82-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, October 1,1994
Natalie Welch Becom
LOU ANN GOOD
Lancaster Farming Staff
HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.)
Natalie Welch hobbled on
stage. Dressed as an elderly
woman, she soon shed her disguise
to portray an expectant mother. By
the evening’s end, the 17-year-old
donned a light green gown and a
sparkling crown. But this time,
there was no role playing involved.
For giving blue ribbon perfor
mances in a speech, a skit presen
tation, and answering an impromp
tu question, Natalie Dawn Welch
topped the competition to become
Pennsylvania’s 38th Dairy
Princess.
“Clothes change, attitudes
change, and people change, but
one thing doesn’t change,” Dawn
said. “What you put into your body
and mind now affects you later.”
In her new job as spokesperson
for the dairy industry. Dawn plans
to spread the “milk message”
across the state. “What you eat and
drink now will decide whether or
not you ride a wheelchair or a bicy
cle when you’re 80 years old,” she
said.
Jfomcslefld
itotes
Shannon Hoffman, left, and Shannon Semmel won the
best scrapbook awards.
One of the outstanding speech awards went to Virginia
Mornlngstar, center. The Mercer countian’s speech paid tri
bute to her father’s many abilities as family man, vet, electrl-
New York, New Jersey, and Maryland state dairy princesses Join Pennsylvania roy- clan, plumber, and more. She ended with “I am a farmer’s
alty on stage. daughter and I’m proud of It.”
The Somerset teen-ager was one
of 31 county dairy princesses to
compete for the state title on Sep
tember 24 at Sheraton Inn-East,
Harrisburg.
The two alternates who will
assist Natalie with state promotion
are First Alternate Rachel Tanis
from Centre County and Second
Alternate Melissa Bicksler from
Berks County.
The pageant followed two days
of judging. Each contestant needed
to perform a skit presentation and a
speech promoting the use of dairy
products. Each also needed to
compile a scrapbook detailing the
promotional activities completed.
Two winners in each category
were selected for awards. Natalie
was the only contestant to clinch
wins in both speech and
presentation.
In addition to Natalie, the other
outstanding speech recipient was
Virginia Momingstar of Mercer
County. Honorable mention went
to Melissa Mellott of Franklin
County and Farm Weltner of
Beaver-La wrence.
(Turn to Page B 3)
Pennsylvania Dairy Princess Natalie Dawn Welch will be assisted in promotional
duties by First Alternate Rachel Tanis, left, and Second Alternate Melissa Bicksler.
Natalie Welch, center, who won awards In both categories;
Virginia Mornlngstar, left, for her speech, and Susan Pardoe
for her presentation.
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