Carrie Weaver, 19, of Bancroft, S.D., was crowned the South Dakota’s 61st Dairy Princess. Weaver, daughter of Dave and Deb Weaver, attends Lake Area Technical Institute and is studying large animal management.

“I have a strong passion for dairy, and a soft spot for animals,” Weaver says.

 She receives a $1,000 scholarship from Midwest Dairy Association’s South Dakota Division, which sponsors the princess program. Her new role will be to represent South Dakota dairy farmers at appearances where she can tell the story of dairy’s nutrition and dairy farm families’ care for the animals and land.    

Stephanie Weaver says she has a passion for dairy.

Stephanie Ponto, 17, Watertown, was named runner-up.  Her parents are Steven and Vonda Ponto, and she attends Deuel High School in Clear Lake. Ponto is an FFA member with Greenhand and Chapter Farmer degrees and is an active 4-H and church youth group member.

The South Dakota Dairy Princess is selected based on her general dairy knowledge and enthusiasm for the industry, communications skills and ability to reach consumer audiences.