Wayne County Dairy, Ice Cream Months celebrated with sundaes
It wasn't hard to tell — or taste — that Wayne County Dairy and Ice Cream Months had been proclaimed June 22. There on the courthouse lawn in Honesdale were the commissioners, decked out in aprons, surrounded by dairy misses and Miss Pennsylvania, having a grand old time making ice cream sundaes.
Best yet, the ice cream was free for everyone that came by — not only the county employees coming out on their lunch hour, but a group of children and adults heading straight over from the park playground once someone invited them.
Supporting Pennsylvania's dairy industry and the wholesome, healthy virtues of drinking milk, on hand at the commissioners' meeting were Miss Pennsylvania Miranda Moore; Alternate Pennsylvania Dairy Princess Natalie Grumbine; and representing the Wayne County Dairy Court, Dairy Miss Zoey Tyler, Dairy Miss Kenley Roberts, Dairy Miss Chloe Tyler, Dairy Miss Truly Zablocky and Dairy Miss Everly Zablocky. Wayne County Dairy Princess Sydney Roberts was away for lifeguard training, her father stated.
Moore, who is 25 and from Harrisburg, was crowned as Miss Pennsylvania on June 17. She is an environmental engineer.
Grumbine, 21, resides on her family's Berks County dairy farm where they milk about 150 registered Holsteins, Jerseys and red & white cattle. She is working towards being a certified veterinary technician.
"From a young age I have learned how important the dairy industry is to not only me but to the entire world," Grumbine said. "I have grown my passion for educating and communicating the beneficial effects of consuming real dairy products." She said she sees firsthand the work dairy farmers do, and said they deserve to have someone to promote their products.
After the young dairy misses handed out paper cups of milk to everyone in the meeting room, Grumbine made a "milk toast" to honor dairy farmers everywhere and their cattle.
Dairy Miss Truly Zablocky commented, "Milk is one of the most nutritious drinks in the world. Whether it's in your coffee, cereal or oatmeal, adding one more serving of milk to your day can help ensure you get the nutrients you need."
Dairy Miss Chloe Tyler described milk as "nature's perfect drink."
Dairy Miss Kenley Roberts said she is very proud to speak up and "be a voice for the cows."
Dairy Miss Zoey Tyler expressed how wonderful it is to be part of the Dairy Court, thanking everyone who makes the opportunity possible.
"I have been a dairy farmer most of my life," Commissioner Chairman Brian Smith said, noting he has switched to raising beef cattle. "Farmers have their struggles right now and they need representation. I am glad we have so many young ladies pushing the farmers. You're doing a great job. Keep up the good work and don't stop."
The commissioners' proclamation notes that agriculture is Pennsylvania's leading economic driver, and the dairy industry is its largest component, seventh nationally with nearly 5,000 dairy farm families. They manage 470,000 cows that produce over 10 billion pounds of milk annually.
"Whether you're serving cheese at a family graduation party or wedding or enjoying a cold ice cream on a hot summer evening, you are supporting our country's dairy farmers while getting many nutritional benefits," the proclamation reads.
June was named Dairy Month, and July was proclaimed as Ice Cream Month.
Ice cream sundaes directly followed the meeting on the courthouse lawn. Allied Milk Processing provided funding for the event and Wahoo Ice Cream Shop in Tyler Hill provided the ice cream.
This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: Wayne commissioners declare Dairy, Ice Cream Months in June, July
