Somerset
GAY BROWNLEE
Somerset Co. Correspondent
SOMERSET (Somerset Co.)
tmanda Meier, the Somerset
“ounty Dairy Princess, with mere
hours left before her sparkling
crown is passed to a new dairy
industry representative, advises
her successor to enjoy her reign
and, also, to encourage herself
throughout the year.
“Keep your spirits up.” She
suggests to the unknown young
woman to be crowned the night of
June 28.
Amanda knows well enough the
value of self-encouragement be
cause the highs and lows that she,
herself experienced taught her
quite well its importance.
Like most dairy princesses, she
found the awestruck children
Korable when they watched her
iry magic act and listened to her
Amanda enjoys being with her brothers and sisters.
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Dairy Princess Wraps
words about dairy products being
so good for them.
“They really thought it was neat
that there was this princess doing
this magic act,” Amanda Said.
Into her upside down top hat
went a candy bar, out came string
cheese; in went potato chips, out
came ice cream; in went soda, out
came milk.
The fascinated children were
enthralled and eager to listen to
whatever the princess said about
dairy nutrition.
It’s a small wonder then, that
moments spent with youngsters
this past year were the high points
for Amanda. 17, the eldest of the
five chidren of Andy and Susan
Meier.
Unexpected for the princess,
however, was to leam the family
would be digging up their Somer
set County roots to move lock.
stock, and barrel, to a state further
south.
Her dad had accepted a new
position and the family farm had
to be sold.
“It was a devastating thing,” the
Somerset Area High School senior
said about her initial reaction last
January.
Her commitment to the local
dairy industry was firm, but
inside, she struggled. Her spirits
seemeid devoid of enthusiasm, at
first. But she bounced back.
“It was really hard to talk about
promoting dairy products,” she
said. '
At evening milking time, when
no engagements called, Amanda
was expected to help milk the
mixed herd of 100 head of cows
which, more recently, were sold,
“I complained about milking
when I had to do it,” she admitted,
“but know I miss it like crazy.”
Despite the temporary upheaval
her dad departing in March for
Goldsboro, N.C. to manage a
research farm for North Carolina
State University; the farm’s big
equipment sale; moving in with
George and Bonnie Baer, her
maternal grandparents (who live a
couple hills and curves yonder)
Amanda made at least one firm
decision. She would stay in Penn
sylvania and complete her educa
tion at the local school.
Meanwhile, her mother Susan,
and the other kids Sarah, 13;
Vickie, 11; Andy, 8; and Jeff, 6,
are also staying with the Baer
Women, Infants and Children office.
MORTON
w buildings
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800-447-7436 SSS
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, Juna 28, 199747
Up Successful Year
grandparents until the upcoming
dairy princess pageant takes place.
Then, they too, will depart for
North Carolina to be with the head
of the Meier family.
Until then, the summer weather
will see countless popsicles disap
pearing around the area of Gram
my Baer’s front porch swing, but
only because they are so refresh
ing and, because being sticky is so
much fun as kids well know.
As long as they don’t threaten
some of the family heirlooms,
Mrs. Baer will cope with the pop
side scenario.
It is milk jars that she concerns
herself with. Gallon glass jugs
from the old I.X.L. Dairy in
Friedens that her father Aman
da’s great-grandfather Ross
Pile, founded.
The I.X.L. Dairy no longer
exists, which is reason enough for
Pile’s descendants to so cherish
the unique jars.
Making 120 appearances over
the past year certainly taught
Amanda how to prioitize a hectic
schedule.
“I’ve had to make a lot of sacri
fices as far as 4-H and FFA, but I
think it was worth it,” she ob
served.
“Besides meeting thousands of
people, I’ve made a lot of new
friends,” she added, tossing out
more advice for her successor:
“Be prepared for a very, very
busy, but a very rewarding year.”
Looking ahead, however,
Amanda is anxious to continue
playing her bass clarinet in the
marching band, concert band, and
school orchestra; and to enjoy the
concerts and festivals they partici
pate in.
Upon completion of college,
Amanda hopes to land a job quick
ly after having taken a double maj
or in music performance and sec
ondary education, she said.
Music is in her heart, but realis
tically, she knows that performing
publicly could take time after col
lege. So she hopes a preparedness
to teach will back her up.
She is excited about the tradi
tional family outing set for July in
Bluestone State Park, W. Va., a
place where the relatives get
together for a week of fun.
- on porch
swing holds an heirloom
milk Jar.