BRIDGEWATER, N.J. – Dakota Harley Meys of Stockton, Hunterdon County, was named New Jersey Dairy Princess on Saturday, Nov. 22. The ceremony was held on Saturday, November 22, in Bridgewater. She succeeds Cassidy Hunt of West Amwell, Hunterdon County, who held the title from 2024-2025.
The daughter of George and Darcy Perehinys, Dakota is a senior in high school and employed at Hun-Val Dairy near Ringoes. She helps milk and feed the cows, raises calves, cleans barns and hutches, and plans to learn the on-farm processing business of bottling milk and making cheese and ice cream. She owns Brown Swiss cattle and helps Hun-Val and Hunterdon Poly Tech Animal Science FFA exhibit cattle at county fairs.
Named Alternate New Jersey Dairy Princess was Samantha Wiley of Hillsborough, Somerset County. She is the granddaughter of Mark and Nancy Kirby and is a senior at Hillsborough High School where she plays soccer and lacrosse. She exhibits dairy cattle through 4-H and competes in dairy quiz bowl at county, state and national levels.
The New Jersey Dairy Princess program is managed by ADA North East, that also manages the New York State Dairy Ambassador program, and supports the promotion programs in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Virginia by providing funding, training and promotional materials.
