UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Being a dairy princess while balancing school, work and other community activities can be a challenge, but Mikayla Davis makes it happen. The 21-year-old junior is finding academic success in the agribusiness management courses she’s taking through Penn State World Campus.
Davis is the 2021-22 Pennsylvania State Dairy Princess, a position in which she advocates for farmers and the dairy industry through educational appearances and promotions. A day in the life of a dairy princess includes traveling to schools, businesses, fairs and farm shows to discuss the importance of dairy in one’s diet and the work of dairy farmers. Davis also meets with elected and agricultural industry officials.
“I can reach so many people and learn about different avenues within agriculture,” she said. “My favorite is going into schools because of the little kids’ expressions and how excited they are to see a princess walk in.”
Davis credits Penn State World Campus for her ability to continue her education while serving as dairy princess. She initially enrolled at Penn State Berks in fall 2019, where she completed a little more than a semester of in-person classes before the COVID-19 pandemic forced everything online. She continued virtually at Berks before being crowned dairy princess and transferring to World Campus.
“With World Campus, I can work around my extracurricular activities, and it just makes it so much more manageable,” she said.