9-04-2024 4:05am

TIMONIUM DAIRY

Jeff Barto Editor

Ella Fell crowned 62nd Maryland Dairy Princess

Was crowned at the Maryland State Fair

Frederick County’s Ella Fell captured the Maryland Dairy Princess title during the 62nd annual event, in the Cow Palace at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium. (photo Maryland Dairy Princess Program)

TIMONIUM, Md. — Frederick County’s Ella Fell captured the Maryland Dairy Princess title during the 62nd annual event on August 30, in the Cow Palace at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium.

One of four regional Dairy Princesses vying for the title, Ella will now represent the state’s dairy farmers and promote Maryland’s official beverage during the coming year at fairs, schools, grocery stores, special events and more, sharing the dairy story about milk, dairy products and the dairy industry. She also won the Best Presentation Award during the three-day competition.

Allyson Knott of the Upper Chesapeake Region was named the Alternate Maryland Dairy Princess. Allyson hales from Harford County.

Eastern Shore Dairy Princess Caroline Kimball was the recipient of the Maryland Dairy Princess Scholarship and Washington County Dairy Princess Brielle Long won the Best Milk Toast Award.

“Maryland’s dairy industry is lucky to have this dynamic team to promote their product and way of life,” said Susan Summers, president of the Maryland Dairy Princess Association. “They are trained, professional spokespersons serving as ambassadors throughout the state and will work with our excellent team of younger promoters, Dairy Maids, to celebrate our hard-working dairy farmers and the nutritional products they supply for us all.”

The 2023-24 Maryland Dairy Princess Katie Jones crowned her successor after a three-day competition filled with interviews, presentations, and promotions. Outgoing Alternate Maryland Dairy Princess Layla Shepard received the Best Scrapbook and Incentive Award during the contest and outgoing Frederick County Dairy Princess Abigal Effland was honored as well.

The new State Princess has extensive leadership development experience through her FFA and 4-H careers. A junior at Middletown High School, Ella is president of her FFA chapter and has won numerous speaking, milk quality and ag sales competitions. As an officer in three 4-H clubs, she balances dairy, horse and dog projects and exhibits at county and state fairs. Ella has received the prestigious Diamond Clover Award. In addition to holding jobs at Valley-Ho Farm and South Mountain Creamery, she volunteers at the Frederick County Humane Society and at Mountain View and New Life Church in children’s ministry. She is the daughter of Valerie and Joseph Fell.

The new State Alternate has vast volunteer experience with her North Harford High School FFA Chapter, leading to many honors in her community. She has participated in public speaking, and the food science and veterinary science competitions and helped organize the chapter’s Ag Day, banquet and fundraising efforts. Allyson is the FFA representative on the Harford County Farm Fair Board, works with Fawn View Farm and volunteers at Harford Glen and the Humane Society. The Varsity Club member is also secretary of her school’s Student Government Association and has organized homecoming activities and blood drives. She is the daughter of Stacy and Robert Knott.

Judging the annual contest was Linda Foreman of Durham, NC; Caroline Novak of Pittsburgh, PA; and Kenny Bounds of Laurel, DE. Denny Remsburg of Jefferson served as emcee.

Introduced during the contest was Alternate Washington County Dairy Princess Avery Long and a host of Dairy Misses representing all seven regions of the state. The Dairy Miss program prepares future princesses and provides promotional opportunities for younger dairy enthusiasts between the ages of 9 and 16 years old. Holding those titles are McKenzie and Ryleigh Endvick of Allegany-Garrett region; Oaklyn Christman, Mikayla Derr, Macie Eaves, Addison Fritz, Ella Fritz, Emily Fritz, Peyton Krstanovic, Addie Krug, Emmy Sanders and Delaney Smith of Carroll County; Annette Clougherty, Emma Hutchison and Margrit Mason of the Eastern Shore region; Carly Garver, Kiley Little, Bailey Myers, Paige Riggs and Aubrey Tressler of Frederick County; Selah Honkofsky and Reese Rhodes of the South Central region; Virginia Brooks, Georgia Clisham, Bristol Ehrhardt, Harper Rutledge, Abigail Stewart, Madelyn Thomas and Miranda Underwood of the Upper Chesapeake region; and Alyssa Dorsey and Skylar Snow of Washington County.

The contest can be viewed on the Maryland Dairy Princess Association Facebook page.

For more information on the Maryland Dairy Princess Program, contact Mackenzie Jones or Deb Spurrier at mddairyprincess@gmail.com.