Emma Heritage is a princess. She has a tiara, sash, gown and court of loyal ambassadors to prove it. The Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake senior is a different type of royalty, thoughshe’s a dairy princess.
Saratoga County is one of 34 counties in New York that have a county dairy promotion program. Created by the American Dairy Association and Council (ADAC), programs around the state crown a county dairy princess each year. Heritage is the 2009 Saratoga County Dairy Princess and will compete to become a New York State Dairy Princess at a pageant in February.
My job is to promote dairy consumption and stimulate demand for dairy products; get individuals of all ages to consume them and teach about the health benefits of low-fat dairy,` said Heritage, who was an ambassador to last year’s princess. `Specifically, we’re encouraged by the organization to write newspaper articles, press releases, get on the radio and TV, talk to school groups and just inform the general public. Mostly I’ve been concentrating on using venues in our county that are specific to agriculture and dairy.`
Heritage said being a princess is more demanding than being an ambassador but she loves her new role and enjoys the work.
`My phone is usually going off a lot more because people call to ask [me] to come to events. I love it because as a person it allows you to get exposure to public speaking, going on TV and radio and also talking to children and groups of all ages,` said Heritage. `It gives me such satisfaction that I can use all these skills to do something for an industry [that’s important].`
She is typically invited to Cornell Cooperative Extension events, Farm Bureau annual meetings and other agriculture-related meetings around the county. She discusses recent health news about the benefits of dairy, like how it can prevent diabetes, stroke, heart ailments and is good for all ages and more than just strong bones.
One of her favorite events is called `Sundae on the Farm.`
`It’s usually held around Father’s Day and people can come to a local farm and see what running a dairy farm is like and also the processes that go along with it. It just educates public about the industry,` said Heritage.
Another high profile event that she enjoys is the Saratoga County Fair in Ballston Spa. It falls during National Ice Cream month, which makes it a prime promotion time.
`It’s a huge venue that you definitely want to get in on. We have our own dairy promotion booth where we sell many dairy products, especially ice cream,` said Heritage. `We also help out in the milking parlor and show people how cows are milked. It lets you get really involved with the public and thousands of people go through in a week.`
The busiest time of the year is June, which is Dairy Month. Heritage said she attended more than 12 events in 30 days this year. She said talking to elementary school groups are her favorite because the younger kids are very interested in what she has to say and the projects she does, like making ice cream or butter with them.
The dairy industry isn’t just something Heritage fell into and it didn’t come about because she has an unusually extreme love of milk; it’s in her genes and dates back to 1930.
`I grew up on my father’s dairy farm, Elms Christmas Trees/Corn Maze, his grandfather bought it in 1930. We sold our dairy herd in 1989 so Emma wasn’t around dairy cows growing up, but dairy farming is definitely in her history,` said Penny Heritage, Emma’s mother. `I worked full time so Emma was over at Grandma’s a lot and kind of just grew up on the farm. She always had an interest in agriculture and a soft spot for dairy farming.`
Penny was the Saratoga County Dairy Princess in 1981 but said she never pushed or pressured her daughter to follow in her footsteps.
`I’m very proud of her, she’s doing a wonderful job but I really left it up to her. I didn’t push it at all, I just said ‘If you want to do this that’s great and if you don’t, that’s great too,’` said Penny. `She’s an amazing public speaker and can use that skill in life. She wants to go into teaching and really enjoys working with kids and teaching youth about the benefits of low-fat dairy in a diet.`
On Feb. 15 and 16, Emma will compete in the state-wide pageant with hopes of becoming the New York State Dairy Princess, although a first alternate and second alternate is crowned as well. She will have to give a speech about a topic the panel of judges provides, will have an interview with judges, will take a communication test to see how well she writes press releases and articles and eat dinner with the judges to see how good her table manners are and how she manages wearing a formal white dress.
If Emma earns the title of state dairy princess, she’ll get more than just a new crown, fresh sash and more honorable distinction`the responsibilities and opportunities will grow.
`It’s basically the same types of things that you do as a county princess but at the state level. So you really get to work with state officials, meet legislators and attend events that are more known around the state,` said Emma. `It would open many doors for me.`
She said that whether she is county dairy princess or is lucky enough to be named state dairy princess, working with the dairy industry is something she will always be a part of in some way.
`It’s an underrepresented industry. It’s definitely hurting right now, milk prices are extremely low and farmers are really suffering. I want to give a voice to an industry that has brought so much good into my life,` said Emma. `I know it deserves the best and the people who work in this industry deserve everything it can get. I want to give back to something that’s been a big part of my life.`
Emma said she wants everybody to hear the message she works so hard to get out: `Consuming dairy is part of a healthy daily diet. Getting your three servings of low-fat dairy products a day gives you nine essential nutrients and more`which does a body good!`
For more on this story, pick up a copy of the Jan. 7 print edition of the Saratoga Spotlight.
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