DAIRY ST R May 9, 2016 Introducing Your County Dairy Princesses For 2016... Special Edition In all aspects of her life, Kyla Mauk tries to live out the saying, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” This philosophy has been es- pecially insightful during her reign as the 62nd Princess Kay of the Milky Way. “As Princess Kay I try my hardest to truly listen and care about people’s opinions, and then share my message after I nd out where people are coming from so they can real- ize that I do care about what they’re thinking and why they think that way,” Mauk said. With the Dairy Prin- cess Promotion and Leader- ship Event approaching, the 19-year-old has been able to reect back on all that has hap- pened in the past year, includ- ing representing dairy farmers in Wright County as a dairy princess, along with earning the title as Princess Kay of the Milky Way in August to kick- off the Minnesota State Fair. “It’s been one of the best years of my life,” said Mauk, the daughter of dairy farmers, Chris and Harland Mauk from Howard Lake, Minn. “I’ve loved every event that I’ve gotten to do as Princess Kay, especially because I’ve got- ten to represent Minnesota’s dairy farmers and advocate for all areas of the dairy commu- nity. There’s not just one word to describe the year because it’s been so much fun and I’ve learned so much from people.” In addition to the full 12 days of promoting at the state fair, Mauk’s schedule as Prin- cess Kay has been busy – from classroom visits and school presentations to dairy industry banquets and dairy organiza- tion annual meetings. But her favorite have been the Fuel Up to Play 60 events. “Fuel Up to Play 60 is the health and wellness program that dairy farmers partnered with the National Football League to promote healthy living in students across the state,” Mauk said. “It has been awesome. I love doing those events. I’m so passionate about healthy living.” Most recently, Mauk rep- resented dairy farmers at the program’s Rewards Summit, where students visited the Vi- kings’ training eld, met with current team members and learned about healthy living. “I got to teach them about farming, we ate a healthy lunch and we made sure they were eating three dairy foods a day. The kids also did some drills with the Vikings players, which was really cool,” Mauk said. “It was so great to see young students so passionate about living a healthy and ac- tive lifestyle. It’s truly inspir- ing to me.” It also resonates with her inner athlete. Mauk ran cross country and track in high school. “I still go for a run or go to the gym almost every day. My roommate and I just signed up for a half marathon. We’re really excited to train for that. I’m a little nervous but I think we can do it,” she said. This health-conscience lifestyle goes well with one of Mauk’s favorite dairy mes- sages to share as Princess Kay – the health benets of eating dairy foods. “It’s something I really love talking about, especially when it comes to sharing the goodness of drinking choco- late milk after a workout. Be- ing an athlete – I enjoy going for runs – it’s something I hold near and dear to my heart, and I want to make sure everyone can get those three servings of dairy foods every day because they’re so delicious and nutri- tious,” she said. Mauk wants to share this message and other dairy in- formation as much as she can, especially after a surprising moment while visiting a class- room in Rochester. “Students did not know anything about dairy farm- ing because our population is getting so far removed from production agriculture. That just ensures that Princess Kay and the dairy princess pro- gram across the state will al- ways have a job that people are learning how safe their dairy foods are and how great Min- nesota’s dairy farmers are,” Mauk said. Sometimes encountering people who are far removed from farming can be a chal- lenge, she said. “Students hear miscon- ceptions from the Internet and other people who don’t under- stand agriculture,” Mauk said. “I’m glad I’ve been able to clear up some of those miscon- ceptions.” These encounters have fur- ther solidied her career path. The South Dakota State Uni- versity sophomore is study- ing agriculture education and agricultural law with hopes of working in ag policy before becoming a high school agri- culture teacher. “I’ve learned that I ab- solutely love advocating for dairy. I knew that before, but being Princess Kay and having to go to different events made me realize I want to do that for the rest of my life in anyway possible. That’s why I chose ag policy and ag education – so I can continue to teach people about where their food is com- ing from because so many peo- ple don’t understand,” Mauk said. One year ago, she was pre- paring for the 12 months that would change her life. She re- members how she was feeling walking into the judging room during the Dairy Princess Pro- motion and Leadership Event in 2015. “I was nervous, but that was a good thing. It was a good nervous because it was some- thing I loved and have wanted since I was a little girl. It’s been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember,” Mauk said. Growing up her fam- ily’s fourth-generation 88-cow dairy in Howard Lake, Mauk would watch as other young women wore the crown as Princess Kay and shared their dairy message. Now that she’s been able to have that experience, Mauk gives advice to the young women vying for the 12 cov- eted nalist spots. “Be yourself because when you’re connecting with people, you want to be your- self and they want to see a face behind dairy farms so they can trust farmers in Minnesota and trust where their food is com- ing from,” she said. She also suggests dairy princesses talk to dairy produc- ers in their county to see how they would handle hard ques- tions. “They know so much, es- pecially because a lot of them have been in the business for quite a few years,” Mauk said. After the Dairy Princess Promotion and Leadership Event, the rest of Mauk’s summer is packed with other events, especially breakfasts on the farm, lunches and din- ners on the dairy. “The one I’m specical- ly excited about is the one in Wright County because that’s my home county,” she said. “It gives me a chance to thank all of the dairy farmers and com- munity members who have been there for me over the last year. Being the rst Princess Kay from Wright County, they have been such great support in helping me in any way I needed it.” Regardless of the type of event or where it is located, Mauk said she will put her whole heart into it, showing people she cares about her role as Princess Kay. “I can’t wait for the last 3.5 months to continue so I can do as much as I can,” Mauk said. Mauk has a heart for the industry Princess Kay shares the story of Minnesota’s dairy farmers By Krista Kuzma [email protected]PHOTO SUBMITTED Kyla Mauk, 62nd Princess Kay of the Milky Way, visits with students during a Fuel Up to Play 60 event at the Vikings’ training eld.
Transcript
DAIRY ST RMay 9, 2016
Introducing Your County Dairy Princesses For 2016...
Special Edition
In all aspects of her life, Kyla Mauk tries to live out the saying, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” This philosophy has been es-pecially insightful during her reign as the 62nd Princess Kay of the Milky Way. “As Princess Kay I try my hardest to truly listen and care about people’s opinions, and then share my message after I nd out where people are coming from so they can real-ize that I do care about what they’re thinking and why they think that way,” Mauk said. With the Dairy Prin-cess Promotion and Leader-ship Event approaching, the 19-year-old has been able to re ect back on all that has hap-pened in the past year, includ-ing representing dairy farmers in Wright County as a dairy princess, along with earning the title as Princess Kay of the Milky Way in August to kick-off the Minnesota State Fair. “It’s been one of the best years of my life,” said Mauk, the daughter of dairy farmers, Chris and Harland Mauk from Howard Lake, Minn. “I’ve loved every event that I’ve gotten to do as Princess Kay, especially because I’ve got-ten to represent Minnesota’s dairy farmers and advocate for all areas of the dairy commu-nity. There’s not just one word to describe the year because it’s been so much fun and I’ve learned so much from people.” In addition to the full 12 days of promoting at the state fair, Mauk’s schedule as Prin-cess Kay has been busy – from classroom visits and school presentations to dairy industry banquets and dairy organiza-tion annual meetings. But her favorite have been the Fuel Up to Play 60 events. “Fuel Up to Play 60 is the health and wellness program that dairy farmers partnered with the National Football
League to promote healthy living in students across the state,” Mauk said. “It has been awesome. I love doing those events. I’m so passionate about healthy living.” Most recently, Mauk rep-resented dairy farmers at the program’s Rewards Summit, where students visited the Vi-kings’ training eld, met with current team members and learned about healthy living. “I got to teach them about farming, we ate a healthy lunch and we made sure they were eating three dairy foods a day. The kids also did some drills with the Vikings players, which was really cool,” Mauk said. “It was so great to see young students so passionate about living a healthy and ac-tive lifestyle. It’s truly inspir-ing to me.” It also resonates with her inner athlete. Mauk ran cross country and track in high school. “I still go for a run or go to the gym almost every day. My roommate and I just signed up for a half marathon. We’re really excited to train for that. I’m a little nervous but I think we can do it,” she said. This health-conscience lifestyle goes well with one of Mauk’s favorite dairy mes-sages to share as Princess Kay – the health bene ts of eating dairy foods. “It’s something I really love talking about, especially when it comes to sharing the goodness of drinking choco-late milk after a workout. Be-ing an athlete – I enjoy going for runs – it’s something I hold near and dear to my heart, and I want to make sure everyone can get those three servings of dairy foods every day because they’re so delicious and nutri-tious,” she said. Mauk wants to share this message and other dairy in-formation as much as she can, especially after a surprising moment while visiting a class-room in Rochester. “Students did not know
anything about dairy farm-ing because our population is getting so far removed from production agriculture. That just ensures that Princess Kay and the dairy princess pro-gram across the state will al-ways have a job that people are learning how safe their dairy foods are and how great Min-nesota’s dairy farmers are,” Mauk said. Sometimes encountering people who are far removed from farming can be a chal-lenge, she said. “Students hear miscon-ceptions from the Internet and other people who don’t under-stand agriculture,” Mauk said. “I’m glad I’ve been able to clear up some of those miscon-ceptions.” These encounters have fur-ther solidi ed her career path. The South Dakota State Uni-versity sophomore is study-ing agriculture education and agricultural law with hopes of working in ag policy before becoming a high school agri-culture teacher. “I’ve learned that I ab-solutely love advocating for dairy. I knew that before, but being Princess Kay and having to go to different events made me realize I want to do that for the rest of my life in anyway possible. That’s why I chose ag
policy and ag education – so I can continue to teach people about where their food is com-ing from because so many peo-ple don’t understand,” Mauk said. One year ago, she was pre-paring for the 12 months that would change her life. She re-members how she was feeling walking into the judging room during the Dairy Princess Pro-motion and Leadership Event in 2015. “I was nervous, but that was a good thing. It was a good nervous because it was some-thing I loved and have wanted since I was a little girl. It’s been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember,” Mauk said. Growing up her fam-ily’s fourth-generation 88-cow dairy in Howard Lake, Mauk would watch as other young women wore the crown as Princess Kay and shared their dairy message. Now that she’s been able to have that experience, Mauk gives advice to the young women vying for the 12 cov-eted nalist spots. “Be yourself because when you’re connecting with people, you want to be your-self and they want to see a face behind dairy farms so they can trust farmers in Minnesota and trust where their food is com-
ing from,” she said. She also suggests dairy princesses talk to dairy produc-ers in their county to see how they would handle hard ques-tions. “They know so much, es-pecially because a lot of them have been in the business forquite a few years,” Mauk said. After the Dairy Princess Promotion and LeadershipEvent, the rest of Mauk’s summer is packed with other events, especially breakfasts on the farm, lunches and din-ners on the dairy. “The one I’m speci cal-ly excited about is the one inWright County because that’s my home county,” she said. “It gives me a chance to thank all of the dairy farmers and com-munity members who have been there for me over the lastyear. Being the rst Princess Kay from Wright County, theyhave been such great support in helping me in any way Ineeded it.” Regardless of the type of event or where it is located,Mauk said she will put herwhole heart into it, showing people she cares about her role as Princess Kay. “I can’t wait for the last 3.5 months to continue so I can doas much as I can,” Mauk said.
Mauk has a heart for the industryPrincess Kay shares the story of Minnesota’s dairy farmers
PHOTO SUBMITTEDKyla Mauk, 62nd Princess Kay of the Milky Way, visits with students during a Fuel Up to Play 60event at the Vikings’ training eld.
Page 2 • Dairy Star • Monday, May 9, 2016
Parents: Steve and Jen BuetowTown: Cologne
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I was born on my family’s dairy farm and have worked on the farm for as long as I can re-member, I couldn’t imag-ine growing up any other way. I feel privileged to be able to have the farm experience while growing up. I will be attending the University of Wisconsin-River Falls this fall to pur-sue a major in animal sci-ence with an emphasis in equine or dairy.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I can relate to the people I am promoting (dairy farmers) because I work right along-side them while they work.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? Many children look up to a princess gure and may be more willing to listen to them. It is also my job to promote the healthy bene ts of dairy prod-ucts.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? I would share that all of those tasty, healthy dairy products that help make a perfect break-fast are produced from the tender care of a farmer and his happy cows.
Parents: Amos and Mari-anne VogelTown: Morgan
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I’m a senior in high school. I’ve participated in basketball and volley-ball. I have also been the choir president, New Ulm FFA President and Region VII FFA Sentinel. I enjoy hunting, reading, sports and have played piano for 14 years. I live on a farm outside of Morgan, and I work at Olmar Dairy Farms. I own ve calves. I plan to attend the Univer-sity of Wisconsin-Steven’s Point to major in resource management law enforcement.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I am very passionate and driven in whatever activity I participate in. I enjoy encouraging others to become a part of these kinds of programs. I am outgoing, self-con dent and have a desire to serve the community, as well as others outside of my com-munity. I relate well to people and enjoy starting new conversations with strangers.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? As a dairy princess, I encourage the con-sumption of dairy. It is important to share the message that dairy products are an important part of an indi-vidual’s daily diet. I will show people facts and share my experience with dairy so that they might become interested as well.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? In this situation, it would be impor-tant to focus on the fact that the food they are con-suming is completely safe to eat. Besides this fact, it would be important to show how the breakfast gets ‘from the eld to you.’
Parents: Steve and Barb SeifertTown: Sleepy Eye
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your fu-ture plans. I am nishing up my rst year at Winona State University where I am double-majoring in business administration and human resources, and minoring in music. In my free time, I enjoy singing, playing guitar and piano, and watching Minnesota sports teams. I live on a dairy farm where we milk 300 Holstein cows three times a day. Following graduation from college, I hope to work in human resources for either an agricul-tural company or a print music company.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I believe that when you are passionate about something, you will go above and beyond for it. I have a passion for the dairy industry and representing the hard-working dairy farmers that help produce wholesome, nutritious dairy products. Furthermore, I feel like I am a very approachable per-son that is always willing to talk to other people and answer questions, especially regarding the dairy in-dustry.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? Since I go to a college where agricultural education is not integrated into the schooling system, I have taken the initiative to promote dairy products by writing random dairy facts on my dorm door, wearing a “got milk?” t-shirt around campus, and sharing nutritional information of dairy products with my friends.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? If I was helping at a breakfast on the farm, I would focus on the message that dairy cattle are healthy and well cared for. Since the public has the opportunity to be on the farm, they get to see rsthand how well the dairy cattle are being treated. Therefore, with my focus on the well-being of our dairy cattle, in addition to being able to witness the cattle direct-ly, the consumers that were at the event would leave the farm with no questions on the healthy lives of the dairy cows at our dairy farms.
Parents: John and Patty RosenhammerTown: Sleepy Eye
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I grew up on our fourth-generation family dairy farm, which is cur-rently owned by my dad and my uncle, Greg. Our farm consists of 200 milk-ing cows and the replace-ments that we raise. We currently are running 580 acres of farmland. Next fall, I plan to attend South Dakota State University to earn my bachelor’s degree in nursing.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? In addition to growing up on a dairy farm, I am an active member of 4-H and FFA. This has helped me develop leadership skills, which allows me to better interact with consumers and educate the public about the im-portance of agriculture.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? Being a dairy princess provides me with
Parents: Tom and Mary PortnerTown: Sleepy Eye
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. Port-Haven Dairy, where I grew up with my four sisters, is home to 270 registered Brown Swiss cows. Life on this farm fostered my great love and immense passion for the dairy in-dustry. I am currently ma-joring in dairy science at Iowa State University and hope to continue my edu-cation through a masters or doctorate degree in ru-minant nutrition. Working with livestock in develop-ing countries is something I aspire to do.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I possess the strength of being a lifetime learner by continually seeking new knowl-edge that enables me to keep up to date with current events in the dairy industry, as well as in the consum-er’s world. Being open about who I am empowers me to connect with fellow dairy farmers and curious con-sumers. I have a talent for simplifying complex con-cepts into simple ideas to decrease misunderstandings between farmers and consumers.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? As a dairy industry advocate, I nd myself mentioning the nutritional bene ts of including dairy in one’s diet when conversing with my peers. I do this by encouraging my workout friends to have a glass of chocolate milk or mentioning that Greek yogurt is a very versatile baking tool to fellow baking enthu-siasts. It is my job to educate consumers about the importance of including the nine essential nutrients found in dairy in their diets.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? A breakfast on the farm provides an opportunity for complete transparency with our animal care practices. It is the perfect setting to show consumers the hard work that goes into ensuring that the comfort, health and well-being of each animal is maintained. Highlighting the farmer’s care for the Earth would also t the situation. I would focus on how this intense care translates into the wholesome and nutrition dairy products consumers enjoy.
even more opportunities to reach out to the public about the health bene ts that dairy products have to offer. For example, at local community events such as the home show, where I distribute cheese samples, I am able to talk rsthand to consumers and answer their questions about the industry.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? Breakfast on the farm would allow me to educate the public of how well cows are taken care of and assure the consumers that dairy products are safe. Being on the farm would allow them to ex-perience this rsthand. For instance, every spring we allow the local pre-schoolers to visit our farm. This is an effort to teach the next generation about where their food comes from.
