Somerset County Dairy Princess makes many appearances and promotions during reign

Looking at her year of appearances, promotions, fundraisers and just plain getting out and talking to people about dairy, one would not be able to tell that Carlie Knott was not raised on a dairy farm.

Carlie Knott, from Allenvale, said she was honored to serve as the 2023-24 Somerset County Dairy Princess. The daughter of Tina and the late Kevin Knott, and the sister of Rachel, Jacob and Zac, said it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience she will always cherish.

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"When I competed in April 2023 to be the 2023-24 Somerset County Dairy Princess, there were people that asked, 'Who is she?' They said that they’ve never seen me promote anything and asked how I could serve the county if I didn’t live on a dairy farm," she said in an email. "I was a 4-H girl who lived on a hobby farm, raising goats, sheep, pigs, rabbits, chickens, ducks, turkeys and a donkey, but never a cow. But I did love chocolate milk and cheese."

Knott said she had always wanted a 4-H cow, but her mother wouldn’t let her have one. She said she didn’t know much about the dairy industry or dairy promotion, but she felt she could educate herself and use that knowledge to promote the benefits of milk and dairy products to others.

"I just knew that I could learn. I had learned about the other livestock that I own, so I felt that I could educate myself further about the dairy industry and use that knowledge to promote the benefits of milk and dairy products to others," she said.

Knott said she bought a newborn Brown Swiss dairy calf from her cousin, Ken Lohr, of Lake Lane Farm. Then she went to training and listened.

"I learned about the importance of supporting local farmers, local businesses, the dairy industry, and how consuming milk and dairy products can benefit your health," she said. "The way that I understood it, farmers want consumers to buy more real milk and dairy products. Getting out there and talking about dairy and getting people to try it is what gets people to spend their money on milk and dairy, so that’s what I set out to do.

"I’ve also learned about dairy cows and the dairy industry from our Somerset County farmers and 4-H members, who were patient and kind, sharing knowledge about dairy cows, how our milk is processed, and concerns about the future of the industry."

Knott said she's always had a slight speech impediment, so her mother helped her change some words in her speeches to words that she could pronounce without stumbling.

"Getting comfortable with public speaking was one of my biggest challenges," she said in her farewell speech.

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A whirlwind year

After being crowned, Knott said she didn’t know where to start. She did a few promotions the first month. She said it was fun, but scary because she had never done anything like that before.

"After the July training seminar, that is when I really got started. I learned so much! I came back to Somerset County and really got out there."

Knott said the year spent as a dairy ambassador was very busy. She had more than 300 in-person dairy promotions. In July, she continued the Annual Somerset County Ice Cream Trail, which the 2020-21 Dairy Princess, Abby Shuck, started during her reign in 2020.

"I traveled from one end of the county to the other, meeting so many great people. I’ve shared so much string cheese across the county that when I go out in public, some people start chanting, 'string cheese, string cheese!' I hope that everyone that tried it loves it as much as I do," she said. "The demo derby at the Somerset County Fair last August, where I competed in my first Moo Car, was one of my most memorable promotions. I didn’t place, but it was so much fun, and people seemed to love it."

Knott's Pie a Princess fundraiser at the county fair Livestock Sale, with help from the 2022 Farmers' and Threshermen's Jubilee Queen, Emily Hutchison, raised more than $2,100 for Fill a Glass with Hope, to bring fresh whole milk to families in need throughout Somerset County.

"It was humbling to visit all 12 pick-up sites for the Somerset County Mobile Food Bank where I met each client in their car and shared dairy recipes and string cheese," she said.

Knott visited 85 elementary classrooms where she read the “What’s Up with Milk” story to more than 1,530 students.

"I could probably recite the book by heart," she said. "Young children are a little bit scary, and they say some funny things. One girl said, 'Hey, I’m a biter!' Then she continued, 'Those other kids eat their cheese in strings, but I like to bite it off.' Phew, that was a close one."

Knott reminds people to not forget milk has 13 essential nutrients that bodies need for good health.

"I wonder how many times I’ve said that phrase in the last year," she said.

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Prior to May, Knott earned state Dairy Promoter of the month six times, was the runner-up three times, and she received one honorable mention. She has received seven Allied Milk Producer Awards. The group sponsored her new demo derby car, "Allied Milk Producers Moo Car" on June 22, at the New Alexandria Lions Club Demolition Derby's Cancer Awareness Night, in memory of her dad.

"Eva from Allied Milk Producers has been my biggest supporter, guiding me throughout the year," Knott said. "I know that many of my promotions were not what dairy princesses normally do. As Bob Dylan sang back in 1964, 'The Times, They Are A-Changin'' – even more today than 60 years ago. I promoted dairy at everyday events across the county, and people seemed to enjoy it."

She recited Proverbs 27:17: “People learn from each other, as one iron tool can make another one sharp.”

"I have learned so much from the other county dairy princesses and the Pennsylvania Dairy Princess Promotion Team," Knott said. "I know that many of us will continue to be lifelong friends.

She said Andrea Stoltzfus, chairwoman of the Somerset County Dairy Promotion Team, advised her to treat the year as an internship.

"I took her advice and considered each experience job training," Knott said. "I’ve learned a lot about myself, and what I can do if I try."

Handing over the reins

Carlie Knott handed over the reins as the dairy ambassador June 1 to Jillian Smiley, daughter of Jonathon and Jennifer Smiley of Berlin. Jillian has a younger sister, Josie. They live on the family's dairy farm, where Jillian is the seventh generation of the Knepper family to live there. Jillian helps with milking and with landscaping around the farm.

Smiley has been a member of the Somerset County 4-H Dairy Club since she was 9 years old and enjoys showing Holstein dairy cattle – especially her favorite cow Prancer – when she was a heifer. She will be a senior in the fall at Berlin Brothersvalley High School and Somerset County Technology Center where she takes medical occupations. Smiley plans to attend Allegheny College of Maryland and major in respiratory therapy.

In her free time, Smiley enjoys spending time with her family, riding side-by-side, hunting, and occasionally frog gigging.

Knott offers this advice to the new Dairy Princess:

"Being raised on a dairy farm, you don’t have so much to learn as I did. I want you to go out and make this a year that you will always remember," she said. "Slow down and enjoy every day of your reign. Do promotions that fit your schedule and your interests. No pressure, but if you decide to try a demo derby, I’ll be happy to show you the ropes!"

This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Somerset County Dairy Princess makes many appearances and promotions during reign