DAIRY ST R
Special Edition
May 8, 2021
Finding creative ways to connect Connelly embraces Princess Kay role, reaches consumers through virtual avenues By Andrea Borgerding andrea.b@dairystar.com
BYRON, Minn. – Having many opportunities to connect with people of all ages across Minnesota and having meaningful conversations is what makes the Princess Kay role enjoyable to 20-year-old Brenna Connelly. “The Minnesota dairy farmers that I get to represent are kind, driven, passionate and innovative,” Connelly said. “I love getting to share their stories with the people I meet and interact with them both in-person and virtually.” Connelly has been serving as the 67th Princess Kay of the Milky Way and is a sophomore at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities studying agricultural communication and marketing. She grew up working on her cousin’s 60-cow dairy farm near Byron and has been active showing dairy cattle and dairy judging. She is the daughter of Craig and Heather. Connelly was crowned the evening of Aug. 12, 2020, in a limited capacity banquet due to the coronavirus
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Brenna Connelly is serving as the 67th Princess Kay of the Milky Way. Connelly is a student at University of Minnesota – Twin CiƟes in St. Paul, Minnesota.
pandemic restrictions. She was grateful to have a few of her closest family and friends with her in what would be a
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Brenna Connelly stands with the buƩerhead carved in her likeness Aug. 13, 2020, in the Dairy Building at the Minnesota State Fairgounds.
special, life-changing moment. “I was honored and excited to begin my very own journey as the 67th Princess Kay of the Milky Way,” Connelly said. “It made it even more special that Amy Kyllo and I were from the same county and had served as county dairy princesses together.” After the crown was placed on her head, Connelly began a journey that started with a dream when she was a young girl showing dairy cattle. “I always looked up to the princesses and I dreamed of being in their shoes,” Connelly said. “Every year I watched the nalists take the stage, and I always loved watching the new Princess Kay being crowned.” Connelly’s unconventional crowning was just the beginning of what would be an unconventional reign for Princess Kay. Due to pandemic restrictions, Connelly has been fullling most of her duties as the dairy community’s goodwill ambassador by connecting through
social media channels and engaging in virtual classroom visits. Considering the challenging circumstances, Connelly is thankful to have social media to communicate with a broad audience during her reign. The day following her coronation, Connelly completed her rst interview as Princess Kay with WCCO Morning Show. Shortly after, she was brought to the Dairy Building on the state fairgrounds to begin having her likeness carved in butter. In the absence of the state fair, Connelly was allowed a group of family and friends to join her during her time in the butter booth. “Although this day looked different than any other year, it was a very exciting day and one of my favorites so far,” Connelly said. Throughout the day, Connelly completed numerous media interviews while also connecting with a virtual audience through Facebook Live events. “It was a very surreal day to nally have my very own butter sculpture but the hustle and liveliness of fairgoers in the building were surely missed,” Connelly said. Continuing her reign, Connelly participated in promotional events including touring Open Arms of Minnesota a nonprot that delivers meals to critically ill clients. Each week they send out 382 gallons of milk to their clients. Connelly also took part in the lming of Virtual Youth Training Camp videos developed by the Minnesota Vikings football team. “I was able to work alongside Fuel Up to Play 60 youth ambassadors to create interactive exercise videos,” Connelly said. She was also a part of the virtual celebration of the 2020 Fuel Up to Play 60 Hometown Grant Award that provides a local school district with $10,000 to help reinforce health and physical activity programming within its schools. “I was able to share with the students the life of a dairy farmer and how benecial dairy can be to their diets,” Connelly said. “On the call, we Turn to CONNELLY | Page 23
Introducing Your County Dairy Princesses For 2021... DISCLAIMER: The county dairy princesses featured in this special section are not necessarily going on to compete for the title of Princess Kay of the Milky Way. The section serves to recognize all dairy princess at the county level.
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Benton County
Parents: Mitchell and Tasha Ackerman Sauk Rapids, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I started working on Ackerman Farms, which is owned by two of my uncles. On their 100-cow dairy farm, I help milk cows and occasionally take care Allie Ackerman, 18 of the other livestock. Dairy Star Sponsor: After graduating, I plan Sunrise Ag Co-op on attending University sunrisecoop.com of Wisconsin-River Falls 320-468-6433 where I would like to major in animal science with an emphasis in meat animals and minor in food science. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I have good connections to the farmers and people of the industry. And, I have good public speaking skills and professionalism. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? One of the main messages that needs to be spread is supporting the local farmers in your area. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? The pandemic showed the importance of the dairy industry because even with the lockdown, farmers all over the state were in the elds or in the barn to bring products to the stores. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? I want to connect to both young kids and adults. I would like to connect with young kids to show them the importance about dairy and how it helps the body. I would also like to connect with adults and give them a listening ear and a voice to the public. Parents: Troy and Melissa Schreindl Rice, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I currently work and live on our family farm, O&S Dairy, where we milk 250 cows and grow crops on about 900 acres. My duties include calf chores, milking cows Emily Schreindl, 18 and eld work in the Dairy Star Sponsor: summer. I participate in Sunrise Ag Co-op 4-H and FFA. My future sunrisecoop.com plans after high school 320-468-6433 are going to college at St. Gilman Co-op Creamery Cloud State University gilmancreamery.com for radiologic technology. 320-387-2770 What qualities do you Helena Agri possess that make you 16250 US-10 NW a good dairy princess? Royalton, MN 56373 My past experience as a 320-584-5520 dairy princess encouraged me to gain condence to represent my county. I am a passionate person who enjoys making connections with others. I have participated in many agricultural activities that have allowed me to work with the youth of the agriculture and the dairy industry. I am communicative when it comes to the dairy industry. I enjoy talking about my family farm and the dairy industry in general. I am also passionate about the dairy community as a whole. I am very outgoing. I cannot wait to tell everyone more about the dairy industry and products What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? The most important message right now is to support local dairy farmers whether they are big or small. Dairy farmers work around the clock to provide everyone with the products we all enjoy the most. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? Dairy farmers are always operating which means they will be needing
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parts and services. Those purchases will also keep other local business operating. Also, the Farmers to Family Food Box Program was a way farmers were able to distribute agricultural products to the families in need. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? As a dairy princess, I want to connect with elementary students. Their minds are very moldable, which would make it easy to connect with them. They will also look up to someone like myself, which will also help in giving them information and advice. I also think they would remember connecting with us as they grow up.
through jobs and continued supply of products. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? Women and dairy matter. My grandma, aunts and female co-workers continue to work just as hard as the men in the dairy industry.
Brown County Parents: Mike and Jenna Griebel New Ulm, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/ or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I am a senior at Cathedral High School, and I live and work on Griebel Dairy Farm. Next year, I will attend Dordt University to study plant and animal Elizabeth Griebel, 18 science. Dairy Star Sponsor: What qualities do you Bongards’ Creameries possess that make you a Norwood-Young good dairy princess? A America, MN few qualities I have that 952-277-5500 make me a good dairy princess include being a leader. I am also the vice president of my 4-H club. I am hardworking and want to constantly better our family farm along with the agricultural community. What do you think is the most important dairy message to share with consumers right now? An important dairy message I want to share with consumers is the importance of dairy products and how benecial they are for a healthy living. It is important to recognize dairy farmers’ commitment because dairy is an important balance for our health. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? The pandemic has shown the community how important the dairy industry is by continuing to produce our product. The community has realized how important our farmers are and what they do for the community. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? An important key that I want to connect with you as a dairy princess is to help encourage younger children to get involved more. Helping increase the numbers of those who get involved at a younger age can be benecial for their potential future involvement in the dairy industry. Parents: Bruce and Jacki Kyllonen Sleepy Eye, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I work at two dairy farms, Riverside Dairy and Roseview Dairy. I plan to go to college and have an ag or dairy major. What qualities do you possess that make you Sophie Kyllonen, 17 a good dairy princess? Dairy Star Sponsor: Leadership, knowledge Bongards’ Creameries and communication with Norwood-Young others. America, MN What do you think is one 952-277-5500 of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? Dairy products are healthy, considering all of the proteins and nutrients that it can supply to our bodies, affordable and are in a variety of products. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? Dairy has never stopped and has continued to support our community
Parents: Tom and Mary Portner Sleepy Eye, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I live and work on my family’s 280cow dairy west of Sleepy Eye. We raise all Brown Swiss cattle including 250 replacement heifers. Both my parents work and run Sophia Portner, 18 the dairy along with my Dairy Star Sponsor: uncle. My future plans are Bongards’ Creameries to attend North Dakota Norwood-Young State University in the America, MN fall majoring in natural 952-277-5500 resource management and minoring in general agriculture. I would like to work in some part of sustainable agriculture, recycling or environmental sustainability. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I am knowledgeable about dairy, dairy products and the farming industry. I have rst-hand experience to share with the public. I also enjoy being with younger kids which many events are catered to as a dairy princess. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? Dairy farmers are innovative. They are continually looking for ways to improve their practices for producing their product efciently and being true stewards of their land and animals. They are willing to experiment and to nd the best ways to fulll their goals. Dairy farmers are adaptable and resilient for their cows and the product they work hard to produce. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? Dairy is an important protein in an American diet. Buying local and keeping families healthy became very apparent during the pandemic. Many cities participated in a food box program during the pandemic, and dairy was an important addition to those packages. It is a healthy and affordable staple for many during difcult times. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? I love connecting with younger kids when possible at events because they are always so excited to learn more about dairy and agriculture. I would like to be able to connect more to mothers because they are the ones who buy dairy products for their kids. Parents: Amos and Annie Vogel Morgan, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I am a freshman at Ellsworth Community College double majoring in agribusiness and equine management. I am involved in Professional Agricultural Student Katrina Vogel, 19 Organization and Phi Dairy Star Sponsor: Theta Kappa. In high Bongards’ Creameries school, I was involved Norwood-Young in FFA and did sports for America, MN three years. During my 952-277-5500 senior year, I was working for Roseview Dairy. At Roseview Dairy, I started out milking, and after a couple months, I switched to more of the scraping portion in the back but milked occasionally. As I worked there, I picked up more duties and skills as I had time such as feeding cows before chore time and giving milk to the calves. My future plans include Brown County continued on next page
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graduating and using my required internships to nd a job in the agricultural eld and eventually owning my own farm/ranch. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? As a dairy princess, I possess adequate knowledge in the entire dairy process and am procient at the basics of milking and can condently take care of the barn chores as well. I am continually learning whenever I am working and constantly nd something to help with to further my knowledge in the dairy industry. I show up to work on time and work hard. Outside of the dairy, I advocate for the dairy industry and agriculture as a whole in order to educate the uninformed about the dairy industry and the steps which are in the production of dairy foods. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? Dairy is losing the support it once had because of lack of education. It is important to know the truth about the sources of food in order to support those who feed the world. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? Unlike many other dry packaged food items that can be shipped to the doorstep, dairy products are fresh and more fragile and temperature sensitive; therefore, with not as much dairy products being purchased, food was wasted. For example, tanks of milk were being dumped. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? Elementary students because it would give me the opportunity to teach them the information rather than trying to correct previous beliefs, and therefore, the information would be better utilized.
a positive way. There are so many choices other than real dairy, and people are choosing to substitute dairy for other products. If I am able to inuence even a few young people to stay in the dairy business, it will greatly impact the future business of dairy as well.
Parents: Todd and Kristen Karels Norwood Young America, Minnesota
Carver County Parents: Jon and Kelly Dose Hamburg, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. My dad owns our family farm alongside my uncle, just outside of Hamburg. We milk about 150 cows. I like to help on the farm on my days off, and I especially like bottle Alison Dose, 18 feeding the newest calves. Dairy Star Sponsor: I plan on attending North Lano Equipment of Dakota State University Norwood with a biology major on 952-467-2181 the pre-med track. I hope to become a pediatrician in the future. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I am an outgoing person and am not afraid to speak out about a cause I am passionate about. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? Dairy is important in order to receive all the nutrients a body needs. Many people in today’s world are trying to substitute dairy with “healthier” options and are missing out on many key nutrients their body needs in order to thrive. The best part about dairy products is that you are able to receive calcium and other vitamins needed all in one product. When you substitute dairy out of your diet, you are taking away the main supplier of all of these nutrients. Supplements and vitamins can be used in place of this but are not as nutrient-rich as dairy products are. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? Even through the pandemic, dairy farmers were constantly working in order to produce dairy products. Dairy farming is an essential role in our community, and farmers produce a product that is fortied with Vitamin D and helps to boost immune systems. This is even more important to try to keep everyone healthy even through these troubling times. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? My key demographic would probably be young people. They are impressionable, and today’s society is always worrying about being healthy and doing the healthiest choice. If I am able to better inform young people about the importance of dairy in their diet, it will impact the future of dairy in
Parent: Darin Feist Cologne, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/ or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I am a junior at Central High School in Norwood Young America. I am involved in student council, National Honor Society, robotics and soccer. I like to paint and draw. I have been Greta Feist, 17 involved in the dairy Dairy Star Sponsor: community through my Bongards’ Creameries grandparents’ dairy farm. Norwood-Young They have a familyAmerica, MN owned and operated dairy 952-277-5500 farm outside of Norwood Young America in which they milk about 65 Holsteins. Since I was about 4 years old, I have been showing their cows in the Carver County 4-H Dairy Show. I have also been a part of the dairy ambassador program for four years. My future plans are to attend a four-year college to study graphic design. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I am well-rounded and involved in the dairy community. I also have a passion for animals and their safety. It is important to me that we are offering the animals that provide our essential dairy products with happy and healthy care. I have also been fortunate to have access to many situations where I can show leadership skills, which will help me spread the message of the dairy community. I enjoy sharing with others what I am passionate about and that, of course, includes dairy. It is an important part of my life to show support for what I nd value in, and it is important to go beyond that by sharing that passion with others. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? Dairy farmers work to sustain the well-being of their animals and the environment. When I talk to consumers who do not know much about the dairy community, they are often concerned about the impact dairy farms have on the environment. As more people become aware of the environment and climate change, it is important to spread the message that dairy farmers work to better the environment. Also, when I have talked to customers, they have expressed concern for the happiness and safety of the animals. Dairy farmers work to limit their environmental impact while simultaneously providing care for their animals. Farmers try to be caretakers of the land just as much as they are caretakers of their animals. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? The pandemic has shown how important it is to maintain a healthy body and mind. It has shown the importance to have access to products that help our bodies not only continue to work at their top performance, but also products that help maintain health. A year like the one we experienced will affect our mental health in one way or another. I have found great comfort knowing that even if I had a bad day, I could go home and enjoy dairy products that have always brought me comfort. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? The youth of my community and my state. There seems to be more and more substitutes for dairy products. As these products become more popular, I want to make sure children and teenagers understand the countless benets dairy provides. I have noticed the popularity dairy product substitutes have gained, and while they can be benecial for those who cannot consume dairy, it is important to emphasize dairy products as they offers nutrients and benets that alternatives cannot. So, it is important to inform the younger generation of the benets dairy products offer and to encourage them to share that knowledge decades into the future.
