Gabriella Taylor of Newark, N.Y., was selected to receive the Dawn Houppert Memorial Scholarship; Molly Mueller of Clifton Springs, N.Y., received the Leo Briggs Memorial Scholarship; and Janice Smith of Franklin, N.Y., was named the Golden Cow Award winner, presented by the American Dairy Association North East at the recent 2024 New York State Ambassador Competition.
Taylor earned the $1,000 Dawn Houppert Memorial Scholarship, given to a college student who is a current or former dairy promoter in New York State, and has completed one year of post-secondary education. The scholarship was created in memory of Houppert, who worked for dairy farmers and ADA North East for more than two decades, including managing the dairy princess program for 10 years.
Taylor served as the Wayne County Dairy Ambassador and 2022-2023 New York State Dairy Ambassador. She is a junior at Saint Bonaventure University, studying strategic communications and political science with the intent to work in agricultural communications or policy upon graduation.
Mueller received the $500 Leo Briggs Memorial – American Dairy Association North East Scholarship given annually to a college student who has completed one year of post-secondary education and is from the ADA North East territory. The Briggs award is given to someone who followed Briggs’ legacy of leadership in dairy promotion.
Mueller served as the Ontario County Dairy Princess. She is a junior at Cornell University majoring in environment and sustainability. Her goal upon graduation is to help improve agricultural practices at the farm level to feed a growing population by working with rural and developing countries to implement new and available technologies.
The Golden Cow Award recognizes outstanding service and dedication to local dairy promotion in New York State. Smith has served her county promotion committee for more than four decades, encouraging youth to become a part of the program and developing life-long dairy advocates.
