Edmeston Girl Crowned

’16 County Dairy Princess

EAST SPRINGFIELD – Rileigh Mumbulo of Edmeston was crowned Otsego County Dairy Princess April 3 after a 52^nd annual pageant and banquet in the East Springfield fire house. Sandra Mravlja of Springfield is alternate, it was announced today.

Rileigh, 15, is the daughter of Kevin and Fawn Mumbulo.  She lives and works on her family’s 40-cow dairy where she is involved in all aspects of the farm.  She is also very active in 4-H, school activities at Edmeston Central, and is a consistent Honors Award recipient. She has been an Otsego County Dairy Ambassador for four years.

Alternate Sandra, 18, is the daughter of George and Jodi Mravlja of Springfield, and is the assistant herds-person at Cooperstown Holstein Association.

The competition began with personal interviews by this year’s judges Katie Donnan of Morris and former state alternate princess Jessica Hula-Fredricks of Little Falls.  The candidates were also asked to complete an application, and communications test.  The candidates spoke on a prepared speech topic about how conventional agriculture has, and will continue to produce food while taking care of the environment.  Next the candidates answered an impromptu question, describing what they love the most about promoting dairy farming and its products.

State Dairy Princess Emily Ooms of Kinderhook was in attendance.  She gave an update for the American Dairy Association and Dairy Council, who directs the state and county wide programs.  One of the goals of the ADADC is to find effective way to increase milk consumption through the Dairy Princess Program.  Rileigh and her court will be completing specified types of consumer oriented activities throughout her reign, including, but not limited to, school-based education programs, farmer outreach, and media exposure.  The dairy princess is widely known as the top spokesmen for dairy farmers throughout the local and state regions.

A new element to the pagent this year is the Outstanding Service Award which was presented to Pat Pullis of Richfield Springs NY.  She had played an important role in the dairy princess program over the last 30 years and has been a very active member in her community and the agricultural community.  She was thanked for her endless support of the program and it’s participants

Since its inception in 1963, the dairy princess program has evolved into a team effort to spread our dairy message to all age groups of consumers and dairy farmers alike.  The princess is supported by a court of young men and women ambassadors who have the desire to promote dairy farming and its wholesome products.

If you would like Rileigh to attend an event, or speaking engagement, please contact the chairperson Rebecca Stone at 607-435-4730.  The promotion committee would like to extend a thank you to all the generous sponsors who make the program and banquet possible.