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!

As I look back over this past year, I feel that so many big events have happened. Although it sounds cliché, this year really has been filled with "major life moments." One year ago, I received my letter of acceptance from Cal Poly. I was selected to represent the California dairy industry as one of District Three's Dairy Princesses. I graduated from high school and fulfilled a goal of competing in the National Dairy Cattle Evaluation Contest.

Looking forward into the next year, I am optimistic that it will be filled with just as many exciting events! I am hoping to take full advantage of my education here at Cal Poly. I am studying agriculture communications, emphasizing in dairy science and hope to enter into the field as a dairy industry communications specialist. I hope to participate in a couple of the great internship opportunities available at organizations like Hoards Dairyman, Dairy Council of California, and maybe even the California Milk Advisory Board!

I am also looking forward to a trip to the International Dairy Judging Competition in Scotland this June. As you know from my last entry, my FFA chapter's dairy judging team traveled to Indiana to compete in the national dairy judging competition. We are so proud to be ranked second, which qualified us to compete internationally! We are all looking forward to spending two weeks touring some of Europe's countryside and learning about their dairy industry. We will visit France, Germany, England, and end our trip with the contest in Scotland!

My year will also be filled with managing my herd of dairy cows. From my many Holsteins to my two Milking Shorthorns, I try to stay as active as possible with my cows, even while away at college. Although my dairy cattle herd started as a small 4-H project, it has grown into a herd I am very proud of. I hope it will continue to grow in size, as well as improve in quality. One of my favorite hobbies is showing my cows at fairs. The cows are compared to others of the same age. A judge then ranks the cows based on their conformation. My goal is to someday have cows that are competitive in higher level show rings.

Last, but not least, the months leading up to April, when District Three will crown a new dairy princess, will be filled with dairy princess events! We have been busy coordinating school visits with elementary and junior high schools around our district. Our goal with the school visits is to educate children about the importance of including dairy products in a healthy diet and teaching them how the milk gets from the farm to their fridge. An event coming up this spring that I am especially looking forward to is the Sonoma County Agriculture Days. Literally, thousands of elementary age students spend a couple of hours building a connection with the local agriculture community. I will keep you updated on our progress in District Three!

As you enjoy your holiday festivities, please remember to take a moment and appreciate the hard work that California Agriculturalists put into producing the food on your table! And, as always, look for dairy products with the Real California Milk Seal!

Sincerely,

Mandy Brazil
District Three First Alternate Dairy Princess