Wieboldt named 2026-27 NYS Dairy Ambassador
Hannah Wieboldt of Orange County is doing her part to support Empire State dairy farmers as the 2026-27 NYS Dairy Ambassador. As an ambassador, Wieboldt will have the opportunity to be an “agvocate” for her local farmers and share their stories with the rest of the world.
Wieboldt’s passion for dairy started at a young age, growing up on her family’s dairy farm. After her parents sold the milking herd, she still wanted to be involved with cattle and quickly found her love of the Guernsey cow. She got her first heifer through the NYS Guernsey Scholarship Program and has continued to grow her small herd.
She is actively involved in the Orange County 4-H Dairy & Livestock program and serves as president for the NYS Junior Guernsey Breeders Association while also being a member of the 2025-26 NYS Junior Dairy Leaders Program.
Perhaps deeper than her love of dairy cattle is her love for promoting the dairy industry. In 2015 Wieboldt served as the Orange County Milk Maid, and even while their promotion team became inactive for a period, she continued to do her part to advocate for her county’s dairy farmers. Before becoming a NYS Dairy Ambassador, Wieboldt served as the 2025-26 Orange County Dairy Ambassador.
The application to become a state ambassador is rigorous. Applicants submit a digital portfolio, interview with a panel of judges and present to an audience. Wieboldt will serve in this role along with her associates, Christiana Borst and Kierra Knobloch, for one year. A primary focus of the group is their presence on social media. Wieboldt will work alongside their mentor, Val Lavigne (aka @DairyGalVal), to learn how to make captivating and educational content about the dairy industry.
Being an ambassador consists of a busy schedule online and offline.
The ambassador team creates content all week long for their pages on Facebook and Instagram (@NYSDairyAmbassadors). The posts highlight the nutritional benefits of dairy products and share important and fun facts about dairy farming.
In person, Wieboldt will travel to various ambassador events to promote the program. She plans to be a part of National Dairy Month in June from the state’s capital in Albany.
When the summers months come, she will be out and about at fairs, including the Great New York State Fair, where she gets to unveil the annual butter sculpture. Many of these efforts are in partnership with American Dairy Association North East (ADANE).
When asked what the biggest issue facing the dairy industry was, Wieboldt explained the disconnect between farmers and consumers.
“Farmers strive to give their cows the best care possible, and they do this through things like routine health checks, clean and proper housing and proper diets,” she said.
“Farmers also are leaders in conservation using nutrient management practices and rotational grazing.”
She reflected on how many people are unaware of the nutritional benefits of milk. With 13 essential nutrients, milk is considered a nutrient dense food source, but many people don’t realize this. She hopes to use her social media platform and talking with consumers in person to help share this information and help more customers make educated decisions at the grocery store.
The NYS Dairy Ambassador Program was established through ADANE in 1963. The program aims to help connect consumers to the dairy farmers who help make the food products. “The New York Dairy Ambassador program is designed to build trust in dairy by helping our promoters develop essential skills to communicate with consumers,” said Beth Meyer, director of consumer confidence and program lead. “We provide professional media training, social media mentorship and opportunities to represent New York dairy farmers at consumer-facing events.”
Wieboldt is the 63rd ambassador through the program and joins the legacy of dairy advocates before her. While the primary focus of the program is promoting dairy, the staff heavily emphasize setting their ambassadors up for success in their careers. In addition to her title, Wieboldt also earned a $2,000 scholarship.
Outside of the ambassador program, she stays busy. She is on the varsity tennis and golf teams, serves as treasurer of her Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) chapter and is a member of the Key Club and Youth Against Cancer. In addition to her 4-H livestock club, Wieboldt is also the Orange County 4-H Teen Council president. After she graduates high school, she hopes to attend SUNY Cobleskill or Cornell University to study animal science, with hopes to become a large animal veterinarian.
Dairy is the largest commodity for NYS, according to their Department of Ag & Markets. New York ranks fifth in the country for dairy production with 16 billion lbs. of milk produced annually from 2,800 herds. New York also leads the country in yogurt and cottage cheese production.
The state takes pride in their dairy farmers, and the NYS Dairy Ambassador Program helps to share the story of the hard work the farmers put into feeding the nation. Wieboldt put it best: “The best way someone can support the dairy industry is through eating dairy in their meals, buying local and connecting with their local farmers.”
by Hannah Majewski
