Enumclaw’s Annie Birklid recently began her reign as King-Pierce County Dairy ambassador.

She was installed during an April 4 ceremony at Enumclaw’s Veterans of Foreign Wars hall.

Also during the ceremony, Samantha Lanting was named Dairy Ambassador alternate.

As dairy ambassadors, Birklid and Lanting will give dairy presentations to elementary students throughout King and Pierce counties, speak to civic organizations, pass out ribbons at dairy shows and take part in Dairy Day at the state legislature. Additionally, they will attend parades and fairs and represent the dairy industry at spring sports championships (dairy farmers are a prime sponsor). Both will take part in the Washington State Dairy Ambassadors workshop.

Birklid, a senior at Enumclaw High School and the daughter of Tom and Becky Birklid, is the fourth generation in her family to live on Suntop

Farm. For six years she was a member of Chinook 4-H Club, where she won many showmanship awards, and she is vice president of the EHS chapter of FFA. She has been on the EHS water polo team and swim and dive team the past four years and has been captain of both.

She believes she understands the changes the dairy industry has gone through in recent years and knows a strong voice is needed to encourage everyone to use dairy products and explain how dairy farmers are good stewards of their land.

Lanting is a junior at Enumclaw High. Her parents are Mike and Yolanda Lanting she is the third generation to live on the dairy farm.

She is the Enumclaw High FFA chapter secretary and the distract secretary. Last year she raised a hog and lamb for the Spring Fair stock show and this year is raising two hogs. During the winter months she takes part in the EHS girls wrestling program which recently won the

Washington State Academics Award.

As a dairy ambassador she looks forward to not only promoting the dairy industry, but also teaching people about the importance of dairy products.