PHOTO: Emily Calkins, the eventual winner, told the story of "The Little Milk Truck That Could" for her presentation. Photo by Gary Towner.
By Gary Towner
After being crowned the 2012 Wyoming County Dairy Princess last weekend, Emily Calkins, a 2011 Alternate Dairy Princess, summed up her emotions with just a few words.
“I feel amazing!” she exclaimed when asked how it felt to go from Alternate to Dairy Princess.
Her prior experience in the last princess' court will serve her well in her own reign.
“I have run so many things by myself when Kassie couldn’t be there, and it was a great opportunity to be Alternate and be Wyoming County Dairy Princess afterward,” she said.
Emily, the daughter of Douglas and Mary Ann Calkins, grew up on her family’s dairy farm in Varysburg. The Calkins’ farm is a 185-cow dairy, and Emily said she has been farming “all my life.”
Although she lives in the Attica school district, her love of agricultural caused her to transfer to Letchworth Central School to take advantage of the agricultural and business programs there that are not available at Attica.
Emily is a member of 4-H and participates in the swine and dairy cattle programs, Dairy Judging, Dairy Bowl and Public Presentations. A FFA member for four years, she currently serves as vice president. Along with these activities, Emily was a candidate for National Honor Society, belongs to Student Council and was a Trio Upward Bound Rookie of the Year.
In the future, she wants to attend college for agriculture and business in preparation for taking over the family farm.
Emily’s mother Mary Ann said she was very excited for her daughter.
“She just loves promoting and she loves the farm. She helps out all the time on the farm,” Mary Ann said. “She loves especially the outreach to the school program.
“As you can see with her story that she told that she has just enjoyed every aspect of it, and this last year was a dream for her and now she gets to go on and promote even more,” she continued. “I’m thrilled that she’s thrilled, I’m sure.”
