The American Dairy Assn. of Indiana launched the Dairy Ambassador Program this year, which replaced the Dairy Princess Program that has been around for more than 40 years.
According to Jackie Barber, producer relations coordinator for American Dairy Assn. of Indiana, the dairy association decided to transition and modernize the princess program. Instead of having one princess, there are now five ambassadors.
In order for a youth to apply to become one of five dairy ambassadors, they must be an Indiana resident or attending an Indiana university.
This year's five dairy ambassadors are Rachel Haynes, Kylei Klein, Morgan Lambrecht, Ashley Binder and Erin Will.
Rachel Haynes was born and raised in Auburn. She is currently a senior at Purdue University studying agribusiness management with a minor in animal science. She is the daughter of Tim and Mary Haynes and grew up on the family dairy farm. Haynes shares that by being a dairy ambassador, she is able to be a voice for farmers.
Kylei Klein of Cambridge City is the second dairy ambassador. She is a freshman at Purdue University, where she is studying agricultural education and animal science. Her family raises Ayrshire cows with a few Holstein, Guernsey, Jersey and Brown Swiss cows. She chose to apply for the dairy ambassador program because she wanted the opportunity to help share with the public about how amazing the dairy industry is.
The third dairy ambassador is Morgan Lambrecht from Bedford. She is the daughter of Missy and Jeff Lambrecht and is a sophomore at Purdue University studying agribusiness management with a double minor in political science and animal science. Her grandfather raised Guernsey cattle and they now have incorporated a few Brown Swiss into the herd. She chose to be a dairy ambassador because she wanted to help promote the dairy industry.
Ashley Binder of Carmel is the daughter of Greg and Cindy Binder. She is a senior at Purdue University where she is studying animal science. Despite not growing up on a dairy farm, she chose to apply to the dairy ambassador program because she wanted to promote an industry and share knowledge with the general public who may be misinformed or uninformed about the treatment of animals or final products in the dairy industry.
The final dairy ambassador is Erin Will of Poseyville. She is the daughter of Terry and Nancy Will and is studying animal science with a pre-veterinarian concentration at Purdue University. She grew up on a dairy farm of registered Brown Swiss and Holstein cattle. She shares that the decision to apply to the dairy ambassador program was an easy one because she has always had an immense passion for dairy cattle and the industry.
The five ambassadors serve from June to June and are required to attend or help with at least one dairy activity each month. In addition, the dairy ambassadors get a $2,500 scholarship paid in installments for their time.