Brown County
Carley Buetow, 18Dairy Star Sponsor:
Bongards’ CreameriesCologne, MN952-466-3554
Mariah Vogel, 17Dairy Star Sponsor:
First Security Bank Sleepy Eye, MN507-794-3911
Bethany Seifert, 18Dairy Star Sponsor:
First District Association
Litch eld, MN320-693-3236
Becca Rosenhammer, 19
Dairy Star Sponsor:AMPI
New Ulm Division507-354-8295www.ampi.com
Sabrina Portner, 19Dairy Star Sponsor:
Champion Milking Systems
Albany, MN800-866-3098
Brown County continued Brown County continued
Carver County
Carver County continued on next page
Princess Facts:Wright County’s program started attending several libraries in the county to read dairy stories and
serve ice cream to the adults and children in attendance. The largest group is in Delano with 300 to 400
people attending.
Dairy Star • Monday, May 9, 2016 • Page 3Carver County continued Carver County continued
Chisago County continued on next page
Chisago County
Parents: Mark and Juile HesseTown: Cologne
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I currently live on a sixth-generation dairy farm. My family milks about 120 Holstein cows. I currently work at a daycare center with 2 and 3 year olds. I am currently a freshman at Hennepen Technical College, I am looking to get my associ-ate’s degree in child de-velopment.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? The qualities I possess that make me a good dairy princess are that I am friendly, outgoing and I like to talk to kids about my family’s farm. I enjoy seeing their faces light up when they hear about the cows.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? As a dairy princess, I will encourage people who are lactose intolerant to try lactose-free milk in-stead of completely taking dairy out of their diet. That way, they are still getting the nine essential nutrients to live a strong, healthy life.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? One key message that I would focus on is that dairy farmers take care of their cows. They feed them twice a day, milk them two to three times a day; and give them a clean and safe place to live.
Parents: Kevin and Tara LindahlTown: Lindstrom
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I am cur-rently a sophomore at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, but I am transfer-ring to the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities so that I can major in animal science. When I am not at college, I live and work at Lindahl Farms LLC., the 300-cow dairy farm started by my grandpar-ents and taken over by my father and uncle. We have mostly Holstein cattle, but enjoy having a few Jerseysas well.
What qualities do you possess that make you agood dairy princess? My enthusiasm for the industryis the foremost requirement for being a dairy princess.Welcoming people’s questions and working hard togive them correct information is vital to maintaining apositive image for our industry. I also take pride in mycommunication skills, which are imperative to help-ing others understand the efforts of farmers.
Parents: Tim and Jenny HoltTown: Taylors Falls
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your fu-ture plans. I am a senior at Chisago Lakes High School. I am involved in choir, 4-H, FFA, and la-crosse. Next year, I plan on attending the Univer-sity of Wisconsin -River Falls to major in equine management and minor in agricultural business. I am currently working on DNA Farms located in Lindstrom. On the farm, I care for the calves, milk the cows, and help to maintain a clean and healthy working farm.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I believe that my personal qualities make me a good dairy princess. My energetic char-acter makes me fun to be around. I am very easy to talk to and I enjoy educating others and answering questions to the best of my ability. In times of stress, I remain calm and seek out a solution. I treasure the people I meet and the relationships that form.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? As a dairy princess, it is my duty to edu-cate the public about the importance of healthy living. Not only do we need to consume dairy products, but we also need to have a healthy and balanced lifestyle. Through dairy princess activities, I am able to get in touch with the public and share my knowledge about healthy living.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? The main message that I would fo-cus on is that dairy cattle receive the best treatment possible. We, as farmers, care about our cows. Each day, our cows have clean places to lay, fresh water to drink and plenty of food to eat. They are also re-ceive any veterinary treatment that they may require. Before becoming a farmer, we study each and every thing about our animals to be sure that they have the best care possible.
Parents: Paul and Sue StueweTown: Cologne
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I have been a three sport athlete, a member and of cer of my school’s FFA chapter, and I am in the concert and jazz band. I live and work on my family’s dairy farm where we milk around 90 cows. I plan on attending South Dakota State University in the fall to pursue a degree in nursing.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I know a lot about the dairy industry and I can’t wait to inform the public about all the knowledge I have.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? I would help inform people about how nu-tritious dairy products are for you and would encour-age others to try new recipes that include dairy.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? I would focus on telling the people how cows are kept clean and comfortable and that farmers strive to keep their cows happy, because hap-py cows give more milk. I would also talk about some of the responsibilities of the farmers.
Parents: Ross and Jody SchochenmaierTown: Waconia
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I love to play sports and participate in clubs at school. I have been work-ing on the Kugath farm for over eight months with my brother and our neighbor. Next year, I plan on attending either University of Wisconsin-Platteville or University of Wisconsin-River Falls for agricultural engineer-ing.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I am very outgoing and not afraid to talk to new people. I also stand strong for anything I believe in, and I believe that spreading the word about the dairy industry.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? I believe you can encourage consumers to eat dairy by showing them just how much dairy is al-ready in their daily life.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? I’d explain to them that the dairy industry is much more than just the farms.
Parents: Joel and Barb GrimmTown: Waconia
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I live on a third-generation fam-ily farm, where we milk around 40 Holsteins. I en-joy reading, playing piano and spending time outside. I currently attend Min-nesota State University, Moorhead, with a major in English and mass commu-nications. I am unsure of what the future holds for me, but I’m excited to see where life takes me.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I care about dairy and I am enthusiastic about spreading its importance. I like to think that I am personable and approachable, so no one should be scared to ask me questions about dairy’s journey from the farm to the store, its nine es-sential vitamins and minerals, or how farmers take care of their precious cows.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? My role is to bring awareness to the im-portance of dairy as part of a healthy diet. I highlight the numerous bene ts that dairy possesses and offer suggestions for incorporating this important food group into everyone’s diet. I also encourage a healthy lifestyle through “Fuel Up to Play 60,” which is a col-laboration between the National Dairy Council and the National Football League.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? Since we would be on a farm, I would focus on how important dairy farms are to the community, as well as to the entire country. I would also focus on how proud farmers are of the whole-some, nutritious dairy product they produce and how proud they are of their cows and land.
Katelyn Hesse, 19Dairy Star Sponsor:
Lano Equipment of Norwood, Inc.
Norwood Young America, MN952-467-2181
Madelin Lindahl, 19Dairy Star Sponsor:Federated Co-op
Osceola, WI800-294-7661
Laura Holt, 17Dairy Star Sponsor:Federated Co-op
Osceola, WI800-294-7661
Clare Stuewe, 17Dairy Star Sponsor:
Prairie Farm SupplyBelle Plaine, MN
952-873-4234
Madison Schochenmaier, 17
Dairy Star Sponsor:Bongards’ Creameries
Cologne, MN952-466-3554
Laura Grimm, 18Dairy Star Sponsor:
B&R Dairy Equipment Inc.Winthrop, MN507-647-7000
Princess Facts:
The state switched over from hosting 11 regional competitions to combining all the dairy princesses
at one event to choose 12 fi nalists to run for Princess Kay of the
Milky Way in 2001.
Page 4 • Dairy Star • Monday, May 9, 2016Chisago County continued Crow Wing County continued Dodge County continued
Dodge County
Crow Wing County
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? Some people believe that dairy products are unhealthy and are unaware of the many bene ts of consuming dairy. They contain everything from pro-tein and potassium to vitamins A, D and B12. Milk is great for anybody. If people are concerned about the fat content, there are always low-fat or non-fat op-tions, which are still delicious. So my role as a dairy princess is to be always informing others, no matter my location.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? I would like to focus on my peers: college students and those in early adulthood. Some-times in transitions, such as moving away from home and going to school, people have a tough time main-taining a healthy diet; myself included. It is so impor-tant for us to consume healthy products, such as milk, to be sure we’re getting all the nutrients we need to maintain healthy bodies.
and am always kind to everyone and everything. Also, I’m a great listener and a con dent public speaker.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? As a dairy princess, I play the role of edu-cator when I encourage the public to consume dairy products every day. If we inform the public that eat-ing dairy every day is very healthy and will contribute to your well-being over your whole life, more people will consume dairy products and live a healthier life-style.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? The dairy message I would focus on would be that all animals, especially dairy cattle, are treated with kindness and respect, and they always live a full, comfortable and content life on the farm. The farmers will do everything they can to make sure that each and every cow is well taken care of every day for their whole life.
Parents: Gerald and Melissa KoeringTown: Fort Ripley
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your fu-ture plans. I am a fresh-man at Central Lakes College in Brainerd and am working towards my Associate in Arts Degree. I live on a hobby farm with dogs, cats, chickens, pygmy goats, donkeys and youngstock cattle. I work on my grandpar-ents’, Leonard and Car-leen Koering’s, organic dairy farm. In the future, I hope to continue working with animals and advocate for agriculture as much as I can.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? The qualities I have that make me a good dairy princess are that I am a great leader
Parents: Jason and Cami ReberTown: Mantorville
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I work on my dad’s dairy farm just outside of Mantorville. On the farm, I do calf chores, which includes feeding, bedding and giving vaccinations. I also bed the barns and help with vet checks. In sum-mer, I drive silage truck and pack the bunkers. My future plan is to be a so-cial worker and help on the farm as much as I can.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I lovetalking about the farm. I think it’s one of the coolest jobs out there and I am very happy that I get to be a part of it. I also love kids, so going out and talking to kids isgoing to be one of my favorite things.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthylifestyle? Working on a dairy farm and telling people the bene ts of dairy can help them choose a healthierchoice, like milk instead of pop or yogurt instead ofchips.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visitingwith the public? I want people to know the importance of our animal care practices.
Parents: Patrick and Emma O’BrienTown: Kasson
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I am the fourth old-est of Patrick and Emma O’Brien’s six children. I live on my family’s dairy farm near Kasson. We milk around 110 Holstein cows and have about 200 young-stock and steers. My fam-ily farms around 300 acres. On the farm I take care of the newborn calves, keep records of the milk cows, help with eldwork and anywhere else I’m needed. This is my second year running for Dodge County Dairy Princess. In 2014, I graduated high school from Kasson-Mantorville. I am in my second year at Rochester Community and Tech-nical College for a two-year youth works degree. The Carriage House is going to sponsor me again this year. I hope to one day help run the family dairy farm.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I am a friendly and caring person who believes in the dairy industry and the things it stands for. I also want to help spread the word and educate people on things that are going on in the dairy industry.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthylifestyle? When I go out with people, I usually always order milk, when it’s available. I also encourage others with me to order milk, however, I do not force them.Also, when I see little kids I tell them to drink milk,because what else are you going to drink?
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, whatdairy message would you focus on while visitingwith the public? I would let them know how impor-tant it is to support the dairy industry, because it has slowly been decreasing throughout the years. We wantto be able to continue to provide safe and healthy dairy products in a timely manner for our consumers.
Parents: Jon and Kim KlejeskiTown: Claremont
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I am cur-rently enrolled at North-east Iowa Community College in the dairy sci-ence technology program in hopes of pursuing a career within the dairy in-dustry. Throughout high school, I was very active in FFA, 4-H, Minnesota Brown Swiss Association, the local American Dairy Association and a variety of events promoting the dairy industry in the Owatonna community. I now work on a 200-cow dairy farm in Mantorville, milk-ing cows and assisting with a variety of tasks on the farm.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I am passionate about the dairy industry and strive to educate consumers about all as-pects of the industry. I am willing to visit with the public about any questions they may have regarding the dairy industry.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? Encouraging the consumption of dairy products plays a major role as a dairy princess. Get-ting your three servings of dairy products a day is just as important for your health as eating your vegetables or exercising.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? I would focus on cow comfort and health. Dairy producers strive to keep their cows clean, comfortable, well fed and healthy. Dairy cat-tle are kept comfortable and healthy by a variety of ways such as clean and dry bedding, fresh feed two to three times a day and proper temperature control in the barns, such as using fans and/or sprinklers in the summer.
Parents: Heath and Amy OkerstromTown: Chisago City
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your fu-ture plans. I am a senior at Chisago Lakes High School. I work on a third generation family farm out of Lindstrom, where we milk 100 cows. I milk, care for calves and help with anything I can on the farm. I will be attending South Dakota State Uni-versity this fall to pursue a major in dairy production.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I have a strong passion for the dairy industry, which al-lows me to have fun while teaching about dairy. I love talking with people, sharing my story and listening to what other people’s stories are, too.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? I am a role model for the industry and it is my job to inform the public about the many positive things that come out of consuming dairy products.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? I would try to focus on where the breakfast came from and talk about the nutritional im-portance of consuming dairy.
Alyson Koering, 19Dairy Star Sponsor:Nelson Insurance
AgencyFort Ripley & Upsala, MN
320-573-2151
Haley Reber, 18Dairy Star Sponsor:
Midwest Livestock Systems, Inc.
Pine Island, MN800-233-8937
Morgan O’Brien, 20Dairy Star Sponsor:
Dodge Veterinary ClinicDodge Center, MN
507-374-2125Carriage House Animal
HospitalKasson, MN
507-634-6781
Makaila Klejeski, 18Dairy Star Sponsor:Northland Farm
SystemsOwatonna, MN507-451-3131
Madi Okerstrom, 18Dairy Star Sponsor:Federated Co-op
Osceola, WI800-294-7661
Princess Facts:The fi rst Princess Kay to be sculpted in butter was Karen Bracken Geier from Lincoln County in 1964, but it was not
carved at the state fair.
Turn to Page 20 for Douglas County
Dairy Star • Monday, May 9, 2016 • Page 5Fillimore County continued Fillimore County continued
Fillmore County
East Otter Tail CountyParents: Sandy and Gary WeeTown: Spring Valley
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I currently work at two dairy farms, Heusinkvelds and B & C Farms. I plan to attend Riverland Community College to get my CDL and welding certi cate, and possibly pursue some-thing in the dairy industry. I will be working at the farms while I am in col-lege.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I never grew up on a farm, yet decided to get a job on a farm, which I truly love with a passion. I want to help girls and other people who never grew up on a farm to understand it is OK to try something new; you may love where it takes you.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? I provide it at every meal. Drink two glasses of milk instead of a pop and encourage others to do the same. Also have people try new types of cheeses, or if they are lactose intolerant, I recommend Fairlife milk.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? Farmers really care for their animals and want to provide the best and safest way to get the dairy products to you. I would encourage everyone to consume more dairy products on a daily basis and also get more people to join the farm life.
Parents: Todd and Stacy LeidingTown: Fountain
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your fu-ture plans. I am the fourth generation on my family dairy farm, Shir-Man Hol-steins, where we currently milk around 65 registered Holsteins and farm 360 acres of corn, alfalfa and soybeans. Some of my main responsibilities on the farm include milking, feeding, bedding, calf care and managing the show heifers. In the future, I hope to be employed in the agricultural industry working with public relations and communications, and then eventually dairy farming.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I am very passionate about the dairy industry. My life has always been centered around dairy cattle, and I enjoy sharing my story with anyone, wherever and at any occasion I can. I am also an approachable person. I can engage in conversation with people, and I am always welcoming when they have questions that need to be answered. I love meet-ing new people and discussing the dairy community whenever I have the opportunity.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? As a dairy princess, it is my job to promote dairy products in every way I can. I am a face of the farmers producing the products for consumers, so it is important for me to inform consumers about how nutrient-packed and affordable dairy products are. I will focus on stressing the many different varieties and avors that milk, cheese and yogurt come in to meet the needs of everyone.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? While helping at breakfast on the farm, I would focus on the constant care that farmers provide for their animals. The public would be able to view for themselves the practices dairy farmers use on their farms. I would also explain why producers do what they do to ensure that all animals receive proper care.
Parents: Todd and Stacy LeidingTown: Fountain
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. On our family farm, Shir-Man Registered Holsteins, we currently milk around 65 registered Holsteins in a tiestall barn. In addition to dairy cattle, we farm around 360 acres of al-falfa, corn and soybeans. Currently, I am nishing my freshman year at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities where I am majoring in agricultural education and minoring in animal science. My professional goal is to be a high school agricultural education teacher and FFA advi-sor.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I love to communicate a posi-
Parents: Matthew and Sharon WangenTown: Albert Lea
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I live on a small dairy farm with my par-ents and brother. Our fam-ily farm has gone through ve generations of dairy farmers. We milk about 40 cows and raise all of our own replacement heifers. My favorite thing to do on the farm is help with feeding the calves. I hope to always be involved in the family dairy and help promote the best industry there is.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I love to educate people on the bene ts of the dairy industry. I believe it’s my job as dairy princess to show that farmers take good care oftheir animals. They do everything they can to keep their animals healthy and happy. Dairy is extremely important for our daily health, and it’s my job as the Freeborn County Dairy Princess to inform my com-munity of the bene ts of these wholesome products.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthylifestyle? It’s so important to consume dairy prod-ucts. They help build strong muscles and bones. Thissummer I will go to our local grocery store and passout cheese samples to help promote dairy products.It’s also important to eat dairy products for breakfast,lunch and dinner, three times a day. I will also pro-mote eating dairy products three times a day when I visit the grocery store.
