Her Royal Highness
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When then 16-year-old Shelby Benjamin showed her first heifer at the Chenango County fair in Norwich, N.Y., she had no idea the effect her newfound love for the dairy industry would have on her community and state in the six years to come. And, she definitely didn’t know she would soon become New York’s first Black dairy princess.
Shelby’s path to New York dairy princess is far from traditional. She didn’t grow up on a farm, and she didn’t study agriculture as an undergraduate college student at The State University of New York (SUNY) at Oneonta, like most dairy princesses. As a young girl, Shelby had two main interests: riding horses and playing sports. In college, she studied sports management while also playing Division III basketball for SUNY Oneonta. While Shelby had been introduced to the importance of dairy and the dairy community at livestock shows in high school, it wasn’t until her junior year of college when she discovered the nutritious value of milk, specifically chocolate milk, and became more interested in promoting dairy.
“While playing basketball in college, I began to notice how tired I was after practices,” Shelby says. “I thought about what I could do to improve my energy level and began reading articles about the nutritious value of chocolate milk for athletes.”
Rita Garringar, Shelby Benjamin and Janet Sites
As her time as a college athlete came to an end, her desire to tell others about the goodness of dairy grew. Through the county 4-H club, Shelby connected with Sheila Marshman of Marshman Farms, a seventh-generation dairy farm owned by Sheila’s husband, John, and his brother, David, in Oxford, N.Y. With Sheila’s encouragement, Shelby decided to run for Chenango County Dairy Princess.
Dairy princesses, ranging from 16 to 24 years old, serve as liaisons between dairy farmers and consumers at the county, state and national levels across the United States. The New York State Dairy Princess program is coordinated by American Dairy Association North East, with participation from dairy advocates throughout the state.
At age 22, Shelby thought it may be too late for her to serve in such a role, but Sheila reassured Shelby her passion and love for dairy would shine through to the youth, community members and consumers in which she would have the opportunity to interact. With the guidance and support of the Marshmans, Shelby became the Chenango County Dairy Princess, and in February 2021, competed for New York state dairy princess and won.
“Here in the dairy industry, we have to do more to tell our story,” Sheila says. “Shelby really has a unique story to tell the consumer, and we’re looking forward to spending the year promoting the industry throughout New York state with her.”
As New York dairy princess, Shelby attends many virtual events advocating for dairy and agriculture. As COVID-19 restrictions evolve, Shelby hopes to have more opportunities to interact with dairy’s youngest consumers — elementary students. Her favorite memories as dairy princess so far are of spending time with local third graders, engaging in activities to dispel dairy myths and educating the students about where their milk comes from.
“The consumer is diverse in ethnicity and background; thus it is important to have spokespeople and influencers that are equally as diverse,” Shelby says. “I didn’t grow up on a farm, and I am proud to be a part of the dairy industry!”
With a different background and perspective on dairy than most, this princess is paving the way for young girls and consumers to learn more about dairy and advocate for the farm families who make it.