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/ or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I am a freshman at South Dakota State University where I am studying precision agriculture with minors in agronomy and animal Anna Karels, 19 science. At SDSU, I am Dairy Star Sponsor: involved in Sigma Alpha Lano Equipment of which is a professional Norwood agriculture sorority, dairy 952-467-2181 club, and ABE, AST, PRAG club. My family runs about 950 acres of corn and soybean, and I am active in helping with that. Even though I did not grow up on a dairy farm, I am involved. I have been in 4-H and FFA throughout my life and have shown dairy for 11 years. I lease my dairy cattle from a family friend where they have around 200 milking cows, 40 dry cows and 220 youngstock on their farm. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I am a good communicator and enjoy talking to people. I am also knowledgeable and passionate about the dairy industry and love to share my knowledge with others. What do you think is the most important dairy message to share with consumers right now? The dairy industry is safe, and the products are nutritious. While many consumers think dairy animals are not being treated right and that their home is not safe or clean, it is the complete opposite. Dairy farmers work daily to make sure their animals are as safe as possible and have everything they need. They make sure they have clean bedding, fresh feed and are properly taken care of. Farmers would not want the consumers to be eating anything they would not eat and would not want the cows to not be the best they could be. They want to make sure everything is fresh and safe for the consumers. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? Throughout the pandemic, everything came to a halting stop. Schools were shut down, and students were forced to learn from home. While many kids had to be at home by themselves because their parents were at work, they had to gure out what to eat. The dairy industry stepped up and kept making those nutritious dairy products. When the schools put together lunches to bring to the kids, there were dairy products put in with each meal. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? One key demographic I want to connect with as a dairy princess is the kids and teenagers. For the kids, I want to give them a good understanding of what the dairy industry is all about and to inform them of all the nutritious dairy products and what they do to help stay healthy. They are at the young age where they are learning about the world. I want them to understand how great the dairy industry really is. With the teenagers, I want to also hit the point of teaching them about the dairy industry. There are a lot of teenagers who begin to stop eating dairy products because they hear incorrect information about the dairy industry and think eating dairy products is bad. I want them to know the truth about the dairy industry and help them to understand what this industry is all about and what the nutritious dairy products do for them. Carver County continued on next page
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Parents: Mark and Nissa Klaustermeier Cologne, Minnesota
pet and soft serve to hand out, and people’s faces lit up when they got their ice cream. People stopped to talk and pet the calf. They learned about dairy farms and where their food comes from. They had fun and enjoyed their day. Ice cream and cute animals can make anyone’s day better, and that is especially important now in the pandemic when people are not their happiest. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? Teens need to get more into dairy. Many teens do not drink milk or eat yogurt. They miss out on many of the benets dairy provides. Many do not believe it is even benecial for your health. That message should be spread in order to bring dairy into our generation more strongly.
not running up to greet us because we are handing out cheese sticks and cow stickers, or reminiscing on the days they got to visit their grandpa’s dairy farm? That is the demographic I hope to connect with as a dairy princess. In order to bridge the gap between farmers and consumers, no one can be left out. Dairy princesses have so much to share, and the enthusiasm we have about dairy is contagious, so we should bring that to as many people as we can.
Parents: Tim and Amy Leonard Waconia, Minnesota
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I am nishing my junior year at University of Minnesota, where I am studying animal science and agricultural and food business management with a minor in nance. Isabelle Lindahl, 20 I grew up as a thirdDairy Star Sponsor: generation dairy farmer Fluegge’s Ag on Lindahl Farms, where ueggesag.com my family raises our herd 320-679-2981 of 100 milking cattle alongside our replacement heifers. After graduation, I plan on nding a job in agricultural lending while raising my ock of club lambs on the side. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? Connecting with consumers on the basis of shared values has enabled me to succeed in my role as a county dairy princess. This is one of the most effective ways to share our message as dairy producers to the consumer. Finding these common values helps to bridge the gap between farmers and consumers, allowing us to foster a relationship based on trust. My communication skills have also helped me to facilitate these long-standing relationships. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? The pandemic has put many day-to-day operations to a halt. However, dairy farmers have been hard at work throughout these uncertain times to ensure a safe, healthy product is readily available for consumers. Farmers remain committed to their mission no matter the circumstances, whether in rain or shine, in normal times or during the coronavirus pandemic. This unwavering dedication is important to share with consumers as there are conicting perceptions about how dairy producers care for their animals. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? Almost exactly a year ago, milk was ying off the shelves of grocery stores nationwide. Through supply chain disruptions, various news channels highlighted the concerns consumers shared about the availability of dairy. Throughout the past few months, this event and others has shown how important dairy is within our communities. People depend on dairy in their lives whether working from home or in the ofce. Children integrate dairy into their meals no matter if it is at school or in their distance learning spaces. During the pandemic, producers and consumers alike have been increasingly connected by their roles in dairy. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? Working parents are some of the busiest individuals. They are tasked with nding balance between their work and personal lives, while placing their children’s well-being at the top of their priority list. Their daily duties include nding healthy, creative ideas for three square meals every day. This is why I nd these parents to be an important demographic to connect with as a dairy princess. I hope to help this group discover how to incorporate dairy into convenient choices that do not compromise health or nutrition.
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I live on my family’s farm outside of Cologne where we milk around 140 cows. Besides being outside and around my animals, I enjoy all forms of art and teaching Hannah people new things. As Klaustermeier, 17 of now, I am going to Dairy Star Sponsor: attend the University Lano Equipment of of Minnesota in Duluth Norwood for studio arts in the fall 952-467-2181 of 2021. For my future career, I would love to work in an exotic animal rehabilitation center to keep learning and taking care of all kinds of animals. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I am easy to talk to, approachable and well informed of the industry that I have always loved to be a part of. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? Alongside the fact that dairy is a crucial part of any person’s diet, it is extremely important that the public knows the nutritious products they consume are obtained humanely from the animals and go through various processes to make sure they are clean and safe for consumption. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? The pandemic has been hard on everyone for a multitude of reasons. Dairy farmers set a great example as to how we should deal with these hardships. No matter how difcult the circumstances of life are, dairy farmers work hard every day. They work hard to provide for their animals, their families and their communities. This sets a great example of how we should always keep pushing and doing our best during hard times. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? Being able to positively impact how the younger generation sees the dairy industry is extremely important. Being able to grow up in the way I did is special, and I wish to help others see how amazing, crucial and gratifying this industry is. Parents: Tom and Timi Klaustermeier Cologne, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I have been a Carver County dairy princess for the last two years. My family’s farm is located in Cologne, and we have about 400 cows. I plan on attending the University Maia of Minnesota-Twin Cities Klaustermeier, 17 this fall to study history Dairy Star Sponsor: and linguistics. Glenco Coop, Glencoe What qualities do you 320-864-5561 possess that make you Munson Lakes Nutrition a good dairy princess? Howard Lake, MN I love talking to people, 320-543-2561 especially answering their questions about the dairy industry and the products it produces. I also love teaching the kids we meet at camps and serving ice cream at nursing homes. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? I think consumers need to know that dairy is healthy. There are a lot of conicting opinions about whether or not dairy is good for you, but it is. It strengthens bones and the immune system. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? We have not done many events during the pandemic, but the ones we have been able to participate in have shown me that dairy lifts people’s spirits and brings them together at safe distances, of course. One of our events took place at Mackenthun’s over the summer. We had a calf to
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I was raised as the sixth generation to live and work on my family’s dairy farm. We milk about 45 Holsteins in our tiestall barn. I am a junior at the University of Minnesota- Emily Leonard, 21 Twin Cities where I am Dairy Star Sponsor: studying biology with a Bongards’ Creameries minor in animal science. I Norwood-Young hope to be involved with America, MN dairy cattle research and 952-277-5500 build upon my interests in animals and biology in a graduate program. Growing up on a dairy farm has blessed me with so much valuable knowledge and experience, and I strive to carry that with me throughout my life and professional career. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? Growing up on the farm and being involved with the dairy project in 4-H, I have gained valuable knowledge about dairy animals, products and the people behind them. I enjoy learning how every farm has its own backstory that brought it to the way it operates today. Additionally, I aspire to have meaningful conversations with consumers that leave them more knowledgeable and enthusiastic about dairy foods. Making connections with both consumers and fellow dairy farmers is something I cherish. In our conversations, there is always something to learn, whether it is an outside perspective on dairy or a look into how another farmer operates and goes above and beyond to care for their animals. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? Trust farmers. Farmers are committed to providing the utmost care for their animals, consumers, and environment. Decisions are catered to each herd to ensure we provide consumers with healthy food that was produced responsibly. Farmers and dairy professionals are constantly adapting to improve the methods used in both animal care and product creation. We care about quality products and producing them in the safest, healthiest and most effective way possible. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? We saw shelves go empty for the rst time in our lives. Businesses and industries struggled to keep up with the demand for food, and staff cuts were made either due to safety reasons or the lack of funds. However, dairy farmers and employees were not out of jobs. Cows need us, and we are instilled with the commitment to provide for our animals no matter what is going on in our lives or off the farm. During the pandemic, the cows did not stop producing milk, and dairy farmers did not stop taking care of their animals and supplying consumers with dairy foods. This is what makes milk one of the most consistent foods in grocery stores and shows how durable dairy products and dairy farmers are. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? Dairy princesses get to interact with a variety of people. Kids love listening to us read storybooks about cows that type, grocery store shoppers love the free ice cream sandwiches we hand them for walking out of the store with a gallon of milk, and parents love the way their child’s face lights up when they nd out how much water a cow can drink in a day. But what about the ones who are
Chisago County Parents: Kevin and Tara Lindahl Lindstrom, Minnesota
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Parents: Dale and Ann Sandberg Taylors Falls, Minnesota
have the ability to communicate with those around me. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? Buy dairy products and continue to buy dairy products. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? Dairy is one of the safest foods you could ever consume. From farm to you, it never touches the hands of producers. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? A way that I’ll be communicating with others about the dairy industry during this pandemic is through social media platforms as well having meaningful conversations with those around me about the dairy industry.
good dairy princess? I am passionate, like to help others and want to be involved in my community. I am involved in the dairy industry in many different ways and am knowledgeable about the dairy industry and can use that knowledge to educate the public about dairy. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? Support the consumption of dairy products. We should educate the consumers on how the milk goes from the cow to the table as well as how the cows are cared for. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? During the pandemic, dairy farmers and manufacturers continued to produce dairy products for the consumers. One example of how they provided products is when the schools were closed and offered free meals to the students. These meals included various dairy products including milk. Some schools are still providing these free meals. The cows need to be milked and cared for 24/7 and that provided work for not only the farmers but also work and steady income for any employees they may have. During the pandemic, most agricultural businesses stayed open because agriculture in general could not stop. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? I want to connect with the younger generation because they will have an impact on the future dairy market. There is so much misunderstanding about the dairy industry that is easily spread through social media and other ways of communication. I want to educate the youth about what the dairy industry really is and what they do.
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/ or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I grew up and work on Sandberg Farms in Taylors Falls with my family. I have focused on calf care and the growth of a healthy herd. I am working Alicia Sandberg, 21 toward completing my Dairy Star Sponsor: degree at the University East Central Dairy of Wisconsin-River Falls Supply where I’m studying to be Mora, MN an agriculture educator to 320-679-1029 continue increasing the knowledge base of our future students. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I am passionate about the dairy community as well as the importance of the future generations knowing where their food comes from. I also enjoy connecting with others, learning what we have in common and exchanging stories of our different experiences. Being able to use my communication skills to be the bridge between producers and consumers also helps me to connect to both sides. Lastly, I believe my friendly personality will help me in my ability to adjust to many situations and opportunities. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? Sharing about how important it is to dairy farmers that they produce a healthy and sustainable food source is a big message I would like to share with consumers. By recycling water, producing locally and implementing new technologies, farmers are working hard to ensure they produce a wholesome product for our generation and for future generations to come. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? The pandemic has been a way for so many of our communities to be connected. This situation is not normal for anyone so together we are all learning and adapting. From farm to table, dairy farmers have helped to ensure that, during these changing times, wholesome dairy products are readily available for every family. Dairy has always been there and it always will be. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? I would like to connect with parents of adolescent students. We already have a strong stance in school in which we have actions and interactions with students, but we should help their parents understand the positive options and benets. Interactive opportunities, activities, sharing recipes and experiences will help parents see the benet and importance of dairy in their children’s diet as well as nding dairy products that benet their own diet as well. Their inuence can go miles and can make an amazing impact.
Crow Wing County Parents: Aric and Jennifer Caughey Brainerd, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I co-own JENARIC Dairy with my sister, Jenna, where we milk registered Holsteins and Jerseys. I am a freshman at the University of Minnesota-Crookston Arica Caughey, 19 working toward a degree Dairy Star Sponsor: in agricultural education. Fluegge’s Ag I’m involved with Golden ueggesag.com Eagle Entertainment as 320-679-2981 well as Ag-Arama. My Sunrise Ag Co-op favorite dairy product is sunriseagcoop.com shredded cheese which I 320-468-6433 like to eat with a spoon. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I
Parents: Aric and Jennifer Caughey Brainerd, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/ or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I am the co-owner of JENARIC Dairy with my sister, Arica Caughey. We milk registered Holsteins and Jerseys. I am a senior at Brainerd High School and Jenna Caughey, 18 am planning on attending Dairy Star Sponsor: Ridgewater College for Fluegge’s Ag dairy management to ueggesag.com expand my knowledge 320-679-2981 in the dairy industry. My Sunrise Ag Co-op favorite dairy product is sunriseagcoop.com chocolate milk 320-468-6433 What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I am willing to promote the dairy industry and talk about my farm. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? To continue supporting the dairy industry. It is important to reach out to farmers if you have questions about the industry. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? Dairy is one of the safest foods you could ever consume. From farm to you, we ensure it gets to you safely and in a timely manner so you are receiving the best product you could get. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? How I plan on staying connected with consumers about the dairy industry is through social media and posting about different dairy-related stuff. Talking with consumers could easily happen by standing in a grocery line waiting to check out and mentioning to someone, “Hey, do you have dairy in your cart?”
Dodge County Parents: Ramon MaryBeth Espinoza Kasson, Minnesota
and
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/ or work on, or your parent’s work on, and your future plans. I am a senior at KassonMantorville High school. I am active in 4-H, FFA, church and other activities. I work at a preschool and daycare and love getting Gabriela to work with kids. I have Espinoza, 18 been showing dairy cattle Dairy Star Sponsor: since I was little and Laura Seljan have participated in dairy Photography judging and dairy bowl Kasson, MN through 4-H and FFA. My lauraseljanphotography.com dad has worked on a dairy 507-250-2217 farm his whole adult life. I have helped on the farm many times and enjoy getting to do so. What qualities do you possess that make you a
Parents: Stan and Amy Sauder Pine Island, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/ or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I was raised and work on my family’s dairy farm in Pine Island where we milk nearly 600 registered Holsteins. I have become more involved on the Amanda Sauder, 19 farm and plan to spend Dairy Star Sponsor: the summer raising calves Nelson Dairy and helping elsewhere Consultants, on the dairy. Aside from Harmony, MN growing up on a farm, nelsondairyconsultants.com I was involved in FFA 507-937-3620 and 4-H in high school and also enjoy showing animals at county and state fairs. I am a freshman at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls studying agricultural communications and marketing. I plan to pursue a career in communications with an agriculture related organization. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I am passionate about sharing the story of agriculture with others. Because of my background in dairy, as well as my past leadership experiences, I am equipped with the skills needed to convey my message to the public. Although I did not have many opportunities to interact with the public last year due to COVID-19, I had the ability to gain more skills in media promotion and plan to utilize those skills to assist me in the upcoming year. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? One of the most important issues I see within the dairy community, as well as the agriculture sector as a whole, is the spread of misinformation. Right now, there are many mixed messages about agriculture which often cause confusion and concern for consumers. These concerns often relate to animal and environmental care. When less than 2% of the U.S. population plays a role in agriculture, the rest of the nation is disconnected and does not see the detail and care that goes into the production of their food. I want to play a part in conveying the importance of agriculture and highlighting the care farmers put in every day. We are constantly developing better methods to care for our land and animals. I want to share the advancements and improvements of agriculture with others. Dodge County continued on next page
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How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? COVID-19 has brought to light our need for readily available foods. When the nation came to a standstill last year, the dairy community was working hard to provide products to ll store shelves. Dairy farmers are working every day to ensure there is an abundant supply of healthy dairy products for everyone to enjoy. Throughout the past year, it became noticeable how important our food supply is to the success of our nation. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? I hope to connect with youth, specically middle schoolers, in the coming year. Through classroom visits and hosting second grade tours at my family’s farm, I have had the opportunity to connect with young kids and share why agriculture is benecial to our communities. They are always so excited to talk about animals and are open to learning new things about agriculture. It is important to connect with youth and share the importance of the dairy community because they are our future citizens and can also share what they learn with their parents and friends.
nutrition to their families. Most people are interested in eating healthy and benecial meals and snacks, so it is imperative we keep information about our nutrient-rich products readily available to everyone. Parents are interested in providing a healthy diet to their families, and dairy supplies those requirements. I plan on making sure parents know that by buying a reasonably priced gallon of milk for their family, they are helping build their children’s immune system and overall health. Now more than ever, people know the importance of putting your health rst and working toward a healthier tomorrow.