Parents: Robert and Ramona WipplerTown: Parkers Prairie
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your fu-ture plans. I am currently a senior in high school involved in many activi-ties. My favorites include: tennis, track, band, choir, FFA and 4-H. I will be at-tending the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities in the fall, with the plans to major in Spanish. I’m the youngest of ve children. It’s just my parents and I living on a farm outside of Urbank, where we milk just under 40 cows. Dur-ing the summer months our cows are rotationally grazed.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I think that in order to be a good representative (as a dairy princess should be) for any industry, the representative needs to be passionate about what he or she is representing. As a good dairy princess, I have a passion within me for the industry and farmers. I also possess these qualities: honesty, respectfulness, commitment and dependability. All these qualities will aid me in representing the dairy industry in the best light possible.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? My role as a dairy princess is to be an edu-cator to the public on all the bene ts of dairy foods. For example, many people shy away from the price of milk and purchase other beverages, like soft drinks that cost less, even though the nutrition in milk is much healthier than soft drinks and completely worth the price. It’s my job as an educator to remind the public of the basic building blocks of a healthy life-style, which includes the consumption of dairy foods.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? One message I would focus on with the public is making sure they understand how much we, as farmers, care about our livestock and our farmland. Much of the public has no connection with agriculture, which is why it is so important that they understand that caring for the environment and our cows is a priority. The ag industry respects the land and animals.
tive image for the dairy industry by telling my per-sonal stories from growing up on a dairy farm and being the face for other dairy producers. I also love to help people and inform them of what is happening in the dairy community by sharing facts and helpful examples. Finally, I am a very dedicated person and will put my heart into promoting the dairy community because it has made me who I am today.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? I believe my role as a dairy princess is to promote the nutritional importance to all audiences. I believe focusing on young consumers and informing them of all the choices there are with dairy products and how important they are for development is key. By getting a child excited about dairy products, they could become a lifelong consumer.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? I would focus on the message that it takes just 48 hours for milk from the farm to be processed and arrive on a consumer’s table. I think this would be great because the public can see exactly where the milk originates from and how much work farmers put into producing a wholesome and nutri-tious product for the consumers to drink.
Makala Nauman, 17Dairy Star Sponsor:American Coop
www.allamericancoop.com507-533-4222
Kayla Leiding, 19Dairy Star Sponsor:
AMPIRochester Division
507-282-7401www.ampi.com
Haely Leiding, 19Dairy Star Sponsor:
AMPIRochester Division
507-282-7401www.ampi.com
Rachel Wangen, 17Dairy Star Sponsor:
Wingert Sales & ServicePlainview, MN 507-534-4386
Elizabeth Wippler, 18
Dairy Star Sponsor:Pro-Ag Farmer’s Co-op
Urbank, MN218-267-2401
Freeborn County
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Goodhue County
Hennepin County
Hennepin County continued on next page
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? I would like to inform the public on the healthy aspects of dairy products. I would also educate the public that dairy farmers treat their ani-mals well, and show them that farmers do everything they can for their animals. In many cases, it seems that dairy farmers take better care of their cows than they do themselves.
about the goodness and nutritious value of dairy prod-ucts in the high school classrooms.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? The positive dairy princess traits I possess include my positive outlook on life and my strong work ethic. A positive outlook will bring a smile to anyone’s face, especially when talking about our hardworking dairy farmers. My strong work ethic helps me as dairy princess so I can do the best I can when out in the community. Being able persevere, troubleshoot, and to never give up my beliefs is very important.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? As a dairy princess, I can spread the good news about dairy and the bene ts of the wholesome products. To go out in the community and be an ad-vocate for our hardworking local farmers is the best part. I want to help debunk the tragic myths that are being told about milk, cheese, and other dairy prod-ucts. I think it’s very important to become a strong promoter, supporter and sponsor of our hardworking dairy industry.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? My favorite dairy message would be, “from farm to fork in 48 hours” by producing fresh, local and sustainable dairy foods. This message will ensure our consumers and people in the local community that our dairy products are fresh and safe to consume. Dairy farmers, like my family, work hard to get their products out to the community in a fresh, local and sustainable fashion.
Parents: Ted and Lora KellerTown: Bellechester
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I am major-ing in family consumer sciences education with a health and wellness minor at the University of Wis-consin-Stout. I love cook-ing, baking and sewing. Living and working on my parent’s family farm is where I enjoy my time. My family of 11 operates our 200-cow Holstein dairy farm. In the future, I plan to educate people
Parents: John and Staci ScherberTown: Rogers
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your fu-ture plans. I am currently studying at the University of Wisconsin- River Falls, majoring in dairy manage-ment. I also work on our family farm milking the cows and taking care of the calves. We are current-ly in the exciting process of expanding our herd to prepare for future genera-tions. I am a fourth gener-ation farmer and love the life of a farmer. My plans after college are to assist with herd management anddairy production on my dad’s farm.
What qualities do you possess that make you agood dairy princess? I am greatly enthused to beable to support the farmers and promote the dairy in-dustry. Not only does experience on my family’s farmprovide me with tools to speak to others, but also myeducation is focused on entering into the dairy busi-ness world. In addition, I have had a lot experience
Parents: Jeff and Shelley BurschTown: Green eld
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. Growing up on my family’s dairy farm, where we milk about 50 cows, has made me into the respon-sible and hard working person that I am today. I am currently in the animal science program at South Dakota State University, but plan on transferring into the dairy science pro-gram at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls this fall. Switching my major to dairy science is based on the important role cows have played in my life.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? One of the qualities that makes me a good dairy princess is the fact that I have grown up with cows my whole life. From bottle feeding calves to milking cows, I have learned hands-on some of the most important processes in the dairy industry. I have also come to experience and appreciate the amount of work and effort it takes to keep a dairy farm going, especially when the markets are poor.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? As a dairy princess, I want to encourage people to consume their recommended amount of three dairy servings each day because of the great nu-trition it provides to our bodies. Dairy products are rich in calcium and protein, which helps our bones and muscles grow and remain strong. Many people worry about the fat content of certain dairy products, but there are alternatives, such as skim milk. Also, re-member that everything is good in moderation.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? I would focus on stressing the im-portance of eating a nutritious breakfast every day and how people can do that with different dairy prod-ucts. I would give examples of different breakfast combinations that involve dairy products like cereal and milk, yogurt and fruit, and pancakes and sausage. I would also talk about and inform the public of how these different dairy products get from the farm to the breakfast table.
Parents: Bernardo and Cenorina MonjarazTown: Goodhue
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I am attend-ing school at Rochester Community and Technical College. I am majoring in nursing. My family is made up of seven people. I have four other sisters. My parents are Bernardo and Cenorina Monjaraz. I work at Bur end Dairy Farm. My responsibility is to milk cows. I make sure they are in good health. That way they are produc-ing high quality milk.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? One quality that I possess is that I love being able to teach people. I like being able to talk to people and help them understand what goes into the products that they buy.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? I encourage a healthy lifestyle by going out and running. If it is not in the morning, it’s at night. After a nice run or walk, I go home and drink a cup of milk. It really hits the spot after exercise. Milk also contains nine essential nutrients, so that’s a bonus.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? I would focus on the fact that milk has nine essential nutrients and that the farmers work really hard to provide the highest quality product to satisfy the consumers.
Parent: Tim HinrichsTown: Goodhue
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I currently attend Iowa State Univer-sity where I am majoring in agriculture communica-tions and minoring in ani-mal science. My goal is to be an advocate for the ag-riculture and dairy indus-tries. I hope to share my passion for such a great industry and teach others about where their food comes from. I grew up on a small Holstein dairy farm just outside of Goodhue. My primary duties on the farm include milking cows and helping with calf chores.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I love asking people questions and learning new things about them. This really al-lows me to hold comfortable and interesting conver-sations with a variety of people. I have a huge passion for the agriculture and dairy industry, which makes being a dairy princess very enjoyable. Throughout the years, I have acquired a lot of knowledge about agri-culture, attained different leadership and communica-tion skills, and I also developed a drive for doing what I love, advocating.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? My role of encouraging dairy consumption is to educate and teach people of all ages about the dairy industry. It’s my job to share with others our farming practices, the nutritional bene ts of dairy products, and many other aspects of the dairy indus-try. It is also important that I answer questions and calm any concerns about the dairy industry and its products.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? Breakfast on the farm is a great opportunity to share with the public the different production practices farmers use to produce milk. I would like to be able to show the public the different housing methods, different feeds used, how a milking facility works, a life cycle of a cow, and everywhere in between. This is really the time to teach consumers where their milk comes from and give them a hands-on experience.
Juliann Keller, 18Dairy Star Sponsor:First Farmer’s & Merchants BankGoodhue, MN
www.ffmbank.com
Quinci Scherber, 22Dairy Star Sponsor:Federated Co-opAlbertville, MN763-497-2122
Sydney Bursch, 18Dairy Star Sponsor:Federated Co-opAlbertville, MN763-497-2122
Mayra Monjaraz-Olmos, 19
Dairy Star Sponsor:First District Association
Litch eld, MN320-693-3236
Haley Hinrichs, 18Dairy Star Sponsor:
Boettcher TransportPlainview, MN 507-696-5285
Princess Facts:The fi rst Princess Kay to be
sculpted in butter at the state fair was Mary Ann Titrud Springer from
Todd County in 1965.
Dairy Star • Monday, May 9, 2016 • Page 7Hennepin County continued Houston County continued
Houston County
Kanabec County
Kandiyohi County
Isanti County
in speaking to others, whether it was speaking at a Pro-Life rally or to representatives at the State House when defending certain bills. I also love my lifestyle and want to share it with anyone I can. There is so much joy that comes from being a dairy farmer and many do not understand that.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? As a dairy princess, I need to encourage oth-ers that dairy needs to be a part of their everyday diet. There are certain nutrients that dairy products contain that are vital for a healthy and active life. There are many different ways to consume dairy in order to in-corporate it into meals. Dairy is vital for growing chil-dren as well as adults who want to remain healthy and energetic in their work.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? Everything that the visitors expe-rienced came from cows who are happy and farmers who care about the animals and its products. There is so much work that goes into creating just one breakfast for each visitor. These products came from dedicated, hardworking and caring farmers who work 24/7 to ensure that their cattle are strong and their product is healthy. As the visitors can experience for themselves, the cows are very comfortable and stress free. They are kept clean and well-fed and experience freedom throughout the day. Farmers are aware at all times of the comfort of their animals and the need to ensure safe products. They sacri ce a lot to give that to the consumer.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? The dairy message that I would fo-cus on while visiting with the public would be animal care. There’s no better place to talk about this subject than right on the farm. Being able to show speci c examples of the little things that we do to keep cows comfortable and happy is very important. Allowing the public to visit a farm and explaining what farmers do can clear up lots of concerns the public may have.
Parents: Rod and Naomi LindquistTown: Kerkhoven
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your fu-ture plans. While being a senior in high school, I live a very busy life and I am involved in a ton of organizations. These in-clude boys basketball and baseball stats, National Honor Society, Bridges to the Future, FFA, 4-H, danceline, lyrical and con-temporary dance, band, jazz band, marching band, solo/ensemble and senior class president. My family owns and operates a dairy farm on which we milk 120 cows in a swing-8 parlor.I milk on average 3-4 times a week, but my dad is veryunderstanding when I have other things happening atschool. We also raise chickens for eggs and have two dogs. While I like to do many things involving dairy cattle, my favorite job is to pick up hay bales in the summer. My future plans are to attend the Universityof North Dakota for airport management.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? Unlike most people, I lovepublic speaking. I actually like getting up in front of a bunch of people I don’t know and sharing impor-tant things with them. I have experience in providing people proper information instead of the myths theyhave heard about dairy and farming, and I love thatthey know the truth.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthylifestyle? As a dairy princess, I strive to inform peopleknow of importance in consuming dairy on a daily ba-sis because of its nutritional value. Dairy is important in the growth of strong bones and teeth. Also, I have been taught that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and drinking milk at breakfast ensures asuccessful day. If you eat right, you have a great day.
Parents: Peter and Stacy RipkaTown: Ogilvie
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I graduated from Ogilvie High School. I enjoy spending time with my animals especially my cats. On my parents farm we milk about 200 cows. We raise all of our own replacements, and crop farm about 700 acres. My future plans are to attend Ridgewater College in the fall of 2016 in the veteri-nary technician program.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I am very enthusiastic and passionate about promoting and educating the public of the dairy industry.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? I enjoy speaking to elementary students at school, as well as other community events.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? I would focus on the care and well-being of the animals, as well as how wholesome and nutritious our dairy products are.
Parents: Christopher and Melissa SkibaTown: Cambridge
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I grew up working on my grandparents’ dairy farm, where we raise all of our replacement heif-ers, as well as care for the milking herd. My roles on the farm consist of feed-ing calves, milking, and assisting in vaccinating and heard health. Cur-rently, we are milking approximately 160 regis-tered Jerseys. My passion for dairy led me to pursue a degree in dairy science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After my undergrad degree, I plan to attend vet school.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? Both in and out of the class-room, I am a well-rounded student and highly orga-nized. I am capable of working with a wide variety of people and different personalities through my dairy mentorship role. All of these qualities allow me to continue sharing my passion for dairy. A dairy prin-cess should be a role model, and I have an outgoing and energetic personality that will contribute to my success as a positive image of the dairy community.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? I am always excited to share my story with dairy. Dairy foods contain nine essential nutrients, including calcium, potassium, and protein, and I can encourage dairy consumption by answering questions that our consumers may have. I make sure to empha-size the health bene ts that dairy has, especially in growing children and maintaining a healthy weight. Three serving of dairy are recommended in a bal-anced diet, and dairy foods are packed with avor and nutritional bene ts.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? Dairy animals are well-cared for. Breakfast on the farm is an excellent way to allow families to see rsthand the dedication that we as farmers have for our animals. From calf care to cows, all the animals are given the best care possible. Calves will be the future of the herd, so it is necessary to make sure that they will become healthy and produc-tive cows in the future. Cow comfort is our number one priority, and comfortable cows will produce the highest quality of milk.
Parents: Matt and Pam HendelTown: Caledonia
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your fu-ture plans. I grew up on my family’s dairy farm in far southeast Minnesota. We are currently milking 360 Holsteins and Brown Swiss. I attend college at the University of Minne-sota-Twin Cities and am pursuing a degree in ani-mal science with a minor in food animal business management. After col-lege, I want to continue my involvement with the dairy industry in a posi-tion where I would regu-larly work with dairy producers and their cows.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? Some qualities I possess that make me a good dairy princess are reliability and sin-cerity, along with being able to tell a good story. I really enjoy sharing stories about my family’s dairy and life on our farm. Consumers seem to love hearing these personal stories. Being able to relate to consum-ers and tell them all the great things happening on farms and within the dairy industry is very important at this point in time.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? As a dairy princess, I strive to encourage all people to consume at least three servings of dairy a day. I can tell people about all the bene ts milk gives you, especially to people who workout frequently. Milk is a great way to replenish the body after exer-cising because of its protein, minerals and vitamins, plus it tastes great. I have given many speeches in class about creating a balanced diet with dairy in-cluded.
Korissa Lindquist, 18Dairy Star Sponsor:D&D Ag Supply & ConstructionPennock, MN320-599-4466
Adrianna Ripka, 18Dairy Star Sponsor:
Fluegge’s AgMora, MN
320-679-2981East Central Dairy
SupplyMora, MN
320-679-1029
Meghan Skiba, 19Dairy Star Sponsor:
Fluegge’s AgMora, MN
320-679-2981
Lauren Hendel, 18Dairy Star Sponsor:
Bob Lange Consulting, ANC - Agri Nutrition
Consulting Caledonia, MN 507-450-6610
Kandiyohi County continued on next page
Princess Facts:Currently, the county with the
most Princess Kays is McLeod County, who has had four. Mower, Dakota, Fillmore, Steele and Carver all have
had three Princess Kays so far.
Princess Facts:Page 8 • Dairy Star • Monday, May 9, 2016
Le Sueur County continuedKandiyohi County continued Le Sueur County continued
Lincoln County continued on next page
Le Sueur County
Lincoln County
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? Dairy is a product that is universal in making most foods. It’s nutrients are critical for the body to function properly. Calcium, protein, vitamins A, C and D, and many others are prevalent in milk that provide growing aid that is crucial to a healthy life.
with speaking to people about various things. I am very proud and excited to be representing Minneso-ta’s dairy farmers.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? I would try to encourage dairy consumption to people by explaining how important dairy products are to their health. I would explain how calcium is necessary for building bones and teeth and maintain-ing bone mass. Dairy products are the primary source of calcium in American diets and they should con-sume around three cups a day do they can improve their bone mass.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? I would tell the public that break-fast is the most important meal of the day. I would try to give them helpful tips of trying to incorporate dairy products differently into their breakfast meals.
become a better spokeswoman. I already get to host farm tours and talk with people in my small town set-ting, but I wish for more of a challenge. I have the drive and ambition to show people from all over what dairy is about.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? As a dairy princess, I travel around to banks, schools and parades, educating people on the right amount of dairy consumption for a healthy life-style.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? My message would be that our cows are happy and healthy, and providing the best for us.
