16A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • January 28, 2015
Polk County News
State dairy princess excited about new role
By Emily Mentzer
The Itemizer-Observer
INDEPENDENCE — For
Emma Miller, the newly
crowned 2015 Oregon Dairy
Princess-Ambassador, dairy
farming was a happy mistake.
“I actually started with dairy
cattle when my mom acciden-
tally brought home a dairy
cow instead of a beef cow,” she
recalled in a 2014 Itemizer-Ob-
server interview. “It worked
out though because I enjoyed
every minute of it.”
Miller, from Independ-
ence, will spend her fourth
year as an ambassador for
the dairy industry. She first
served as the 2012 Polk
County Oregon Dair y
Princess-Ambassador, the
first dairy princess the coun-
ty had seen since 2004.
Miller was crowned as the
2015 Oregon Dairy Princess
on Jan. 17 at the 56th annual
coronation hosted by the
Oregon Dairy Women at the
Red Lion in Salem.
“This has been a very long
journey,” she said. “I guess
you could say that I’m an ex-
perienced princess now.”
In 2013, Miller served as
the first alternate Oregon
Dairy Princess and got to
tour the state and coach fu-
ture princesses.
“After I passed on my title,
I felt like it wasn’t done,” she
said.
Now as a student at Oregon
State University, she was able
to represent Linn-Benton
counties as dairy princess.
“That was great, because
there were a lot of events as a
county princess,” Miller said.
“Last fall, I was able to visit
about seven elementary
schools in the Linn-Benton
area.”
She talked to school chil-
dren about dairy cows and
farms, from what the cow’s
favorite foods are to how
farmers take care of cows —
and of course, the nutritional
benefits of milk and dairy
products.
“It’s important to teach
young children how to be
healthy,” Miller said. “There’s
so many problems with
health; it’s important for
children to be more aware of
choosing fruits and vegeta-
bles over candy, and encour-
aging them to make healthy
choices.”
Miller, who is studying to
be an agricultural teacher,
enjoys teaching about the
benefits of three servings of
dairy a day. Raising dairy cat-
tle herself, she has first-hand
knowledge of the effort it
takes to raise happy cows.
During high school — she
is a 2012 graduate of Central
High — Miller rose at 4 a.m.
to milk her cows, then had to
come home right after
school to milk them again,
and still have time for home-
work, evening activities and
football games.
“I really just love sharing
my passion for the dairy in-
dustry and ag with everyone
I meet, whether at a class-
room presentation or a fair,”
Miller said. “There are peo-
ple who have never seen a
cow get milked before. I love
people’s faces when they
learn something new, which
is one reason I want to be an
ag teacher.”
As 2015 Oregon Dairy
Princess-Ambassador, Miller
will travel to schools and
events throughout the state
promoting the dairy industry.
Upon being crowned,
Miller received more than
$3,000 in scholarships to
continue her education.
Outgoing Dairy Princess-
Ambassador Danielle Bull
received more than $14,000
for her year dedicated to the
Oregon dairy industry, per-
sonally informing more than
15,000 students of the bene-
fits of dairy products and life
on a dairy farm in schools
and community events.
Sudoku Solution
LUCKIAMUTE
DOMESTIC WATER
COOPERATIVE
BOARD MEETING
Monday 7:00 p.m.
February 9th
503-838-2075
Location: Business Office
8585 Suver Rd. • Monmouth
JESSICA BUDGE/ for Itemizer-Observer
Emma Miller of Independence reacts as she is crowned
the 2015 Oregon Dairy Princess-Ambassador on Jan. 17
by 2014 Princess-Ambassador Danielle Bull.
Itemizer-Observer
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297½ N. Pacific Hwy
Polk Flea Market. Polk County’s oldest and largest market with 183 tables selling
antiques, collectibles, tools, etc. 9 am to 3 pm, Polk County Fairgrounds & Event
Center 520 S. Pacific Hwy W Rickreall. Website: www.polkfleamarket.com
Little Builders Club—Monmouth Public Library, 168 Ecols Street S. 10:15 a.m.
Manipulatives and building supplies selected for younger builders--babies up to age
4 and their adult. Have fun with Star Builders, Duploes, Nesting Cups, and more
while working on fine motor skills, narrative skills, and other important developmen-
tal skills. Free to the public. Call with questions, 503-838-1932. (Little Builders hap-
pens every Thursday)
Native Plant Sale—Polk SWCD Native Plant Sale will have bare root plant stock,
bulbs, container stock, and books available for purchase. From flowers for your gar-
den to trees for restoration, these native to the Willamette Valley plants are priced to
move! This year’s sale will feature container stock (1 gallon containers or less) in-
cluding Huckleberry, Salal, Ceanothus, and many more. Quantities are limited, so
come early! 9 – 4 p.m. Event held at the Polk County Fairgrounds & Event Center
520 South Pacific Hwy W Rickreall. Call with questions, Polk Soil & Water Conser-
vation District 503-623-9680.
Monmouth/Independence Chamber February Forum: Annual State of the Cities
Address. 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM. Please note, the forum will last 1.5 hours to allot
ample time for both mayoral addresses and Q&A. Location: Independence Cinema
450 2nd Street S, Independence Lunch: Boxed lunches will be available for pur-
chase when registering online at http://www.micc-or.org
The Ash Creek Arts Center Gallery at MaMere's Bed & Breakfast Reception.