What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? Having a passion to help others understand and engage within the dairy community is one of the reasons I wanted to become a dairy princess. I like to encourage others to ask questions about things they are curious about within dairy farming and help them understand that dairy products are safe and nutritious. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? Milk is clean and safe. I see a lot of online inuencers posting about how they are switching to a cleaner diet to help the earth and most of the time that includes cutting out dairy. This is challenging as they have such a broad window of consumers to inuence. However, as dairy farmers and scientists have proven, dairy is clean and sustainable to our planet. Farmers are learning and have been implementing more and more sustainable practices into farming to have a safe dairy product. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? With the pandemic uctuating jobs, where people work and the movement of the economy, dairy products are affordable and healthy options to put into diets now more than ever. Milk, cheese and yogurt are efcient and affordable resources that are always available to consumers. Dairy farming also helps support many families in the United States with a wide variety of essential jobs. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? Hopefully, this year things should be a little more normal than last. I hope to get into classrooms and facilitate and engage in activities with youth as well as have a successful dairy night on the farm with community members and farmers.
Parents: Jeffrey and Susie Thoe Hayeld, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/ or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I am proud to be a sixth generation dairy farmer where I work side by side with my parents, grandparents, siblings and nephews. I enjoy Katrina Thoe, 22 working on the farm Dairy Star Sponsor: which includes many jobs AMPI from milking, feeding, ampi.com baling hay, harvesting dinnerbellcreamery.com and picking rocks. I am attending Winona State University where I will receive a degree in nursing. I hope to work in the area so I can continue to work on our dairy farm. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I am passionate about my beliefs and am approachable and welcoming. I have been involved in many activities where I have interacted with and mentored youth which I truly enjoyed and feel I am able to engage them effectively. I have been involved in 4-H, FFA and showing cattle as well as working on our farm so I have a lot of experiences to share. I am a positive person and enjoy interacting with others. As a dairy princess, I have the education, determination and experience to educate others on our amazing community. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? An important issue right now is climate change and letting everyone know that dairy farmers are taking many measures to remain sustainable. Dairy farmers have a long-term commitment to taking care of our environment. Since 2007, the amount of water it takes to produce a gallon of milk has been reduced by 30%, and in recent decades, the carbon footprint was signicantly reduced due to our improvements and overall farm management practices. The dairy community is continuously trying to be as sustainable as possible so we can be part of the solution. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? All of us have been impacted by this pandemic and dairy is no exception. The pandemic has shown us the importance of keeping dairy products available to our children and families in unprecedented times. Dairy foods such as milk, cheese and yogurt contain essential nutrients, including vitamins A and D, zinc and protein, which support immune function, which is important during a viral outbreak. Schools and the dairy industry came up with innovative ideas to keep milk in our students’ daily diets by making lunches available on a daily basis via bus, various locations for pick up and drop off. With dairy providing roughly 10% of protein to the world, it is important we establish strong supply chains within our food supply system. I am proud to represent an organization that made large donations to food shelves that made dairy products more available during the pandemic. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? It is important we continue to connect with parents, as they provide daily
Douglas County Parents: Alan and Jessica Klimek Alexandria, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I am graduating from Alexandria Area High School this year and will be attending North Dakota State University in the fall for nursing. I am active in National Honor Lexi Klimek, 17 Society, student council, Dairy Star Sponsor: 4-H, FFA, orchestra and Nelson Creamery choir at my church. My Nelson, MN family’s dairy farm has 320-762-0115 registered Holsteins. We have 90 cows and about 100 heifers. We raise our heifers. We grow corn, alfalfa and oats for our feed. I help most days with calf chores and milking cows as needed. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I am comfortable with speaking to groups of people and enjoy teaching others about the dairy industry and also about how dairy products are nutritious and healthy. I am also kind and compassionate toward others. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? Dairy farmers work extremely hard to produce a safe, healthy and high-quality product. Dairy products are good for you, despite what the media might tell you. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? With the pandemic, there was a high demand for dairy products. We saw a shortage in the beginning as families were buying more while they had to be at home. It proved that so many people love their dairy products. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? I love kids, and it is important to be teaching them young that dairy products are important parts of their diets.
Fillmore County Parents: Kevin and Kelly Biel Harmony, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/ or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I am the second oldest of seven children in my family. I am a student at the University of MinnesotaTwin Cities, where I am studying agricultural Kelsey Biel, 19 education and animal Dairy Star Sponsor: science. I hope to become K&R Equipment an agricultural educator Fountain, MN at the high school level krequipment.com in the future. Growing 507-268-4425 up on my family’s dairy farm, I have had many responsibilities such as feeding calves, picking up shifts for milking, helping with eld work and, my favorite, hauling manure. I have always enjoyed working with my grandparents, parents and siblings on the farm. I hope to also come back and help in the future as well.
Parents: Fred Williams and Dennise Palmer Mabel, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/ or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I grew up living and breathing dairy cattle. I instantly fell in love with the dairy industry and showing. I am studying early childhood education at Alexis Williams, 19 Minnesota State College Dairy Star Sponsor: Southeast Technical. Star Blends When I’m not studying Sparta & or working with children, Chippewa Falls, WI I enjoy visiting my dad’s starblends.com family’s farm, Down N 800-462-4125 Dirty Cattle Company. There, I enjoy working with the calves and helping milk. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I nd myself to be passionate, knowledgeable and constantly wanting to learn new things. Studying early childhood will help me be better able to connect with children and families about the dairy industry. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? I think it would be benecial for consumers to understand that most dairy farms in the U.S. are not big operations but rather family farms. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? The pandemic impacted the livelihoods of many dairy farmers. Many farms, some that had been in the family for over 100 years, were forced to shut down. When you’re in a grocery store picking out dairy products, remember to think of the farmer and all the sacrices that were made. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? I am excited to work with children and their families. Children are the future, so it’s important for them to know and understand the importance of what and why they’re putting food in their bodies. Fillmore County continued on next page
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Parents: James and Miranda Wingert Harmony, Minnesota
nurturing and positive person. These qualities will help me be a good dairy princess because it will help me connect and share with others the importance of our dairy industry, help with representing our dairy community, and sharing with others who we are and what we do each and every day. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? It is important to share our values with others as many share the same or similar values. We care about taking care of our animals and their comfort. We care about our environment. We produce many healthy and nutritious products such as milk, cheese, yogurt, butter and ice cream for people to enjoy. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? The pandemic has shown how important a healthy lifestyle is, and the dairy industry provides many healthy and nutritious choices for people to enjoy, especially with the restrictions and people cooking at home more often. It is important to see the dairy industry donating to food banks and other programs to help provide food to those in need. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? The key demographic I would like to connect with as a dairy princess is the younger generation and population because I would like to share our values as a dairy community and discuss the importance of dairy in our world today.
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I grew up on an 80cow dairy farm outside of Harmony with my mom, dad and six siblings. On the farm, I do most of the milking and herd health. My favorite job is milking. Morgan Wingert, 19 I enjoy watching each Dairy Star Sponsor: cow progress through Farmers Winn Coop her lactation. Throughout farmerswin.com the summer, I do relief 800-450-3147 milking for farmers in Finseth Milk Hauling our area as well as help Fountain, MN do DHIA testing. I am a 507-268-4457 freshman at South Dakota State University double majoring in dairy production and manufacturing with a minor in food safety. I hope to educate consumers about the importance of dairy products in their diets while continuing to produce dairy products for consumers. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I am outgoing and love talking to consumers about the dairy industry. I enjoy putting together and presenting dairy education pieces for all age groups. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? Drink lots of milk. Milk offers many essential nutrients and is a great way to keep you healthy while supporting your immune system. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? The pandemic has shown many consumers the importance of keeping a healthy balance of dairy in their diet. Milk offers a support to your immune system that cannot be gained from other sources. The support that milk provides will help prevent you from getting sick while supplying you with the essential vitamins and minerals to keep your bones and muscles functioning properly. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? I enjoy sharing my passion for the dairy industry with younger generations. The earlier you teach kids about the importance of dairy in their diet, the more likely they will be to carry that practice with them through life. It is also important to educate kids on the difference of real dairy milk and milk alternatives. Alternative options use the work “milk” in the titles, causing confusion for all ages of consumers. Educating younger generations on the differences can help them make the healthier choice in the future.
Goodhue County Parents: James and Lisa Bartholome Goodhue, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I am a senior in high school and am attending Rochester Community and Technical College as a Post-Secondary Education Option student. I enjoy running, farming, hiking Madison and hanging out with Bartholome, 17 friends. I grew up on a Dairy Star Sponsor: fth- generation farm, Wingert Sales & Service and it was homesteaded Plainview, MN in 1861. We milk 500 wingertsalesandservice.com cows three times a day 507-534-2285 in a double-10 parabone Northern Valley Dairy parlor. We have 440 acres Production Medicine Center of farmland and have two Plainview, MN additional facilities that dairymed.com are used for taking care of 507-534-4356 our heifers and steers. My future plans are to continue to attend RCTC to nish up my generals and work toward becoming a veterinary technician for large animals. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I am a friendly, helpful, caring,
Goodhue County continued What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I have good communication skills and have been told I’m friendly and easy to talk too which would be good when I am meeting new people. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? Eventually the most important message is to let them know the importance of dairy and the process it takes to get from a farm to their plate. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? One example would be how there has been a lot of food going out of stock. Some people realize the access to food is a bigger necessity than what you might think of when food is more convenient. It also showed, especially in some smaller communities, how close we can get as a community with how there were dairy donations to the school, etc. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? I would like to connect with the youth. A lot of youth are uneducated about farming nowadays. With all the new technologies, agriculture gets overlooked. The young are our future generations, and if we can get and keep them into it, then we can keep farming alive and well.
Hennepin County
Parents: Mike and Ann Hinsch Goodhue, Minnesota
Parents: Pete and Mary Eiden Corcoran, Minnesota
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I am the oldest sibling and live on my family dairy heifer farm. I am the seventh generation on my family farm. I help mix feed, x fences or haul manure. This fall, Cassandra I plan on attending the Hinsch, 18 University of WisconsinDairy Star Sponsor: River Falls to study dairy Ag Partners science. agpartners.net What qualities do you 800-732-1439 possess that make you a good dairy princess? I have been told by many that I am a great advocate for the dairy community and agriculture. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? Of adults, 73% believe chocolate milk comes from brown cows. Being that dairy farmers are becoming less and less, we need to have dairy advocates to help promote the industry. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? We did not give up. We adjusted where we needed to be and helped those who needed it. We kept breakfast on the farm but made it more of a drive-thru. We wanted to keep spreading the message of the industry. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? A mix between the younger and older generation who are in the cities and do not have the opportunity to learn what the industry is.
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/ or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. My dad and I work for John Scherber. I do daily chores such as milking, feeding calves, cleaning the barn, etc. My dad does a lot of eld work and also helps Miriana Eiden, 16 milk. During summer, I Dairy Star Sponsor: help unload hay, check Midwest Machinery fencing, help with hoof midwestmachineryco.com trimming and other larger projects that need extra hands. I want to have a career in the dairy industry working with livestock although I’m not exactly sure what that will be yet. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? Making a personal connection is important when trying to connect with someone, and this is something that can be done quite easily through asking questions. I do a lot of public speaking so I know how to strike up a conversation. I can also act quickly in response to questions and answer them in a way that will make sense to people not involved in the agriculture community. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? The most important message I want to share with consumers is that the food dairy farmers are producing is safe. There are no toxins in milk, and no steroids in the cheese; nothing that is being produced will cause harm when consumed. There are so many misconceptions around the dairy community that cause many people not to consume dairy products. These misconceptions also cause people to lose trust in farmers. Breaking the misconceptions and confusion may help people learn that dairy really is good for you. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? The pandemic has shown the importance and need for dairy. Without farmers, we do not have food on the table. Through the pandemic, many more farmers have turned to social media as a way to connect with consumers. This strategy has worked and has allowed people to see inside farms. Because of this, many more people have seen how much work farmers put in to ensure we all have food on our tables every day. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? There are so many people who are removed from agriculture and do not know a lot about where their food comes from. This is more prevalent in bigger cities where there are fewer farms. Serving in Hennepin County, I want to connect with the consumers who have questions about where their food comes from. Being a dairy princess allows me to give people an inside look into agriculture who would otherwise not have the opportunity.
Parents: Brent and Wendy Lexvold Goodhue, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. We live on the farm just outside Goodhue with around 400 cows at any given point. It has been in the family for about 60 years and will end up going to my brother from my dad who got it from my grandpa. I plan on going to college and getting a communication degree through Rochester Community and Technical College.
Chelsey Lexvold, 18 Dairy Star Sponsor: G B Feed & Supply Bellechester, MN 651-923-4425
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Houston County
Parents: Scott and Ellen Bulman Caledonia, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I work at Minnigan Hills Farm. I live on my parents beef and crop farm. I have always loved agriculture and being with animals. My parents both grew up in dairy farms, Stevie Joy Bulman, 18 and my father sold our Dairy Star Sponsor: family’s herd before I was Midwest Livestock born. This gave me the Systems opportunity to try many Zumbrota, MN different activities than midwestlivestock.com my parents ever had the 507-732-4673 chance to do, but I was drawn back to my roots working with dairy. My future plans are to go into cosmetology, but I will always stay connected to the farm. My long-term goal is to have my own small homestead or hobby farm some day. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I love being with people and sharing my love of dairy farming. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? Farmers everywhere truly care about the consumer and take great responsibility when it comes to the care of their animals and land. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? The pandemic has made the community stronger. When everything stopped, farmers kept going. That is not to say there have not been hardships, but it has shown the role the community has in feeding towns and cities across the country. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? Youth and young adults. I want them to know not only about the dairy products they consume but all the dairy community has to offer. Parents: Ryan and Tracy Johnson Nodine, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/ or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I am a freshman at the University of WisconsinRiver Falls. I am majoring in pre-vet animal science in hopes that one day I will be a large animal Alaina Johnson, 18 vet. I work on two farms Dairy Star Sponsor: in River Falls, and I have Hammell Equipment enjoyed learning about Chateld, Rushford, different operations. I Eitzen & Harmony, MN work on my family’s hammellequipment.com dairy farm in La Crescent 507-867-4910 during the summer. We milk around 140 dairy cows and that includes Holstein, Jersey, Brown Swiss and one Milking Shorthorn. My favorite job on the farm is milking cows. I enjoy interacting with all the cows and being an integral part of insuring a quality product is produced. Another favorite pastime of mine is showing dairy cattle. I have been showing dairy for as long as I can remember and plan on continuing to show for a few more years. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? My love for sharing my passion for the dairy industry. During high school, one of my favorite pastimes was educating and sharing my dairy story with others. I enjoy talking with consumers about cow comfort, milk quality and the love that farmers have for their animals. I am eager to share why I love the dairy industry with everyone I encounter, and that is the most important quality a dairy princess can possess. Some of my other qualities include honesty, hard work and dedication. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? Farmers are working hard to produce the best quality product out there even during this difcult time. Dairy
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is responsibly produced, locally driven, nutrient rich and delivers on real avor and enjoyment. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? The pandemic has shown that dairy plays a crucial role in our communities. Throughout the craziness of the pandemic and the closing of businesses, dairy farms have stayed running. We rely on dairy to feed our families and communities, and it is so reassuring to know that even when faced with difcult situations, the dairy industry is there for us. Many dairy farmers helped share their products with needy families in farm to table boxes that were given out to those families that could not afford it in several communities across the country. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? As a young adult, I have been hit with many choices and options that I never knew I had. I have started to make decisions for myself and stand on my own two feet. Young adults everywhere are starting to shape the way they want to live their life and with that comes difcult decisions. The rst time I went grocery shopping, I was overwhelmed by the amount of options. How do I know what to choose? As a dairy princess, I want to make sure young adults are choosing dairy in their diets. I want to do everything I can to help them understand the nutritional benets that milk, cheese, yogurt and so many other dairy products deliver. I want to assure them that by choosing dairy, they are choosing what is best for you.
future plans consist of nding a job in agri-business while continuing to farm alongside my father and brother. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? As a dairy princess, I possess the qualities of passion, dedication and communication. My love for the dairy community rooted from my experiences growing up on our family farm. I take pride and dedicate countless hours in producing the highest quality, nutritious and delicious dairy products for all to enjoy. I also nd value in sharing my dairy story by making connections and closing the gaps between farmers and consumers about the products we produce and the challenges we face. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? Buy as much dairy as you can, donate milk products to your local food shelf and try new recipes using dairy. This will help support dairy farms by decreasing the supply of uid milk in the dairy plants and allow them to continue to produce wholesome dairy foods. Together we can ensure farmers their milk will make it to the dairy plant and onto your table within 48 hours. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? Dairying played an important role in our communities by providing jobs for members of our community. During the pandemic, many people lost their jobs because of government shut downs. However, you cannot shut off a milk cow from producing milk. Dairy farms are performing during the pandemic and increasingly amounts of milk are being produced. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? As a dairy princess, the key demographic I want to connect with is Generation Z, because they are the up-and-coming generation that has globally outnumbered all other generations and should be the target for dairy brand marketers. Gen Z might bring some marketing hurdles for dairy companies but have sparked new trends and ideas for dairy consumer marketing strategies to help decrease the supply of uid milk in dairy plants.