Parents: Mike and Teresa DrietzTown: Canby
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I live on a small dairy farm of about 50 head. Last spring my sister and I started our own dairy business. We took out a loan together and bought a small herd of cattle in which we are cur-rently raising alongside my father. My future plans are attending Southwest Minnesota State Univer-sity for education while continuing my hobby of dairy farming in my free time.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I know the industry well as Ihave grown up and worked on our family operation.I have witnessed the process of milk production frombeginning to end and take an important role in every-day. I’m not only a dairy princess, but a dairy farmer.I have a great understanding of dairying as my fatherhas taught me everything I know.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthylifestyle? As a dairy princess I de nitely encouragegetting your daily amount of dairy products. Even if aperson doesn’t like milk, there are plenty other options that are both healthy and part of the dairy food group.My favorite healthy dairy snacks would be yogurt andcheese sticks, but the possibilities are endless.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, whatdairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? The message I would most likely focus on would be dairy farm and herd management. Most people don’t know a lot about how dairy farmswork or the process that takes place. I would like to explain how we run our farms along with how wetreat our animals. I believe it is important to showcasethe care we have for our industry.
Parent: Patty TraxlerTown: Cleveland
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your fu-ture plans. I work along side my mom on a 1,200 cow Jersey farm named Blue Sky Dairy. I have grown up with dairy in my life for as long as I can remember and it really be-came my passion in FFA and 4-H. Currently, within the farm, I own a small herd of cows that includes every breed except for Milking Shorthorn.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I’m a very outgoing, con dent, open person with a passion for dairy, and I want to
Parents: Lloyd and Diane TiedeTown: Le Center
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I live on a small farm south of Le-Center, where we milk about 35 cows in a stan-chion barn. We milk all Holsteins and raise all of our replacements. I will be graduating from South Central College of North Mankato next year with a degree in agribusiness production with a diver-si ed emphasis. I hope to work in the agronomy eld for a while, but I plan to eventually take over the family farm.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? What makes me a good dairy princess is that I have a passion for the dairy industry. I love talking about what I enjoy and grew up doing my whole life. I love to see people’s reactions when they learn something new about dairy.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? Dairy products are great for consumption of our diets. It’s easy to drink a glass of milk after a great workout. If you want some more avor, try a glass of chocolate milk – it’s just as healthy and nutritious as regular milk.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? I would focus on the message of how their milk gets to the stores and how it is always safe for their consumption when on those shelves.
Parents: Lloyd and Diane TiedeTown: Le Center, Minn.
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your fu-ture plans. I’m a senior at Tri-City United and live on a small dairy farm south of Le Center. On our family’s farm we raise Holstein dairy cattle. On the farm I do many things, ranging from feeding the young calves to driving the tractor in the eld. This fall I’m attending the University of Minnesota-Crookston to major in ani-mal science and minor in pre-vet medicine.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? Qualities that make me a good dairy princess are that I’m passionate about the dairy industry and I enjoy being able to share information with others about the dairy industry. Being involved with both 4-H and FFA has made me comfortable
Parents: Mike and Darcy SchloesserTown: Le Center
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your fu-ture plans. I am 19 years old and just completed my rst year of college studying agribusiness pro-duction. I live on a dairy farm where we milk 300 Holsteins and have anoth-er 250 replacement heif-ers. We farm 600 acres of corn, alfalfa and soy-beans. In the future, I plan to graduate with a dairy management degree from Ridegwater Community College and become the full-time herd manager on my family’s dairy farm.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? Some qualities that I possess which make me a good dairy princess are: a good background with the dairy industry, and living on a dairy farm my whole life. I’ve shown dairy cattle at the county level and state level for many years and answered many questions about the industry to help educate the public about what farmers do.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? Many of my peers, myself included, are al-ways trying to watch our weight. In the past, dairy products have gotten a bad rap because we’ve always been told to cut them out of diets when watching our weight. Studies have shown that the proteins and nutrients in dairy products are more bene cial than harmful to a healthy diet.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? A message that I would focus on would be how is it important to get your servings of dairy products in a day and how you need to consume dairy products for a healthy lifestyle.
Catherine Drietz, 18Dairy Star Sponsor:Farmer’s Co-op
AssociationCanby, MN
507-223-7241
Samantha Traxler, 17
Dairy Star Sponsor:Dairyland Equipment
Services Inc.Plainview, MN507-534-3161
Molly Tiede, 19Dairy Star Sponsor:
River Country Cooperative
Hastings, MN651-437-3527
Adrianna Tiede, 17Dairy Star Sponsor:United Farmer’s
CooperativeLeSueur, MN 507-665-6421
Leah Schloesser, 19Dairy Star Sponsor:
Wingert Sales & Service
Plainview, MN507-534-4386
Brown and Nicollet Counties are working with the southern
Minnesota Children’s Museum this year, which includes doing activities on the
weekend for the young people attending like making butter and ice cream, along with talking about animal
care and well-being.
Dairy Star • Monday, May 9, 2016 • Page 9Lincoln County continued McLeod County continued McLeod County continued
McLeod County
Meeker County continued on next page
Parents: Larry and Pam RadunzTown: Hutchinson
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your fu-ture plans. I am a fresh-man at Southwest Minne-sota State University. I am majoring in occupational therapy and minoring in psychology. After I get my bachelor’s degree, I will pursue my master’s degree in occupational therapy. I live and work on my families’ dairy farm where we milk 90 grade Holsteins.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I amvery involved in my community. I have been a part of 4-H for 11 years where I do community work and am active in the fair. Also, I have good communicationskills. I was on the speech team for ve years in high school and now participate in speech at the college
Parents: David and Kari SwansonTown: Hutchinson
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. My sisters, McK-enzie, Shelby, and I grew up helping on my grand-parents’ 80-cow registered Holstein farm where I did everything from picking rocks to milking cows and calf chores. My grand-parents recently retired and I now work at Howe Holsteins in Hutchinson. I have my own little herd of 20 cows started, which are housed at KurthKine and DaMar Farms. I am attending the University of Minnesota this fall for a degree in animal science with an emphasis in dairy production.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I am very active in my local 4-H and FFA chapter and have gained great commu-nication skills and leadership qualities. Commitment to the dairy industry has been a priority for me since I was a young girl hanging in the barn with my grand-pa. This has given me a unique personality, a love for cows and has taught me to be strong and determined with a hard work ethic. Being a dairy ambassador has taught me knowledge of dairy products and the nutri-tional value of dairy products.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? My role as a dairy princess is very impor-tant. Many Americans don’t get their three servings of dairy a day. It is my job to tell them they need three servings of dairy daily, such as milk, cheese and yo-gurt. I can reinforce to consumers that dairy products are one of the most affordable sources of nutrition at the grocery store. Dairy products are a wise decision in making your lifestyle healthy.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? As a dairy princess, I would want to spread the word that Minnesota’s dairy farmers work hard every day to provide wholesome and nutritious dairy products. My goal would be to show consumers how modern farms work to give them a better appre-ciation of what farmers do to produce safe food and care for their animals and the environment. There is no better way to tell this message than to show the consumers on a real dairy farm.
Parents: Ron and Denise SchmidtTown: Hutchinson
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I was fortu-nate enough to grow up on a 60-cow dairy farm with my family. As soon as I could walk, I was out in the barn with my dad feed-ing, milking and working in the eld. I spent years acquiring more tasks and knowledge on our farm. Once high school came I knew I wanted to farm for life. I now have a dairy management degree and work on a 115-cow dairy.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? A dairy princess should be car-ing, understanding and reliable. As the oldest child, I had to learn at a young age how to be responsible for myself and others. Making sure I was setting a good example and caring about them was a must. Even though some days were a challenge, I learned how to talk to other age groups, teach them what I knew, and be someone they could count on.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? In the past I have helped pass out milk and cheese sticks for children and their families when they attend parades. There is nothing more refreshing and delicious than milk and cheese on a hot day. Not only is it my job to hand out dairy, but to also lead by example. Even when I’m not wearing a crown, I can be seen sipping on milk, snacking on cheese, or enjoying a refreshing bowl of ice cream.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? Emphasizing how dairy farms are run on a day-to-day basis is something I feel is impor-tant. With only 2 percent of individuals involved with farming, not everyone understands that we care for our animals and land. We invest countless hours into making sure our animals are comfortable and happy. We can’t produce milk with unhealthy cows. Besides, they are basically large family pets.
Parents: Mike and Reada LukesTown: Lester Prairie
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I am the young-est of four kids, and have 13 nieces and nephews. I am currently attending Ridgewater College in Willmar as a double ma-jor in dairy management and agriculture education. In my spare time you can nd me playing with my horse, Tasha, playing nine different instruments or singing, helping the Les-ter Prairie Ambassador Program out or 4-wheel-ing. I am employed with Benson Dairy Inc., just north of Stewart. On the farm, I primarily work with the cows and heifers, along with doing some eld work. Breeding, milking vet check days, herd walk through and the occasional calf care and feeding are my main jobs on the farm. Once hay season hits, you can nd
Parents: Mike and Teresa DrietzTown: Canby
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your fu-ture plans. I am a sopho-more at North Dakota State University majoring in agricultural education with minors in agribusi-ness and animal science. I am currently a member of Sigma Alpha, a profes-sional agricultural soror-ity, as well as the newly elected treasurer of the Bi-son Dairy Club. I live and work on a 45-cow dairy farm my family. My sis-ter, Caitey, and I recently started our own small herd of registered Holsteins. After college, I plan to move back home and nd a job teaching agricultural education, as well as become an FFA advisor. I will continue to farm with my fam-ily and I’m excited to see how our herd will grow in the future.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? Knowledge and passion are two of my greatest qualities that make me an excel-lent dairy princess. I have grown up around dairy my entire life. I know what it takes to run and operate the farm and I love being involved in any way possible. Dairy is in my blood, it is something that I’m passion-ate about and I will remain so for the rest of my life.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? Encouraging dairy consumption isn’t something I do just because I am a dairy princess. It is something I enjoy doing to promote the wonder-ful products that our local dairy farmers produce. By getting involved with Ag in the Classroom, I am able to speak to young kids about how dairy products can help them with their active and busy lifestyles.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? An issue that I would like to ad-dress is the use of antibiotics on dairy farms and that all milk is antibiotic free. Many people do not under-stand the process milk goes through to ensure quality. There are also many misconceptions about why and how often farmers use antibiotics, as well as the dif-ferent between antibiotics and vaccines. I would like to clarify that antibiotics are only used when needed, and it is for the intention of making a sick animal re-gain their health.
me raking or inverting. In December of this year, I will be graduating from Ridgewater College and will be transferring to Southwest Minnesota State Univer-sity in Marshall (SMSU) to complete my bachelor’s degree for agriculture education. Once completed at SMSU, I hope to be starting an agriculture education and FFA Program at Lester Prairie High School.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? Qualities I possess are com-passion, poise, kind, caring, education, a passion for the dairy community and the ability to connect with others, and the ability to see where others are coming from. All of these qualities have not only made me into who I am as a person, but have helped to shape me into the dairy princess that I am today.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? As a dairy princess, I like to help the people who buy our products understand why they should eat and drink dairy products. It is not only economical but also healthier compared to other sources. Every 8 oz. serving of milk contains 8 grams of protein and nine essential nutrients including vitamin D, and it only costs 25 cents.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? Cows are like children to us. We are always trying to nd new, better and more ef cient ways of making our cows feel like queens. Our cows have their food served to them on a platter, receive manicures and pedicures and always have nice and clean bedding every day. We, as the servants to the queens (the cows), always try to make them look and feel their best everyday.
Alison Radunz, 19Dairy Star Sponsor:
Willmar Farm Center Willmar, MN320-235-8123
Sierra Swanson, 18Dairy Star Sponsor:
Bongards’ CreameriesCologne, MN952-466-3554
Cheyenne Schmidt, 20
Dairy Star Sponsor:Bongards’ Creameries
Cologne, MN952-466-3554
Ashle Lukes, 20Dairy Star Sponsor:
Bongards’ CreameriesCologne, MN952-466-3554
Morgyn Drietz, 19Dairy Star Sponsor:Farmer’s Co-op
AssociationCanby, MN
507-223-7241
Meeker County
Page 10 • Dairy Star • Monday, May 9, 2016Mille Lacs County continuedMeeker County continued
Morrison County continued on next page
Morrison County
Mille Lacs Countylevel. With my communication skills, I can communi-cate clearly with people of all ages.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? It is my responsibility to show the public the importance of dairy products. I do this through classroom visits where I interact with kids and talk to them about how they should be getting their three dairy products each day. I also talk to people at differ-ent events throughout my county on how important dairy products are.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? I would talk about how 97 percent of dairies in the U.S. are family owned and operated. They come in all sizes and each dairy farm is a little different in the way they do things, but the one thing they all have in common is giving good care to their cows.
Parents: Kevin and Amanda Marshik; Kyle and Tammi StumpfTown: Hillman
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. My family (step-dad, Kevin, mom, Amanda, sister, Addison and brothers, Joel and Luke) and I own and op-erate a 55-cow dairy farm in Hillman. We farm our own 560 acres and rent 110 acres. My future plans include attending Wi-nona State University in the fall, double majoring in human resource man-
Parents: Jennifer and Kurt Monson; and Brian MeyerTown: Randall
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I am a senior at Lit-tle Falls Community High School. I am involved in my schools FFA chapter. I am currently serving as my chapters president and I was the 2015-2016 Re-gion II Of cer At Large. My Career Development Event (CDE) is Parlia-mentary Procedure. I help teach second grade reli-gion at my church. I live on a small dairy farm and am currently employed at two different dairy farms: Lundgren Dairy and HCL Farms. At each farm I dobasically the same thing. I milk cows at both farms, one in a parlor and one in a tiestall. I also feed calvesat each place. I help with picking rocks and other eld work at Lundgrens. At home, I help do chores when needed. I pick rocks in the summer with my family. We are a smaller farm so we get to pick rocks by hand.In the future, I plan on owning my own dairy farm ofabout 50 cows.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I love talking to new peopleand hearing about their stories. Teaching a youngchild about how a cow is milked is so much fun be-cause I love to see their small faces light up. I also like speaking to others about anything.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthylifestyle? I encourage my friends to drink milk in-stead of drinking pop. I share nutritional facts on so-cial media about dairy to show people how good dairy is for you them.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, whatdairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? Community support is a very im-portant thing for farmers to continue their work. With-out the consumers, farmers would not have a job or alifestyle.
Parents: Daniel Nelson and Carol WalshTown: Princeton
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your fu-ture plans. I milk about 130 head of cattle at Fly-ing Cow Dairy located in Princeton, following in my parents’ and grandpar-ents’ footsteps who were also dairy farmers. My dream is to one day run an educational farm. Educat-ing the public about farm-ing and working with bo-vine is a lifelong passion of mine.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I learned my most cher-ished attributes from my parents who taught me hard work, compassion, and patience. Also, reigning as a Mille Lacs County Princess has taught me how to be a con dent public speaker and how to effectively por-tray the love that we, as dairy farmers, have for our animals and the job we do.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? I am always enthusiastic and lead by ex-ample to encourage those around me to consume their three daily servings of dairy. When my friend was di-agnosed as being lactose intolerant, I held an Oreo
Parents: David and Pam FettersTown: Milaca
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I live and work on my family’s dairy farm. We milk around 60 Brown Swiss and Brown Swiss crosses in a tiestall barn. This fall, I plan on attending cosmetology school, but I still plan on being very involved in our farm.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? Watching and helping my parents, while growing up, has taught me to have com-passion and respect towards the cows and land. Also, having been a county dairy princess for the three past years has allowed me to become more con dent in my public speaking and communication skills. These skills have enabled me to easily share my knowledge about the dairy industry to the general public.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? Encouraging the public to have three dai-ly servings of dairy helps beyond building stronger bones. Consuming dairy is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle. Eating and drinking dairy reduces the risk of various chronic diseases, such as decreas-ing the risk factors for heart disease, improving glyce-mic regulation for individuals at risk of or diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, helping individuals maintain a healthy body weight, and preventing elderly individu-als with age-related muscle loss.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? I would show the public rsthand that dairy cows are being properly and humanely cared for in a safe and clean environment. I would explain all of the different procedures in place for cow care. Milk is always properly handled according to federal regulations. If consumers feel that the milk is safe in its origin, they may feel more comfortable consuming at least three dairy servings a day.
party including lactose-free milk; my friends and Ilearned that day that lactose-free milk is actually verytasty.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, whatdairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? At a breakfast on the farm, I would share the message, From the Farm to You. It is impor-tant to share the message of how farmers care for their cows, including teaching cows’ diets, bedding and the milking process. I would enjoy showing everybody a milk truck to explain the transportation to the factory and the safety processes.
