Alyssa Melo of Dos Palos was selected as the 2011-2012 Dairy Princess for the California Milk Advisory Board’s (CMAB) District 6/3. The crowning took place before a crowd of approximately 250 dairy industry members and their families and friends, on June 16 at Our Lady of the Assumption Portuguese Hall in Turlock.
Retiring Dairy Princess Natalie Sanders ended her reign by turning over the title to Melo, and wished her well as she represents the California dairy industry throughout the coming year.
Melo will represent District 6/3, 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 play an important role on the CMAB’s Communications Services team in meeting community relations objectives.
The daughter of Carlos and Lucia Melo, Alyssa recently graduated from Los Banos High School.
First Alternate, Taylor Pires, is the daughter of Paul and Vicki Pires of Los Banos. Pires attends California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo.
Pires will assist the new District 6/3 Dairy Princess in her duties, which include speaking on behalf of the California dairy industry at schools, service clubs, on radio and TV, and at numerous public events throughout the year.
In addition, the Dairy Princess and her First Alternate will attend a training session, including presentation skills, a CMAB orientation, and a tour of a processing facility.
Along with the excitement of naming the new Dairy Princess, each candidate received a scholarship from the District 6 Dairy Princess Committee: Monica Soares, $300; Melo, $750; Joya Lemos, $1,500; and Pires, $2,000.
Master of Ceremonies for the gala evening was Curt Andre. Contestants were judged on poise, personality, speaking ability, education and dairy background. Judges for the contest were Joey Airosa, Airosa Dairy; Tamara Chapman, Fresno Community Hospital (District 6/3 Dairy Princess 1984-85); and Sandi Hurtgen, California State Fair. The event chairperson was Linda Teixeira of Turlock.
California is the nation’s leading milk producer. It also produces more butter, ice cream, yogurt and nonfat dry milk than any other state. The state is the second-largest producer of cheese, which is available nationally under the Real California Cheese seal.
