JDP senior Kylan is a quiet gentle soul. She was excited about having senior portraits created, but not necessarily about having the spotlight on herself. She’s happy to let others bathe in that light. However, her love of dairy cattle has brought that spotlight onto her for years now. She’s adjusting to the spotlight with grace that clearly wins the hearts of the judges.
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Kylan attends North Hartford High and is in an agricultural magnet program. This has helped her decide she’d like to attend University of MD or Ohio State to pursue an agricultural communications or economics degree. Growing up, Kylan’s mom shared her love of cattle with her and she found the same love. For her mom is was beef cattle, for Kylan it was dairy cattle. This love was first born in Kylan’s grandparents and has trickled its way beautifully down the generations. Kylan’s family has made wonderful memories growing up at State Fairs showing and volunteering. Kylan participates in 6-8 shows annually and has been named National Showmanship Champion.
Kylan has wracked up quite an impressive list of titles and awards from her time in the show ring. She is 2020 Ms. Maryland Agriculture which has an accompanying 8k scholarship to represent Maryland. In 2019 she was an alternate Ms. Maryland Princess and Maryland 4H public speaking champion. She won the speaking champion with a piece she wrote on A2 milk from Guernsey cows. Given the rise in lactose intolerance, Guernsey cows shine because they miss a protein which makes their milk easier to digest. In 2018 Kylan was named National Intermediate Public Speaking Champion from the Guernsey Convention. In 2018 she was also named Intermediate Showmanship at the International Livestock Show. She’s earned quite an impressive collection of ribbons and sashes from all this competing.
I always encourage JDP seniors to bring their prom gowns to their portrait time…this has taken on more significance this last year since the class of 2020 did not get to have a prom and several of the 2021 seniors have told me they’ve already been told there won’t be a prom…so much loss for these kids right now…it’s a heaviness that is exhausting on 1000 fronts.
Somehow in between all this competing and travel Kylan finds time to compete on the basketball court as well. Basketball has been her sport since 2nd grade and she plays AAU currently as a starting center coached by her dad. She has the highest free throw percentage for her school last season. She loves the fast pace and the physical contact that allows her to try out new moves she’s practiced. There’s nothing like the thrill of blocking a shot…except for maybe when she’s making a shot! You’d never know it to look at Kylan, but she battles severe rheumatoid arthritis and lupus which requires chemotherapy drugs to help treat. She’s managed to still lead a very full life full of activity despite having to travel regularly to Delaware to receive her treatments.
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Kylan has a younger brother Michael who she adores and has been a big part of shaping her into the kind soul everyone knows her for. She and her mom have an ongoing debate about who loves Michael more. Not sure who is winning at this point, but he sure is one blessed kid to have these two women looking out for him through life!
Michael has autism and is a freshman at Calvert Hall. Kylan sees it as her goal in life to help him navigate the challenges autism presents. She helps others around her to see that Michael is a gift and encourages them to see life from his perspective. She is fiercely protective of her brother who it’s clear will always be a top priority as they both walk this journey of life.
Kylan you are a treasure to everyone fortunate enough to link arms with you through this life! I wish you all the best as you navigate a very different senior year that I’m sure you were imagining for yourself! Click here to contact us re your own custom portraits.