Parents: John and Carol WarrenTown: Watkins
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your fu-ture plans. I am currently a senior at Litch eld High School and am involved in volleyball, basketball, softball, FFA, 4-H and National Honors Society. I show and judge dairy cat-tle at the county and state level for 4-H and FFA, as well. My family’s third generation dairy farm is located 10 miles north of Litch eld where we milk 140 Holsteins twice a day and farm 700 acres of corn, soybeans, alfalfa and oats. In the fall I will be attending the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities where I will be majoring in agricultural communica-tions and marketing.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I am a very outgoing person who loves to interact and share my passion for the dairy community. I have grown up on my farm for the past 18 years and I have watched my family and other families like mine, put their heart and soul into rais-ing dairy cattle. As a dairy princess, I have the ability to be the voice for my family’s stories of hard work, compassion and commitment.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? Being a three-sport athlete and always be-ing on the go, I know the importance of staying ener-gized and healthy. I encourage my peers to switch out the sports drinks for a glass of chocolate milk. This delicious product is packed with nine essential nutri-ents that will keep us energized and refreshed after a sporting event. Plus, it tastes delicious. It’s small life-style changes like drinking milk after a workout that can help impact the consumption of dairy products for people of all ages.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? The message I would focus on would be how dairy farmers truly care about the well being of their animals. I would ensure them that we put our animals rst by pointing out examples of how we make sure they always have a clean, comfortable place to lay down, always have access to high quality food and water, and making sure they are the healthi-est they can be to produce a wholesome product. No matter how big or small a dairy farm is, you will al-ways notice happy and comfortable cows. Essentially, they are the real royalty. Taylre Stumpf, 18
Dairy Star Sponsor:Sunrise Ag Co-op
Buckman, MN1-800-307-5346
Nicole Meyer, 17Dairy Star Sponsor:
Modern Farm EquipmentPierz, MN
320-468-2161
Moriah E. Nelson, 18
Dairy Star Sponsor:Foreston Co-op
CreameryForeston, MN320-294-5711
Federeated Co-ops Inc.Princeton, MN763-389-2582
Kaylee Fetters, 18Dairy Star Sponsor:
East Central Dairy Supply
Mora, MN320-679-1029
Ashley Warren, 18Dairy Star Sponsor:
Center National BankLitch eld, MN320-693-3255
Dairy Star • Monday, May 9, 2016 • Page 11Morrison County continued Mower County continuedMower Countyagement and business administrations. After college graduation, my goal is to work for an ag-based com-pany in Minnesota.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? One of my best qualities is my ability to be at ease in situations that are new to me. The opportunities I’ve had in high school, whether through BPA, FFA, Student Council or any activity I am involved with, have allowed me to become a con- dent young woman who is passionate about what I believe in. I am a strong-willed, motivated young woman with the ability to adapt to new people and situations rather easily.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? Growing up in a farming community has helped me realize the importance of consuming dairy products. My family has been a large advocate of consuming the dairy products that we produce. In our case, milk produced on our farm goes to make cheese; we tend to eat lots of cheese. Whether I am with my younger siblings or out with friends, I try to look for ways that I can incorporate dairy products into my daily diet.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? The message I would hope to focus on would be to encourage young adults, especially young women, to consider agriculture as a career. The opportunities for women in the agricultural work-place/industry are unlimited. However, those oppor-tunities go unseen or unthought of. Women are a nec-essary part of our future dairy industry and they need to know that.
it’s a key part of a healthy lifestyle because it provideskey nutrients, such as calcium for your bones.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, whatdairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? At breakfast on the farm, I wouldfocus on how dairy cattle are well cared for and that dairy products are an important aspect of a healthy lifestyle. I believe it’s important for consumers toknow where their products come from and how ananimal’s health is a farmer’s top priority. I would wantconsumers to realize that farmers strive to produce thebest product possible.
Parents: Steve and Darcey ReinartzTown: Adams
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I enjoy reading, gol ng, playing volleyball, working on the farm, and hanging out with friends. I lived on a dairy farm up until 2014 and then we started mak-ing the transition to a beef herd. I’ve always loved working with the animals. When we milked, we av-eraged about 50 milking cows. Next fall, I plan to attend the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse for biology in hopes of getting into the physical therapy program.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I believe I am t for this be-cause I have a lot of knowledge about the dairy in-dustry and the products. I am also a big supporter of dairy products because I believe they should be a part of everyone’s daily lives. I am always spreading as much positive news about the industry and its prod-ucts because I believe that it’s a very important aspect of our economy.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? I believe everyone should have dairy in their daily diet. As a dairy princess, I would encour-age everyone to consume dairy in their everyday diet because I believe that it has many bene ts. I believe
Parents: Greg and Madeline Vander WalTown: Slayton
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your fu-ture plans. I am a senior at Murray County Central in Slayton. My dad runs an 800-cow dairy with two times a day milking. Until recently I assisted my father with most of the calf chores which includ-ed IVing, meds, weaning and bottle feeding. My day would start at 4:30 in the morning, and then I got ready for school. On days that I did not have activities, I came home to start chores or nish chores. I have been involved in knowledge bowl, speech, drama, and choir. I am also an ambassador Girl Scout. I love art, traveling, read-ing and the outdoors. My plans are to attend St. CloudState University and major in art and travel and tour-ism.
Parents: Troy and Christine SukalskiTown: LeRoy
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I grew up on my family’s 400-cow dairy farm, Reiland Farms, which is a partner-ship between my mother and her brother. I own 20 head of Jerseys. Through 4-H and FFA I’ve par-ticipated in dairy judging, Dairy Knowledge Bowl, and dairy shows. Current-ly I am a freshman at UW-River Falls and am an ac-tive member of their dairy club. I hope to become a large animal veterinarian or a geneticist.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I’m very passionate about the dairy industry and love to share my story wherever and whenever I can. I’m also very tall so it’s easy forconsumers to spot me.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthylifestyle? It is my job as a dairy princess to encourage the consumption of dairy products. One way I accom-plish this is to always have a glass of milk with eachmeal.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, whatdairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? My family hosted breakfast on thefarm this past summer, and the message I focused onwas that farmers care for their cows. Since we were on my family’s dairy I wanted to show them all thedifferent ways we care for our cows. I think I accom-plished it too.
Parents: John and Barb KloecknerTown: Adams
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your fu-ture plans. I have grown up on the Kloeckner Fam-ily Farm with my three older brothers where we have beef cattle and hogs. When I was a freshman in high school, I started my job on a dairy farm. I start-ed working at Four Way Farms milking the cows. I am currently a senior at Southland High School. Next fall I will be attend-ing Winona State Univer-sity where I will be majoring in nursing.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I have lived on a farm my whole life, and I am actively involved with the milk production on the farm where I work. I enjoy dairy products, and that will make it easy for me to promote the different dairy products. Also, speech classes that I have taken have helped me to be a better speaker when talking to the public.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? I will be serving healthy dairy products at different events throughout the year to promote the dairy industry. Along with serving the products, I hope I am able to encourage people to try new prod-ucts and help them realize the nutritious values that are in dairy products.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? I would want to focus on what hap-pens at the farm so the consumer can get a better idea of where the dairy products come from. I would also want to share my own experiences from the farm to help them get a better understanding of where the dairy products are coming from.
Parents: Gary and Kim ZehowskiTown: Swanville
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I have two older brothers and three older sisters. My parents have farmed their entire lives. We milk 55 Holsteins with around 300 acres. I am part of the Little Falls High School Target. Also, I am a part of the Little Falls FFA Chapter participating in the Milk Evaluation CDE. At the Region II contest, I placed rst as an individ-ual, and the team placed fourth making it to state convention. Next year I plan to go to Ridgewater College in Willmar to pursue a career in veterinary technology.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I am very passionate about the dairy industry. I have lived on a dairy farm my entire life, and it has de nitely changed the way I live. I nd talking about the industry enjoyable, and like telling people what farming has to offer. I also enjoy being around little kids because of the large family I come from.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? During this year as dairy princess, I will be able to encourage consumers to participate in the Dairy 3 for Me Pledge. Taking this pledge will allow consumers to gain a healthier lifestyle by consuming the recommended three servings a day.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? One message I would like to give to visitors is my story behind farming. Telling these stories will give the people insight of what farming has to offer, and what needs to get done every day to be successful.
Cassidy Reinartz, 17Dairy Star Sponsor:
Northern Country Coop, Brent Young
507-279-9893www.ncountrycoop.com
Stephanie Vander Wal, 18Dairy Star Sponsor:Blue Hilltop Inc.Lake Wilson, MN
507-879-3593
Stephanie Kay Sukalski, 19
Dairy Star Sponsor:Land O’LakesMelrose, MN320-256-7461
Rachel Jean Kloeckner, 18
Dairy Star Sponsor:Meyerhofer Bagging
Stacyville, IA507-259-5863
Amy Zehowski, 18Dairy Star Sponsor:
Swanville ProduceSwanville, MN320-547-2455
Murray County
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Nicollet County
Nicollet County continuedMurray County continued Nobles County continued
Nobles County
Olmsted County
Olmsted County continued on next page
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I respect the dairy industry and the importance it played in my life. I also enjoy meet-ing new people. So combining the two seems natural.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? I will be attending public functions to pro-mote various kinds of dairy products and the health bene ts of consuming them.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? I would encourage people to eat a well balanced breakfast, even a small one, using dairy as a good source of protein and calcium and many other nutritional bene ts all in one ingredient.
Parents: Paul and Susan KylloTown: Byron
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your fu-ture plans. I live and work with my parents and two of my sisters on a 95-cow dairy. I am currently a full time student at Rochester Community and Techni-cal College where I am majoring in law enforce-ment and environmental science. I appreciate the opportunity I have to be involved with my family’s farm as I go to school. My future goal is to become a conservation of cer with Minnesota DNR.
Parents: Tom and Penny BergTown: Pine Island
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your fu-ture plans. I currently live and work on our 200-cow family dairy farm. I work as a full-time employee alongside of both my par-ents and one brother, we also have three part time employees. After gradu-ating from Pine Island High School, I attended Iowa Lake College where I graduated as a certi ed welder and honor student from their program. My future plans are to nd a part time welding job whilebalancing the farm on the side.
What qualities do you possess that make you agood dairy princess? To be a good dairy princess,you have to possess many different qualities. I amoutgoing, hard working, and a good listener. Plus, Ihave the knowledge and desire to promote the dairyindustry. I have gained these qualities by workingfull-time on my family farm and by making appear-ances at public events educating adults and childrenabout the goodness of dairy.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthylifestyle? To promote dairy consumption, dairy prin-cesses such as myself, have teamed up with organiza-tions like Fuel Up to Play 60 and Milk Life. These or-ganizations request 60 minutes of physical activity aday and three servings of dairy products such as milk,cheese, or yogurt to give adults and children a well-balanced diet. Also, I’ve visited daycares and schoolsgiving presentations on the nutritional value of dairyproducts and the good they do for the body.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, whatdairy message would you focus on while visitingwith the public? I would portray the message of howdairy farmers ensure the highest level of care for theiranimals so that in return they can produce the highestquality product for you.
Parents: Bryan Voss and Becky BosmaTown: Worthington
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I grew up on a small farm outside of Bigelow, but I moved into town when I was nine years old. I may not live on a farm anymore, but I am frequently out at Ocheda Dairy, where my father works, doing what-ever I can to help out. I graduated last May from Minnesota West Commu-nity and Technical Col-lege with an Associate’s Degree in Liberal Arts. I am not currently attending school, but in the future I hope to return to further my education.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I believe I have an outgoing personality which makes it easy to connect with peo-ple and talk with them about the dairy industry.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? Being a county dairy princess has allowed me to get out into the public and talk with consumers about the dairy industry and all of the things needed in order to have a healthy diet from dairy products. A lot of people don’t know that three servings of dairy products a day are needed in order for you to be the healthiest form of yourself, and being a dairy princess has helped me get that message across to people. I can’t thank my county and my fellow dairy farmers enough for that opportunity.
Parents: Dan and Shelley SchugelTown: New Ulm
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. We milk about 30 Holsteins on my grandparent’s farm off of Highway 14 going towards Courtland. I live in New Ulm with my par-ents while getting my as-sociates of arts degree at South Central College in Mankato. Then I will at-tend a university where I will pursue the degree in ESL (English as second language) where I hope to teach in high schools over in South Korea.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? This is actually my sixth and nal year as a dairy princess. I had a lot of experience over the years talking to retired dairy farmers about how they used to run their farm, going on my local ra-dio station and promoting our upcoming events where they could come and meet us and ask any questions that they have, and also going to the annual Princess Kay judging event.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? A role that I play as a dairy princess is to show consumers how bene cial dairy products are in their lives. I always recommend them to have three servings three of dairy products everyday whether its cheese in their omelet to fresh milk in their coffee.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? I would tell them how important it is that farmers take care of their cows. During the tour on the farm, I would explain to them that farmers treat their cows with so much respect and love as they would for their family.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? Since I would be talking about this at a breakfast on the farm, I would talk about all of the different things you can make for breakfast that include a dairy ingredient. And I would also inform them on how they could make a satisfying breakfast meal with plenty of variety that would include the three servings of dairy you need in a day.
Parents: Rolf and Jean AnnexstadTown: St. Peter
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your fu-ture plans. I am a senior at St. Peter High School where I am involved in 4-H, FFA, National Honor Society, soccer, speech, MJHA, track, band, choir, and my church youth group. Next year I will attend the University of Minnesota to major in ag-ricultural communications and marketing or animal science. I live on my fam-ily’s dairy farm. We milk 200 Holstein cows and farm 500 acres. My main re-sponsibilities include milking cows and feeding and bedding youngstock.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I am comfortable speaking in front of people, as I have been in speech throughout high school and have given numerous 4-H livestock demonstrations. I feel that I can use my speaking skills to help share the story of Minnesota’s dairy farms and remind people of how nutritious dairy products are. I am friendly and always smiling, which helps make me approachable for people with questions about dairy wherever I am.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? I think that as a dairy princess I can always be encouraging people to make sure that they are con-suming dairy as a healthy part of their diet. As a high school athlete and dairy princess, I encourage my teammates and friends to refuel with chocolate milk or other dairy products after exercise. Additionally, I can tell people with special dietary needs about op-tions in the dairy aisle for them, such as lactose-free milk.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? I would focus on how dairy farmers care for their cows on a daily basis. I would explain how farmers spend time caring for animals of all ages on their farms. Since the Breakfast on the Farm is of-ten on a warm summer day, I would focus on the steps that farmers take to make sure their cows stay cool in warm weather, such as having fans or even sprinkler systems in the barn.
Annette Kyllo, 23Dairy Star Sponsor:
Wingert Sales & Service
Plainview, MN507-534-4386
Kalley Berg, 20Dairy Star Sponsor:
Land O’LakesMelrose, MN320-256-7461
Justyce Voss, 20Dairy Star Sponsor:
Jaycox Implement Inc.Worthington, MN
507-376-3147
Stacey Schugel, 20Dairy Star Sponsor:
AMPINew Ulm Division
507-354-8295www.ampi.com
Emily Annexstad, 18Dairy Star Sponsor:
Bongards’ CreameriesCologne, MN952-466-3554
Princess Facts:Pope County hosts a reception for their dairy princesses
after the dairy show at the county fair to allow producers to interact with the girls while enjoying cheese and
crackers.
Olmsted County continued Redwood County continued
Rock County continued on next page
Dairy Star • Monday, May 9, 2016 • Page 13
Pine County
Redwood County
Pope CountyWhat qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I am self-motivated, care about people, and I believe dairy products are key to people achieving and maintaining good health. I have always been heavily involved in our farm, so I can use my rsthand knowledge and experience when talking with people. I also have experience in public educa-tion. I worked for the DNR teaching boaters about aquatic invasive species and I have spent 20 weeks teaching Vacation Bible School to grades 3-4.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? The rst role is leading by example. People watch what you do even more than they listen to what you say. The next role is being an available resource for people as well as being proactive in talking with them. Many people have no idea of all the health ben-e ts of dairy foods. Some people are unaware that even if they are lactose intolerant, there are still ways they can implement dairy into their diets.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? Breakfast on the farm is a unique opportunity for people to come out and experience a farm rsthand. As such, I think an especially impor-tant message to focus on is animal care and the mea-sures farmers take to ensure their cows are healthy and well cared for.
Parents: Cal and Char LubbenTown: Edgerton
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your fu-ture plans. I am a junior at Southwest Minnesota Christian High School. For extracurricular activi-ties I am in band, choir, Bel Canto, (a small all-girl singing group) Play-ers (an improve group), the school play and cheer-leading. I also work at the rest home in town along with working on my par-ent’s farm. On our farm we milk 300 cows in a double-12 parlor twice a
Parents: Mark and Deb TrckaTown: Montgomery
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I am very involved with my school and com-munity. I am a three sport athlete at Tri-City United High School in Montgom-ery. I play volleyball, bas-ketball, and softball. I am in many clubs at school as well, I am in FFA, Na-tional Honors Society, Art Team, W.E. Team (World Empowerment), and American Sign Lan-guage Club. These school activities keep me very busy. My family and I live on a 90-cow dairy farm near Montgomery. We raise crops and milk Holsteincows on our farm. We all work very hard. My mainjob on the farm is taking care of and feeding the babycalves. I also feed the barn cows and help with other farm chores that need to be done. My next step after high school is to attend South Dakota State University in Brookings, this coming fall. I plan on majoring innursing but I still want the farm to be a part of my life.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I feel that I am very friendly, caring, hardworking, responsible, and honest in all that I do. I love talking to people and sharing what Iknow and love about the dairy industry.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthylifestyle? I am very excited to promote the dairy in-dustry as a 2016 Rice County Dairy Princess. I want to be able to talk to younger children and teach them about the dairy industry. I would like to help educateour society today about how important dairy farmers are and what they do for us.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, whatdairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? I would focus on the importance inhaving dairy products in a person’s diet. Milk is an important part of a healthy diet. Milk, white or a-vored, has nine essential nutrients; including potas-sium, calcium, and vitamin D. I would talk about howimportant dairy products are and why they are good.
