(Salem, OR) – Simone Ferguson, a 2025 Tillamook High School graduate, has spent the last year learning about and promoting Oregon’s dairy industry during her term as the Tillamook County Dairy Princess Ambassador. The 19-year-old is now a student at Tillamook Bay Community College, where she is studying nursing. She will compete March 10, 2026 for a state title and opportunity to represent dairy throughout the state of Oregon.
“Representing the dairy industry has taught me how to educate others both in an approachable and professional manner,” said Ferguson, and she shares that these skills have proven effective at events across the state and will be used in her future career of healthcare.
Before her reign as a dairy princess ambassador, Simone was heavily involved with 4-H and FFA. Her dairy heifer project started with leasing animals from her 4-H leader, Desi Josi, but it turned into a deep passion for the dairy industry. She received her State FFA Degree in 2025 and was a program completer, meaning she had taken six or more agriculture classes upon graduation. Her senior project consisted of helping organize and run the Dairy Replacement Heifer Sale at the 2025 Tillamook County Fair.
County; Tayler Lovelady, Washington County; Chloe Bingman, Yamhill County; Isabel
Wedam, Morrow County; and Grace Faber, Polk County.
For the past year, Ferguson has been busy representing Tillamook County, learning as much as she can about dairy products and dairy farming. Ferguson has visited hundreds of students and participated in a variety of events throughout the state.
2025-2026 Oregon Dairy Princess Ambassador Cydney Stables and Alternate Anna Wismer will pass on their titles during the Oregon Dairy Women’s 67th annual Oregon Dairy Princess Ambassador Coronation Banquet, Tuesday, March 10, 2026, in an event hosted at the Oregon Dairy Farmers Convention in Salem.
Ferguson will arrive with the other contestants and judges Sunday afternoon for a full two days of interviews, speeches and prepared commercials promoting dairy products. The winner will be crowned at the conclusion of Tuesday’s banquet. If selected for the title, Ferguson looks forward to hundreds of elementary school presentations, civic organization speaking engagements and public appearances.
The other state finalists include: PaytonLynn Baldwin, Marion County; Isabel Wedam, Morrow County; Grace Faber, Polk County; Tayler Lovelady, Washington County; and Chloe Bingman, Yamhill County.
Oregon Dairy Women (ODW) is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization with the main objective to promote the dairy industry. The ODW mission is to promote greater use of all dairy products through outreach and educational programs.
Since 1959, the Oregon Dairy Women’s Dairy Princess Ambassador Program has served as the premier advocate for the Oregon Dairy Industry in collaboration with the Oregon Dairy Farmers Association and the Oregon Dairy Nutrition Council. The ODW awards scholarships, and provides financial support to 4-H and FFA programs, Agriculture in the Classroom, Ag Fest, Summer Ag Institute, Adopt-a-Farmer and judging teams.