86-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, October 20, 2001
Six Granddaughters Continue Family Tradition:
Combine Singing And Milk Promotion
LOU ANN GOOD
Food And Family
Features Editor
HARRISBURG (Dauphin
Co.) Singing and dairy promo
tion have always been important
to Paul and Pat Miller, Harris
burg. Although that combination
may seem incongruous, the fami
ly continues to find novel ways to
utilize singing with promoting
dairy products.
In recent months, the Millers’
aix granddaughters have con
ducted a “nursing home blitz” by
taking the milk message to shut
ins across the state.
Maintaining one of the few
dairy farms close to Harrisburg
suburbs, the Millers’ were im
mersed in dairy-related activities
connected with their 253-acre
dairy farm. Then in 1970, the
family survived a arsonist’s barn
fire. In appreciation to the many
who helped with cleanup and re
building, the family went from
home to home singing Christmas
carols the first Christmas follow
ing the September fii e.
Soon churches and organiza
tions asked the Millers to present
singing programs. The Millers
and their three children Debbie,
15; Jeffrey, 13; and Michael, 11,
made their rounds as entertain
ment m church and agricultural
circles, and even cut three long
playing records. At programs,
they always sang “Make My Milk
Today,” which a dairy-related
company had recorded on a 45
rpm, which sold throughout the
U.S.
When daughter Deb reigned as
the state dairy princess in
1974-1975, dairy promotion
branched out into another outlet.
Pat often accompanied Deb
across the state and saw the vital
role promotion plays in encour
aging people to drink milk and
buy real dairy products. Pat
joined Pennsylvania Dairy Prin
cess and Promotion Service,
where she served on the board for
16 years and as its treasurer for
eight years.
All this started long before the
Millers’ six granddaughters were
born. But singing and dairy
promotion have been absorbed by
Tn nil ii!( i* fin
No matter what one’s age, enjoying an ice cream sun
dae is a pleasure as attested by the smiles on these
faces. Seated are nursing home residents with Lancaster
County Dairy Ambassador Crystal Brubaker, Dairy Darling
Candice Brubaker, and Alternate Heather Brubaker.
Grandparents Paul and Pat Miller are surrounded by granddaughters, clockwise,
Lancaster County Dairy Darling Candice Brubaker, Lancaster County Dairy Ambassador
Crystal Brubaker, 1990-91 Pennsylvania Dairy Princess Alternate Heidi Miller, Lancaster
County Alternate Dairy Princess Heather Brubaker, Dauphin County Dairy Princess Holly
Miller, and Dauphin County Lil’ Dairy Miss Emily Miller.
the third generation almost
through osmosis. The Miller’s son
Michael and his wife Linda farm
in Fishing Creek. Their daughter
Heidi was the 2000-2001 state al
ternate dairy princess. Another
daughter Holly is this year’s
Dauphin County dairy princess.
The Millers’ son Jeff and his
wife Cristy, who live on the same
farm, have a daughter Emily, 7,
who is Dauphin County’s Little
Miss Dairy Princess.
Interest in presenting pro-
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grams at nursing homes were
spurred when Deb, now married
to Lowell Brubaker, and their
children visited local nursing
homes. The Brubakers, who farm
237 acres in Manheim and milk
almost 200 head, have three
daughters involved in Lancaster
County dairy promotion. Daugh
. f
Residents at a nursing
home join in with a sing
along conducted by Deb
Brubaker and her daughter
Candice.
Even dad Lowell with
son Blake help out with
dairy promotions by leading
a calf for nursing home res
idents to pet.
ter Heather, who serves as the
dairy princess alternate, pres
ented a skit, “Dorothy In Dairy
land.” Daughter Crystal, ambas
sador, presented a speech about
osteoporosis, and Candice, a
dairy darling, handed out stick
ers to residents.
Recently the Brubakers asked
their cousins, who are active in
dairy promotion in Dauphin
County, to help them entertain
residents at Serenity Gardens
Nursing Home, Northumberland
County, where their great-grand
mother Pauline Rudy lives.
The program included skits,
stories, music, and a talk about
the value of dairy products in
daily diets. Of course, the six
young promoters also handed out
cheese and crackers.
After programs at some county
nursing homes, the Brubakers
serve sundaes using ice cream do
nated by a local dairy.
Dauphin County Lil’ Dairy Miss Emily Miller places an "I
love milk” sticker on her great-grandmother Pauline
Rudy.
Even Deb’s husband Lowell
and their son Blake join in the
nursing home events by leading a
calf for residents to pet.
“I like putting smiles on their
faces,” Crystal said of the reason
the family enjoys presenting pro
grams in nursing homes.
Apple Streusel Muffins
2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 'A teaspoon cinnamon
Vi teaspoon baking soda
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup dairy sour cream
Va cup butter, melted
1 cup finely diced apples
(peeled)
In a large bowl, stir together
flour, sugar, baking powder, cin
namon, and baking soda; set
aside. In a small bowl beat eggs,
sour cream, and buttei.
Add all at once to dry ingredi
ents along with apples. Stir just
until moistened. Fill well-greased
(or use cupcake papers) muffin
tins two-thirds full. Combine top
ping ingredients, sprinkle over
top of batter. Bake at 375 degrees
for 25 minutes.
Streusel Topping
'A cup sugar
3 tablespoons flour
'A teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons butter
Lancaster County Alternate
Dairy Princess Heather Brubaker
said, “The aroma of apples bak
ing reminds me of the fall season.
Remember to have a cold, re
freshing glass of milk or a bowl of
your favorite ice cream when en
joying this recipe.”
Lancaster County Alter
nate Heather Miller uses a
skit to entertain and edu
cate the audience about
dairy products.