Parents: Westen Hotzler and Angela TaylorTown: Walnut Grove
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I will graduate from Westbrook-Walnut Grove High School in May. I plan to attend Southwest Minnesota State Universi-ty next year. I plan to ma-jor in music education. In school, I am involved in FFA, track, cheerleading, Minnesota Honor Society and theater. I have been working on Maas’ Farm since November of 2015. I enjoy working with the cows and the people.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I possess qualities of leader-ship that make me a good dairy princess. In school, I have been cheer captain for three straight years, help-ing me with my leadership skills.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? I believe that eating and drinking dairy products are very important to live a healthy lifestyle. I usually always have a glass of milk every morning, otherwise I will have a smoothie. I believe that if you have dairy products in your diet, you will increase your bone strength.
Parents: Darrell and Molly OeltjenTown: Villard
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I grew up help-ing my grandparents with chores and have loved cows since I was young. I work on my uncles’ farm, Oeltjen Dairy. We milk 70 registered Holsteins in a tiestall barn. I have not chosen a major yet, but I plan to attend the College of St. Scholastica in Du-luth this fall.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? Some qualities that make me a good dairy princess are my passion for the dairy in-dustry and my background in it. I also possess public speaking skills from being involved in 4-H that will help me to be a good dairy princess.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? As a dairy princess, I am uniquely posi-tioned between producers and consumers, with the bene t of being in the public eye. This allows me to promote and inform consumers of the variety of dairy products available and the health bene ts that come along with them.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? I would focus on education. There are so many consumers that know very little about the dairy industry and don’t understand the process of how their products are produced. Increasing educa-tion in this area will bene t both consumers and pro-ducers, along with creating a more positive image of the industry in society.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, whatdairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? The importance of a good breakfast to start your day and how having dairy products withit can strengthen your bone health as well.
Parents: Mike and Shelly PetersonTown: Willow River
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your fu-ture plans. I am currently a senior at Willow River High School. Next fall, I will attend Ridgewa-ter College for GPS/GIS technology for agricul-ture. I am very fortunate to live and work on our family-owned farm. We milk approximately 300 Holsteins in a double-8 parlor. We also grow most of our own crops. I help with calf care, milking, feeding, eldwork and harvesting.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I possess knowledge of the dairy industry and how it works. I have hands on ex-perience. I am also very passionate about the industry, which drives me to pass my knowledge onto others. I strive to take my real experiences and communicate them to others in a way they will understand.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? Dairy princesses are very important in encouraging and educating the importance of dairy products in a healthy diet and lifestyle. As a dairy princess, I play the role of helping children and adults understand that dairy products are excellent sources of calcium, vitamins and minerals that allow them to grow and stay strong. I believe young people are the best way to promote products to other young people and develop healthy habits.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? Aside from how dairy is an impor-tant part of a balanced diet, I would also focus on dairy farms also. It is very important that the consumers know they are getting a safe, humanely raised prod-uct. I would explain the process a cow goes through. Many dairy farmers spend more time balancing their cows’ diets than their own. I want people to know our livestock is well taken care of and not just an animal in the barn.
Calissa Lubben, 17Dairy Star Sponsor:Gorter’s Clay and Dairy EquipmentPipestone, MN507-825-3271
Emilie Trcka, 19Dairy Star Sponsor:
Dairyland Equipment Services Inc.
Plainview, MN507-534-3161
Samantha Hotzler, 18
Dairy Star Sponsor:Maas Dairy Farm
Walnut Grove, MN507-747-2519
Ellen Oeltjen, 18Dairy Star Sponsor:Nelson Creamery
AssociationNelson, MN
320-762-0115
Alli Peterson, 18Dairy Star Sponsor:
Fluegge’s AgMora, MN
320-679-2981
Rice County
Rock County
Rock County continued Scott County continuedScott County continued
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Page 14 • Dairy Star • Monday, May 9, 2016
Stearns County
Scott County
day. We have about 50 dry cows, 300 replacement heifers, and about 100 calves. For my future plans, I would either like to be a vet tech or a dental hygienist but I haven’t decided.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? Some qualities that I possess that make me a good dairy princess is that I have good leadership skills and I will proudly support all of my fellow dairy farmers. I am also an approachable and caring person with a good attitude, and I try to make the best out of every situation. Also, I am a hard-working 17 year-old who isn’t afraid to go the extra mile for others.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? Being dairy princess, dairy consumption is a big deal to me. Recently, I did a speech about this in Speech class, and afterwards, I handed out cheese sticks to my class and encouraged them once more to eat dairy. Some other ways that I encourage dairy consumption is that during parades I will throw out cheese sticks instead of candy. At the county fair we serve ice cream out of a little red barn. Also, during some events in the county we will hand out milk for a supper or a dinner.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? It is always said, “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day” this is true, but eating dairy along with it can make that meal time even more delicious. I would focus on, since it is a meal time, how eating dairy is more bene cial. For example, I would tell them that one cup of milk has the same amount of calcium as four cups of broccoli.
Parents: Bernie and Diane HerkenhoffTown: St. Rosa
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. My family and I farm outside of St. Rosa, milking 130 reg-istered Holstein cows. I enjoy helping my family do numerous chores on the farm including feed-ing calves, milking and feeding cows. My future plans are to attend North Dakota State University next fall with a major in nance and a minor in ag business.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? There are many qualities that I believe help me as a dairy princess. One is my ability to talk to people. I am very comfortable when talk-ing to people about what I love and believe in. Also, another is my passion for the dairy industry. I have grown up inside the dairy industry and I have a great understanding and love for all farmers and the ani-mals that provide us with high quality and wholesome dairy foods.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? My role is crucial as a dairy princess to encourage others to consume dairy foods. I am able to show others simple ways to incorporate dairy into their diet every day. It is especially fun to encourage
Parents: Roger and Lisa HemmeschTown: Paynesville
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your fu-ture plans. I’m currently nishing my senior year at Paynesville Area High School. I am involved in choir, National Honor So-ciety, and softball. I live and work on our family farm north of Paynesville. We milk 53 Holsteins. In the fall, I will be attending St. Cloud State University. I plan to major in radio-logic technology.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? A few of the qualities I possess that make me a good dairy princess include: being friendly, outgoing, and easy to talk to. All of these qualities help me to pro-mote dairy.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? As a dairy princess, it is my job to inform people of the bene ts of dairy, such as there are nine essential nutrients in one eight ounce glass of milk.
If you’re helping at a Breakfast on the Farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? Dairy foods are wholesome, nu-tritious, and good tasting. Dairy foods are nutrient packed and there are many different ways to get three servings a day.
Parents: Rick and Ann StockerTown: Jordan
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your fu-ture plans. I am currently attending the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities where I am pursuing a de-gree in communications. I live on my family’s dairy farm where my dad is the fth generation farmer. We milk about 80 cows in our stanchion barn, main-ly Holsteins with some crossbreds.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I’m a people person, I love to talk to people about the dairy industry in any way, whether it is with my group of friends, answering consumers’ questions, or talking to a large crowd.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? I always encourage my friends to eat dairy products to stay healthy at school. One example of how I do this is after working out, I always try to have them join me in drinking chocolate milk, which con-tains the sugar and protein needed for your body to recover after a workout.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what
Parents: Mark and Connie KreuserTown: Jordan
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your fu-ture plans. I am a student that is currently studying veterinary technology at Argosy University in the Twin Cities (AUTC). Be-fore attending AUTC, I worked at home on the farm. I enjoy milking the cows, feeding the calves, and helping with the dai-ly chores. I like to spend time with my dad and the animals on the farm. I plan on graduating from Argosy University in the fall of 2017 with my associ-ate’s degree in veterinary technology.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? There are so many amazing qualities of being a good dairy princess. Being able to promote the dairy industry in a positive matter is important because the industry provides so much for our community. I believe that I am passionate about my lifestyle, I am a hard working person and I am able to promote and educate the community about the dairy industry.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? I encourage people to incorporate dairy products into their healthy lifestyle because these products are bene cial to the human body. Not only is it necessary for bone growth, but it also has been shown to lower blood pressure and improve heart health. It is also very rich with vitamin D and protein, which helps your body by staying healthy with the help of nutrients such as calcium and phosphorus.
If you’re helping at a Breakfast on the Farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? The messages I would focus on while visiting with the public are dairy quality and nutritional bene ts of dairy. Focus on dairy quality is important because it must be a safe product that is wholesome and antibiotic free. Nutrition ties into this by consuming a safe product that is bene cial to your health while providing health bene ts.
dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? I would focus on the importance of having three dairy products a day. Dairy products are full of calcium, vitamin A and D, along with manyother important nutrients.
Parents: Tim and Sandy BreeggemannTown: Shakopee
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I am the youngest of ve kids and was born and raised in Shakopee. I chose to ex-pand my schooling and study at Mankato State University. Although I am busy at college, I still nd time to come home on the weekends and work at a local nursing home and still be active on the fam-ily farm. After I graduate, I hope to earn a degree in dental hygiene.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? Some qualities I possess that make me a good dairy princess include a strong work ethic I have and put forth in everything I do, the abil-ity to be proactive and manifest leadership and the re-spect I have not only for myself but for others.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? I strongly encourage people to have choco-late milk after workouts. It is very good for post ex-ercise recovery. Also, I feel kids should have three servings of dairy a day in order to strengthen their growing bones.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? I would explain to consumers that you still need dairy to have a healthy diet, and that cutting it out of your everyday life is not bene cial within any aspects of health. Also, I would share that having dairy for breakfast is always a good way to start your day.
Kayla Herkenhoff, 18
Dairy Star Sponsor:Worms Lumber & Ready Mix Inc.
New Munich, MN320-256-4638
St. Rosa Lumber Inc.888-276-1751
Brianna Hemmesch, 18
Dairy Star Sponsor:Hartung Sales &
ServiceFreeport, MN320-836-2697
Emily Stocker, 18Dairy Star Sponsor:Ross EquipmentLonsdale, MN507-339-1812
Christina Kreuser, 20Dairy Star Sponsor:
Prairie Farm Supply Belle Plaine, MN
952-873-4234
Tessa Breeggemann, 19
Dairy Star Sponsor:Lano Equipment Inc.
of ShakopeeShakopee, MN952-445-6310
Stearns County continued Stearns County continued Stearns County continued
Dairy Star • Monday, May 9, 2016 • Page 15
children to consume dairy foods because they are at such an important age.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? The one message I would focus on would be dairy farmers are proud of what they do. This is important because the entire reason farmers do what they do is because they are proud of it and love their job.
which makes me an engaging speaker. As a dairy princess, I not only receive the opportunity to teach, but I have the opportunity to learn. I am currently a secretary and a president in other organizations, there-fore I know how to communicate well.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? While being a dairy princess, my health is of great importance. I engage in Fuel Up to Play 60, which is a program that encourages healthy eating along with 60 minutes of exercise a day. Dairy foods are a great way to have a balanced and healthy diet because they have nine essential nutrients that aid in building and maintaining strong muscles and bones.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? Agriculture is the basis of nearly all commodities. Our support for dairy farmers is of great signi cance because many of the foods we consume come from a dairy farm. At breakfast on the farm, I would strive to inform the public on the importance of agriculture, give the dairy farmers our support, and ensure that the dairy farmers receive our thanks.
Parents: Lee and Jane CrawfordTown: Owatonna
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I live in town so we lease from a couple area dairy families, Kaspers and Nelsons. Two years ago, I joined 4-H and start-ed showing dairy at the fair. During high school, I have been involved in 4-H, adapted oor hockey, Special Olympics swim-ming, Special Olympics track and Teen Club. After graduation in June, I plan to attend the extended high school program for 19-21 year olds and hope to attend college after that.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I love dairy calves and cows. I have had success in the showring exhibiting multiple breeds such as Jersey, Guernsey, Holstein and Milk-ing Shorthorn. I am honest and a hard worker. People tell me I am a positive person with a kind heart and a good role model for other students with autism.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? My role is talking to friends, family and other people about yummy dairy products. I would encourage my teammates to drink chocolate milk as the best recovery drink after working out, team prac-tices and games.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? Dairy farmers love their animals and they take really good care of their entire dairy herd.
Parents: Ute Zeis and Fred ZeisTown: Holdingford
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I live on a farm with 68 Holsteins and we have all John Deere trac-tors. I help with milking, feeding cows, taking care of the calves and the heif-ers, and when I can, I help out in the elds.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? Some qualities that make me a good dairy princess is that I know a lot about cows and dairy farming because I’m in 4-H, where I show dairy, participate in dairy knowledge bowl, am a member of the FFA dairy judging team, and I learn a lot from living on the farm. Because I am in all of these activities, I have a lot of good social skills and love being around people and making new friends.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? The role I play is sharing all the bene ts of having dairy products in your everyday diet. Dairy products are wholesome, nutritious, and best of all, delicious.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? I would talk about all of the great successes we, the dairy community, has accomplished. I also would like to share with the public what a great impact the dairy community makes on the rest of the community.
Parents: Scott and Janell WestermanTown: Sauk Centre
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. My family and I farm 200 acres, near Sauk Centre. We milk 38 cows in a tiestall barn and raise our own heifers and steers. I have been help-ing in the barn as long as I can remember, and started milking cows when I was nine years old. I also take care of the calves, update cow and breeding records, and anything else that per-tains to farming. My sister and I have started our own herds of various breeds and I enjoy showing them in 4-H. I graduated from Western Indianhead Technical College for dairy herd management in 2015 and my future plans are to continue in farming, with either working on the home farm or owning my own small dairy.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? A farmer has many qualities and skills people don’t think about when they think of a farmer including a carpenter, teacher, mechanic, and a businessman. I am proud to be called a farmer and I can use these skills as a dairy princess. I get to share my farming experiences, tell stories about our farm, and share pictures or bring dairy animals to events if possible. I also possess great organizational skills, love working with children, and I can take the initia-tive to get things accomplished.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? As a dairy princess, I especially promote dairy consumption when I visit schools. If a child learns a healthy lifestyle when they are young, it will in uence their decisions as they grow older. I also set a good example in what I eat and drink. I encourage and recommend my favorite drink of chocolate milk at meals, as a snack, or after a workout. It has great taste with nine important nutrients that is low in calo-ries and has the perfect ratio of protein to carbohy-drates, making it easy to get the nutrients our bodies need.
If you’re helping at a Breakfast on the Farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? The dairy message I would focus on is the care and treatment of our animals. As a farmer myself, we are committed to providing high quality milk which begins with taking good care of our cows. It includes a nutritious diet, medical care, and healthy living conditions that starts as a calf and leads to a healthy dairy cow. Breakfast on the farm is the perfect way to show the public our dedication and hard work, all while enjoying a healthy breakfast with us and see-ing where their food comes from.
Parents: Vernon and Joann MehrTown: Farming
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I grew up with three older siblings on a 208-acre dairy farm, where we milk about 60 cows. On the farm I enjoy four-wheeling and play-ing with my black lab. In my free time I enjoy dancing on the weekends, especially swing dancing and spending time with my nieces and nephews. I plan to attend Ridgewater College in Willmar, for something in the medical eld after graduating from Albany High School this May.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I have strong leadership and people skills. I have a positive attitude and I enjoy working with people. I am always learning more about the dairy industry, so what better way to spread my knowledge than as a Stearns County Dairy Prin-cess.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? My job is to inform dairy consumers about the health bene ts of dairy and serving as their con-nection to the farm. I am then able to show and teach them about where their food comes from and why it’s important for families to enjoy these dairy foods three times each day. I am lucky to have the opportunity to do this through social media, farm visits, classroom presentations, and other community events.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? The dairy message I use most and feel is helpful for breakfast on the farm is, dairy foods are wholesome, nutritious, and good tasting. This is because it’s so important for the consumers to know the bene ts of the dairy foods they are choosing for their families. The choices in dairy are nearly limit-less. Everything from milk, and cheese, to yogurt and ice cream and many others in between.