Kandiyohi County Parents: Kyle and Darcy Dimler Willmar, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/ or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I work on my grandparents’ farm south of Willmar where they raise Holsteins. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I Kate Dimler, 18 like being around people Dairy Star Sponsor: and talking to people. I Hanson Silo Company like helping teach people hansonsilo.com about the dairy industry, 320-664-4171 and I am outgoing. D&D Ag, Pennock, MN What do you think is one 320-599-4466 of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? To continue to support dairy farmers and to buy local dairy products. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? It has shown the importance of nutrition, and we can also see when the supply is limited how it affects the consumer when we are not able to get milk into the stores. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? Children, because a lot of them have never been on a farm. It is important for them to learn where milk and other dairy products come from. Parents: Brian and Bridget Engstrom Renville, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I live on a 160-cow dairy farm south of Prinsburg where my full-time job is to milk the cows, perform herd health checks, feed the calves and help with eld work. Brooke Engstrom, 22 I graduated from South Dairy Star Sponsor: Dakota State University in Hanson Silo Company May 2020 with a Bachelor hansonsilo.com of Science degree in dairy 320-664-4171 production and minor in a D&D Ag, Pennock, MN agricultural business. My 320-599-4466
Lac Qui Parle County Parents: Mark and Jessica Larson Bellingham, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I have been in 4-H since preschool. My dad works on a small dairy farm about 20 minutes from our farm. We live on a hobby farm outside of Bellingham. I am a Mary Larson, 19 freshman at South Dakota Dairy Star Sponsor: State University, where I Valley Vet Clinic am majoring in political Browns Valley, MN science and minoring in 320-695-2513 business. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I love teaching youth about dairy cattle and all of the products from them. I help at our county fair with the dairy project. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? Even though times are tough due to the pandemic and prices may be going up, it is important to get your dairy products. And if you can, help your local farmers. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? The pandemic has shown us how important dairy products are because dairy helps our bodies with all the great vitamins in them, and during all this sickness, that is what we need. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? I want to connect with youth who are older because they tend to stop putting good food into their body. With my help by showing them what dairy products can do for the body, it will show them they should be drinking more milk or eating more yogurt.
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Parents: Steve and Joanne O’Loughlin Shakopee, Minnesota
Parents: Mark and Joanna Lange Sherburn, Minnesota
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/ or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I am a graduate of Shakopee High School and plan to go to University of Wisconsin-River Falls to study animal science. My family owns the last Keri O’Loughlin, 18 dairy farm in Shakopee, Dairy Star Sponsor: and I work there and also Bongards’ Creameries at Doggie Doos Spa and Norwood-Young Retreat. We milk about America, MN 280 dairy cows and farm 952-277-5500 150 acres to feed our animals. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I easily get along with anyone. I love to learn new things and put it into practice. I want to use this opportunity to teach others about the importance of our dairy industry. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? Dairy farmers are active protectors of the Earth. Our animals rely on a healthy ecosystem to thrive so we do everything in our power to make sure they have a safe and clean environment. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? With the sudden lack of resources during the pandemic, the dairy industry worked twice as hard in order to restock the dairy products in the stores and ensure consumers are getting the nutrition they need. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? The key demographic I would like to connect with as a dairy princess is our youth. It is important for children to learn where the food they eat and the milk they drink comes from.
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I am a senior at the Martin County West High School in Sherburn. I am involved in volleyball, basketball, the drama club, student council, Gabriella Lange, 18 band and was president Dairy Star Sponsor: of our FFA chapter. My Meyerhofer Bagging passion for dairy started at Stacyville, IA a young age as I followed 507-259-5863 my father around the farm. My dad and uncles operate our family farm, where we milk about 90 cows. We also raise corn, soybeans and hay. We incorporated more grazing into our dairy operation, which has helped with the overall health of our herd. I am the fourth generation of my family to have worked on this farm. I plan on attending Iowa State University to pursue a degree in either agricultural or biological systems engineering. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I always do my best to carry myself with integrity, doing what I think is right without questioning myself. Honesty, professionalism and being considerate to others are key components of integrity that I uphold. By working on my family’s farm, I have learned the importance of hard work which will carry me into success in whatever endeavors I pursue. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? Dairy products are one of the most widely available, safest sources of quality nutrition available in the U.S. Dairy producers work hard every day to provide for their families and to provide for their communities. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? During this pandemic, many people have been working from home and have had more time to reect on their current lifestyles. Because of this, many people have resorted to much healthier eating habits and have more time to become curious about where their food comes from. Now that our fast-paced world has slowed down signicantly and people are enjoying more home cooked meals, the dairy industry undoubtedly provides consumers with nutritional foods that can easily be incorporated into their everyday meals. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? I am eager to connect with all ages and groups of people. However, I am most excited to network with young children and their families. A majority of the grocery list is dictated by the kids. If I give children a positive experience with our products, their families are more likely to support our industry. Our future lies in the small, sticky hands of children holding an ice cream cone.
Parents: Gary and Lori Steinhagen Belle Plaine, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/ or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I am a senior at Belle Plaine Senior High. I’m involved in cross-country, track and FFA. I live on a 100head milking operation. I help milk during the week Greta and help with all chores. I Steinhagen, 18 also raise my own herd of Dairy Star Sponsor: goats. I plan on helping on AMPI the farm as well as going ampi.com to college to study speech dinnerbellcreamery.com pathology. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I’m outgoing and bubbly. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? It is important to continue to support the dairy industry as small farms are struggling in this time of hardship. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? With shelves being empty, the communities show more appreciation for the farmers and the dairy industry. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? Speaking to the kids about the dairy industry. Let the kids know the importance of drinking milk and eating the products.
McLeod County Parents: Steve Headlee and Michelle Headlee Brownton, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. This is my fourth year in the McLeod County Dairy Royalty Program. I bought my very rst cow about 1.5 years ago, and I keep her at Jason and Katy Lang’s farm. I’ve been showing her for 4-H since she was a calf, and I have received a state fair trip with her for three years. I help on Jason and Katy’s farm
Jessica Headlee, 17 Dairy Star Sponsor: Bongards’ Creameries Norwood-Young America, MN 952-277-5500
McLeod County continued when needed in return for keeping her at their farm. Some of the things I help with are feeding the cows and calves, milking, giving shots, cleaning the milk room and anything else that needs to be done. I’m a senior at Glencoe-Silver Lake High School and play softball. I’m also in band and choir. I’m involved in FFA, 4-H and play in a summer softball league. This fall, I plan to attend Ridgewater College in Willmar for dairy management. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I love animals. I’m interested in the dairy industry and know I want to have a career in it when I graduate. After being an ambassador these past three years, I’ve gotten better at talking to people about the dairy industry. I talk with my friends and other people who have questions or misunderstandings about how dairy farms work. I also enjoy drinking milk and eating string cheese and ice cream. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? Dairy products should be part of your life every day to keep you healthy. There are many dairy products we can choose from to get the nutrients and vitamins we need to stay healthy. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? Everyone has been affected one way or another with everything that’s happened this past year. The one thing that hasn’t changed is farming. The dairy industry has continued to provide the quality dairy products we love and need. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? I would like to connect with parents and young kids. If we can help parents give kids the dairy products they need in their everyday lives, it will help them develop a love for them. If we can get young kids interested in the dairy industry, it will only help the industry grow and be better. I didn’t grow up on a dairy farm, but my grandpa introduced me to cows at a very young age. I loved spending the time with my grandpa and being around the cows. I still do love it and know that will never change. This love for animals has been a major reason I plan to continue my education in the dairy management program. Parents: John and Jodi Kohnen Glencoe, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/ or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I live on my family’s dairy farm south of Glencoe where I work alongside my dad, grandpa and two older brothers. Our family farm is where I grew my Grace Kohnen, 19 passion for dairy growing Dairy Star Sponsor: up. Right now, I am going Bongards’ Creameries to Lake Superior College Norwood-Young to get my phlebotomy America, MN certicate and be a medical 952-277-5500 laboratory technician. I hope to possibly go back to school to get a degree in vet tech. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I am a fun and bubbly person. This helps me be the best advocate for dairy because I can communicate in a positive, fun way. I also love talking about dairy. This helps me be a great advocate for dairy because I enjoy speaking to people about it. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? Your products are safe. Farmers and factory workers do everything to make sure your products are safe and the best they can be. You as a consumer do not have to worry about anything. Your products go through a ton of testing before they are even considered to be made into a product. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? Dairy has important key nutrients. Making sure you are healthy is a top priority more today than it has been in a long time. The pandemic has shown many the importance of staying healthy and how dairy can help you. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? I love connecting with the younger generations because it is important they McLeod County continued on next page
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know their products are safe. We should encourage 60 minutes of activity and the consumption of dairy products. It is great to teach all the benets of dairy.
that they can be condent they are consuming safe, healthy and local products. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? The pandemic has given producers the chance to connect more with our consumers. With dairy consumption on the rise during these times, consumers are ever so analytic of what they are buying from the store. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? As a dairy princess, it is most important to connect with families. It is crucial that parents comprehend the nutritional importance of incorporating dairy into their children’s diets. Plus, it is so rewarding when you can leave a lasting impression on young children because they are in awe of the girls in their crown and sash.
Parents: Raymond and Tabatha Kubista Lester Prairie, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/ or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I am a senior at Lester Prairie High School where I am involved in cheerleading, drama, knowledge bowl, trapshooting, National Honor Society and student Alexis Kubista, 17 council. I work on a farm Dairy Star Sponsor: in Glencoe for John and Bongards’ Creameries Bonnie Mohr. My jobs Norwood-Young include feeding calves, America, MN milking the cows and any 952-277-5500 other odd jobs I am asked to do. After I graduate in May, I plan to attend college, but as of now, I have not decided on a degree. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I am friendly, courteous, and love talking to people of all ages and listening to what they have to say. I have a desire to educate all ages on the importance of dairy and have a true passion for dairy and the industry. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? Our animals are treated like family, and we give them the best care and life we can. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? The pandemic has led to an increase of dairy products being used as people are working and kids are doing school from home. During this time, we have seen shelves go empty of dairy products due to the demand. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? I would like to connect more to the younger generation. They are our future and need to know where their milk and other dairy products come from and the importance of them. From previous experience, I nd kids do not know that much about farms or where their food comes from. Parents: Ryan Lickfelt and Trudy Lickfelt Hutchinson, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/ or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. My involvement in the dairy industry has been important to me ever since I was young. Growing up, showing dairy cattle is what initially sparked my Kiley Lickfelt, 19 love for the industry. I am Dairy Star Sponsor: employed at Prairie Dairy Bongards’ Creameries where I am a part-time Norwood-Young calf technician. My basic America, MN tasks on the farm are to 952-277-5500 feed the calves as well as monitor their health and well-being. I love being able to work with the calves nearly every day. I am a freshman at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls where I am majoring in dairy science and minoring in ag business. In the future, my hopes are to use my degree to get a job where I can continue my work in the dairy industry. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? Being approachable is one of the most important factors to being a successful advocate. I always strive to make consumers feel comfortable when asking questions or interacting with me, even if I am not in my crown and sash. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? In my experience, consumers tend to be most concerned with where their dairy products came from. It is up to us to advocate and share with them
Parents: Paul and Heather Wright Hutchinson, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I am the fourth generation on my family’s dairy farm. On the farm, we milk 45 Holsteins. My jobs include taking care of the calves and milking the cows. Next year, I Allison Wright, 18 will be attending South Dairy Star Sponsor: Dakota State University Bongards’ Creameries for a degree in agricultural Norwood-Young education and agricultural America, MN communications. 952-277-5500 What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? Being a dairy princess is a great responsibility. I am t for the role, because I have an extensive background in dairy. I have grown up on a dairy farm and have been helping with chores since elementary school. Having multiple leadership roles, I am a great leader and role model for others. I am hard working and self-motivated. I have listened to speeches and have been to conferences with speeches based on dairy. I enjoy meeting new people and being able to tell them about my dairy story. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? The most important dairy message to share with consumers is how farmers care for their animals. Farmers help provide a wholesome, trustworthy and nutritional product for all of us to consume. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? The pandemic has shown communities the importance of leaning on your neighbors in agriculture. Farmers work 24/7, and the pandemic never stopped them from providing a safe and sustainable product. Farmers are resilient, and it has shown communities they can trust the product they are consuming and trust the relationships made with farmers. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? My key demographic is toward families with kids at home. They have the purchasing power to choose dairy over other dairyfree products and alternatives. My goal is having them learn the importance of not only having their kids consume nutritious dairy products but also having parents consume dairy.
Meeker County Parents: Vaughn and Joan Euerle Litcheld, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I was born on my family’s farm north of Litcheld, and I could not have asked for a better way to be raised. Growing up, I loved to feed calves and still do. I also assist Anna Euerle, 19 my family in milking, Dairy Star Sponsor: cleaning and a small Bongards’ Creameries portion of eld work. I am Norwood-Young involved in 4-H and FFA, America, MN which led me to pursuing 952-277-5500 a major in agribusiness with a dairy emphasis at Ridgewater College in Willmar. After graduation, I hope to nd a space in agribusiness working with farmers on different loans and programs available to them. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? Aside from my unending passion to serve the dairy community, I enjoy telling my dairy story. I have a wide variety of experiences ranging from working on the home farm to working with show cattle, and that has given me a lot of tools to discuss all sides of the dairy community. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? Dairy farmers are dedicated to ensuring everyone has nutritious and responsible products available to them at any time. These individuals spend great amounts of time making sure these products will be available for every day to come in the future. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? It has shown that no matter what happens, there will be products available on the table. Dairy farmers cannot stop caring for their cows, regardless of what happens, so there should be no concern that we will stop getting our products to everyone’s table. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? I enjoy connecting with families. The kids are super enthusiastic which leads to great questions, and if that starts at a young age, it shows them from that point forward they can always be comfortable asking questions. That is valuable for young people to have comfort in doing. Parents: Larry and Pam Radunz Litcheld, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/ or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I am the fth generation on our family’s dairy farm. We raise Holsteins and Red and White Holsteins. We sell our milk to AMPI. I am a sophomore at Ruby Radunz, 19 Southwest Minnesota Dairy Star Sponsor: State University studying Munson Lakes Nutrition agriculture education. This Howard Lake, MN summer, I will be working 320-543-2561 as a 4-H Extension intern through Kandiyohi County. I enjoy sharing my farm experiences and teaching people about where their food comes from. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I am genuine. I believe everyone is just as important as another. I do not put on to be better, smarter or more important than anyone else. We all have things to learn from one another. I enjoy sharing my stories, but I also enjoy listening to others’ opinions and stories too. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? The most important message to share with consumers is that dairy products are safe, nutritious Meeker County continued on next page
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and undeniably a part of a healthy diet. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? It seems that dairy farmers are the quiet stewards’ of food supplies. The community nally realized there is a process to get products from farm to table. There are many people involved. Although a simple solution was to get products right from the source, that does not necessarily work with dairy nor other aspects of agriculture. The public nally saw farmers as essential workers. Sadly, now with the vaccinations available, the list of those deemed essential enough to get the vaccinations early found farmers back down on the list with the public. When supplies are plentiful, it is easy to forget. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? I look forward to connecting with children. Children are curious and want to learn. By connecting with children to show them my excitement and passion for the dairy community, they will gain interest too. By children getting excited about dairy, their parents will turn from the milk alternatives so many use. I thoroughly enjoy talking about and showing my dairy farm as well as the benets of the products. When I can share these experiences with others and they learn something from it, I have made a successful connection.
