‘Going To Be Odd Being A Nobody’ srwar MEYERSDALE (Somerset Co.) “It is going to be odd being a nobody again,” said Somerset County Dairy Princess Missy Powell, who on June 26 in Berlin will crown a successor to the title and relinquish the responsibilities it reflects. “It will be odd not to pass out ribbons (at dairy shows),” she added, looking ahead to summer activities. “I hate to see it end. I’ll miss the people, but not the running,” she reported, relating how gen uinely she has enjoyed the dairy princess role. “It is something every little girl dreams of being and I actu ally am one.” Surprising revelations came out of the promotional experi ences required by the princess. For one, she fell under the spell of radio. Now, the young woman who is entering her senior year of high school at Salisbury-Elk Lick next fall, is wondering if radio can fit into her future. All this time her plans have leaned toward the physical ther apy field. Although she still means to pursue the profession, she also hopes to retain a place in her life for the broadcast media, Television is another matter for the camera-shy teen. “The most nerve-wracking experience I had was last Friday when WJAC, Channel 6 called and asked for an interview,” she said. “I’m really camera-shy.” Dairy Month puts Missy into the fast lane as far as appear ances and duties. These are averaging more than one a day. Small wonder that she speaks of a welcomed break from gala vanting all over the scenic coun try. Missy says she chose, when visiting schools, to talk to all classes rather than just one. She could cover a wide area of dairy material using the Super Moo dummy from her skit. It got a lot of wear she said. Kids were fascinated with the cow, a role assumed by her moth er, Kim Powell, who donned the black and white suit to assist the eldest of four children. With Charles Powell, the par- ents’ other children are Ben, 15; Nikki, 14; and Christopher, 11. There also were some firsts for a county dairy princess when Missy talked to homeschool groups. There was a Bible School as well. Senior citizen groups invited her company and she made numerous trips to Women, Infants and Children (W.1.C.). Missy says her greatest struggle with self-confidence usually occurred when she knew her audience or addressed farm groups. With farmers, the con cern was their superior knowl edge of dairy topics and their greater experience. On the other hand, she was comfortable enough with non farm groups and made presenta tions with ease. Interestingly enough, the pencils, erasers, and magnets that are always passed out at these affairs are every bit as popular with senior citizens as they are with elementary kids, noted Missy. Her services, when the reign has concluded, will be needed in Her year as the Somerset County Dairy Princess has fattened a scrapbook for Melissa Powell of Meyersdale. the small dairy operation the family runs. And the dairy shows to prepare for are looming ahead, As Casselman Valley 4-H members, Missy and her siblings are all dairy exhibitors. Missy plans to show two animals in the Jersey breed Ben will show a Holstein and a Jersey; Nikki, two Jerseys and a Holstein; Chris, two Holsteins and a Jersey. “You gain so much from the dairy princess experience,” Missy says, offering advice to interested young women. “I will tell them it is a big commitment but worth it in the end,” she said. “It is a commit ment you have to stick to.” “June is here,” she states with a bit of melancholy detected in her voice, “but I’m not ready to let go, yet. It is like I’m just get ting warmed up.” There are other avenues where Missy would be welcomed to lend herself to the dairy industry and to these she may follow her mom’s example and volunteer to serve At some time, she anticipates an opportunity to judge a state dairy princess pageant, she reported. “The state pageant is really neat,” she observed. Missy found the state train ing was most helpful, as were the incentives Allied Milk Producer’s Cooperative, Inc. pro vided for her achievements. A dairy princess is not her own person. Her visibility for the dairy industry will label her “special” for years to come. Never a “nobody,” she will likely continue to promote dairy products longer after her crown has become little more than memorabilia. NEED YOUR FARM BUILDINGS PAINTED? Let us give you a price! Write: Daniel’s Painting 637-A Georgetown Rd. Ronks, PA 17572 (or leave message) (717) 687-8262 Spray on and Brush in Painting