Several Honors Presented at Delaware County Dairy Banquet

Delaware County Dairy Promoters Board

The Delaware County dairy industry gathered last Saturday night for their annual banquet.

Several honors were presented, which included the crowning of new royalty. Morgan Hoeger of Delhi was named the 2026 Delaware County Dairy Princess.

Serving alongside Hoeger will be Little Miss Squirt Payton Hunt, Little Mr. Herdsman Ian Feldmann and Little Miss Squirt Alternate Myra Hoeger.

The Distinguished Dairy Family Award was presented to Tom and Sara Kruse of Petersburg. The Young Dairy Family Award was given to Nick & Joni Puffett family and Jay & Lindsie Puffett.

The Distinguished Dairy Service Award was presented to Al and Joyce Prier with Precision Dairy Equipment.

The Exemplary Employee Award went to Nick Bagge, who milks for Putz Dairy and works part-time at NFO. 

The Golden Butterknife Award was given to Salow’s Sweet & Savory. And the Dairy Ambassador Award was presented to James Riley of Fareway.

Tom and Cherrie Engelken won the Iron Granny Award for the Top Producing Cow.

Engelkens were also named number one and most improved in the Top Five Herd Awards, with Mormann Dairy LLC 2nd, Kruse Dairy LLC 3rd, Terry Deutmeyer 4th and Dale & Michelle Heims 5th. Terry Deutmeyer and Deutmeyer Farms also won Low Somatic Cell. 

This year’s Breed Awards went to Tom Engelken (Holstein), Becca Hermann (Guernsey), Tom Kruse (Ayrshire & Brown Swiss), Karl Zumbach (Jersey) and DelTurn (Milking Shorthorn).

And this year’s dairy scholarship recipients were also recognized – they include Caden Ronnebaum, Caden Ries, Maleah Demmer, Bianka Ronnebaum and Kelsey Hoeger.

2026 Royalty (L to R): Little Miss Squirt Alternate Myra Hoeger, Little Miss Squirt Payton Hunt, Little Mr. Herdsman Ian Feldmann, back row: Dairy Princess Morgan Hoeger 

Distinguished Dairy Family Award – Tom & Sara Kruse

Young Dairy Family Award – Nick & Joni Puffett family and Jay & Lindsie Puffett

Distinguished Dairy Service Award – Al & Joyce Prier

Exemplary Dairy Employee Award – Nick Bagge

Golden Butterknife Award – Salow’s Sweet & Savory

Dairy Ambassador Award – James Riley with Fareway

Iron Granny Award – Tom & Cherrie Engelken

Top Five Herd Awards

(L to R): Dale & Michelle Heims (5th), Tom Engelken (1st & Most Improved), Mormann Dairy LLC (2nd), Kruse Dairy LLC (3rd); back row Michelle Heims, Tracy Deutmeyer (on behalf of Terry Deutmeyer – 4th and Low Somatic Cell)

Breed Awards

(L to R): Tom Engelken (Holstein), Becca Hermann (Guernsey), Tom Kruse (Ayrshire & Brown Swiss), Karl Zumbach (Jersey), not pictured Delturn (Milking Shorthorn)

Dairy Scholarships 

(L to R): Caden Ronnebaum, Caden Ries, Maleah Demmer, Bianka Ronnebaum, Kelsey Hoeger

audio courtesy of 2025 Delaware County Dairy Princess McKayla Weber/KMCH; photos courtesy of Delaware County Dairy Promoters