Parents: Richard Janelle Karst Pierz, Minnesota
will be saved for me in the veterinary program at the Twin Cities campus. I would like to become a vet because I have worked with animals my whole life. I enjoy solving problems, and the food industry is very important to me. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? Community involvement is one of the most important things to me. I enjoy interacting with a network of people. The effect of community involvement stretches miles in small towns. From a young age, my family has been active in our community. Through my involvement in 4-H, FFA and Drama Club, I have held many leadership positions. Being a leader comes with great responsibility but is something I enjoy doing. Volunteering is something that has always been around me and something I will continue to do. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? When I was little, I bought into the idea that dairy princesses and women in the dairy industry are the pretty face not willing to get dirty and live life with little stress. They are not the ones who work on farms. Which I know not to be true, because I have seen women in the ag industry doing the same job as men. That is one thing I try to show people through my answers to questions. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? To put it simply, when everything was shutting down, the farm did not. The dairy farm and dairy industry as a whole is essential. The dairy industry made being essential cool before being essential was cool. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? The dairy industry is a culture that involves people who make the culture look good as well as bad. Most American families have a multigenerational gap between their family and agriculture. This leads people to not having the general knowledge about agriculture that the average person had in the past. First impressions of the dairy industry are everything. I need to make sure that what I portray to the public is positive and truthful. It is hard to change a person’s mind once something is rmly believed.
Morrison County Parents: Troy and Rebecca Kapsner Pierz, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/ or work on, or your parent’s work on, and your future plans. I am one of seven children. I grew up on a farm east of Pierz. My father owns a dairy barn where we milk around 80 cows. What qualities do you Kloe Kapsner, 17 possess that make you Dairy Star Sponsor: a good dairy princess? Lash’s Auto Repair Hardworking, dedicated Pierz, MN and optimistic. 320-232-0537 What do you think is one Pioneer Lake Mutual of the most important pioneerlakemutual.com dairy messages to share 320-468-2516 with consumers right Pierz Co-op now? People should pierzcoop.com know that milk is both 320-468-6655 safe and healthy. Farmers work hard to ensure their milk is safe for people to consume. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? During the pandemic, farmers have continued to work hard to make a quality product for people to enjoy. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? I would like to connect with the children. Kids are the future generation and connecting with them will leave the biggest impact.
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Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I attend Ridgewater College in Willmar. I am in the vet tech program. I was blessed to grow up on a 70-cow dairy farm. I enjoy working with my family to care for our cows Teresa Karst, 20 to produce safe milk for Dairy Star Sponsor: our consumers. We care Lash’s Auto Repair for our cows by making Pierz, MN sure they have feed with 320-232-0537 all the nutrients they need Sunrise Ag Co-op and ensure healthy living sunriseagcoop.com conditions and good 320-468-6433 medical care. My future Pierz Co-op plans include graduating pierzcoop.com and pursuing my dream as 320-468-6655 a vet tech and to live in the country. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I have experience with the work that goes into raising cows and caring for them properly. I will always stick up for our hard-working dairy farmers. I am willing to promote our locally driven and nutrient rich products. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? I want our consumers to know our cows are treated like family. We ensure they are safe and happy. What our cows produce is so important and essential for our bodies with the nine essential nutrients. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? The pandemic has shown that dairy farmers are essential workers by working through the pandemic to produce dairy products for our consumers. I do not think there was much shortage in dairy products in the stores through all of this either. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? I would love to teach kids the truth at a young age about the dairy industry. When they are young, they are learning things and have not formed an opinion on things. Parents: Donald and Marsha Krebs Sobieski, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I am employed as a farmhand at Roerview Dairy in Upsala. The farm itself is a robotic milking dairy. At Roerview, I am learning many things Shelby Krebs, 18 about the dairy industry. Dairy Star Sponsor: The future of the dairy Midwest Machinery industry is based on midwestmachineryco.com precision, technology and Pierz Co-op an individual approach. pierzcoop.com My jobs at Roerview 320-468-6655 are various; they include everything from servicing robots to feeding calves. I enjoy working with positive people and learning more about what I am doing while working. My goal is to attend the University of Minnesota-Crookston for animal science with a veterinary medicine emphasis. I am starting my own beef herd and have enjoyed learning more about running a business. I enjoy learning about different sires in the South Devon industry and picking out the best elements to improve my herd. The relationships I have made within my community and throughout the country have helped me rene my herd within the last two years. My ultimate goal is to get my DVM degree. I am working on applying for the University of Minnesota Twin Cities VetFAST program. The VetFAST program is to encourage undergraduate students to become food animal veterinarians due to the shortage in the industry. If I get accepted, a seat
Parents: Tom and Amy Wagner Hillman, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/ or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I love agriculture as it is a passion of mine. I live on a beef farm and knew I wanted to also work on a farm to be involved in the dairy industry which led me to the job I have now Victoria Wagner, 17 at S&S Dairy. I have been Dairy Star Sponsor: working there for 2.5 Midwest Machinery years. The farm is owned midwestmachineryco.com and operated by Shawn Sunrise Ag Co-op and Sarah Winscher. At sunriseagcoop.com the farm, I care for calves 320-468-6433 by making sure they are Pierz Co-op healthy, well fed and have pierzcoop.com fresh bedding. I also prep 320-468-6655 the barn before milking and clean the barn after we nish milking the cows. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I have always been passionate about animals, especially working with them. I’ve cared for animals my entire life and take pride in everything I do and accomplish. I am a hard worker who is condent, and I also love people and enjoy interacting with others. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? Keep supporting dairy farmers. Farmers rely on consumers while consumers rely on the farmers. We need to thank the farmers for everything they do. Farmers spend countless hours in the elds plowing, planting crops, harvesting crops and so much more to be able to feed their cattle along with feeding the people. It is sad seeing farmers, especially local farmers, having to sell their farms because they cannot Morrison County continued on next page
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afford to keep their farm running while also trying to make a living. Many local farmers have farmed their whole lives. It is their passion and the way they live their lives. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? The pandemic has put a halt to so many things. Past princesses have been able to go out into the community and interact with individuals to share their knowledge about the dairy industry and to share their stories. Interaction that we have now is almost all online. It is easier to interact with individuals while in person. Princesses then could show people hands-on work they do on their own farms. Being able to get people involved while being able to promote the dairy industry will allow people to know how their goods get from the farm to their tables. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? I would like to focus on small children. Once you give kids a hands-on experience, most are interested. Most kids also love animals. If you were to show kids the difference between calf bottles and human baby bottles, they’ll be amazed. Being able to visualize helps being able to learn. Also, most kids do not know where milk, cheese and ice cream comes from, and it would be amazing to be able to teach kids where their food comes from.
dairy products are and how much of a nutritional impact dairy products hold. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? Children and adolescent groups. They are our next generation. This group is active in the use of social media and can be misguided by the myths on what goes into dairy products and how animals are treated. We need to educate them on what we do, how we care for our animals, what the animals are fed, what we use to treat our animals, and the rules and regulations that we have to follow in order for our products to get to consumers.
Mower County
Parents: Ed and Cheri Smith Rose Creek, Minnesota
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I live on our family farm with my parents and siblings, in which we milk 440 cows. I help with calf chores and eldwork. I am in the registered nursing Jenna Bentzin, 19 program at Riverland Dairy Star Sponsor: Community College. I Meyerhofer Bagging will graduate with this Stacyville, IA degree in May. I plan to 507-259-5863 pursue a job as an RN in a trauma unit or in a labor and delivery unit. I will work toward my bachelor’s degree in nursing. I would like to obtain a degree as a certied RN anesthetist. One of my dreams is to one day have a family and raise them on a farm. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I am passionate and enthusiastic about the dairy industry and community. I am knowledgeable about the dairy industry. I am a great communicator and am creative which is benecial when it comes to getting our stories out and educating consumers on what we do and why we do it as well as planning a variety of events. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? One of the most important dairy messages to communicate with consumers is that of the scientic data of the nutrients found in dairy products as well as affordability, especially during this pandemic that we are facing. Even with all the changes and restrictions with the pandemic, the farms and workers are working endlessly to ensure they are providing top notch care for the cattle and supplying quality and safe products for consumers. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? The pandemic has shown how important the dairy industry is in our communities through the endless commitment to providing sustainable food products as well as supplying jobs. Throughout the pandemic, farmers have been faced with challenges and losses such as plant and packaging shortages due to shutdowns a year ago, sales shifting to retail grocery stores and limits on how much of a product one could buy at the time. Thus, farmers had to cut production and, in some cases, dump milk, which hurts the farm’s income and ability to keep producing. Throughout all this, farmers did not change in how they cared for their cows or take less care in the products they supplied. The pandemic has shown how sustainable
Parents: Corey and Kaye Hansen Austin, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/ or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I am a freshman at South Dakota State University majoring in agriculture education with minors in animal science and meat science. I live on a grain Victoria Hansen, 19 operation where my dad Dairy Star Sponsor: grows corn and soybeans, Meyerhofer Bagging and my siblings and I raise Stacyville, IA chickens, pigs and beef 507-259-5863 cattle to show through 4-H and FFA. Although I do not live on a dairy farm, I have been involved with and had a passion for dairy ever since I started showing dairy heifers for a local farmer and was a milkmaid in elementary school. Beginning in the fall, I will be working at the Young Brothers Seed Testing Laboratory on campus, and my goal is to become a high school ag teacher after graduating. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? Throughout the years, I have had many opportunities to work on my public speaking and leadership skills through everything from giving speeches on agricultural topics in my college speech class to being a day camp counselor for 4-H and church. My favorite of these was getting to serve as a Mower County 4-H Ambassador and being able to work with both children and adults in the county. I love being able to inform and educate in ways that can be easily understood while maintaining a fun atmosphere. What do you think is the most important dairy message to share with consumers right now? Milk is safe, nutritious, affordable and delicious. Something I appreciate about the dairy community is that it continues to produce high-quality protein sources for us straight from the cow’s udder as my family likes to say. Consumers play just as much of a key role in the food supply chain as producers, so thank you for showing up and showing your support. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? This pandemic has unveiled the true strength of dairy farmers everywhere. Through thick and thin, the dairy community has shown they can persevere. There are hundreds of millions of people who live and work on dairy farms, and billions of people around the world who consume dairy foods; it was hard to get products from farm to table over the past year. Despite the high stress levels over the future being unclear, we remain adaptive and innovative with our heads held high. Honestly, I cannot imagine a future in which there is no dairy. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? I would love to connect with young children most because of their excitement toward learning new things. A lot of kids, especially in my area, don’t know much about the dairy community or ag community in general. For example, at the county fair, we let kids come up and pet our heifers. They love it because it’s something they’ve never done before, and you can tell as they walk away that they can’t stop talking about how they just pet a cow. Hopefully that’s something that sticks with them for a while and continues to fuel their curiosity. Maybe it’s the future-teacher in me, but it’s awesome that kids get excited about things that seem so foreign to them, even if it’s something as simple as petting a cow. And for a lot of kids agriculture is a foreign concept.
Murray County Parents: Grant and April Post Lake Wilson, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. We own and operate RidgeView Dairy Farm near Lake Wilson where we milk around 200 cows. I am a college freshman attending Northwestern College in Amber Post, 18 Orange City, Iowa. I am Dairy Star Sponsor: majoring in elementary Blue Hilltop education and hope to be a Lake Wilson, MN kindergarten or rst grade 507-879-3593 teacher once I graduate. I love playing mini golf, eating ice cream and playing the piano. I have been a dairy princess since 2019 and absolutely adore what I get to do. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? A dairy princess needs to be educated about dairy, friendly and willing to talk. Growing up on a dairy farm has helped me develop all of the knowledge a dairy princess needs to have as well as the ability to talk to anyone about the industry. One of my favorite things to do as a princess is talk to consumers about dairy products and the dairy farming life as this is a topic I am passionate about. Their curiosity is a welcome invitation for me to explain to them about the industry that I hold so close to my heart. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? As a dairy princess, it is important to always encourage the public to continue to keep dairy in their diet. Dairy products are one of the most naturally benecial items one should include in their everyday food choices. The nine essential vitamins and nutrients that come from milk truly benet one’s body and overall health, and additionally it just tastes good. We should refrain from cutting dairy out of our diets because then we are depriving our bodies from that natural goodness. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? Throughout this pandemic, our dairy industry has held strong. We have continued on and remained functioning amongst all of the uncertainty. Dairy production has continued and will continue whether there is a pandemic or not; our current situation has shown how strong and resilient our industry is. One such example would be providing people in need with milk and other dairy products at local food shelves when community members were struggling with obtaining that food for themselves. This pandemic, while negative in some ways, has positively shed light on the importance of the dairy industry in our communities. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? It is important to connect with other teens and young adults. I have noticed a pattern among the different age groups in our society in regards to dairy. The older generation acknowledges the importance of dairy products and better understands the community behind family farms, but some teenagers and younger adults seem to be OK with cutting dairy out of their diets and are further removed from family farms. I want people to understand the importance of dairy nutrition and not to make assumptions about the dairy industry without having all of the facts. I want the public to understand that this industry is not environmentally unfriendly and animals are well-cared for. Murray County continued on next page
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Parents: Tim and Shannon Rhodes Slayton, Minnesota
How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? The pandemic plays a major role in our communities because it offers many people jobs. Over three million jobs are involved in the dairy industry. Another important role dairy plays is providing food worldwide. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? I have always loved having the opportunity to talk to people of all ages about the dairy industry. One of my favorite experiences I have had is speaking with kids at the Minnesota State Fair. My goal as a dairy princess is to connect with people of all ages because all people should learn about dairy and how good it is for us.
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/ or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I work at Beckmann’s Dairy Farm. I help with milking the cows, bedding, feeding and keeping the herd healthy by giving vaccinations. I try to be Makayla Rhodes, 18 of assistance to my boss Dairy Star Sponsor: whenever he needs. Gorter’s Clay & Dairy What qualities do you Pipestone, MN possess that make you 507-825-3271 a good dairy princess? I would denitely say being kind and genuine along with good poise. To be a public gure you need to have lots of traits. I try to be my best self to everything and everyone. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? To keep drinking dairy milk. In today’s society, it has been normalized to drink replacements such as almond milk, coconut milk or other fake milks. The misconception that these milks are healthier is false. Milk is lled with vitamins and calcium naturally. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? The pandemic showed how the dairy industry is important to the community and our world. Through the trying times of the pandemic, we never stopped providing for the consumer no matter what. Through thick and thin, we are continually providing healthy, delicious milk for the world. This shows strength within the industry because when the rest of the world shut down, we did not. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? I like to connect with the kids. I like to teach them through books how milk is brought to them and how it is made. I like to emphasize at a young age that their milk does not magically appear at a grocery store but display to them how it was produced.
Nobles County Parents: Steve and Esther Dykstra Bigelow, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/ or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I am a senior at Worthington High School. I live and work on my family’s dairy farm of about 300 milking cows that get milked three times a day. Karen Dykstra, 18 I am involved in 4-H, FFA Dairy Star Sponsor: and the National Honor New Vision Co-op Society, and I participate Brewster, MN in volleyball, basketball 507-842-2001 and softball. My passion for the dairy industry began at a young age after I started showing dairy heifers at our local fair. I am unsure of what my future holds, but I know agriculture and the dairy industry will always be a major part of my life. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I have a good work ethic and good communication skills. I love sharing my dairy story and answering any questions about the dairy industry. Being in 4-H and FFA has made me the reliable, compassionate and responsible person I am today. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? One of the most important things consumers need to know is how nutritious dairy products are. Consumers need to know during these tough times of the coronavirus that all dairy products are safe, nutritious and affordable.
