CHAMBERSBURG – Franklin County Dairy Princess Rebekah Aldrich traded in her crown just four months into her local reign. It’s a bigger crown, and one that will take the 20-year-old Chambersburg woman throughout Pennsylvania spreading the benefits of dairy.
With deep roots in dairy farming, Aldrich became just the seventh Franklin County princess to earn a state title in the 67 years of the state pageant. Aldrich was named a state alternate dairy princess at the September competition. Her duties of promoting milk and dairy products will now not only include Franklin County, but will also mean traveling across the Commonwealth to tout the goodness of the nutritious food source.
“I honestly don’t exactly remember the moment my name was called,” Aldrich said of the state coronation held in Harrisburg. “It was just so surreal. When the other two state royalty titles were announced, reality started kicking in a little bit.”
That reality has already taken Aldrich to all corners of the state with her dairy message, something for which she has had up-close knowledge and passion throughout her young life. She has raised and shown dairy cows in competition and was active in FFA and 4-H while growing up. Aldrich joined the county dairy promotion team nine years ago.
“I do feel prepared,” she said. “I’ve done this from the grassroots level for some time, and I’m so honored to be in this position to hold this state title.
“I don’t know what my life would necessarily look like without dairy. I was able to show a cow before I could even walk. It’s deeply rooted into my life. I’m so thankful for the opportunities and experiences I’ve had in this industry, and now I’m so thankful for this chance to promote throughout the state.”
Before Aldrich was selected as a top-seven finalist during the pageant, she had been named Miss Congeniality by her fellow contestants.
“It was really a great couple of days for us competing and getting to know each other,” she said of the accolade. “It was nice to be open and friendly with county princesses from across the state and just make those connections.”
Aldrich became a state royalty team member with Princess Jesslyn Risser from Lebanon County and Alternate Princess Bry Keller from Adams County after three rigorous days of competition among the princesses from other Pennsylvania counties.
The Franklin County representative claimed the top spot in the preliminary round that gauged dairy knowledge. She earned honorable mention placement for her speech about an initiative that raises funds to stock food banks with milk and for her skit presentation on how dairy farmers take care of their animals. Her radio spot and display board promoting dairy also both received honorable mentions.
Franklin County has long been the second highest dairy-producing county in Pennsylvania. The Franklin County Dairy Promotion Committee began crowning a dairy princess in 1968 to go out into the community and encourage consumption of milk and dairy products. Over those years there have now been six Franklin County dairy princesses who have earned state alternate crowns. In 2022, SelinaHorst Laman became the first dairy princess from Franklin County to claim the top title.
Aldrich’s agriculture roots go back to her grandparents’ dairy operation, Reich-Spring Farm. She was active in Chambersburg FFA, including representing the chapter at the National FFA Convention while a student at Chambersburg Area Senior High School.
A lifelong 4-H member in the dairy club and teen leadership club, Aldrich plans to be a leader in the youth organization. She continues to show cows at the local and national levels and enjoys helping with everyday chores at Reich-Dale Jerseys.
Since being crowned Franklin County Dairy Princess in May, Aldrich has been busy promoting at local events, parades and schools. She seeks to tell the story of dairy for the farmers and to make a connection with each consumer.
“Milk has 13 essential nutrients that our bodies need to thrive,” she said. “So instead of eating 13 different foods, you can have them all together in just one fluid drink, which is milk.
“It’s amazing to see what fluid milk is able to do for us, as well as the impact dairy farmers have in our lives and communities. We need to build that bridge between producers and consumers for the industry to survive and thrive, and it’s so important for consumers to know where their food is coming from and what are the benefits of that food.”
As part of the state team, Aldrich will be engaging in promotion and education from the consumer level to those on the governmental side. A major event will be the Pennsylvania Farm Show in January. A Thank a Farmer effort through social media is underway in November.
“It’s truly an honor to represent my county on the state level. It definitely took a lot of hard work and dedication to get to that level,” Aldrich said.
“My goal through the next year is to highlight the importance of dairy in our everyday lives. I want to share the story of how hard dairy farmers work to produce nature’s most nearly perfect food, milk.”
Aldrich, the daughter of Chris and Barbara Aldrich, works as a teacher’s assistant in the Chambersburg Area School District with speech therapy and emotional support students.
During her state reign, Aldrich will also continue to spearhead the Franklin County Dairy Promotion Team, which includes 16 junior promotors. Members of the team are available to visit public events, schools, meetings or other functions.
For information, readers may contact Franklin County Dairy Promotion chairperson Selina Laman by calling or texting 717-552-0655 or by email at [email protected].
