Miss Kitty to Preside as Thunder Road’s Miss Milk Bowl 2008
Harvest Hills Miss Kitty, a lovely seven year-old registered Ayrshire dairy cow, has been named “Miss Milk Bowl 2008” and will hold court at the 45th Annual Chittenden Bank Milk Bowl stock car race at Barre, VT’s Thunder Road. A beauty pageant was staged at Harvest Hills Farms in Berlin, VT, and according to Annie Burke of Harvest Hills, Miss Kitty won the title – her first – going away.
One lucky race driver will have the dubious honor of bussing bossy as the winner of the 45th Annual Chittenden Bank Milk Bowl. As has been tradition since the first Milk Bowl in 1962, the winner of the three-segment, cumulatively scored race paying a total of more than $60,000, will plant a kiss on the trophy queen immediately following the victory.
Governor James Douglas (R-Vt.) and Senator Phil Scott (R-Washington County), a two-time Chittenden Bank Milk Bowl winner, were on hand for Miss Kitty’s coronation on Thursday as Miss Milk Bowl 2008.
“She seems like a nice gal,” said Scott. “I’d like to see her again in victory lane next week.”
“It’s important to point out that, like a gentleman, Senator Scott didn’t kiss her on the first date,” added Governor Douglas.
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Gov. Jim Douglas (left) and Sen. Phil Scott (right) share a moment with 2008 Milk Bowl Queen “Miss Kitty” and Annie Burke of Harvest Hills Farms |
Miss Kitty, says Burke, has “had quite a year. ’Kit’ was the Grand Champion at the Orleans County (VT) Fair in Barton this fall in her first show ever, then she won the ribbon for Production at Essex, was given Honorable Mention at Rutland, and won her class at the World’s Fair in Tunbridge. Now, she’ll make her first trip to Thunder Road for the Milk Bowl.”
Miss Kitty led a Harvest Hills rout at Barton, in which 4 of the top 6 cows were from her stable. Her Production award came after supplying 21,000 pounds of milk over a 305-day period. “She’s a hard-working lady,” said Burke.
Patrick Laperle of Montréal kissed Harvest Hills Dickens – a three-time Miss Milk Bowl – after victories in 2007 and 2005. Brent Dragon of Milton, VT smooched Harvest Hills Ferry Queen in 2006.
Laperle is in a ferocious battle for the American-Canadian Tour (ACT) Late Model championship with point leader Scott Payea of Milton, VT, and will be on hand to try for his third Chittenden Bank Milk Bowl win. Payea, the ACT Late Model Tour point leader, is seeking his first Milk Bowl victory. They will be joined by Scott, Dragon, and other former Milk Bowl winners Jean-Paul Cyr, Cris Michaud, Dave Pembroke and newly-crowned Thunder Road track champion Eric Williams.
Booth Bros./H.P. Hood Qualifying Day begins the weekend on Saturday, Sept. 27 at 1:30pm with time trials and “Triple 50” qualifying races, as well as qualifying events for Thunder Road’s weekly NAPA Tiger Sportsman and Allen Lumber Street Stock divisions, and the championship finale for the Power Shift Online Junkyard Warrior class. Last-chance qualifying action and pre-race ceremonies will kick off 45th Chittenden Bank Milk Bowl Sunday at 1:30pm on Sept. 28. General admission is $25 for adults and $5 for children age 6-12. For more information, call (802) 244-6963 or visit www.thunderroadspeedbowl.com or www.acttour.com.
Sources: Justin St. Louis/ACT LM Tour PR