Photo by Jay Young Pictured above, top row from left to right, are former Warren County Dairy Princesses Deborah Callan Giglitti (97), Robin Curtis Weis (87), Pamela Curtis Kalika (76), Ariel Curtis (08), Darlene Johnson Austin (78), Elizabeth Saunders Smith (96), Amanda Hill Stelmack (02), Diedra Johnson Harkenrider (81), Mary Kuzma Matteson (71), Robin Schell Taydus (72). Second row, from left to right, are Anita Curtis Johnson (80), Toni Gilkonson Gates (03), Tory Sanden Porter (04), Edith Miller Lehmann (69-70), Natalie Taydus Lucks (92), Jill Swanson (85), Tiffany Gilkonson Jackson (99). Pictured in the first row, from left to right, are 2020 members Harper Gates, Kensley Sheldon, Hialeah Stanton, Madison Sleeman, Tristen Gates, Elizabeth Lucks and Olivia Sheldon Pictured in the second row are Rachael Lucks, Miranda Gates and Kaitlin Sleeman.

YOUNGSVILLE — Warren County celebrated 50 years of dedication and excellence in the dairy industry on Saturday at the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the Dairy Princess Promotion, hosted at the Youngsville Fire Hall.

Melinda Johnson served as master of ceremonies for the event, which included recognition for the 2020-21 class, including Dairy Princess Madison Sleeman, Dairy Maid Kaitlin Sleeman, Dairy Misses Olivia Sheldon, Rachael Lucks, Miranda Gates, Hialeah Stanton, Kensley Sheldon and Harper Gates, and Little Miss Diary Tristen Gates.

Dairy farming remains one of the most vital industries in Western New York and Northeastern Pennsylvania, and includes generations of hard-working families like the Lucks-Taydus family. In 1972, Robin Schell Taydus was named Warren County Dairy Princess, following with Natalie Taydus Lucks in 1992 and granddaughter Elizabeth Lucks in 2019.

Elizabeth Lucks opened Saturday’s banquet with memories from her journey to the Diary Princess crown in 2019, while 2020 winner Madison Sleeman offered those in attendance a speech on the historical changes in the dairy industry over the last 50 years.

“Not many counties can say that they are celebrating 50 years of promoting dairy products and agriculture and being advocates for our dairy farmers. Here in Warren County we are very proud of that fact,” said Johnson.