814-Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, June 5, 1993
Mim Kauffman Synonymous
With Dairy Princess Promotion
LOU ANN GOOD
Lancaster Farming Staff
ELIZABETHTOWN (Lancas
ter Co.) Mini Kauffman and
dairy princess promotion are
synonymous.
As coordinator for the southeast
district of Pennsylvania Dairy
Princess and Promotion Services.
Inc. (PDPPS), Mini is responsible
for overseeing dairy princess
activities in nine counties and for
planning the state pageant.
“I wear two hats as board mem
ber and coordinator,” Mim said.
County dairy princesses are
selected to represent their local
dairy industry by making adults
and children more aware of their
need for dairy products and to fos
ter greater understanding between
urban and rural populations. The
dairy princesses do this by con
ducting programs in schools and
demonstrations in grocery stores,
malls, and at fairs. They appear as
guests on radio and TV shows,
write articles for the local press,
visit schools, and attend farm and
non-farm meetings to promote
dairy products.
Growing up on a non-dairy farm
19 spot ot jffman’s patio, delightful touches
of flowers, color, and design are evident Inside and outside
Mlm’s home.
Mlm Kauffman greets visitors to her farmhouse,
in Millersville, Mini vowed she
would never marry a dairy farmer
because of the work involved. Of
course, love took preeminence and
she married dairy farmer Robert
Fortunately, she said, they only
had 10 cows in the beginning and
this allowed her to adapt to the
work gradually. Her natural love
for animals soon was transferred to
cows. By the time, she and her hus
band purchased die Elizabethtown
farm, where they still lived, and
milked 40 cows, Mim had become
a full-fledged dairy farmer.
“You learn to adjust to what
you’re doing and you learn to like
it” Mim said of the daily commit
ment of milking cows. “The milk
ing scheduled tied me down, but I
liked the challenge of working
with a registered herd.”
Mim also appreciated that their
three children could work together
on the farm. The children, now
adults, showed cows through 4-H.
The Kauffmans’ herd became
most newsworthy when their Cin
derella cow won an honorable
mention at the All-American Dairy
Show in 1976.
Mim X her start in count
dairy promotion before PDPPS
was established about 28 years
ago. The history of the dairy prin
cess program dates back to 1956,
when the Miss Milk Maid Contest
was initiated by the Pennsylvania
Association of Milk Dealers. For
10 years, that program remained in
effect, but in 1967, no contest was
held. In 1968, the Pennsylvania
Holstein Association assumed
responsibility for the program and
later the Atlantic Dairy
Association.
In 1972, the Kauffmans’
daughter Sue was crowned Penn
sylvania Alternate Dairy Princess.
But, it wasn’t until 1976, that
Mim became involved with prom
otion on the state level. That was
the year she was asked to provide a
home for the state dairy princess,
who was employed by the Pen
nsylvania Department of Agricul
ture. The Somerset County dairy
princess lived with the Kauffmans
and commuted to Harrisburg.
The next year, Mim became
affiliated with the state dairy prin
cess program and since then has
held six positions within the
program.
Mim said that PDPPS was
established in 1983 to provide a
more uniform program. It is sup
ported by numerous dairy organi
zations. The primary function is to
work with county dairy promo
tional efforts and dairy princess
programs and to plan the state
pageant
In her years with dairy promo
tion, Mim said that the dairy prin
cess program has changed a lot
“The girls (dairy princesses) are
much more knowlegeable about
the dairy industry and they work
much harder,” she said.
Although the opportunities for
promoting dairy products are end
less, Mim said that they do not
want the dairy princess role to hin
der the girls’ school work. Some
girls can handle mote work than
others and the program strives to
adapt to the reigning princess’
schedule.
“I wish we (PAPPS) could get
across to potential candidates the
advantages and all that can be
learned in one year,” Mint said.
Information is crammed into a
three-day training seminar in
which each dairy princess must
participate during July. Intensive
instruction is given on the dairy
industry, nutrition, public speak
ing, poise, make-up, and working
with the media. (Turn to Pag* 834)
See your neares
PvEW HOLLAfSD
Dealer for Dependal
Equipment and
PENNSYLVANIA
Annvllle, PA
BHM Farm
Equipment, Inc.
ROt, Rte. 934
717-867-2211
Carlisle, PA
R&W Equipment Co.
35 East Willow Street
717-243-2686
Davidsburg, PA
George N. Gross, Inc.
R.D. 2, Dover, PA
717-292-1673
Elizabethtown, PA
Messick Farm
Equipment, Inc.
Rl. 283 • Rheem’s Exit
717-367-1319
Halifax, PA
Sweigard Bros.
R.D. 3, Box 13
717-896-3414
Honey Brook, PA
Dependable Motor Co.
East Main Street
215-273-3131
215-273-3737
Honey Grove, PA
Norman D. Clark
& Son, Inc.
Honey Grove, PA
717-734-3682
Loysville, PA
717-789-3117
MARYLAND
Frederick, MD
Ceresvillo
Ford New Holland, Inc.
Rt. 26 East
301-662-4197
Outside MD,
800-331-9122
NEW JERSEY
Bridgeton, NJ.
Leslie G. Fbgpp. Inc.
Canton & Stow Creek
Landing Rd.
609-451-2727
609-935-5145
Woodstown, NJ
Owen Supply Co.
Broad Street &
East Avenue
609-769-0303
Hughesville, Pj
Farnsworth Fan
Supplies, Inc.
103 Cemetery i
717-584-2106
New Holland, I
A.B.C. Groff, In
110 South Raili
717-354-4191
Oley, PA
C.J. Wonsidler
R.D. 2
215-987-6257
Pitman, PA
Schreffler Equi|
Pitman, PA
717-648-1120
Quakertown, R
C.J. Wonsidler
R.D. 1
215-536-1935
Tamaqua, PA
Charles S.Snydei
R.D. 3
717-386-5945
West Grove, Pi
S.G. Lewis & Soi
R.D. 2, Box 66
215-869-2214
Washington,
Smith Tractor
Equip., Inc.
15 HRlcrest A\
201-689-7900