82-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, September 30, 1995
Rhonda Kieklak
Awards
LOU ANN GOOD
Lancaster Farming Staff
HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.)
“1 assure you that every chance
1 gel, 1 will help Pennsylvania to
appreciate da 07 fanners more,”
Rhonda Joy Kieklak promised the
crowd attending the 39th Pennsyl
vania Dairy Princess Coronation.
It was no idle promise from the
17-ycar-old, who hugs her dad
every day and tells him that she’s
glad to be A dairy farmer’s daught
er. She’d like to see a Farmer’s
Appreciation Day proclaimed for
what she calls the unsung heroes
dairy farmers.
Her dad, Richard, missed the
opportunity of seeing his daughter
sweep awards in every category at
the pageant competition held in
Harrisburg last Saturday.
“Dad hasn’t had a vacation m 21
years He’s a very dedicated far
mer,” Rhonda said of her dad’s
hesitation to travel Irom the family
larm in hue C ounty to Harrisburg.
Perhaps it is his dedication that
Rhonda has learned to emulate.
The lights dim and music gathers momentum as waiters
march the fulj length of the banquet room to serve pitchers
of milk to the’more than 400 guests attending the pageant.
Pennsylvania Dairy Princess Rhonda Joy Kieklak with First Alternate Heather
Oberholtzer of Lancaster County, left, and Second Alternate Yvonne Peterman of
Lycoming County, right, are eager to promote the dairy Industry across the state.
At State
“Whatever Rhonda does, she
throws her whole seif into it and
does well,” said her mother Robin.
She certainly did well during the
two-day competition among 34
county dairy princesses vying for
the state title. Rhonda look tro
phies in presentation, speech, and
scrapbook categories, and was vot
ed Miss Congeniality by fellow
contestants for being the friend
liest and most outgoing.
Rhonda will be assisted m state
promotional duties by First Alter
nate Heather Oberholtzer, daught
er of Clair and LaVeme Oberholl
/.cr Irom Lancaster County, and
Second Alternate Yvonne Peter
man, daughter of Kendall and
Cheryl Peterman from Lycoming
County
A panel of lour judges selected
seven finalists Irom the 34 contes
tants on stage In addition to Rhon
da, Heather, and Yvonne, the other
(our finalists were Melanie Snyder
representing Clarion-Venango
counties; Beth Marshall, repre
senting Beaver-Lawrence Coun-
Sweeps
Pageant
lies; Jodi Lynn Colton, Bradford
County; and Tracy Post, Crawford
County.
To determine poise and the abil
ity to speak fluently while under
pressure, the seven finalists were
asked an impromptu question
before the 400 people in the audi
ence. The question asked by mas
ter of ceremonies Grover Gouker
was, “What was the best advice
you ever received and who gave it
to you?”
Rhonda said that the best advice
she ever received was from her
parents and that is to follow in
God’s footsteps. “If you follow
God and keep your head, you can
accomplish anything,” she said.
(Turn to Pag* B 3)
The seven finalists selected from 33 county dairy princesses are from left, Lancas
ter County Dairy Princess Heather Oberholtzer, Crawford County Dairy Princess Tra
cy Lynn Post, Bradford County Dairy Princess Jodi Lynn Colton, Pennsylvania and
Erie County Dairy Princess Rhonda Kiekiak, Lycoming County Dairy Princess Yvonne
Peterman, Clarion-Venango Dairy Princess Melanie Kay Snyder, and Beaver**'
Lawrence Dairy Princess Betti Marshall.
as she takes the traditional walk down the runway at the
39th Pennsylvania Dairy Princess Coronation.
Homestead
NOTES
Eager to someday wear the crown, 3-year-old Lynne ran
up to congratu late the new state princess. Her mother, Tam
my Cree Christopher, was the state dairy princess In 1983.