Parents: Dean Jennifer Luettel Adrian, Minnesota
and
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/ or work on, or your parents work on, and your future. I am a junior at Adrian High School. I am the middle child with two brothers. My dad and his brother have a herd of 120 cows in a robotic barn. The farm Laura Luettel, 17 has been in my family Dairy Star Sponsor: for three generations. I Gorter’s Clay & Dairy plan on attending Lake Pipestone, MN Area Technical College in 507-825-3271 Watertown, South Dakota, for dental assisting. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I am very persistent and a good communicator. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? Educating people on the process of getting their dairy products is important to keep the business alive. People who have not grown up on farms do not understand the time and energy that goes into running a farm. Teaching people where their food comes from is sometimes overlooked. Recognizing farmers dedication would benet the business considerably. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? The pandemic has shown that no matter what the world throws at farmers, they push through and continue their work. There are no breaks or weekends off. Being a farmer is not a job, it is a lifelong commitment. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? I want to connect with young people. They are quite literally the future of our world. I do not think many young people know where their food comes from or how it is grown and raised. Educating the young people of the nutritional value of dairy products could lead to better health and better lifestyles. Alysha Wieneke Parents: Chad and Teresa Wieneke Adrian, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/ or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I have lived on a dairy farm since I was born and help wherever I can, whether it’s loading feed or bringing cows up to the Alysha Wieneke,18 parlor. We live on a 380Dairy Star Sponsor: cow dairy that my dad and New Vision Co-op uncle own. We also nish Brewster, MN steers for market and raise 507-842-2001 crops on 1,200 acres. I plan on attending South Dakota State University for agriculture science and hope to continue helping on the farm. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I’ve always had a passion for and knowledge of dairy farms. I’ve been showing dairy at the county fair in 4-H for several years. I love talking to kids and sharing my experiences. Dairy products are important in everyone’s diet.
Nobles County continued What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? Dairy products are healthy and important for everyone, both young and old. Imitations truly can’t match. Research has shown that milk, even whole milk, does not contribute to obesity. Dairy farmers are passionate about their livelihoods and care so much about their livestock and land. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? Dairy products became a necessary staple in everyone’s diets because people couldn’t eat out like they used to. They became higher in demand because people were buying more and making more meals. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? As a dairy princess, I would like to connect with the kids because they love asking questions and learning about new things. They’re constantly telling family and friends new facts and information they’ve learned. If we can get more kids interested now, they would become life-long dairy consumers and would have a greater respect for the dairy industry.
Olmsted County Parents: Tony and Paula Bauer Hayeld, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/ or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I am attending South Dakota State University where I am majoring in agriculture business. I live on a working farm near Rochester. My parents Ella Bauer, 19 have a cow/calf operation, Dairy Star Sponsor: and my siblings and I S&S Dairy Systems raise and own a small herd St. Charles, MN of dairy show heifers. ssdairysystems.com Unfortunately, we do not 507-932-4288 have a facility to milk cows, so I am grateful for my uncles and grandparents of Hinckley Holsteins and the Sachs family who can care for our lactating cows. I have also had the wonderful opportunity to work on a dairy near my home, Terra-McCree Holsteins. The owner, Kevin Connelly, is a great mentor and teacher. At school, I am employed on the university dairy research farm which is home to roughly 100 Holsteins and 40 Brown Swiss. My jobs at the farm include but are not limited to: scraping the barn, milking the herd, administering vaccines, and mixing and feeding rations. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? In some ways, I have been preparing for this for a long time. Exhibiting my cattle at county, state and national levels has given me an abundant experience in connecting with our consumers. Consumers often ask questions regarding the health and well-being of the animals we care for along with questions regarding nutritional value of dairy products. I have had the opportunity to network with industry professionals while at World Dairy Expo and Southwest National in Oklahoma. As a 2020 Olmsted County Dairy Princess, the last year looked a little different. We were not able to have inperson events, but we tried our best to connect with those on our social media platforms. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? If you were to ask me this about a year ago, I would have answered that the most important dairy message would center around the fantastic care we dairymen provide to the animals we have been entrusted. The changes I have noticed that have been a concern to consumers are the choices on the grocery shelves and the availability. Our message should be centered around dairy’s health benets and the tremendous bang-for-your-buck that only milk provides. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? The pandemic has shown many important roles that dairy plays in our communities. Within the dairy community, even though times were tough, we kept doing our jobs Olmsted County continued on next page
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diligently to provide for our consumers. Even though there was a loss of a milk market when milk stopped going to restaurants, hotels and schools, we had an abundance of milk. Rather than looking at the negative impact, a positive impact is the amount of consumers buying at retail level increased dramatically. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? As a dairy princess, I want to connect with kids in elementary school. Growing up, I always knew where my dairy products came from and gured everyone did too at the age of 9. I realize more and more kids do not have an idea where dairy products come from or even how they are made. I want to help bridge that gap between the dairy community and younger kids to help educate them on topics that include the benets of drinking milk, how well the animals are cared for and where the dairy products they consume come from and the processes to make them. Parents: Donny and Holly Thompson Plainview, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/ or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I am the seventh generation of my family’s dairy farm, Little Valley Dairy, near Plainview. My current plans are to attend the University of Clara Thompson, 18 Minnesota-Twin Cities Dairy Star Sponsor: next fall, majoring in S&S Dairy Systems animal science. Once I St. Charles, MN have attained a bachelor’s ssdairysystems.com degree, I will earn a 507-932-4288 doctorate degree in veterinary medicine in order to become a large animal vet. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I enjoy making new connections with people of all ages and telling my own dairy story as well as listening to other’s concerns and answering questions. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? More than ever, sustainability and nutritional value are important to the people of America. The most important message we can share is related to the precautions farmers take in order to give back to our earth and provide a strong foundation for future generations to come. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? Thinking back to the rst two weeks of lockdown, toilet paper was not the only thing ying off the shelves. Dairy products were in high demand too. It even got to a point of limiting the number of gallons of milk purchased per person in some grocery stores. This opened my eyes to the responsibility we as farmers have to provide for others in desperate times of need such as now. Additionally, farms, creameries, transportation truckers and grocery retailers have all shown resilience in the communities of our area, keeping our economy, trade and jobs alive during this time. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? I am thrilled to be able to connect with people of all ages, but specically, I would love to create a strong connection with young adults and college students. This is a time in a person’s life where uncertainty is high, and yet, they are responsible for their own meals and groceries. A strong connection with this demographic will instill better health in our country as well as a larger opportunity for our dairy community to grow.
Ottertail County - East
Pipestone County
Parents: Steven and Dianne Schwartz Parkers Prairie, Minnesota
Parents: David and Dawn Sutherland Pipestone, Minnesota
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/ or work on, or your parent’s work on, and your future plans. I grew up in Parkers Prairie where my family and I milk about 70 Holstein cows. My main responsibilities on the farm are feeding the calves and milking Veronica cows. My favorite chore Schwartz, 19 is getting to feed the bottle Dairy Star Sponsor: calves. I am nishing Pro-Ag Farmers Co-op up my sophomore year Urbank, MN at the University of 218-267-2401 Minnesota-Crookston where I am majoring in agricultural education with minors in communication and coaching. On campus, I am a part of the womens basketball team, the Ag Arama club and am president of the Dairy Club. After college, I hope to become an Extension educator in Minnesota and start a hobby farm of my own. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? One quality I have that makes me a good dairy princess is my passion for the industry. Anyone who knows me knows my favorite animal is a cow. From the early mornings of having to put animals back in their pen because they broke the fence or the late nights milking because we had to pull a calf earlier, the challenges have made me only fall in love with it more. My parents can attest that I am not a morning person; however, all the hard work put in makes it worth it when you see that newborn calf grow up and have a calf of their own. It is a beautiful process. All of this and more continues to make my passion for the industry grow. It is something I want to share with everyone around me. I am never afraid to step up and answer a question someone has about the dairy industry or share stories about my time on the farm to help others learn more and even start a passion of their own. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? Dairy farmers put the needs of their animals before their own. They will lose countless hours of sleep just to make sure a newborn calf is happy and healthy. No matter how large or small the farm is, they always make sure their animals have comfortable living conditions and the proper nutrition. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? During the pandemic, some youth have not been receiving a proper diet, and the dairy industry helped to change that. I heard stories of stores providing milk for free for families to take because they knew not everyone could afford it at the time, and they wanted to help ease their stress in this crazy year we all have been having. Dairy farmers care about our future and will even choose receiving a smaller paycheck if it means the youth in their community are receiving a quality diet. This shows that the dairy industry plays a strong role in their community and shows just how much they care. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? I want to connect with youth because they are our future. I want to share my passion with them and help them fall in love with the dairy industry just like I have so the industry can have more farms in the future. I also want to show them how important it is to have dairy in their diet and explain to them how nutritious it is for their body.
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. My family lives on a fourth generation family farm in rural Pipestone. We raise 75 beef cowcalf pairs and own two hog nishing barns. My family also farms about Josie Sutherland, 17 1,500 acres of cropland Dairy Star Sponsor: with my grandparents. I New Horizon Farms work on Mary and Jim Pipestone, MN Evans’ farm. Mary and 507-825-5462 Jim own a registered herd of Holsteins. On their farm, I milk cows and occasionally help with the calves. While I work for Mary and Jim, I actually lease show animals from Newalta Dairy. They, too, own a Holstein herd. These two farms are about 6 miles apart and are both located in Pipestone. Working and living on a farm has played a huge role in my plans after high school. Once I graduate, I hope to study dairy production and become a dairy nutritionist. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I am an outspoken individual who loves the dairy industry. These are the strongest characteristics which have helped me in being a dairy princess and educating people about the dairy industry. I am well known for standing up for what I believe in and constantly talking about cows to my friends. I am not from a dairy farm myself. While this might sound like a weird characteristic to be proud of, it has helped me see from an uneducated point of view and be able to connect with people better. Knowing that it took me a while to get a full understanding of the dairy industry has helped me simplify facts for the consumers to understand the dairy industry as well. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? Dairy cows are treated humanely, and there is no replacement for the nutrients real milk provides. There are people who do not realize that dairy animals are cared for better than ourselves sometimes. They also do not realize how nutritious and pure milk is for us to consume. When giving a speech to the public speaking class at my school about the benets of real milk, many had no clue that almond milk did not contain the same protein or vitamins as real milk. This is a topic that needs to be taught more to teens and adults, so they know what they miss by not consuming milk. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? One thing I saw during the height of the pandemic is that some kids depend on schools for their dairy foods. Many kids from my community were so happy to be back in school just for the fact they were able to get their hands on things like milk and cheese again. Because milk and cheese are one of the most asked for things at food banks, not everyone gets the milk and cheese they need for their families. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? I try to connect with teens and adults the most as a dairy princess. This is because I am able to run an Instagram page this demographic can access easily. I also want to connect with this demographic because they are the people who can impact the younger kids on what they should be eating too. While I would love to connect with younger kids, that is not something I have been able to do yet this year because of the restrictions. I am hoping this is something that will change this summer, so I can reach all age groups.
Pope County Parents: Tom and Carol Feldman Brooten, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/ or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I am working for Aaron and Jessica Radermacher on their family farm. They always have something going on. This is the sixth year I have worked for Amanda Feldman, 21 them. I am thankful for Dairy Star Sponsor: the experiences I have Radermacher Dairy gained while being there. Brooten, MN I have learned so much 320-293-7795 since I have started, and am learning new things today. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I love talking with people. At college, I always nd myself talking about the dairy industry with my roommates, co-workers and others. I love sharing fun facts they might not have known before. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? We are living in a time when the media plays a major role in our day-to-day lives. Media loves to portray an image, and oftentimes when it comes to the dairy industry, they like showing the negative things or even things that are not realistic. I want others to know that on farms, especially dairy farms, those cattle are treated with respect and with love. Those cows are the livelihood of those farmers, and if something happens to the cows, it impacts the rest of the dairy. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? The dairy industry is working harder than before to ensure there is supply for the consumers. From my experience, dairy farmers have been giving back to the community as much as possible. They have been there to support many families and individuals. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? I love to connect with children. Children are the backbone to this nation. They will be the ones who carry on their family name and achievements. If we can teach them from a young age the importance of the dairy industry, they are more likely to be involved in it as well. Children will be better informed about what is available to them. By supporting the dairy industry, they create a setting that is more open and can continue to support some of their favorite foods from mac and cheese to ice cream to homemade foods. When we talk to children, we are able to educate those who are younger and who have a whole life ahead of them. Parents: Dan and Mary Thonvold Sunburg, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I spend my week days working full time at a well-known vet clinic, while I spend my weekends working on a dairy farm part time. When I am not working, Amber Thonvold, 21 I love spending time with Dairy Star Sponsor: my family, friends and my Thonvold Excavating dogs. Sunburg, MN What qualities do you 320-366-3677 possess that make you a good dairy princess? Although my family does not raise or milk dairy cows, I grew up alongside cows as my dad raises beef cattle. I know the atmosphere of farms and how big of an impact any farm can make. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? Dairy farmers have been a powerful force in protecting farmland, caring for livestock and
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providing grocery stores with one of the top items on everybody’s grocery list, milk. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? Dairy farmers have continued to show their dedication to produce quality products, making them role models in every community. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? I want to connect with the upcoming generation and show them the importance of the dairy industry, and how dairy farmers along with other farmers are providing for our country.
Parents: Mark and Amy Wehe Faribault, Minnesota
Rice County Parents: Nathan and Shannon Kuball Morristown, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/ or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I grew up on my family’s 240cow dairy farm where I work regularly. On the farm, I like to work milking shifts and feed the calves. I am a biblical Kelsey Kuball, 19 and theological studies Dairy Star Sponsor: major at the University Northland Farm Systems of Northwestern-St. Paul. Owatonna, MN After I graduate, I plan to northlandfarmsystems.com pursue a career in ministry 507-451-3131 or academics. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? While being a dairy princess is not easy, all someone needs in order to be a good dairy princess is knowledge about the industry and a passion to share that knowledge with others. Those are qualities I possess; being a dairy princess provides me with opportunities to use them. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? Consumers are concerned about what they are putting in their bodies. The message that dairy is natural, nutritious and simple is always important. In addition, making consumers aware that dairy farmers are transparent and always happy to answer questions can be especially benecial during this uncertain time. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? During the pandemic, everything in our lives has been shaken and challenged. What we do not need has fallen away and what is still standing will become stronger. The dairy industry is standing and has shown society we are not only necessary but sustainable. The uncertainty in the world has highlighted the fact that people can easily see where their dairy products come from and be condent in what they are consuming. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? Being at a college with students who have little to no experience with agriculture has shown me how important it is to reach out to my peers. At college, students are learning about the world separate from their parents and the presuppositions of their communities. I want to connect with my peers because these are formative years when the questions I answer can inform many of their decisions as an independent adult.
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/ or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I am a freshman attending the University of MinnesotaTwin Cities studying nance and business law. I have been involved in 4-H and FFA for over 10 Madelyn Wehe, 19 years, showing dairy as Dairy Star Sponsor: well as participating in Bongards’ Creameries dairy judging and dairy Norwood-Young quiz bowl. I work at RKB America, MN Dairy outside of Faribault 952-277-5500 where they milk about 120 Jerseys and Holsteins. My primary job on the farm is feeding and caring for the calves. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I enjoy public speaking and meeting new people. Most of the time, consumers have lots of questions about dairy farming because they are curious about what we do and have never been on a dairy before. As a dairy princess, I have the ability to make new connections, share my dairy story and help clear misconceptions. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? Dairy products are nutrient rich and are a key part of a healthy diet. Milk contains nine essential nutrients like protein and calcium, and three servings of milk per day benets our overall health from disease prevention to building muscle. Additionally, our cows are treated with care, and all milk is tested multiple times to ensure safety and quality. Milk is also fresh, as it only takes 48 hours to get from farms to grocery store shelves. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? The pandemic has showed our communities that dairy farmers will always be there to support our communities. Last March, when most businesses shut down, dairy farmers continued to work and provide employment. When shelves in the grocery stores were empty, cows continued to produce milk, and dairy farmers, truckers and creameries worked tirelessly to ensure that milk and other dairy products would get back on the shelves. Dairy farmers never stopped caring for their cows, and never will. Although the pandemic has changed the way most people live and work, dairies will always be there to support and provide for communities. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? As a dairy princess, I plan to interact with all demographics but particularly young adults. Social media is a great place to share, but it is also a place for misinformation to spread quickly. It is important to share our experiences as dairy farmers because most people do not realize the time and commitment dairy farming takes as well as the care we provide for our cows. By sharing our dairy stories online and safely at events, we can continue to have genuine conversations about our dairy communities.
