Conley: Here she is: the Dairy Princess

Remember When

By: Michael Conley | Morganton News Herald
Published: June 18, 2010

Morganton, NC --

Back as far as I remember, the month of June was known as Dairy Month.
In 1960, the people planning the annual dairy celebration decided they should include a Dairy Princess contest.
Warlick Avery of Swan Ponds Dairy was the county chairman of June Dairy Month. Others on the committee were Ben Whisnant, treasurer, State Bank of Burke; C. Miller Sigmon, chairman of the chamber of commerce agriculture committee; Mrs. Joe Patton, radio commentator; Ed Burney from the Valdese A&P Store; and Dorothy Cable of The News Herald. Sam Westbrook and Jack Johnson of the Burke Farmers Dairy Association helped plan the event.
The requirements for the 1960 Burke County Dairy Princess were that she had to be at least 17 and not more than 23 by June 1, a senior in high school, not now or previously married, in good health and a resident of North Carolina for at least one year. No contestant could be a professional model; neither could she hold any other state beauty title or be a previous winner in a Dairy Princess contest.
And, not to forget, she had to consume and enjoy milk and other dairy products.
They based judging on several subjective qualities, the most important being a pleasing voice, ability to think before an audience and effectiveness of presentation. Contestants earned more points for friendliness and ability to meet people, beauty, personality, poise, being photogenic and having natural-colored hair.
Eleven contestants vied for the 1960 Dairy Princess title. They were Mavin Hudson, Connelly Springs; Janie Christine Brackett, Valdese; Winona Gail Reep, Hildebran; Sunny Nell Browning, Nebo; Rebecca Margaret Perry, Morganton; Judith Patricia Ayers, Rutherford College; Judy Rae Lowman, Valdese; Mary Lou Avery, Morganton; Avis Deane Anderson, Glen Alpine; Annie Jane Hoke, Morganton; and Roberta Fox, Hickory
The competition was on the last Saturday in May at the auditorium of Valdese Elementary School.
Prior to going on stage, the girls assembled at Ribet's Motel and Restaurant where they had dinner with the judges followed by interviews, a rest period and rehearsals.
The final judging began at 8 p.m.
Judges were J.O. Barbour and Mrs. Genie Bohler of Morganton and Joel Dalmas of Valdese. J.C. Sossoman served as master of ceremonies. The Mad House Eight from Morganton High School provided the music.
The second runner-up was Sunny Nell Browning, daughter of Mr, and Mrs. Luther Browning. The first runner-up was Mavin Hudson, daughter of Mr, and Mrs. Fred Hudson.
And the winner was...
Janie Christine Brackett, daughter of Mr, and Mrs. George Rector.
She won a crown, a nice outfit and the right to compete in the following week’s regional Dairy Princess contest.
The Dairy Month events didn’t begin or end with the Dairy Princess contest. For example, there was an ice cream-eating contest. The idea was to find the person who could most quickly eat one pint of ice cream. The event drew about a dozen competitors.
The winner was William Michael of Morganton representing the Bethel Mountain View community.
His prize was ... another pint of ice cream. I bet he took his time eating it, savoring his victory.