What is July? HOT! But what else is it? Ice cream month!

Submitted by: Susquehanna County Dairy Ambassador Katelyn Farley

Hi!  My name is Katelyn Farley, and I am a Susquehanna County Dairy Maid.  I am nine years old and live in Montrose, PA.

Dave and Joan Antol behind Katelyn Farley

I LOVE ice cream and one of my favorite places to go is Antol's Drive In located in South Montrose,
Pa.  Antol's, also known as "The Ice Cream Place", is a family-run business that has been in operation for 56 years. Originally owned and operated by George and Jean Antol, it started out as "Overton Farms Dairy Bar" and was located in South Montrose at what is now Mary's Antiques.  It later moved across the street into what is now Anthony's, and became a Tastee Freez franchise.  Antol's has been in its current location, just down the road from its original location, since 1978, and is currently owned and operated by the original owner's son and his wife, Dave and Joan Antol.  Dave's mother, Jean, still comes to help out on occasion, even at the age of 85!

Antol's motto has always been QUALITY.  Dave said that he would rather serve quality products over quantity.  He said that most people don't know the secret to making really delicious ice cream, but was willing to reveal it to us.  It's having the correct balance between milk and air!  Dave takes pride in what he serves, and is always staying on top of new products out there.  Last year, Antol's added Dippin' Dots to their menu, and this year you can now order pizza, which we all know is made with cheese, one of the 3 dairy products we should all be consuming every day!

So get out there and support your favorite ice cream place and at the same time you will be supporting our hard working dairy farmers. After all, July is Ice Cream month, and that's a good enough reason for me!

Maura Warner, Malayna Fowler, Joan Antol, Katelyn Farley
and Dave Antol celebrate July Ice Cream Month!

Start the Summer Off Right with Nutritious Dairy Products

Submitted by: Brooke Marvin, Susquehanna County Dairy Princess 

Brooke Marvin
Susquehanna County Dairy Princess

Hello there! I am Brooke Marvin and I have the honor of being the 2016/2017 Susquehanna County Dairy Princess. I attend Blue Ridge High School, about to complete the eleventh grade and live in the heart of Susquehanna, PA. More importantly, I am proud to serve in the Dairy Princess Program to support and inform the public on the health benefits dairy products have to offer.

First and foremost, June is National Dairy Month! It began as National Milk Month in 1937 to promote milk to consumers in order to MOO-VE along and stabilize the dairy
production demand. Over the years, it has turned into an annual tradition that celebrates the contribution that the dairy industry has made on the world as a whole.  Without a doubt, the industry itself provides for thousands if not millions of people each and every year with nutritious products. In particular, the industry is what keeps milk, yogurt, cheese, ice cream, and so much more on the shelves of our local grocery
stores. Isn’t that MOOtastic?

 With the experience of being the 2015/2016 Susquehanna County Alternate Dairy Princess, I am more than ready to communicate and grow everlasting friendships with those of you in and out of Susquehanna County. In addition, I am delighted to have the opportunity to enlighten the hearts of many with the vital health benefits dairy products have to offer. For instance, did you know milk is a key factor for healthy bone growth and development? What about the fact that it replenishes muscles and strengthens teeth?

 All in all, dairy products obtain nine essential nutrients that help keep us going in the busy month of June. Whether it be at a graduation party or picnic, be sure to include dairy products in your diet and/or events to ensure a happy, healthy month. With that in mind, feel free to contact me at bdancewhda@gmail.com for promotion details and events!

My Year as Susquehanna County Dairy Princess

 

My name is Taylor Sebring, Susquehanna County Dairy Princess. My parents Brad and Cindy Sebring, and my four siblings, Dylan, Alexis, Madyson, and my twin sister, Samantha resides on our farm in Dalton. We all live and work on our farm, Sebring Family Farms. I’m currently in the eleventh grade attending Abington Heights High School. Along with attending school, I have a part time job and attend church at Peckville Assembly of God. I participate in 4-H raising and showing livestock and dairy animals and have had the honor of being the 2015-2016 Susquehanna County Dairy Princess.

I was first introduced to the Susquehanna County Dairy Promotion Program by Katrina Vidota, a fellow dairy promoter, currently reigning as a Dairy Ambassador in Susquehanna County. It took me a year to actually get involved in the program and there is not a day that goes by that I do not appreciate all that this program offers and does for me.

Throughout my reign I have had the opportunity to work with both children and adults promoting the dairy industry in Susquehanna County. Some of the highlights was meeting and having ice cream with the Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture, Russell Redding, making many new long-lasting relationships, and most of all, promoting the fabulous dairy industry! Although my reign is coming to a close soon I plan to still be involved in the dairy promotion program as a committee member helping the dairy promotion court during their upcoming promotion year.

This program has taught me responsibility, leadership, confidence, patience, and so much more! I was so blessed by having this experience and now I will pass my crown on to a new Princess who will take this and so much more from the dairy promotion program.

Members of the 2016-2017 Court will include Brooke Marvin to be crowned Dairy Princess, Dairy Ambassadors Emory Bewley, Alivia Hughes, Elizabeth Chidester, Dana Nunemacher, Mary Catherine Chidester, Krista Jones and Kendra Brant. Joining these girls as Dairy Maids are Katelyn Farley, Kaelynn Brant and Courtney Marvin.

I would like to invite family and friends of the dairy industry to attend the 2016 Susquehanna County Dairy Princess Pageant. This event will be held at the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Parish Hall on Church Street in Montrose on May 27^th, at 7:30 P.M.

