The California Milk Advisory Board's District 6 has finally put their search for the next Dairy Princess to an end. Natalie Sanders of Hilmar was crowned Dairy Princess and Miss Vitality on Thursday in front of a crowd of 350 dairy industry members and their families.

Sanders will represent District 6, which includes Alameda, Mariposa, Merced, Monterey, San Benito, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Stanislaus and Tuolumne counties.  As Dairy Princess, she will travel the area educating people on the dairy industry.

Sanders and her first alternate princess, Spencer Baptista, will speak out on behalf of the California Dairy Industry at schools, service clubs, on radio and TV, and at public events throughout the year.

In addition, the Dairy Princess and her first alternate will attend an educational session, featuring such topics as public speaking skills and media training. They will also attend an orientation to the CMAB and tours of processing facilities.

Contestants were judged on poise, personality, speaking ability, education and dairy background.

Sanders is the daughter of Scott and Sharalee Sanders of Hilmar. She graduated from Turlock Christian High School and will attend Modesto Junior College.

First alternate, Spencer Baptista, is the daughter of Les and Shelly Baptista of Turlock.  She graduated from Turlock High School and will attend Modesto Junior College.

The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB), an instrumentality of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, is funded by the state’s 1,752 dairy families. The CMAB executes advertising, public relations, research and retail and foodservice promotional programs on behalf of California dairy products, including Real California Milk and Real California Cheese.

California is the nation’s leading milk producer.  It also produces more butter, ice cream, yogurt and nonfat dry milk than any other state.  Dairy products made with California milk can be identified by the Real California Milk seal, which certifies that the products are made exclusively with milk produced on California dairy farms.  The state is the second-largest producer of cheese, which is available nationally under the Real California Cheese seal.