Cheese Social
For those of you who wonder what the Cheese Social is about,
here is a little bit of info and some photos.
Many years ago, the District #3 Dairy Princess Contest Committee hosted a sit down dinner PRIOR to the contest and ball, after all day of interviews & rehearsals.
The judges, contestants, escorts, committee members, current dairy princess and alternates and other invited guests sat down to a full dinner.
Then the girls would proceed to the stage for interviews, announcement of award winners and dancing, with a buffet dinner for those attending the event late in the evening.
With the ever increasing cost of this dinner, and knowing that some of the contestants were too nervous to enjoy a meal, it was decided to eliminate this pre-ball dinner.
Instead, a Cheese Social was organized and has proven to be a nice way for the contestants, judges and committee and more recently the candidate sponsors to sample a few local cheeses,
and mingle with each other without so much pressure.
The contestants and current princesses enter the social and introduce their escort, then mingle with the small group. The girls are presented gifts from California Milk Advisory Board, our esteemed Chair Judy Buttke says a few words and we all try to speak a word of support to the contestants individually.
It is a very nice time and the one & only "perk" of being a committee member,
besides all the fun planning & working.
Photos of the 2013 Cheese Social
Outgoing Princesses, Contestants & Escorts
Left to Right:
Escort Kyle Bianchi, 2012-13 Dairy Princess Suzanne Amaral, 2012-13, Escort Jake Ielmorini, 1st Alt. Princess Michelle McClure, Escort Justin Bibee, 2012-13 2nd Alt. Princess Smantha Maas, Escort Ty Renati, Contestant Jessie Peterson, Escort Bill Dellinger, Contestant Francesca Gambonini, Escort Cole Pruett, Contestant Makenzie Floyd, Escort Isreal Ornelas, Contestant Callie Marsh, Escort Bryan Rocha, Contestant Regina Pozzi.
2012-13 Dairy Princess Suzanne Amaral, 2nd Alt. Samantha Maas, 1st Alt. Michelle McClure
enjoying the cheese samples and sharing the California Milk Advisory logo board.
Chair Judy Buttke (center) & 2nd Alt. Samantha
and committee members Clarette McDonald, Susan Bianchi, Monique Moretti & Ann Corda.
Dayna Ghirardelli, 1991 Dairy Princess and one of the contest coordinators
with Milk Maids Gianna Moretti & Marissa Bordessa.
Contestant Jessie Peterson, Committee members Anne Kehoe & Susan Bianchi, Milk Maid Renee Bianchi & Committee member & decorating chair Paulette Swallow.
Chair Judy presenting Master of Ceremonies Rich Silacci with his gift, a cooler
stuffed full of local goods and dairy products.
Committee member Sue McIsaac with contestant Regina Pozzi
& Alt. Princess Michelle McClure.
Jerry Corda, alternate rep for California Milk Advisory Board
presents candidate Callie Marsh with a special gift from the Board
while Dayna Ghirardelli looks on.
Milk Maids Julianna Bibee & Ellorine Carle serving a selection of local cheeses.
The Milk Maids are another helpful part of the contest each year.
These girls are, for the most part, not eligible to run due to age, but are interested in the program.
They help out during the day of the contest, serving lunch, helping at the cheese social and taking tickets, etc. at the buffet.
Julianna Bibee, Renee Bianchi, Marissa Bordessa, Gianna Moretti, Gina Piccinini,
Ellorine Carle, Jessica Wells and Gianna Pendleton.
Thank you to the Milk Maids for the great job this year and we hope to
see you all as contestants in 2014!
(Photos Courtesy brendahawkesphotography.com)
