena is part of a dairy family; in fact, she is the third generation to grow up on the Migliazzo and Sons Dairy in Atwater. The dairy has been in the family since 1964. The dairy life is a prevalent conversation in what Deena terms: “Team Migliazzo,” or what we would call her family. Deena believes this constant focus has helped her to become an expert Dairy Judge, and has helped the family in cow exhibition as well. Team Migliazzo is quite pleased with its recent Champion heifer showing at the California State Holstein Show. Deena, herself, took home a prize as part of the state champion 2013 Buhach Colony High School Dairy Judging Team.