Hope you can join us at this year’s pageant and don't forget your 3-Every-Day servings of dairy!

 

 

Blue Ridge Pre-K Visit Brant’s Dairy Farm

Submitted by Kendra Brant, Susquehanna County Dairy Maid

The Blue Ridge Pre-K students made their annual field trip to Brant’s Dairy Farm on the morning of March 24, 2016.  The kids came to learn how the farm works and what we do every day.

Dairy Promoters Kaelynn B. and Katrina V. visit
with Pre-K students.

I am Kendra Brant, a Susquehanna County Dairy Maid and 6^th grade Blue Ridge student. I was joined that morning at my family farm with Brooke Marvin, Alternate Susquehanna County Dairy Princess as well as Katrina Vidota, the Dairy Ambassador, and my sister Kaelynn Brant, also a Dairy Maid.  Evie Goff heads up the Susquehanna County Dairy Promotion program and helped get everything organized to go smoothly that morning. My parents Keith and Pam, and brother, Kyle, were also there helping at stations throughout the farm.

Blue Ridge Pre-K students and teachers at Brant's Dairy Farm.

I spoke to the students about the baby calves.  We discussed what the calves eat and drink.  We also talked about their ages and how old they have to be to move to a different pen.  Kaelynn and Katrina’s station focused on milking the cows and they showed students how to put the milkers on the cows and how the milk gets transported through the pipeline to the milk house.  Brooke talked with the kids about the milk storage, how it is put in the tank and then leaves the farm and heads to the milk plant.  Our employees Maria Diaz and Lisa Zurn also helped out at the stations. Maria spoke to the children about what the cows get to eat to help them make the most milk and Lisa helped me at the calf station. My brother and father showed students the farm tractors and helped them get up in them to pretend drive. The students were able to play on a large hay fort that my dad had built for the occasion.   

Christopher K. learns about
the milking a cow!

When we finished the stations, everyone had some snacks.  We enjoyed a dairy treat, Gogurt, and the kids were reminded to have 3 servings of dairy per day.   At the end, we had a huge Easter egg hunt in the yard.

My family and I plan on continuing to partner with Blue Ridge and give young children the opportunity to visit a working dairy farm.  It was a great day and there were many smiling kids who enjoyed it.

“Shaking It Up in the Classroom”

Submitted by: Kaelynn Brant, Susquehanna County Dairy Maid

My name is Kaelynn Brant. I am in Mrs. Button’s 3rd grade class at Blue Ridge Elementary School. I am also a Susquehanna County Dairy Maid. This is my second year participating in the dairy promotion program.

 Recently I decided to do a dairy promotion right in my own classroom. This consisted of Brooke Marvin, the Alternate Susquehanna County Dairy Princess, talking to the kids about how she promotes the dairy industry in the community.

Kendra Brant, my sister and fellow Dairy Maid, passed out pencils and cow erasers to the children. I demonstrated how to make shaker pudding with instant pudding mix and milk. Each child got a container with pudding mix and milk and were instructed to “shake it up” until it became a thick pudding consistency. Then they got to eat it!

After the yummy treat Brooke and I talked about the importance of having three servings of dairy every day of yogurt, cheese or milk. And most importantly ice cream for dessert! Kendra asked everyone if they would like a copy of the shaker pudding recipe and handed them out to those who wanted one. Those kids thought it would be fun to “shake it up” at home!

Everyone appeared to enjoy our visit and thanked us all for coming in and sharing our knowledge of dairy and our dairy treat.

Susquehanna County Dairy Maid Kaelynn Brant and Alternate Princess Brooke Marvin visit Mrs. Button’s classroom at Blue Ridge Elementary School.

Why not eat Yogurt?

Susquehanna County
Dairy Ambassador
Emory Bewley

Written by: Emory Bewley, Susquehanna County Dairy Ambassador

           Few foods help meet your nutritional needs at every stage of life better than live and active culture yogurt. Plus yogurt comes in so many flavors and varieties, it appeals to every member of the family. Keep yogurt stocked in your refrigerator for a nutritious snack or meal, any time, every day.

            Yogurt is often included on healthy food lists... and for good reason. Like most dairy products, yogurt is a good source of protein - an average 8-ounce serving contains between 8 and 10 grams of protein, or 16 to 20 percent of the Daily Recommended Value. Yogurt also is an excellent source of calcium. Most standard serving sizes of yogurt contain slightly more calcium than do equivalent servings of milk. Yogurt is low in fat and high in certain minerals and essential vitamins, including potassium, phosphorus, Vitamin B12, and riboflavin B2. It's available in a variety of fat levels, from nonfat and low fat to yogurt made with whole milk, and also comes in reduced calorie forms.
           The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that individuals ages 9 and older consume 3 servings of dairy, either milk, cheese or yogurt each day. I would like to share one easy recipe that uses yogurt in a delicious smoothie.

Fruit and Yogurt Smoothie

Ingredients
2 Bananas
2 Cups of Strawberries
1 Cup of Vanilla Yogurt
½ Cup of Pineapple Juice
2 or 3 Ice Cubes

Directions

Add all ingredients and blend until smooth. Add ice as needed. Share this simple-to-make smoothie with your family and get one of your three daily servings of dairy — good for all ages.

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Emory Bewley is a Dairy Ambassador with the Susquehanna County Dairy Promotion program. She is 13-years-old and is in seventh grade at the Mountain View High School.