5 -7 pm. Free of charge and open to the public. Artists Collect. This unusual exhibit
features favorite art pieces collected by artists. Each artist will contribute a state-
ment about why the chosen piece is personally meaningful. Discover what artists
find interesting and engaging, and explore each artwork through its collector's per-
ceptions. February 9-28, 2015 (open by appointment; call 509-607-2855 for more
information) 212 Knox St. N, Monmouth.
Happy Valentine’s Day from the Monmouth Business Association.
Free Valentine's Concert—Divine Love: A Gift of Song by Silverwind Strings. Are
you looking for a unique way to celebrate Valentine's Day with someone special? Or
just your special self? Faith Lutheran Church of Monmouth-Independence has the
perfect event for you! We are hosting Silverwind Strings playing some of the great-
est romantic music ever written, with elegant desserts and beverages following the
performance. Seating is limited so get your reservation in NOW for this free event!
3-5 pm 200 Monmouth-Independence Hwy (On the S-Curves) Monmouth. Call, text
or email Lyn Jobe to reserve (503) 551-3648.
President’s Day! No School Grades k-12.
Oregon Winter Poultry Swap. Polk County Fairgrounds. 10 am – 3 pm. Free ad-
missions and parking. Two Buildings!!! Poultry ♦ Waterfowl ♦ Rabbits ♦ Animal Sup-
plies Crafts ♦ Jewelry ♦ Plants ♦ Homemade Goodies. Raffles and so much more.
Polk County Fairgrounds & Event Center 520 S Pacific Hwy W. Rickreall, OR 97371
503-838-2951
165 E. Main St.
Monmouth
503-838-1773
410 E. Main St.
Monmouth
503-838-1141
297 N Pacific
Monmouth
Every Tuesday 10:15 AM, Toddler Story Time for ages 18 mos. to 3 yrs. Monmouth
Public Library, 168 S. Ecols St.
Every Tuesday 7:30 PM - Al-Anon Family Groups, which includes Alateen for younger
members, meets at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, in Dallas. Al-Anon is an established com-
munity resource for people affected by another's use of alcohol. The resource can aid the
recovery process for the entire family through hope, comfort and loving interchange among
members having a common problem. For more information call 503-370-7363, leave a
message - you will be contacted.
Second and Fourth Tuesdays - 9:15 to 11 a.m. Mothers of Preschoolers (MoPS) meets
at Monmouth Christian Church, 959 W. Church St., Monmouth.
Every Tuesday 10 AM to 3 PM The Polk County Bounty Market comes to Monmouth's Main
Street Park. Local fruits, vegetables, and other products through September 30. Contact In-
formation: Bonnie Dreier Program Manager Dallas Area Visitors Center 503-623-2564
Every Wednesday 10:15 AM, Preschool Story Time for ages 3-6 years. Monmouth Li-
brary, 168 S. Ecols St.
Every Wednesday 5-6 p.m. Rally For Peace, in front of the Main St. Park
Every Wednesday Helping Hands Emergency Food Bank, 10am to noon, Monmouth
Christian Church, 959 Church St. W., Monmouth. For eligible community members; avail-
able every Wednesday. 541-404-6517.
Every Wednesday 6:30 PM - Al-Anon Family Groups, which includes Alateen for younger
members, meets at Trinity Lutheran Church at 320 Fir Villa Rd. in Dallas. Al-Anon is an es-
tablished community resource for people affected by another's use of alcohol. The resource
can aid the recovery process for the entire family through hope, comfort and loving inter-
change among members having a common problem. For more information call 503-370-
7363, leave a message - you will be contacted.
Every 2nd Wednesday Monmouth-Independence Chamber lunch forum. 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
Location changes. Please call Jean Love or visit our Calendar of Events at micc-or.org for
more information. 503-838-4268
Every 3rd Wednesday each month. BINGO at the Farm, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM. Come play
BINGO in the Chatoe out at Rogue Farms. Join us every third Wednesday of the month
through 2014! So bring your family and friends and get ready to win! Boards, daubers, and
prizes provided! Rogue Farms Chatoe Tasting Room, 3590 Wigrich Road Independence, OR
Every Thursday 7 p.m. 314 Cottonwood Way, Monmouth. Polk and Marion County Women
meet to discuss and research alternative/safer approaches to conventional treatments of
hormonal imbalance.
Every 2nd Thursday 7:00 PM Luckiamute Watershed Council (LWC) open meeting.
Monmouth Volunteer Hall. Info: 503-838-8804
Every 3rd Thursday After Hour Mixers with Monmouth-Independence Chamber of Com-
merce. Chamber members and friends are invited to join us for our FREE monthly after-
hours mixers. Mixers are held the third Thursday of each month from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM
at member locations. Registration is requested to help the host site properly prepare. At-
tendees are encouraged to bring a small giveaway (less than $10) to promote your business
or organization. For location and or more information, contact Jean Love 503-838-4268 or
visit our Calendar of Events at micc-or.org for more information.
Every Friday TOPS-Weight Loss Group meets at the Monmouth Church of Christ, 127
Heffley St. N., Monmouth. 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. For more information please feel free to contact
Marilyn at 503-930-7936.
Every 1st Saturday 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM Monmouth Senior Center host breakfast. All
you can eat, Adults $6 Donation, Children 12 & under $3 Donation. For more info: 503
838-5678
First Saturday 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM Mon-Fri 10:00 a.m.-3 p.m.-Crafter’s Cottage at the
Monmouth Senior Center, 180 S. Warren St. Handmade items, watercolors, needlepoint,
towels, bead jewelry, dolls, blankets, sweaters, jellies, etc....New items always arriving!