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About 100 people gathered on March 21 at the Lynden Heritage Museum to recognize community support for local dairy farming at the Whatcom Young Dairy Leaders Celebration, presented by the Whatcom County Dairy Women.
The event honored outgoing Dairy Ambassador Maddie DeLange and Dairy Ambassador Alternate Sarah Van Berkum and crowned 2026-2027 Dairy Ambassador Olivia Lenssen and Dairy Ambassador Alternates Mia Alderliesten and Kortnee Tolsma.
A highlight of the program — besides the ice cream donated by Edaleen Dairy! — was a multigenerational array of local farmers sharing what dairying was like during different decades of Whatcom County history: “There’s very few things in life better than raising food to feed the world.”
Spencer Ahrens, 1956-1965
Cal Bratt, 1966-1975
Roger Eytzen, 1976-1985
Lee Mielke, 1986-1995
Laura Rainey Smith, 1996-2005
Kelby Stadt, 2006-2015
DL Lautenbach, 2016-2025
Judges for the ambassador candidates, who are interviewed and tested on dairy knowledge, were Liz Holtcamp, Molly Hughs and Maddy Vanderkooy. “It’s important to understand there’s a lot behind the food we purchase at the store and what comes into our homes.”
Danny Martinez, pastor for 13 years at First Reformed Church, gave the invocation.
Darigold donated milk for the traditional milk toast and Edaleen Dairy donated ice cream for the ice cream social that followed the celebration.
The Whatcom County Dairy Women’s Dairy Ambassador program trains local youth leaders to educate the public about dairy farming and the nutritional value of dairy products. Ambassadors speak at schools and community events and attend legislative sessions at the Washington State Capitol. In 2025-2026, the Dairy Ambassadors did presentations to 53 classes, speaking to more than 1,000 students, according to program coordinator Brooke Weimer.
Learn more about Whatcom County Dairy Ambassador activities.