PHOTO PROVIDED   Katelyn Taylor, of Allenwood, was selected to be this year's Lycoming County Dairy Maid after being chosen in a dairy pageant in Sullivan County. The fifteen-year-old keeps busy with all of the responsibilities that come with the role. She was raised on her family's farm in Brady Township and plans to go to college to study agriculture. She is a fourth generation farmer.

ALLENWOOD – Fifteen-year-old Katelyn Taylor of Allenwood has been named as this year’s Lycoming County Dairy Maid. She is the daughter of Brett and Laura Taylor.

The program is part of Lycoming County Dairy Promotion, which operates under Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion. Taylor was selected for the role at this year’s Sullivan County Dairy Princess Pageant. At the pageant where she was given the honor of representing her home county, she gave a speech and talked to two of the promoters.

The post is one that comes with a lot of responsibility and one that hardworking Taylor doesn’t take lightly. She says that it’s her job as the Dairy Maid to represent Lycoming County dairy farmers and bring awareness to consuming dairy, and why dairy is good for people. In an age where there are a variety of diet trends to choose from, some people are eliminating dairy from their diets altogether with the belief they can compensate for the nutritional value in other ways. However, she advises that dairy products are packed full of nutritional elements that can’t be replaced as effectively and they end up lacking in their dietary needs.

Taylor is also responsible for bringing the Dairy Pageant back to Lycoming County after it ceased to run for eight years. She acknowledged it took a lot of work and effort on her part, but she is living proof that young people can make a difference.

She has been keeping busy around the county by riding in parades and giving speeches at various organizations around the area. As Dairy Maid. Taylor did a radio interview and has appeared at different venues serving and sometimes delivering dairy products such as milk shakes and cheese trays. June is National Dairy Month and July is Ice Cream Month, so she will continue with various activities promoting the benefits of consuming dairy.

PHOTO PROVIDED   Lycoming County Dairy Maid Katelyn Taylor, center, was featured in Montgomery's Memorial Day Parade. As Dairy Maid she makes public appearances to educate others about the importance of including dairy in their diets. She was accompanied by Garrett Ulrich and Taylor Hamm.

Farming runs in Katelyn’s blood, she is a fourth generation dairy farmer. The Montgomery Area High School junior grew up working on the family farm, and she is in the process of looking for colleges with good agricultural science programs. Her dream is to one day take over her family’s farm. In addition to working hard on the farm, she also works hard at school. She has been named to Montgomery’s Evadne M. Ruggles Chapter of the National Honor Society, where the requirements include a GPA of 95% or higher and to be of good character.

Farming is difficult work with long hours, but it’s not something she shies away from. When asked what she finds most satisfying about farming, she answered, “I really enjoy being able to see our product grow and develop, and feeding part of the world.”

The Taylor family has a variety of operations on their farm. In addition to brood cows, they also raise Black Angus beef and broiler chickens and grow crops. Katelyn also raises show calves and has been actively involved in 4-H for ten years competing in the dairy category.

She is encouraging everyone who goes to the Lycoming County Fair to take some time to visit the dairy exhibits. She says it’s a wonderful opportunity for people to be able to educate themselves, and has dispelled the myth that most farms are corporate run. She said, “The vast majority of dairy farms in America are family-owned and operated. It’s a good thing for people to talk to dairy farmers about the industry because stories that appear on social media aren’t necessarily true.”

With young people like Katelyn Taylor willing to step up and take charge of America’s farms, it looks like the future of the dairy industry is in good hands.