Community News

Past Princesses of Columbiana County gather to crown the 2023 Dairy Princess

SALEM - On April 23 the Past Princesses of Columbiana County gathered at the Timberlanes in Salem for the crowning of the 45th Columbiana County Dairy Princess. The 2022 Dairy Princess Dakota McCracken reported on her reign. Dakota attended many area events including the Farm Bureau Pancake Breakfast, Winona Memorial Parade, Minerva Homecoming Parade, Carroll County Dairy Show, Dairy Palooza, Winona Strawberry Festival many events at the Columbiana County Fair. She also submitted recipes to the Farm and Dairy for Dairy Month in June.

The 2023 Dairy Princess is Kaitlyn Bondoni of Alliance. Kaitlyn is the daughter of Stephanie Smith and the late Mike Bondoni. A senior at Alliance High School, her activities include Junior Fair Board, 4-H, Student Senate, Class Council, National Honor Society, Buckeye Girls State and raising funds for the James Cancer research center at The Ohio State University. This fall Kaitlyn will be attending the University of Mount Union, majoring in Mechanical Engineering and minoring in Chemistry.

The runner up for 2023 was Allyson Lacey of East Rochester. She is the daughter of Mike Lacey and Ashley Smith. Allyson is a sophomore at United Local High School. She is involved in 4-H, student council, volleyball, softball and basketball.

There were two $1,000 scholarships awarded this year: Hannah Baker of Lisbon, daughter of Frank and Beth Baker, a graduate of United Local High school who is currently attending Kent State majoring in Speech Pathology and minoring in Autism Spectrum Disorders; and Grace Hall of Hanoverton, daughter of Matt and Beth Hall, who will be graduating from United Local this year then attending Lake Erie College to major in Biology/Pre- Physical Assistant.