Emily Wright, a junior secondary education - English major at PennWest Edinboro, wears many hats. Two of them happen to be sparkling tiaras.

When the Cochranton, Pennsylvania, native isn’t helping on her third-generation beef and dairy farm, coaching soccer, studying or working as a lifeguard, Wright is promoting the dairy industry as both the 2023-2024 Crawford County Dairy Princess and a 2023-2024 Pennsylvania Alternate Dairy Princess.

A legacy farmer and the second in her family to earn the county title, she recognizes the significance of the roles.

“We need to teach the younger generations how important agriculture is because it is the foundation of our society,” said Wright, whose cousin Sarah was the 2015-2016 Crawford County Dairy Princess. “Dairy farmers, beef farmers, almond farmers, vegetable farmers, grain farmers – they all work together to supply our grocery stores and keep us fed and clothed.”

PennWest Edinboro student Emily Wright is a 2023-2024 Pennsylvania Alternate Dairy Princess.

Wright learned the importance of responsible farming from her father and grandfather at their eponymous Wright Way Farm, and she showed dairy cattle for several years alongside her sisters and cousins. She was an active member of Blooming Valley 4-H for nearly a decade.

“Being a Dairy Princess means that I am able to give back to an industry that has done so much for me,” said Wright, who is also a member of Lyona Bible church and the Student Pennsylvania State Education Association. “It’s allowing me to continue being involved in the dairy industry, but in a different way.”

Following her victory at the county level, Wright competed against 26 other princesses at the state pageant. Her outstanding work in the speech, recipe and skit contests, dairy knowledge exam and poster display resulted in her selection as one of three members of the Pennsylvania Dairy Royalty Team.

“Winning at the state level meant so much more because my hard work and my committee’s hard work had all come together,” she said. “It’s all about making my Crawford County community proud.”

She is passionate about sustainable agricultural practices and is grateful for the opportunity to utilize her blossoming teaching skills to educate the public about the benefits of dairy. Her calendar is filled with speaking engagements, farm tours and parades.

“It’s been super fun to teach all these kids about milk and milk nutrition,” Wright said. “I have attended the All-American Dairy Show. I went to a national convention in Pittsburgh. We meet with politicians, and we work with them to promote the dairy industry. It’s neat to be a part of that.”

Aside from her dairy duties, Wright is continuing another family legacy. Her mom, Kim, is a 2002 Edinboro graduate and a biology teacher at Crawford Central School District.

Soon she will lead a classroom of her own. In addition to English, Wright hopes to teach ecology and conservation and looks forward to staying involved in the Crawford County Farm Bureau. Even after her reign comes to an end, she pledges to continue advocating.

“People always say, ‘Once a princess, always a promoter.’”