CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. — Amy Ocker, 17, of Chambersburg, was crowned the 2026-2027 Franklin County Dairy Princess recently during the 59th annual pageant held at Chambersburg Mennonite Church.
The pageant is sponsored by the Franklin County Dairy Promotion Committee, a group dedicated to inform consumers about the dairy industry and the nutritional benefits of milk and dairy products.
The daughter of Steve and Sharon Ocker, Amy is a rising senior at Shalom Christian Academy, where she has been involved in symphonic band, choir and soccer. Ocker has held leadership roles in her school activities and was president of the junior class. In addition, Ocker was the marketing and communications intern at Shalom. She has received academic and leadership recognition at school and in the community.
Outside of school, Ocker is active in her church youth group and has been a 4-H club member. Ocker has served as a junior dairy promoter with the county organization for the past five years. In addition, Amy volunteers at the Franklin County Fair and serves as the president of the junior fair board.
The Franklin County princess will be promoting the local dairy industry for the coming year and represent Franklin County during the state pageant in September.
Also assisting with the promotional activities will be a group of Dairy Ambassadors, Dairy Misses and Little Dairy Misses, recognized during the pageant. They are: Ashlyn Albright, Kaitlyn Albright, Madilynn Albright, Addison Byram, Addison Edelman, Charlotte Horst, Corbin Horst, Felicity Horst, Ella Hykes, Kendra Keefer, Brynlee Klenzing, Charlee Klenzing, Amirah Peckman and Jaden Princler.
During the pageant before an audience of 120, Ocker gave a presentation and speech and answered an impromptu question about the benefits of dairy.
The educational skit, which the new princess will present to younger audiences during her reign, was called “Saving the Day, One Dairy Product at a Time”. As superhero, Legend-Dairy, Ocker answered the question of where milk and dairy products come from by reading the book, “What’s Up with Milk?”
The story reveals the different breeds of dairy cows, the care cows get from farmers for comfort and health and how the cows produce milk. Transportation of the milk and preparation of the nutritious food for consumers completes the story. Readers are encouraged to find a super word on each page, revealing the answer to the title…Your milk comes from a good place.
In her speech, titled “The Journey of a Promoter,” Ocker focused on the role of a dairy princess, which she said was an opportunity to grow into a passionate dairy leader, while bridging the gap between producers and consumers. She spoke of the behind-the-scenes preparation that lead to building connections and sharing information about the dairy industry with the community.
“Promotions celebrate face-to-face connections that our world seems to forget,” Ocker said. “They leave room to start conversations, make connections and enjoy each other’s presence.”
Calling the role of dairy princess a privilege, Ocker pointed to the friendships and connection that can be made with other promoters throughout Pennsylvania.
She said, “Dairy princesses are making a difference in our communities. They are actively working to bridge the gap between producers and consumers.”
Ocker was crowned dairy princess by the 2025-2026 princess, Rebekah Aldrich.
Aldrich, who was named a Pennsylvania State Alternate Dairy Princess during the September 2025 state pageant, will continue to serve in that statewide role until September. She issued many thanks during her farewell speech at the local pageant.
Jeremy Laman served as the master of ceremonies.
The audience also heard from local dairy farmer Zane Garber of Shippensburg, a board director of the Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program. Garber shared positive results of promotional efforts enabled through a fund to which each dairy producer contributes. He praised the recently-passed into law, Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, which allows public schools to serve whole milk.
“Today there is a growing amount of research supporting the role of full fat dairy in a healthy lifestyle,” Garber said in asking the audience to contact local schools to encourage them serve whole milk.
“Already, nearly 600 schools across the region are offering whole milk… We are excited that students will now have access to the same option of milk that many families already choose at home. This is about giving schools more flexibility, supporting student nutrition and ensuring children are actively drinking the milk served in the cafeterias.”
Members of the dairy promotion team are available to visit public events, schools, meetings or other functions. For information, contact the Franklin County Dairy Promotion chairperson/booking chairperson, Selina Horst, by calling or texting 717-552-0655 or by email at [email protected].