Elizabeth Crawford, 18
Dairy Star Sponsor:Laura Seljan PhotographyKasson, MN
507-250-2217
Anna Zeis, 18Dairy Star Sponsor:
First District Association
Litch eld, MN320-693-3236
Holdingford Feed Mill320-333-2571
Anna Westerman, 20
Dairy Star Sponsor:Young’s Veterinary
ServicesBelgrade, MN
Roseann Mehr, 18Dairy Star Sponsor:
Minnesota National Bank
Sauk Centre, MN320-352-5211
Parents: Ryan and Sheri PrattTown: Albany
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. My fam-ily and I live on a 60-cow dairy farm south of Al-bany where we milk in a double-3 parlor. We farm 200 acres of corn, oats, and alfalfa. A few of my absolute favorite jobs on the farm include feeding calves and raking hay. This fall, I plan to attend Augustana University in Sioux Falls, S.D. My in-tended major is history.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I am a hardworking, passion-ate, and understanding leader. I am eager to educate
Emily Pratt, 18Dairy Star Sponsor:
First District Association
Litch eld, MN320-693-3236
Steele County
Steele County continued on next page
Steele County continuedSteele County continued Steele County continuedPage 16 • Dairy Star • Monday, May 9, 2016
Parents: Ron and Julie GolombieckiTown: Morris
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I’ve grown up on a 60-cow dairy. We are putting in a par-lor this spring. All of the cattle are housed on bed-ded packs, and we raise all of our own young stock. We plan to expand as my brother and I come back to farm with my father. This summer, I have the opportunity to internship at a 6,000-cow dairy, West River Dairy, and work in multiple areas.
What qualities do you possess that make you agood dairy princess? I believe I’m very easy to talkto, which makes starting a conversation about dairyeasy with anyone.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthylifestyle? My role is to inform people of all the dif-ferent kinds of dairy products that are a part of ahealthy lifestyle from milk to cheese and yogurt, evenice cream. Milk is one of the most economical waysto get a product packed full of nutrition. Although,everything is healthy in moderation and has its ownbene ts.
If you’re helping at a Breakfast on the Farm, whatdairy message would you focus on while visitingwith the public? There are many different sizes offarms out there and they all may do things a little dif-ferently, but they are all doing the best that they canto care for the cows and produce a nutritious product.It takes all kinds of dairies to bring you your favoritedairy treats.
Parents: Doug and Holli NaatzTown: Blooming Prairie
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I have grown up on a farm my entire life. We have a family dairy farm at my grandparents’ place where we milk about 45 Holsteins in a stanchion barn. It has been my job since I was little to be in charge of bottle-feeding, or pale-feeding the calves we have. Growing up on a dairy farm has taught me how to handle issues when they come up, to stay calm in bad situations and the true meaning of hard work and dedication you have to have. I will be attending South Dakota State University in the fall to major in animal science.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? When I think about my per-sonal qualities, I think about leadership. I think it starts with the realization of wanting to lead someone or something, and to take charge and teach someone in the process of leading a group. During my years of 4-H and FFA, I have had some of the very best lead-ership training and experiences. I believe leadership is the main focus in any group or event that you are involved in. We need people who are going to want to stand up for what they believe in, and also step up and lead so we can make a positive in uence on our peers in the dairy industry, especially the youth. I also believe I am an approachable, talkative person and I am always up for helping someone within the dairy industry.
Parents: Michele Ulen and Dean JirousekTown: Ellendale
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your fu-ture plans. I grew up on a small farm just outside of Owatonna. I am the fth generation on a family-owned and operated dairy. We raise Guernseys and Red White Holsteins. I am a sophomore at the Col-lege of St. Scholastica in Duluth, majoring in psy-chology. I intend to go on to grad school for occupa-tional therapy. My ideal job would be working with children who have a disability or have just had a life changing loss or sur-gery.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I have a lot of passion for the dairy industry. It has been a big part of my life since I was born. I love meeting people and learning about other farms and families.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? I am a strong believer in drinking milk and consuming other dairy products each and every day. Farm families work hard each day to provide the pub-lic with healthy and nutritious products.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? I would focus on how much work farm families put into their farms and their cows each day and ensure the public that we treat our animals hu-manely, and most importantly, how we take so much pride in our farms and the livestock. I have been lucky to have grown up on a small family farm because each day our family has worked together to provide the public with the best quality milk we could.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthylifestyle? Milk and dairy products are a convenientsource of calcium for many people. They are also agood source of protein and are forti ed with vita-mins D and A. Beyond building stronger bones, threedaily servings of low-fat or fat-free dairy foods im-prove overall diet quality and reduce the risk of vari-ous chronic diseases. Along with getting calcium andbuilding stronger bones; you also get to enjoy alltypes of tasty ice cream, and cheeses.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, whatdairy message would you focus on while visitingwith the public? My message would be that the cowswe milk and raise are very well cared for. Dairy farm-ers love their cows. Farmers won’t do anything thatjeopardizes their cows’ health. Dairy farm familiesspend a great deal of time and money nding newways to make their cows comfortable and happy sothey will produce the most milk possible, and they dothat by having comfortable bedding, hoof manicures,vaccines for preventable diseases, barns that keepthem cool in the summer and warm in the winter andregular visits from veterinarians. Many of our dairyfarmers say that their dairy cows are fed and treatedlike a member of the family. This ensures cow com-fort and happiness, and gives them what they need toproduce the highest quality milk possible.
Parents: Todd and Dianne EdelTown: Owatonna
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I am going into my senior year at the University Of Minnesota, Mankato. I have worked at Kasper Dairy in Owa-tonna for almost three years during summers and winter and spring breaks. I try to go out and work as much as I can because I have truly fallen in love with the lifestyle. Peter and Karen Kasper and their daughter Stephanie are the ones who have taught me everything I know. From little tips which help me do chores to the responsibilities that go in to running a dairy operation, I have learned so much and the Kaspers are to thank for that. Peter and Karen have taken time out of many days to teach me the du-ties and responsibilities at hand. They have done a wonderful job of showing me the reasons behind do-ing certain things. I’ll always be forever grateful for the Kasper family. When I graduate in May of 2017, I will have a degree in leisure planning and manage-ment and a degree in non-pro t leadership from the Recreation, Parks and Leisure Services Department. Because of my passion for agriculture, my dream job is to plan camps and programs with kids and animals. I am excited to announce that I have recently accept-ed a job offer with Farm America in Waseca. I will be their event planner for all their agriculture-based events. Farther down the road, I see my self married with kids on a small hobby farm somewhere in Steele County. I would like to see myself working in an ex-ecutive director position doing something with agri-culture and children.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I like a challenge. Growing up in town I never would have pictured myself working early mornings and late nights on a farm. The live-stock bug bit me and I fell in love with dairy cows and the dairy industry really fast. I have decided to chase that love and that passion I feel for this great industry and run for dairy princess to better my knowledge and to meet new people.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? My passion comes from working with kids. I think I play a huge role when getting kids to know the true bene ts of consuming dairy. I like to think of myself as a positive role model for these kids. I want to take the topic of dairy consumption and make it fun, something the kids will remember. Focusing on an overall healthy lifestyle and showing the kids how that can be achieved through consuming dairy three times a day is what I strive to do. Also I want to make children aware that there are a lot of different ways to consume dairy, not just drinking milk.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? I think breakfast on the farm is a good time to show the public why I want to represent Steele County and the dairy industry. I can see myself chatting with the public and answering any questions they have. For the overall message, I would like to share with the public the importance of the dairy in-dustry and why people should not take it for granted.
Elizabeth Golombiecki, 19Dairy Star Sponsor:Riverview, LLP
Morris, MNwww.riverviewllp.com
Kalyn Jean Naatz, 18
Dairy Star Sponsor:IBA Dairy SupplyBrandon Balzer &
Rusty Paulson507-451-7218
Taylor Jirousek, 19Dairy Star Sponsor:
Harland’s Tire and Auto of Owatonna
Owatonna, MN507-451-3084
Gabriell Ann Edel, 21
Dairy Star Sponsor:Werner Implement
Vermillion, MN 651-437-9738
Stevens County
Princess Facts:Stearns County holds a
training event for the girls crowned dairy princesses to prepare them for attending the Dairy Princess
Promotion and Leadership Event in May.
Princess Facts:Mower County has 150 to 200
community members attend their annual dairy princess coronation
banquet each year.
Todd County continuedDairy Star • Monday, May 9, 2016 • Page 17
Wabasha County continued on next page
Todd County
Parents: Jary and Celene HolstTown: Kellogg
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. Currently, I am n-ishing my senior year at Plainview Elgin Millville High School. After gradu-ation, it is my goal to be-come a cosmetologist. My family’s farm, Holst Farms, is a small family farm located in Kellogg. My parents, two brothers, and three sisters all work on the farm together. We all take turns doing the milking, feeding calves and harvesting the crops. We all work hard to provide healthy, nutritious milk for people to enjoy. My hobbies include 4-H, four wheeling, snowmobiling and hanging out with my friends.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? Being a dairy princess for Wa-basha County is a huge honor. Growing up in a dairy community, I am con dent when talking to dairy farmers. Making conversation and being energetic is a strong capability of mine because I am able to make the conversations exciting and get people interested in what I would like them to hear.
Parents: Jary and Celene HolstTown: Kellogg
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. Currently, I am a senior at Plainview Elgin Millville High School. Next fall, I will be at-tending the University of Wisconsin – River Falls, where I will be majoring in dairy science. After col-lege, I plan to have a job in the dairy industry. My family’s dairy farm, Holst Farms, is a small dairy farm north of Plainview. My parents, brothers, sisters and I work hard each day to produce dairy products that consumers enjoy. Myhobbies include FFA, 4-H and being with my friends and family.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? A dairy princess has many great qualities. I have always been told that I have a warm smile. Having a warm smile will intrigue peo-ple to ask me questions about the dairy industry andfeel comfortable while questions are being answered. Another great trait I have is being a happy, energetic person. I want to excite consumers about the dairy industry. Having qualities like this makes for a greatdairy princess.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthylifestyle? As a dairy princess, I want to inform con-sumers about the dairy industry and to be able to share my knowledge about dairy, but in an interesting way.That is why I encourage everyone to attend Wabasha County’s family night on the farm this June at myfamily’s farm.
If you’re helping at a Breakfast on the Farm, whatdairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? I would like to educate the publicabout the daily life of a farmer. I would also like to educate them on how the milk leaves the farm, andprocess it goes through before it ends up in your bowl of cereal.
Parents: Alan and Vicki PaskewitzTown: Browerville
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I grew up showing dairy cattle from my uncle’s farm, Solid Rock Dairy. My rst calf, Madison, established my passion for cattle and the dairy industry. I continue to show and am proud to have been named Se-nior Champion Showman and show the Champion Holstein, Crossbred, and Guernsey of the Todd County Fair. I began working at Solid Rock Dairy the summer of my freshman year. Solid Rock Dairy milks 240 cows and cares for 250 to 350 calves annually. My responsibili-ties include feeding calves and caring for their health and environment. I take pride in raising the next gen-eration of milk producers on the farm. My family was honored to host Todd County Breakfast on the Farm two years ago. The pride we have for the dairy indus-try truly shined as we informed consumers and other producers of our daily operations and dedication to producing high quality milk.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? My love for agriculture has given me unique opportunities to serve the industry and grow in my knowledge and speaking abilities. I feel that I am a strong advocate for the dairy industry because of the experience I have had and the knowl-edge I have gained. My ability to relate to consumers and producers alike helps me close the gap from farm to fork, which is a popular topic in agriculture. One unique thing I appreciate about the dairy industry is how family oriented each farmer is. My grandfather was a dairy farmer while being a full-time math teach-er. Two of my uncles continue to farm and it is de -nitely a family affair. I think it adds a level of pride to our job when our entire family is involved.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? I’ve always been the person in my family to drink three glasses of milk a day and still want more. Even now, as I lead a busy lifestyle in FFA, 4-H and multiple music groups, I make time to balance my diet. Dairy still plays an important part of that diet.
If you’re helping at a Breakfast on the Farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? Farmers focus on caring for their cows just like they would care for their family. From experience, I can say that my cows are an important piece of my life. We also care about what goes into our cattle. Our families drink the same milk and eat the cheese that you do. Because we want only the best, our cows have a specialized nutrition program and are monitored closely with their health and wellness. Af-ter all, happy cows produce better quality milk.
ers about farm life and delicious dairy products they should have everyday and attend parades to promote the dairy industry while handing out cheese sticks to spread joy. Another role I partake in is to lead by ex-ample wherever I am, because people watch what you do more than they listen to what you say.
If you’re helping at a Breakfast on the Farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? When helping out on Breakfast on the Farm, I like to focus my message how farmers take really good care of their farm and cows. With the knowledge of farmers taking superb care of the cows and the land, consumers can be con dent about grab-bing a nutritious container of milk from the store and know that all their favorite dairy products come from farms with hard working, dedicated farmers.
Parents: Larry and Janice MellgrenTown: Long Prairie
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I am the youngest of six in my family and a proud aunt to seven nieces and four nephews. I live on a farm where we milk 40 Holsteins and raise our own livestock and crops. My favorite job on the farm is getting to feed the calves. I am attending Gustavus Adolphus Col-lege in St. Peter, Minn., and plan on pursuing pe-diatric nursing.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I am very down to earth, friendly and caring. I also love interacting with everyone, especially kids, and telling them about the dairy industry and where the products they love come from.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? My role as a dairy princess is to help educate and inform everyone I meet about dairy goodness. To do this, I attend many different events like Breakfast on the Farm, help out in the malt wagon during town festivals, go to school visits to talk with third grad-
Parents: Shawn and Debbie HollermannTown: Burtrum
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I live on a 400-cow Holstein dairy farm. I work as a CNA at Long Prairie Centra Care Nursing home. I plan to return to my family’s farm full time after college. I will be attending Ridge-water in Willmar as a full-time dairy management student in the fall. I par-ticipate in many activities such as speech, volleyball, 4-H and theater.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I have many qualities that make me a good dairy prin-cess. I stand side-by-side with farmers day in and day out. I hear their concerns and what they want the pub-lic to hear and know about what they are doing. I have attended many conferences and conventions to help me become more knowledgeable and dependable to others who don’t know a lot about the industry. I also have been a dairy ambassador for three years before I was crowned a dairy princess.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? I visit many schools around the Todd Coun-ty area and we talk about how milk is healthy. We do other fun actives to incorporate milk into their diet such as handing out string cheese or making home-made ice cream with them. I also work with the rst graders at my school, and I encourage all of them ev-eryday to nish up their milk or take the cheese even if they don’t want it on their burger.
If you’re helping at a Breakfast on the Farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? Breakfast on the farm is a great way to show our consumers how we are treating our animals and how well they are being taken care of. That is the biggest thing our consumers want to know. They want to know that our animals our taken care of, that they are getting healthy rations of food, and that they are being kept in a cleanly environment.
Natalie Holst, 18Dairy Star Sponsor:Plainview Milk
ProductsPlainview, MN800-356-5606
Abigail Holst, 18Dairy Star Sponsor:
Young Milk TransportPlainview, MN
Rebekka Paskewitz, 18
Dairy Star Sponsor:Pro-Ag Farmer’s Co-op
Browerville, MN320-594-2711
Elizabeth Mellgren, 19
Dairy Star Sponsor:First District Association
Litch eld, MN320-693-3236
Megan Hollermann, 17
Dairy Star Sponsor:First District Association
Litch eld, MN320-693-3236
Wabasha County
Wadena County continuedWabasha County continuedPage 18 • Dairy Star • Monday, May 9, 2016
Waseca CountyWadena County
Washington County continued on next page
Washington CountyAs a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? Being selected as a dairy princess, I want to encourage people to eat their three servings of dairy a day – milk, cheese and yogurt. Drinking milk helps keep teeth nice and white and bones strong. Milk is a good source of protein, too. After a sporting event, I would encourage people to go home and grab a glass of milk or eat yogurt to refuel their energy.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? I would encourage them to drink milk. Support the local dairy farmers by eating and drinking dairy products. All the milk, cheese and yo-gurt comes from dairy cows. Drinking milk will keep them strong and healthy. When they are thirsty, they can grab a glass of chocolate milk and think of all the dairy farmers they are supporting.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? I play a key role in promoting the whole-some, nutritious products of the dairy industry through spreading the word of the essential nutrients that are in dairy related products. I also sell malts every year at our annual Wadena County Fair. This is a great way to spread dairy goodness.
If you’re helping at a Breakfast on the Farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? I would steer people’s focus on how wholesome, nutritious and good tasting dairy prod-ucts are. I would stress that just one glass of milk a day would provide you with an essential amount of nutrients. Also, many breakfast meals, the most im-portant meal of the day, include dairy products. A few examples of this would be oatmeal made with milk, cereal, yogurt, etc.
Parents: Mark and Denise LutzTown: Hugo
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your fu-ture plans. I have worked on my dad’s farm since I was about 10 years old. I help feed calves, milk cows, move cattle, and help with vaccinating and breeding. Now that I am a senior, I am planning on attending University of Wisconsin-River Falls to pursue my goal of becom-ing a veterinarian.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I’mnot always the person that is the most outgoing, butwhen I need to be a role model I will. I always try to
Parents: Pat and Sharlene DaningerTown: Forest Lake
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your fu-ture plans. I am currently attending the University of Minnesota-Twin Cit-ies where I am studying agricultural education. I live and work on Autumn-wood Farm where we milk 60 registered and grade Holstein cattle. We have approximately 120 head total including calves and replacement heifers. We also have a creamery on our farm where we pro-cess and bottle our milk in glass bottles and sell it in an on-the-farm store as well as around 60 additional stores, coffee shops and cafes. After graduation, I plan on becoming an agriculture teacher in a high school, while staying involved in the dairy community through farming and the local dairy princess program.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I believe the number one qual-ity a dairy princess should possess is a passion for our dairy animals and products. I discovered I have this passion at a very young age. Working with my family on our farm has helped me discover that desire to care for our animals and provide a wholesome and nutri-tious product. Creating connections with consumers is vital in the transparency between producer and con-sumer. I love having the opportunity to engage in con-versation about what I get to do on the farm every day and how that impacts the daily lives of consumers.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? As a dairy princess, there are a numerous opportunities to encourage dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle. Being a public gure represent-ing the dairy community, a few of these opportunities are visiting classrooms, promotional events and Fuel Up to Play 60 events. Each of these provides unique experiences to encourage dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? Breakfast on the Farms are great op-portunities to encourage “Dairy 3 for Me”. Being on the farm, consumers are able to see the feedstuffs the animals consume, the dairy cattle themselves, and the milk plant processing, showcasing the idea of “grass to the glass.” By the consumers having the opportu-nity to show this process, we are able to give meaning behind the idea of consuming three dairy products a day. This event would be a perfect opportunity to have these visitors take the “Dairy 3 for Me” pledge.
