One of the most unforgettable memories that I have made as the Kings County Dairy Princess occurred when I traveled to San Jose

One of the most unforgettable memories that I have made as the Kings County Dairy Princess occurred when I traveled to San Jose for a school presentation. Not only did I have to travel three hours in a suburban, but we decided to do it with a newborn calf! Yes, you read correctly, a day old calf in the back of my mom's suburban!!

I recently visited Sunnyside Elementary School and presented to kids in preschool through third grade.

I recently visited Sunnyside Elementary School and presented to kids in preschool through third grade. The main focus of my presentation was how milk gets from the dairy to the store and relating cows to people.  One of the things that surprised me the most was that even in heavily populated agriculture area there was still over half the students who honestly thought that chocolate milk came from brown cows!

First graders, fifth graders, and tenth graders, oh my!

(Tomales Elementary School: Mrs. Leask’s Fifth Grade Class)

Kaci Raven, District 9 Kings County Dairy Princess

After attending three Christmas parades in December, this month I began my school presentations in Kings County. I visited many schools already this past year but these were my first formal presentations and I can't believe how excited the kids were. We made ice cream in class, creating individual servings in a zip lock bag with lots of ice and rock salt. Just shake...shake...shake...give the kids a spoon and everyone made their own ice cream! They were so excited!

This has been a stressful month but also an exciting one!

This has been a stressful month but also an exciting one! I attended the District Meeting for the California Milk Advisory Board where I was asked to give an impromptu speech about my activities. Thank goodness for the communications classes at training week in Modesto! I took a newborn calf to a classroom. The calf was very strong and took off running across the school grounds. I think I will bring a halter next time!!!

As the school season is coming to an end with Christmas break...

As the school season is coming to an end with Christmas break, I have been plenty busy studying for finals while drinking my chocolate milk. Since my last post I have only been to one dairy princess event, but it was wonderful. I attended the Los Banos Christmas Parade with my alternate Karessa Mann and Miss Vitality Vanessa Martins. It was a very good experience; we road in a horse and buggy and all the little kids loved the horse and the princesses. We will be in the Hilmar Christmas Parade this weekend and I am very excited to see how the kids react. They love seeing the princesses.

With Thanksgivings over, I always look forward to Christmas. It

With Thanksgivings over, I always look forward to Christmas. It all starts the day after Thanksgiving when we put the Christmas lights up outside. We even have a cow that lights up!

As 2009 closes, it's crazy to think that my reign as Dairy Princess is half way over!

Hello all,

As 2009 closes, it's crazy to think that my reign as Dairy Princess is half way over! Right now, I am preparing for finals, which are only a week away for CSU Fresno; when they are over it will be sigh of relief and the beginning of a new spring semester. I'm super excited for the January workshop for the princesses because it will be nice to catch up with other girls, since it has been so long since state fair.

The holidays are here!

The holidays are here! I hope that they find you and your family in the best of health and that you enjoy this special time with one and another. I also hope that you take a break from the craziness that this time of year always brings!

Growing up with California’s Happy Cows

My involvement with the dairy industry started much earlier than I can remember. I actually got my first calf, Miss Molly, when I was just under two years old. Some of my favorite childhood memories are of times spent running around the dairy. My favorite activity, hands down, was playing in the piles of cottonseed! I am sure that those of you who grew up on dairies know exactly what I am talking about. My cousins and I used to have the time of our lives racing to the top then either rolling down or jumping off of the soft commodity.