“We’re not your typical princesses; we can go scoop up cow poop,” proudly states Snohomish County Dairy Ambassador Melissa Cook regarding the two worlds she straddles, scooping by morning, waving her hand in the back of a Corvette by afternoon.
The 17-year-old incoming senior at Snohomish High School waltzed into the Dairy Cattle Barn at the Evergreen State Fair to check on her three cows before racing off to the parade in Monroe on Saturday morning. Soon she was up to her elbows in more that you-know-what. The pink dress and heels were a sharp contrast to her usual boots and Carharts, and Melissa was soon surrounded by a booted bunch of young men.
“It’s a little bit out of my comfort zone,” Melissa admits, “But I like representing the industry.” Which keeps her plenty busy handing out ribbons at fairs, riding in parades and speaking at schools, all while participating in other extracurricular activities such as tennis, trap shooting and riding horses. Melissa and the three alternate dairy ambassadors will also spend about 20 hours working at the Purple Cow snack stand this week as part of their duties.
Melissa did not grow up on a farm, but she professed a love for cows since she was a small child. By sixth grade she attended her first 4-H meeting and was hooked. She hasn’t looked back since. Next fall Melissa plans to be at either Oregon State University or the University of Wisconsin studying to be a large-animal veterinarian. She wants to specialize in dairy cows. The future looks bright, even if she has to slip on heels once a month.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
