Hi, my name is Shelby Carrigan, and I am the 2021-2022 Oneida County Dairy Princess. I am the daughter of John and Geraldine Carrigan, and I was raised in Marcy with my older brother, John. In December, I graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Utica College, concentrating in Early Childhood and Childhood Education.
Other than being the Oneida County Dairy Princess and continuing to pursue my childhood dream of becoming an elementary school teacher, I am also the new founder and owner of Heart & Sole Dance Studio in Barneveld.
Growing up, I spent most of my days at my grandparents’ (Claude Jr. and Patricia Coe) dairy farm in Holland Patent. Their farm, Elijah Park, also known as Coe Farms, has been around since 1958. They began farming in Holland Patent at a very young age, owning very little; they had only one tractor, a manure spreader, and a hay wagon.
Each year, my brother and I would spend our summers at the farm with our grandparents and cousins. As soon as we were dropped off in the morning, we ran into the barn where my brother would help my grandfather and uncle finish milking, and I would help my grandmother feed the calves. After the cows were milked and the calves were fed, we turned out the cows across the road, into our morning pasture. Then, I would grab the barn scraper and begin cleaning the cows’ stalls and the barn floor.