Parents: Mitch and Amy KrugerTown: New Richland
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I am cur-rently a junior at Waseca High School. This is my second year as the Waseca County Dairy Princess. I am in 4-H, in which I am the Youth Federa-tion Treasurer, the Youth Dairy Superintendent, a Waseca County Ambas-sador, and my club trea-surer. I am also in BPA, Spanish Club, and FFA. I plan to go to at least four years of college, but I am undecided on my major and college. My family’s farm in called Em-Mi K Holsteins. We currently have about 60 Registered Holsteins in milk, with room to expand, in a 72-stall barn. With youngstock, we have about 100 total. My father milked from 1999 to 2000, at which point he sold his herd. We started to buy heif-ers for me to show in 4-H and eventually they grew to production age. In September 2014, he started to milk again and still is today.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I believe I am a good dairy princess because I can relate to people. I enjoy work-ing with kids, so I love when I get the opportunity to do so, while promoting the dairy industry. Also, I have good communication skills. I have been a part of the 4-H dairy program for eight years, making me comfortable promoting dairy to the public.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? I emphasize that the human body needs milk because of the calcium and other nutrients it pro-vides. It is one of the healthiest things to drink and helps build strong bones. I would stress that dairy and milk in particular do not make people fat, I believe that is a misconception. I would also talk about the extensive testing process that milk goes through to make sure that it is suitable for the public to drink. For example, milk is screened so that antibiotics and growth hormones are never in it.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? I am not helping at a Breakfast on the Farm. If I were, I would focus on creating a good image for the dairy industry. I would stress the hu-mane treatment of the animals and the excellent qual-ity of the products.
Parents: Gary and Valerie SchwartzTown: Wadena
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I consider myself to be a very car-ing, respectful and well- mannered person. I’m often kept busy by my family and friends, com-munity events and staying active. I have been given the privilege to grow and prosper on our family op-erated dairy farm. I plan to attend North Dakota State University this fall with an undecided major.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? My dedication to promote the dairy industry the best that I can, my love for the taste of wholesome, nutritious dairy products, and my in-volvement in the community that supports me are what make me a good dairy princess.
Parents: Dan and Tanya MaloneTown: Wadena
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I was born and raised on a farm and working since I can re-member. I help on our farm by feeding, milking and cleaning up after the cows. Other than the farm, I stay busy helping out our community; participating in track, cross country, FFA, National Honor So-ciety and our school stu-dent council. My future plans include going to Bemidji State University and majoring in nursing.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? One quality I possess that makes me a good dairy princess is my passion to share my knowledge of the dairy industry.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? As a dairy princess, I can educate the public on how calcium found in dairy products bene ts the body.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? My message would include the im-portance of getting three dairy products a day, starting with breakfast.
Claire Lutz, 18Dairy Star Sponsor:
Werner ImplementVermillion, MN651-437-9738
Mariah Daninger, 20Dairy Star Sponsor:
Wingert Sales & Service
Plainview, MN507-534-4386
Emma Kruger, 17Dairy Star Sponsor:
Roundbankwww.roundbank.com
507-835-4220Story Sales & Service
Fairbault, MN800-451-6972
Olivia Schwartz, 17Dairy Star Sponsor:
Leaf River AgWadena & Bluffton
218-385-2559
Briana Malone, 18Dairy Star Sponsor:
Olsen’s Custom Farm Service
Staples, Verndale, Sebeka
218-837-5749
Washington County continued Winona County continued
Winona County
Wright County continued on next page
Wright County
West Otter Tail County
include everyone and treat people with respect. To be viewed as a role model, I work hard to be the best I can be.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? I help with providing milk to others and will let other people know that the dairy industry is im-portant and it’s something that shouldn’t be forgotten.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? The message that I would give to people is that being a part of the dairy industry is im-portant because it teaches others about many things in life including the hard work that people have to go through to provide food for human consumption.
loved being on my grandpa’s farm. Over the years I have watched the farm grow from a small herring-bone parlor to a large dairy where my grandpa and uncles milk nearly 600 cows. I have learned to respect the cows and the care we give them as they, in turn, provide us with a living, but also amazing products. At my grandparents’ farm, there is a large amount of tillable acreage so we can make feed for the cows our-selves. This is important because we are always aware of what they are being fed. Although the dairy indus-try is a big part of my life, my future plans include a four year education majoring in education or psy-chology. I want to help kids in high school by being a guidance counselor or teacher.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I have an open mind and heart to most anything. I am compassionate about the treat-ment of cows and all living things. I am well-spoken and am not afraid to speak up whenever needed. I will be a strong advocate for farmers just like my grandpa.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? My role is to educate those I come in con-tact with regarding dairy and the industry, as well as the positive impact of the product. I will promote the product by being educated myself so I can speak to those with questions.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? Keep farmers farming. I want all our farmers with a compassion for the industry to stay in the life that they love. I hope to educate others of the importance of farmers and the value of their prod-ucts.
Parents: Charles and Robyn KrauseTown: Buffalo
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your fu-ture plans. I am currently a student at the Univer-sity of Minnesota-Twin Cities majoring in agri-cultural education and a minor in animal science. I am a sixth generation dairy farmer near Buffalo where my family and I milk around 200 Holstein cows. I plan on working in the agricultural communi-cations industry or as an agriculture educator.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I have a deep passion for shar-ing the message of dairy farm families who take great pride in producing wholesome and nutritious milk. I love to engage with the public and educate about milk and how it gets from the farm to them.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? I always make sure that I get my three serv-
Parents: Wayne and Lorrie KozitkaTown: Howard Lake
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I work on my uncle’s farm where we milk about 40 Hol-steins and crossbreds. I help with the milking and feeding the calves. I cur-rently house four of my own dairy animals there, too. This year I am also working as an assistant dance teacher through my local community educa-tion program. I volunteer in my local 4-H program especially with the dairy project. My hobbies include volleyball, scrapbooking and showing cows.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I have a strong passion for thedairy community that would be displayed in my role as dairy princess. Being involved in the 4-H program and as a state ambassador provided me with leader-ship and public speaking skills. Also, it has helped me build my con dence and given me a chance to share my dairy farm story. I want to inspire others to see all the bene ts the dairy community has on the world today.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthylifestyle? As a dairy princess, I play a vital role in encouraging the use of real dairy foods. Every event Imeet new people and I can just hope that while talkingwith them I can make an impact for the use of dairyfoods. There are so many ways for everyone to re-ceive the three servings of dairy everyday and I hopeto share that message as a dairy princess.
If you’re helping at a Breakfast on the Farm, whatdairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? There are two key messages I would focus on. The rst one would be that farmers and theirfamilies are proud of what they do. They work hardand are dedicated to what they love to do. Also, Iwould share that the animals are well cared for andthat is a top priority on the farm. These are just someof the key messages that the public can experience at the farm.
Parents: Terry and Jana PriggeTown: Winona
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. Currently, I am a senior at Lewiston-Altura High School. I live and work on our family farm where we milk Hol-stein cows in a double-8 parallel parlor. We raise all of our calves and re-placement heifers and feed out our steers. I am involved in Minnesota Honor Society, 4-H and FFA. This year in FFA I judged oriculture which led me to pursue a degree in horticulture. This fall I will be attending Rochester Community and Technical College.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? One of my earliest memories is feeding calves with my dad. I learned from an early age the importance of caring for the animals. This has also taught me the value of hard work, responsibility and dedication. These have all made me passionate about the dairy industry.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? I will have the opportunity to teach consum-ers about dairy nutrition and the health and wellness bene ts that dairy products have to offer. That a single serving of milk provides you with nine essential nutri-ents that promote bone strength and reduce the risk of various chronic diseases. I will also encourage physi-cal activity and promote chocolate milk as a great re-covery drink for muscles.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? Breakfast on the farm is a great op-portunity to show the steps from caring for the calves to milking the cows. I would talk about the dairy farmer’s dedication to providing consumers with safe, high quality milk and dairy products and that this starts with taking good care of the animals and the land.
Parents: Brad Brouwer and Cami McElmuryTown: Altura
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. Ever since I was little, I have had a love for animals. This included animals of all kinds. From early on, I would go to our barn and help my dad feed calves. Whenever they were sick I could tell and I just wanted to be near them to help them feel better. I have had horses, cats, dogs, bunnies, and even a few pigs. I was al-ways around animals and
Parents: Todd and Dacia JohnsonTown: Fergus Falls
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. When I was young, I enjoyed to help feed the calves in the morning with my “Grandmoo” and then showing calves and heif-ers at the county fair. I’ve always been an animal-lover with a special af n-ity for cows. As I nish up my freshman year at Con-cordia College in Moor-head, Minn., my major is Social Studies Education. In the future, I hope to be able to reach out to stu-dents through teaching and coaching.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I enjoy and have a passion for promoting dairy products and the dairy industry!
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? Dairy products provide many health ben-e ts when consumed in proper amounts. The best way for everyone to maintain an overall well-balanced diet is to have three servings of dairy everyday. When you do this, your body receives just the right amount of nutrients from the milk, yogurt, or cheese you are eat-ing!
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? If I was helping at a Breakfast on the Farm, I would focus on diary cow care when in-teracting with the public. On dairy farms the cows come rst. Dairy farmers provide a wholesome diet, comfortable living conditions, and regular medical care for the cows on their farm in order to keep them healthy and happy.
Morgan Krause, 18Dairy Star Sponsor:
Munson Lakes Nutrition & The Country StoreHoward Lake, MN
800-245-7717
Bethany Kozitka, 20Dairy Star Sponsor:
Munson Lakes Nutrition & The Country StoreHoward Lake, MN
800-245-7717
Elizabeth Prigge, 17Dairy Star Sponsor:Pettit’s IBA Dairy
SupplyLewiston, MN507-732-5719
Calli Brouwer, 17Dairy Star Sponsor:
Land O’LakesMelrose, MN320-256-7461
Rachel Johnson, 19Dairy Star Sponsor:Perham Co-op
CreameryPerham, MN
218-346-6240
Dairy Star • Monday, May 9, 2016 • Page 19
Princess Facts:
Douglas County continuedWright County continuedWright County continuedPage 20 • Dairy Star • Monday, May 9, 2016
ings of dairy each day and I think it is important as a dairy princess to share the message of how important dairy products are in your everyday life.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? I would share the message that a dairy farmer’s main priority is the health and comfort of their cows.
Parents: Mark and Tanya WalterTown: Montrose
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your fu-ture plans. I am a senior at Buffalo High School, where I am involved with FFA, 4-H, Students Step-ping Up, GAPP (German American Partnership Program), NHS, and Im-pact Leaders. I attend St. Cloud State University as a PSEO student and will complete my generals at St. Cloud in the fall as a sophomore. I will then transfer to OSU to major in dairy management, to be an agriculture teacher. My family raises Milking Shorthorns and Brown Swiss which we show.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I am very passionate about the dairy industry and love promoting the importance of having dairy in your diet. I enjoy the opportunity to meet new people and see the need for relatable and approachable representatives for the consumer to talk with about the dairy industry. We stand behind the quality of the product we produce, and I strongly be-lieve in being a voice to educate consumers.
Parents: Todd and Barb EgenesTown: Alexandria
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I live with my two sisters Kayla, 16, and Kristin, 22, and my parents Todd and Barb Egenes. We raise goats and rabbits for showing. I am very involved in 4-H and FFA. I run cross coun-try and shoot trap. I love being outside and spend-ing time with my friends and family. I work at Jas-sel Holsteins, a family-owned dairy farm in Al-exandria. My favorite part about working on the farm is the calves. My future plans are to attend Lake Area Technical for dairy nu-trition.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I am a very outgoing person and not afraid to talk to anyone. I am very willing to learn and to hear about issues or any events within the dairy industry.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? I am currently planning an Ag in the Class-room lesson about dairy cows for a second grade class. One specic part of the lesson is how easy it is to consume dairy at each meal, whether it be yogurt, milk or butter, it’s an easy addition to your meal. I myself consume dairy on a daily basis, as well as my entire family.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? I would focus on informing the pub-lic about how diverse the dairy industry is; all of the effort it takes to help cows produce and stay healthy or even just how many jobs there are in the dairy in-dustry.
Parents: Gary and Beth SabolikTown: Kensington
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. Our dairy farm is located just outside of Kensington where we milk about 250 Holstein cows. I love being able to help with chores and milk-ing whenever I am home from school. In my spare time I like to play piano, run, read and spend time at the lake. I just nished my freshman year at the College of St. Scholastica
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? As a dairy princess, I am the face that people will see that is behind the product. It is my responsibility to encourage people to consume dairy products and as a dairy princess, I am able to be out in the community to educate and serve different dairy products to people. This also presents a personal ap-proach to teach all about the nutritious bene ts of dairy products.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? Working on breakfast on the farm is an opportunity for the community to see how a real dairy farming operates. The main message I would focus on is animal care and how it relates to the qual-ity product we bring to market. There is a lot of mis-information about our animal care and we need real situations to explain how and why we do things. Our goal is always to base care decisions on what is best for each animal.
Parents: Julie and Barry SpiersTown: Monticello
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your fu-ture plans. I do not live on a farm. I work on Gre-enwaves Farm owned by Mark and Paul Berning. On the farm, we have four robots that were installed in fall of 2014. They help milk about 200 cows. My future plans are to raise enough money to be able to have my own ranch.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I am hardworking, so I will work hard to advocate for the dairy industry.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? This role is very important to me. Like many kids, I was one of them who didn’t enjoy milk at all. So for those parents, I help share how impor-tant it is for them and how there are many ways in re-ceiving dairy in your daily diets. One example would be chocolate milk. Many believe that chocolate is unhealthy, when in reality it only contains 3 percent more sugar than regular milk and still provides all the essential nutrients.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? I would be saying dairy is impor-tant. Dairy is very important for more than just our bones. Dairy also contributes to us feeling fuller for longer, it helps protect our muscles after we work out, strengthens our immune system, regulates our metab-olism, and helps to build strong bones.
Maisie Walter, 18Dairy Star Sponsor:
Munson Lakes Nutrition & The Country StoreHoward Lake, MN
800-245-7717
Megan Egenes, 18Dairy Star Sponsor:
SunOptaAlexandria, MN320-763-9822
Kiersten Sabolik, 18Dairy Star Sponsor:Ag Country Farm Credit ServicesDouglas County320-763-3184
Ali Spiers, 19Dairy Star Sponsor:
Munson Lakes Nutrition & The Country StoreHoward Lake, MN
800-245-7717
Douglas County
in Duluth. I am majoring in exercise physiology and want to become a physical therapist.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I am a good leader and a good communicator, which will help me to be able to suc-cessfully interact with people within my county and the state to spread information about dairy and be a good example for the dairy industry. I also have a passion for dairy and for the agriculture industry hav-ing grown up on our dairy farm and around the hard working, caring people that work in the industry.
As a dairy princess, what role do you play in en-couraging dairy consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle? I am so excited to be able to share my pas-sion for the dairy industry through my role as a dairy princess this year. Consumer education is one of the most important parts of this position, in my opinion. Informing people about the essential vitamins and nu-trients found in milk, as well as the many different recipes and ways they can t dairy into their diet can help promote dairy consumption.
If you’re helping at a breakfast on the farm, what dairy message would you focus on while visiting with the public? One of the messages that I think is important to convey to the public is the health ben-ets and the safety of milk and other dairy products. Milk contains nine essential nutrients that help people to stay healthy and give them energy. Dairy products are also very safe, having been tested several times to make sure that no antibiotics, pesticides or unsafe materials present. Consumers should know that milk quality and safety is a top priority of dairy farmers.
Join Us!Everyone in Minnesota’s
dairy community is welcome to join the Midwest Dairy
Association on Sunday, May 15, at St. Cloud
State University after the banquet celebrating the announcement
of the 12 fi nalists running for Princess Kay of the Milky Way.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THIS
SPECIAL EDITION, please contact Nancy at the Dairy
Star offi ce, 320-352-6303Or visit www.dairystar.com
to see a digital version of this special edition.
Steele County has several dairy programs including a dairy ambassador program for the boys
the same age as the princesses and a 17-year-old junior dairy ambassador
program for both boys and girlsgrades 4-12. This year they have 28
