Harrisburg, Pa.  - Laura “Lolly” Lesher is this year’s Dairy Hall of Fame Award recipient. This award was developed to recognize the outstanding service and accomplishments of Pennsylvania dairy leaders. Selection is based on character, leadership, and the development of youth in the dairy industry.

Lolly had been rooted in small family farming since her childhood - where she was raised on a fruit farm with cows, pigs, and chickens in the mountains of Huntingdon County. She found her path into the dairy industry during her college career at Penn State.

Lolly graduated in 1986 with a degree in Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology. She was heavily involved with Dairy Science Club and Block and Bridle Club. Later, she went on to

charter the Armsby Society, serve on the Penn State Ag Alumni board of directors, Dairymen’s Club board and become the Stockmen’s Club president. Most importantly, Lolly met her husband, William Lesher, at Penn State. While joining William in his family farm business, Way-Har Farms, in Berks County, Lolly worked a variety of jobs in the industry. She was a credit analyst for Farm Credit, the director of the Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program, and the Milk Procurement Director for Dietrich’s Milk Products.

In 1991, Lolly began her 25-year trek as the Fundraising Coordinator for the All American Dairy Show. In that role, she solicited sponsors from industry, farms, and state

legislature to continually support the show and all its activities. She oversaw the Youth Benefit Auction, edited the premium book, created promotional media, coordinated the volunteers, and helped organize the 50th anniversary of the show in 2013.

Today, Lolly is a partner-owner of Way-Har Farms LLC. She and William, operate a 300-cow dairy with 400 acres of crops. The milk produced at the farm is bottled and sold directly to

consumers at their retail store - Way-Har Farm Market. Lolly manages milk marketing, wholesale customers, and specialty events for their homemade ice cream. She and William

have mentored numerous upcoming dairymen and women through college internships at the farm and store. In between running a dairy farm, a retail market, and raising four children - Joshua, Jaylene, Laura, and Olivia - Lolly is found advocating for fellow dairy farmers.

Lolly has lobbied for fair milk pricing and regulations to the House Agriculture Committee, served on the Corporate Resolutions Committee for Dairy Farmers of America, and was a founding pioneer of the Pennsylvania Center for Dairy Excellence. Lolly also volunteers locally on the school board for Hamburg School District, Kutztown Fair Board, Berks Agricultural Resource Network, and the Greater Berks Food Bank.

Lolly is a leader for dairy promotion on the state and national level. She has been a member of the Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program board of directors for over 20 years and currently serves as the chair of the organization. She also serves as First Vice President of American Dairy Association North East board of directors. She represents the northeast region on the national level as Secretary of the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board and is a member of Dairy Management Inc., board of directors. She is a member of the DMI Personnel Committee and the Fluid Milk Advisory Committee.

Lolly not only serves as a leader in dairy promotion, but as a public advocate for dairy helping to inform consumers about modern dairy farming. She has conducted many media interviews and public speaking appearances to help others understand how farmers sustainably produce safe, nutritious food and care for their animals and the environment. Every January, Lolly eagerly sells cheese cubes, exhibits Jersey heifers, and visits with the public during her favorite event of the year - the Pennsylvania Farm Show.

Whether Lolly is escorting the combine during harvest, relief feeding calves at the farm, or driving a carload of 4-Hers to a judging contest, her reliability is above and beyond. Three of her

greatest accolades have been selected as Outstanding Young Dairy Leaders Institute alumni, named “The Pace Setter” by the Center for Dairy Excellence, and was voted the first female

chair of the Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program board of directors.

Lolly will be presented the Dairy Hall of Fame award during the All-American Dairy Show on September 14-18, 2024, at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center in Harrisburg, Pa.

For more information, contact the All-American Dairy Show at 717.787.2905, or by email at aads@pa.gov, or visit the website at allamericandairyshow.com.