Petaluma senior named Dairy Princess

A senior at Petaluma's St. Vincent de Paul High School was named District No. Three Dairy Princess 2013 by the California Milk Advisory Board.

Francesca Gambonini is the sixth generation of a dairy farming family and has competed in dairy competitions internationally. She was crowned at a gala held Saturday at the Petaluma Veterans Memorial Building co-hosted by the North Bay Dairywomen.

Gambonini will represent an area that includes Sonoma, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Marin and Solano counties.

Gambonini is co-valedictorian of her graduating class, plants to attend Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in the fall and wants to become a cattle geneticist, pageant staff said.

Gambonini will receive $375 plus $400 for her Dairy Princess wardrobe and other gifts. Throughout the year, Gambonini will speak as a representative of the dairy industry at schools, service clubs, local and state fairs and other events.