Rock County Parents: Justin and Daci Moss Luverne, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. Growing up, I always enjoyed being on the farm. When I am not at school or doing school activities, I enjoy being on the farm and helping my dad. My dad, grandpa and my dad’s uncle work on a dairy farm that milks 700 cows. Some of the tasks I do include driving a silage
Brooklyn Moss, 18 Dairy Star Sponsor: Gorter’s Clay & Dairy Pipestone, MN 507-825-3271
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Rock County continued truck, feeding calves and bedding calves. I nished my junior year in high school, and I am involved in volleyball, basketball and softball at Southwest Christian High School. When I am not involved in school activities, I work as a CNA at the Mary Jane Brown Home in Luverne. Next year, I plan on going to University of Sioux Falls for nursing. I also plan on becoming a labor and delivery nurse in the future. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I am a considerate person. I love to laugh with people and enjoy others’ company. I have a warm heart that loves all animals, especially my cows. I am also a caring person and that shows when I take care of my animals and when I work in the nursing home. I have a contagious smile and love to laugh with all of my friends. I also love all things ice cream. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? It is important we keep dairy in our diet. It is an easy way to get protein for the day. Drinking milk keeps the bones strong and helps maintain a healthy weight. Drinking milk is important for our bodies. No matter what the age, milk is a good source of protein and keeps bones strong and healthy. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? It has shown the importance of shopping and supporting the local farmers. Businesses are hurting, and supporting the local farmers will help to keep them going. Even throughout this pandemic, the farmers have been working hard to provide dairy for everyone. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? I want to make sure everyone is consuming all the dairy their body needs. I want to help them understand how important it is to keep dairy in the diet.
Sibley County Parents: Jim and Wendy Dieball Green Isle, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I live on my family’s dairy farm, Dieball Dairy LLC, where we milk 200 cows on three robots. On my family farm, I own some of my own animals. Some of my Alyson Dieball, 18 tasks include washing and Dairy Star Sponsor: performing maintenance Bongards’ Creameries on the robotic milking Norwood-Young machines, vaccinating America, MN animals and drying cows 952-277-5500 off. In the fall, I will attend South Dakota State University to double major in dairy production and dairy manufacturing with a minor in food safety. Upon graduating from college, I would love to pursue employment within the dairy community, specically with robotic milking machines. After working for a company for a few years, my goal is to return to the home farm and take over with my parents. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I am someone who loves to communicate with people, whether they have the same interests as me or not. In fact, my favorite conversations are with people who do not have an agriculture background. I also love challenges and working together with people. There are so many misconceptions within the dairy community, and I will attempt to close misconceptions within my role as dairy princess. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? One of the most important messages to share with consumers is how well farmers treat their animals. Through the past year, there have been multiple instances on social media platforms that have led consumers to believe farmers are terrible people. It is
Sibley County continued important consumers know farmers take care of their animals and strive to produce food that is nutritious for all people. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? Through the pandemic, my community has become more aware of how farmers operate their businesses. With COVID-19, many people were at home and were not able to work in their ofces, but dairy farmers had the opportunity to work in their ofces. As dairy farmers, we have also been able to show we are able to produce a product for consumers through easy and tough times. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? As a dairy princess, I would like to connect with people of all ages, but I would like to work especially with young kids. Young kids are our future, and teaching them about dairy and how great farmers are can help close the gap with people knowing where food comes from. Parents: Scott and Stephanie Krueger Arlington, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/ or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I live and farm side-byside with my parents on our family dairy outside of Arlington where we milk 100 Holsteins. I do everything from feeding Madison Krueger, 20 newborn calves and Dairy Star Sponsor: heifers to milking cows, Bongards’ Creameries to breeding and assisting Norwood-Young in the birthing process. America, MN I am attending the 952-277-5500 University of WisconsinRiver Falls where I am studying dairy science with plans to go to vet school. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I have good public speaking skills due to my involvement in the Minnesota Junior Holstein Association. I grew up on my parents’ dairy farm working with them and seeing rsthand the hardships and triumphs of dairy farming. Riding along with different veterinarians and nutritionists has given me the ability to communicate with the public. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? The differences between milk and plant-based milk-like products. As I am doing research to write a speech, I have found many interesting aspects of why people drink those products. My favorite would have to be nding that the only reason they drink it is that they think the cows eat almonds and that makes almond milk. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? In our school district, they did the school box lunch program that provided breakfast and lunch seven days a week, including milk and other dairy products throughout the week when the kids were in distance learning. Now that they have gone back to in-person learning, they are able to get meals for the weekend and are receiving the same dairy products. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? I want to connect with the school-aged kids to share about the dairy industry. My favorite event as a dairy princess is going to the school and sharing what life on the farm is all about and how we treat our cows.
Sibley County continued Parents: Scott and Stephanie Krueger Arlington, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/ or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I am a senior at Sibley East High School in Arlington. I am involved in my school’s FFA chapter. Outside of school, I am involved in competition dance. Montana I work on my family’s Krueger, 17 100-cow dairy farm Dairy Star Sponsor: where I am responsible Bongards’ Creameries for milking cows, feeding Norwood-Young cows, feeding steers and America, MN heifers, and washing milk 952-277-5500 equipment. Next year, I plan to return to my family’s farm and work with my parents. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? Some qualities I have that make me a good dairy princess include a strong passion for the dairy industry. I also enjoy teaching and answering questions people have about dairy. I am outgoing and enjoy meeting new people. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? The most important message to consumers is that farmers do not hurt their cows. With so many things on social media, it’s hard to know what is true. As advocates, it is our job to put out things that reect the dairy industry in a positive way. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? With many things shut down during the pandemic, farmers and those involved in food processing remained working harder than ever. Many people learned that even though they stayed and worked from home, many did not have that option. This opened a lot of people’s eyes to how many people are affected by the dairy industry. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? I am excited to connect with people who don’t have as much knowledge on the dairy industry. I enjoy helping those who want to learn more about dairy and where their food comes from.
Stearns County Parents: Jerry and Tammy Breth St. Anthony, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/ or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I live and work on my family’s fourth-generation dairy farm north of St. Anthony. On the farm, I work side by side with my parents and my siblings, Dillon, Makayla Breth, 18 Miranda and Emily. I am Dairy Star Sponsor: attending Ridgewater Hartung Sales College in Willmar for Freeport, MN GPS/GIS Technology 320-863-2697 for agriculture. This spring and summer I will be employed at the Centra Sota Cooperative in St. Martin. After completion of my program, I will have the opportunity to be full time employed at the co-op. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? A great quality I have is listening to people no matter their age. This helps me be a good dairy princess because during my year of service I will come into contact with many different people of all ages and from different walks of life. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? An important dairy message is dairy is locally driven. When you or your family buys local milk or other dairy foods, you are supporting your community and family members. Stearns County continued on next page
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How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? The pandemic has shown that the dairy community is a constant. When the shutdowns happened last year, dairy did not stop. Cows needed to be fed and milked, milk was picked up from my farm, and it was then prepared for the stores to supply families with the milk they needed when their children were sent home from school. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? I want to connect with young adults because I am able to connect and relate to them more being the same age as them. Also, they are at the age where they are starting to make their own decisions about what foods they want to buy.
community. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? Dairy foods are produced responsibly and sustainably. Farmers have reduced their carbon footprint immensely and have adopted many practices that benet both the environment and the land they care for. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? Even during some of the hardest times we face, dairy farmers work hard each and every day to provide our nation with wholesome and nutritious dairy foods. Those foods are present to build strong immune systems to help ght off many health problems. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? It is important to connect with urban areas to inform them about the health benets dairy has to offer, but is also important to connect with rural communities. I am excited to work alongside dairy farmers to listen and learn from their stories.
Parents: Glen and Becky Christen Sauk Centre, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/ or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I am a freshman at the University of MinnesotaCrookston with a double major in agriculture and elementary education. I grew up on and help Alexandra on my family’s 35-cow Christen, 19 dairy farm just southwest Dairy Star Sponsor: of Sauk Centre. I plan on Bongards’ Creameries nding a teaching job in Norwood-Young a small town similar to America, MN Sauk Centre. 952-277-5500 What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I am always curious to learn more about other farmers’ stories and love listening to them. I hope my listening and communication skills will help me excel in my dairy princess role. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? It is important to keep in mind the locality of the dairy community and that any purchase of a wholesome, nutritious dairy food will benet a local farmer within 100 miles of your purchase. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? During the pandemic, many people are looking to dairy and dairy foods to help with their family’s nutritional needs. With many schools doing distance learning, the milk they typically would consume in their diet is missing, leaving it up to the parents to provide the students with their three nutritional servings of dairy foods per day. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? It is important to connect with the younger generation, as these are the people who are both the future producers and consumers of dairy foods in years to come. Parents: Steve and Tammy Frericks Albany, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. Dairy has been an important part of my life for many years. I have gotten the opportunity to show dairy cattle at the Stearns County Fair, Minnesota State Fair, Hailey Frericks, 18 World Dairy Expo and Dairy Star Sponsor: many youth shows. I Hartung Sales have also previously been Freeport, MN employed on a robotic 320-863-2697 dairy farm as a robot barn technician. Upon high school graduation, I plan on attending South Dakota State University to major in agricultural business and minor in nancial counseling with the hopes of becoming an ag nance counselor in the future. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I am a positive person and have the ability to connect with a variety of people because of my willingness and drive to serve the dairy
Parents: Steve and Tammy Frericks Albany, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I have grown up showing dairy cattle and helping on the family farm. Also, I became employed on a robotic dairy farm and continued to show cattle at the local Kallie Frericks, 18 and state level. Next fall, Dairy Star Sponsor: I plan on attending the Hartung Sales University of WisconsinFreeport, MN River Falls to major in 320-863-2697 agricultural business and hopefully work to help farmers achieve their nancial goals in the future. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I am a people person and can connect with a wide variety of people. Also, I have a huge passion for the dairy community and want to share that with others. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? Farmers care for the land and animals they have and work hard to ensure consumers are eating healthy and nutritious dairy foods. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? Farmers are tough and can get through most anything. They work hard even during a pandemic to produce nutrient packed foods for everyone to enjoy. It has taught us that eating healthy dairy foods is important for our bodies to continue to stay healthy. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? I would like to connect with people from urban areas as they might not get to see and hear the truth about how their food is produced. Additionally, I would love the opportunity to educate others in these areas on how sustainable farmers have become in an effort to protect land and animals. Parents: Harold Marthaler and Denise Mikkelson Sauk Centre, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I grew up on a dairy farm outside of Sauk Centre until my dad retired. I wanted to keep pursuing my passion for dairy, so I found a job on Savanna a local dairy farm. I have Marthaler, 20 been in charge of calf care for most of my dairy Dairy Star Sponsor: career and it happens to be Centre Dairy Equipment one of my favorite jobs. I & Supply Inc. have four brothers and a Sauk Centre, MN sister. I love to read, drive 320-352-5762 my tractor and spend time outside. In the future, I plan on pursuing a degree in
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animal science. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I possess the qualities of leadership, true passion and compassion. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? Dairy foods are locally and responsibly produced. Dairy foods travel less than 100 miles from farm to table. It is one of the freshest foods you are able to buy in stores. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? The pandemic has shown just how important dairy is. It helps support local jobs as well as being a source of nutrients. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? The key demographics I would like to connect with as a dairy princess are parents and children. I want to connect with this group because they are able to help change the future of the dairy community. Parents: Kevin and Beth Young Holdingford, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. My family and I milk Holsteins with a few Jersey crosses. We had our rst Brown Swiss heifer calf born. We are looking forward to having her in our milking herd. Samantha Young, 20 We raise our replacement Dairy Star Sponsor: heifers and feed out steers. Hartung Sales I help with morning and Freeport, MN evening chores when I am 320-863-2697 home on the weekends. My duties include feeding cows, scraping the alleyway, milking, administering vaccines and helping keep pens and stalls clean. I will be graduating from Ridgewater College with a degree in veterinary technology. I will be interning at Lake Country Vet this summer, where I will hopefully become employed. I will also be continuing to help on the family farm. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? The dairy industry has taught me hard work, responsibility and dedication. On a farm, hard work is important to complete the tasks that need to be done. When farmers are expected to milk their cows at a certain time, it teaches responsibility and time management. By starting at the same time, the farmer is establishing a routine for cows. Cows take time and dedication. Dedication is needed in order to keep the cows in good health and continue to have good milk production. Farming is a lifestyle that needs passion, dedication and commitment. All of these qualities will be important for me to be a good dairy princess this next year. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? The carbon footprint of a glass of milk is twothirds less than it was 70 years ago, yet it has the same nutritional benets and great taste. Also, producing a gallon of milk has 19% less greenhouse gas emissions than it did in 2007. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? During the pandemic, dairy farmers continued with their dayto-day operations and continued to support checkoff promotion programs. With the help of Midwest Dairy and the checkoff dollars, farmers were able to continue to keep grocery stores stocked with delicious dairy foods we use for cooking and baking at home. Farmers were able to donate to local food banks to help families and communities in need. Many farmers used technology to participate in farm tours to bring today’s consumers closer to the farm. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? I would like to go into the schools to educate elementary students to have healthy habits by eating their three servings of dairy a day.
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Steele County
Parents: John and Lisa Bruns Blooming Prairie, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I am a senior at Blooming Prairie High School and plan to attend Gustavus-Adolphus College in St. Peter to pursue a nursing degree. I Maggie Bruns, 18 do not live on a farm, but Dairy Star Sponsor: I help show for Demmer Laura Seljan Farms and Discovery Photography, Kasson, MN Genetics. The Demmers lauraseljanphotography.com are family friends of ours, 507-250-2217 and we were lucky enough to have friends like them who let us show for them. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I am a good leader and always strive to do my best. I always try to do what is right and help others as much as possible and whenever possible. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? The dairy industry is one of the most important industries there is. If you think about it, a lot of things we use in our everyday lives and in most of the meals we eat every day. With the number of dairy farms getting fewer and fewer, it becomes more important to help the remaining farmers and farm families and their lifestyles. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? Just like most other industries, the pandemic has been hard on the dairy industry and has proven how much we do use dairy products. It has also proven how important it is to help the dairy farmers. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? I would love to connect with the younger kids because that is where the love for the industry starts. I was lucky enough to get into showing at a young age, and if I didn’t have that opportunity, I don’t know if I ever would have been exposed to or become interested in the dairy industry like I am today. Parents: Scott Fredin and Julie Evers Owatonna, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I am a freshman at Iowa State University double majoring in dairy science and genetics. Growing up in town, I never thought I would end up studying dairy Samantha Fredin, 19 science and genetics. But, Dairy Star Sponsor: this all changed when I Stranshome rst attended Cow Camp. Reid & Daria Stransky During camp, I was able Joe & Ev Stransky to get a snapshot of what Owatonna, MN it’s like to care for a calf. We were able to show our calves to our families. I was able to get involved in 4-H and continued to nd a love of the dairy project. I now assist on the farm that I lease with by being their on-call person to feed their youngstock. I’m the rst person they contact when they need assistance. Stranshome separates their cattle based on age. They have a hoop barn where the show cattle are housed. The rest of the milking cattle are held in a tiestall barn. They also have pigs, beef cattle and chickens. I’ve been involved in 4-H for 10 years and recently won the Key Award for my involvement. I have gotten to be a part of committees that impact the Steele County dairy program like Junior Fair Board, PDF and dairy superintendents. I enjoy giving back to the Owatonna community through service, and my church gives me the platform to give back with Meals of Hope, Healthy Seniors, Peer Mentoring and being a religious education teacher. What qualities do you possess that make you a
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Steele County continued
good dairy princess? I am an outgoing person who enjoys educating the public about the dairy industry. This will be useful at public events where we will be connecting with the public. Connecting with the younger generation is a factor I enjoy the most. They are so excited to learn about the animal that makes the milk they drink. Teaching the next generation about the dairy industry is important because we want more people to know the facts of this industry. Through organizations I’ve been involved in, I have become a great public speaker. This will assist me during radio interviews and speeches. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? Milk is a nutritional drink that boosts the immune system. Sharing the nutrition values that come from dairy products is important because the public tends to forget how nutritious milk is. The most important thing I would tell the public is to continue to drink milk. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? The dairy industry is relentless. Early in the pandemic, we saw milk trucks dumping their full loads into elds. We saw stores limiting the amount of milk consumers could purchase. Through all of this, the farmers woke up every morning and continued to provide for their communities. They persevered through hardships thrown at them over the past year. Even though the economy took a hit during the pandemic, the dairy industry’s future is looking brighter than expected. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? The demographics I want to connect with are the population of people who don’t know what this organization brings to communities around the state. I also want to educate people on the dairy industry. I am most excited to reach the younger generation. During daycare visits and day camps, we will teach the younger community about dairy. Education is important, and to share my knowledge with others about this industry to get more people educated is what my main goal is in my position as a 2021 dairy princess.
Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? Preschool and elementary aged kids. At that age, children are so curious about things that go on and nd many things interesting. If they get to see and talk to a dairy princess, it may spark new interest for them.
Parents: Matt and Jill Kath Owatonna, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/ or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I do not live or work on a farm. I grew up leasing calves from my grandparents’ farm to show at the fair. As I got older and learned more about dairy cattle, I brought the show calves to Courtney Kath, 18 my house for the summer Dairy Star Sponsor: to work with them more. Northland Farm Systems I then started leasing from Owatonna, MN other farms. I continued to northlandfarmsystems.com bring the younger heifers 507-451-3131 to my house. When the cattle were at my house, I got to be a farmer for the summer and fed the cattle, washed them and cleaned pens. My future plans include attending the University of Wisconsin-River Falls in the fall of 2021 with a major in business management. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? One quality that would make me a good dairy princess is dedication. Even though I do not live on a dairy farm, I nd ways I can be involved in the dairy industry and help promote it as well. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? In recent years, milk alternatives have become more known to consumers. Many people have dietary problems with dairy, or more specic lactose, which requires them to eat or drink certain foods. Consumers can buy dairy products but investigate the ones that do not have as much lactose. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? With the pandemic, many schools were required to shut down. Because of this, many students did not have access to healthy meals most schools provide. Many kids get their dairy servings for the day by drinking milk or eating other products that are offered at school. Dairy plays an important role by providing kids and others with the nutrients they need every day.
Parents: Keith and Karen Kruckeberg Owatonna, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I am wrapping up my freshman year of college at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls where I have been studying agribusiness but have recently switched Kylie Kruckeberg, 19 my major to business Dairy Star Sponsor: of economics for the Let’s Ride Boots and upcoming fall semester. Apparel, Owatonna, MN I work and house my letsridebootsapparel.com own small herd of cattle 507-455-1487 at Clover Glen Farms in Claremont, owned by Deb and Glenn Johnson. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I have good leadership skills that make me a good educator and demonstrator of the dairy industry as well as passion to do so. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? It is important to support small family-run dairy farms in any way you can. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? Since the pandemic has hit, it has been encouraged more than ever to eat healthy to maintain a strong immunity with dairy products being promoted for the healthy lifestyle. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? My favorite people to connect with as a dairy princess is the younger demographic because they are the future of this country. It is so important to educate them about the dairy industry at such an impressionable age. Parents: Ben and Wendy Rysavy Owatonna, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. My farm is a thirdgeneration dairy and beef farm, milking 80 cows in a parlor and 600 steers and 100 cow/calf pairs. My future plans include attending the University of Wisconsin-River Falls Hailey Rysavy, 18 and planning to major in Dairy Star Sponsor: communications sciences Northland Farm Systems and disorders to hopefully Owatonna, MN become a speech therapist northlandfarmsystems.com for kids. 507-451-3131 What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I possess quality traits of a leader. I am bold and courageous, meaning I will be able to share my ideas. I am also creative and innovative. Growing up on a farm taught me to have a strong work ethic as well. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? The pandemic has affected the dairy industry as it has everyone else. Many small dairy farms had to sell their animals and the only life they knew. Please support your local dairy farmers; there is not many around anymore. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? The dairy industry has played an important role in the community during the pandemic because the farms didn’t stop working and continued to provide for the community. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? I would like to connect with younger kids and educate them in how the dairy industry can positively affect their life.
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Parents: Joe and Cheryl Rysavy Owatonna, Minnesota
through the trials of farming during a pandemic, but it has made us so much stronger and has given me an even larger appreciation for all dairy farmers. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? I want to connect with families with young children. I can teach the parents about the health benets of dairy products and why they should choose to support the dairy industry. I want to teach the kids of those families about how truly amazing cows are and why they should become passionate supporters of the dairy industry.
consumers that even when the country was shutting down, farmers were working hard to provide for the community and bring fresh dairy products for them to enjoy. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? I want to connect with the youth. Sharing how great and important dairy is in their life will set them up for success, and they will be able to educate others and their future children.
Todd County
Wabasha County
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/ or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I live on a dairy farm south of Owatonna. We crop farm approximately 800 acres, have about 500 beef steers and 150 brood cows. We are milking 80 cows. We Katelyn Rysavy, 19 had to downsize from Dairy Star Sponsor: milking 180 cows because Northland Farm Systems of the ever-changing Owatonna, MN industry and economy. northlandfarmsystems.com What qualities do you 507-451-3131 possess that make you a good dairy princess? I am proud to be a daughter of a second-generation dairy farmer. I want to promote dairy products as the most natural, nutritious food which helps support our immune system as well as repair muscle tissue to maintain healthy red blood cells and healthy blood pressure. I want to promote dairy products’ economic value as well. I have a positive attitude and am compassionate about all dairy products and the industry. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? Current evidence indicates intake of milk and milk products is linked to improved bone health and immune system. Milk is also the No. 1 food source for calcium, vitamin D and potassium which is lacking in the American diet. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? Dairy farms continued to produce their product and were able to keep the supply of milk going to the business world to help keep smaller businesses going. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? I want to promote the dairy industry at schools, teaching students the importance of the dairy products which maintain a diet of vitamins, minerals and essential nutrients for healthy body functioning. Parents: Mark and Gail Zollner Owatonna, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I own six Brown Swiss cows that are housed at Clover Glen Farm. I was introduced to the dairy industry by a program called cow camp. The program taught me Lilly Zollner, 19 how to show dairy heifers Dairy Star Sponsor: and cows. After nishing Northland Farm Systems the program, I joined Owatonna, MN 4-H so I could have more northlandfarmsystems.com opportunities to show. 507-451-3131 My involvement with the dairy industry increased each year eventually leading me to become a farm hand for a few years and then to owning a small herd of my show animals. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? The best qualities I possess that make me a good dairy princess are passion, condence and bravery. These qualities have helped me succeed in both the dairy world and my everyday life, and they will help me greatly with my princess duties. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? One of the most important messages we need to share with consumers is that dairy farmers care about the land and their animals because without them we wouldn’t be able to produce a wholesome and healthy product for the public. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? It has shown me how hard dairy farmers work even in the midst of so much chaos during this pandemic. We have all had to come together as an industry to support each other
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Parents: Gary and Joanna Middendorf Sauk Centre, Minnesota
Parents: Don and Anne Borgschatz Plainview, Minnesota
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/ or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I help on our 450-acre dairy farm. I am involved in tennis, archery and FFA. I plan to go to South Dakota State University to pursue a degree in animal science Briana and to go to vet school Middendorf, 18 to be a small animal Dairy Star Sponsor: veterinarian. Osakis Creamery What qualities do you Osakis, MN possess that make you 320-859-2146 a good dairy princess? I have lived on a dairy farm all my life, so I know of all the hard work and dedication that goes into the product. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? Dairy is a safe and healthy product. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? Food is essential to all of us. During the pandemic, farmers have continued working every day to produce a safe and quality product. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? I want to connect with young children because they can get a good foundation of the dairy industry at a young age.
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/ or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I live and work on my family’s dairy farm. We milk 180 cows in a double-9 herringbone parlor. I will attend Concordia Seward Nebraska to major in Emma elementary education. Borgschatz, 18 What qualities do you Dairy Star Sponsor: possess that make you Beck Implement a good dairy princess? Elgin, MN I am hardworking and beckimplement.com caring. 507-876-2122 What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? One of the most important dairy messages to share is that dairy farming is sustainable. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? The pandemic has shown the importance of dairy in communities because it was one of the few industries that kept going. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? The demographic I want to connect with as a dairy princess is elementary kids because they are the future.
Parents: Gary and Joanna Middendorf Sauk Centre, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/ or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I have four sisters and one brother. My favorite color is aqua, and I love hosting personal concerts while in the shower. I live on my parents’ dairy farm where Erica we milk 100 cows twice Middendorf, 20 a day. On the farm, we Dairy Star Sponsor: have lots of other animals Osakis Creamery such as chickens, fainting Osakis, MN goats, geese, ducks, dogs 320-859-2146 and cats. We farm about 400 acres. One of my favorite past times is going outside and playing with all the critters on the farm. I plan to waitress and buy a home near Sauk Centre to stay close to my family. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? A couple qualities I possess that make me a good dairy princess would be my love and passion for the dairy industry, and I love talking to people. Those qualities are a great combination to have while being a dairy princess. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? An important dairy message to share would be that even when the world around us seems like a mess with the pandemic, farmers continue to work hard for the community to bring locally driven and nutrient rich dairy products for everyone to enjoy. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? It has shown
Parents: Paul Dose and Stephanie Hein, and Rob and Miranda Young Plainview, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/ or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I am a senior at PlainviewElgin-Millville High School. I am involved in activities like FFA, National Honor Society, Emeliya Dose, 18 trapshooting and also am Dairy Star Sponsor: a Bulldog Ambassador. I Pettit’s IBA, LLC work on Lehnertz Dairy, Lewiston, MN a 350-cow dairy farm 507-269-5714 with a mixture of Jerseys, Lehnertz Dairy Holsteins, crossbreds and Plainview, MN one Brown Swiss. My family also owns a milk truck business with two trucks and is in the process of buying a third. My future plans are to attend Northeast Iowa Community College to get a degree in nances with an agriculture background. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I was not born on a dairy farm and am lactose intolerant, so I had to make my way into dairy through other ways. I always have a positive attitude and a huge smile on my face. I am passionate about everything I do no matter what it is. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? One of the biggest and most important dairy messages to share with consumers is how much time is put into the products they enjoy and how many people it takes to make that possible. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? The pandemic has Wabasha County continued on next page
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shown me that even while things seemed to be at a halt, dairy was moving forward. Cows needed to be milked, milk trucks needed to run and creameries needed to operate. All of these things were able to help people provide for their families as well as provide dairy consumers with products Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? The key demographic I would like to connect with more is potential consumers of dairy products and people who are wanting to learn more about the dairy industry. I would like to connect more with this demographic because it is important to continue to grow our dairy consumers. More people need to understand why dairy is so important rather than be talking about the jobs the industry supplies or the amount of nutrients available in dairy products.
Parents: Chad and Amy Schumacher Plainview, Minnesota
Parents: Roger Wiese and Amanda Richter Wadena, Minnesota
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I live on a 140cow robotic dairy near Plainview. I also work on another dairy farm near Kellogg where we milk 350 cows. Jordyn What qualities do you Schumacher, 18 possess that make you Dairy Star Sponsor: a good dairy princess? I have always had a huge Story Sales & Service Faribault, MN passion for the dairy industry. Being able to storysalesandservice.com 800-491-3724 communicate with others and share stories has been a strong quality of mine. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? The most important message to share with dairy consumers is to make sure you are getting three servings of dairy every day and to support our dairy farms. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? The pandemic has shown, even through hard times, our community can come together to support dairy farms by incorporating dairy in every meal. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? I want to bring our communities together and support our dairy farms.
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/ or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I grew up on my grandpa’s dairy farm, and when he retired last fall, I started working on my great uncle’s farm. My future plans consist of attending St. Cloud Morgan Wiese, 18 Community and Technical Dairy Star Sponsor: College for nursing and Midwest Machinery ultrasound tech. midwestmachineryco.com What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I am reliable and responsible so I am at the events every time. I also have a willingness to help my community and educate people on the importance of agriculture. What do you think is the most important dairy message to share with consumers right now? I think the biggest message to share right now is that small town family farms are becoming more of the past. We need family farms to come back into my generation and the younger generations as well. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? Even though the majority of the world was quarantined, farmers worked hard to produce food for their community and the world. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? The younger generations. We are relying on them to continue farming and feeding our world. If they do not, there will not be much life on earth anymore.
Parents: Jary and Celene Holst Kellogg, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/ or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I am a freshman at South Dakota State University where I am a double major in dairy production and animal science. I am a member of the SDSU Ashley Holst, 18 dairy club, Sigma Alpha Dairy Star Sponsor: sorority and participate in Story Sales & Service Little International. I grew Faribault, MN up on my family’s dairy storysalesandservice.com farm in Kellogg with my 800-491-3724 parents and ve siblings. We milk our herd of 130 Holsteins in a double-10 parallel parlor. On my farm, I help perform many of the day-to-day operations, but my main task is a cow herdsman. Although I am now ve hours away from the farm at college, I am involved. With the use of today’s technology, I can look at cow records over the internet. I am also able to stay in touch with breeders, nutritionists and veterinarians. With the use of barn cameras, I can watch over the milking cows and keep a close eye on the dry cow pen. I plan to pursue a career in the dairy community working in animal health, hopefully as a large animal veterinarian. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I am a passionate person who loves sharing my dairy story. Talking to consumers of all ages is my favorite way to share my story. When giving presentations to younger ages, it is important to make the connections with the kids. This makes for the biggest impact on them. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? With the pandemic going on, the biggest push is to become healthier by eating and working out more. One of the best ways to eat healthier is by eating more dairy foods. Dairy foods contain 13 essential vitamins and nutrients to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Dairy also has products that are now lactose free for easier digestion. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? Farmers across the world never stopped going during the pandemic, especially the dairy farmers. Dairy farmers are the heart of their communities. If they stop, it puts a lot at risk. With dairy being the leading employer in many communities, it was important that dairy farmers kept working 24/7, not only for cows on the dairy farms but for the people who count on the dairy farmers. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? Connecting with all ages is crucial for a dairy princess. This year, my goal is to connect more with high school students. The impact that high school students can have on the dairy community could make a positive change. With high school students being the most athletic students, the benets from consuming dairy foods would have a positive impact on their athleticism. Along with high schoolers consuming more dairy products, they are the future employees. Teaching the future workers about the opportunities in the dairy community is important for the dairy farms of tomorrow. Getting the next generation to understand the importance of dairy and knowing how they can benet from being involved in the dairy community is my biggest goal.
Wadena County Parents: Todd and Patty Meech Sebeka, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I work on my parents’ dairy farm. We milk 600 cows with seven Lely robotic milkers and a double-12 parlor. I can do the mixing, milking, feed calves and all the Grace Meech, 16 eld work. My plan is to Dairy Star Sponsor: someday have my own Dairyland Equipment farm. dairyss.com What qualities do you 218-564-4958 possess that make you a good dairy princess? I’m good at talking to people, I know a lot about farming, have a good personality, and I’m passionate about teaching people more about dairy farming. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? My family and I are proud of what we do. Keep the community buying milk and dairy products. It’s just as hard if not harder for the farmers to keep supplying milk when the price is so low. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? The pandemic has shown me that dairy farmers don’t stop. We work hard all day every day from being stewards of the land to making sure our cows are well cared for and providing jobs in the community. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? I want to connect with all demographic populations to promote three or more wholesome dairy products to every age group because everyone can benet from the nutrients associated with consuming dairy products daily.
Waseca County Parents: Jamie and ShaLee White Waseca, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/ or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I have been leasing dairy heifers for 4-H for eight years and also compete in dairy handling for FFA. I have been able to compete at the state level for both. Jadyn White, 17 I was rst introduced to Dairy Star Sponsor: the dairy industry by my Roundbank Insurance mom’s coworker. Her Agency, Waseca, family helped me nd Waldorf, Farmington, MN my love for cows there. roundbank.com/ Leasing dairy has been the insurance-agency best choice for me. I come 800-835-1499 from a family of horses and never came out of my comfort zone. I can’t tell you which one I prefer; they both have pushed me to my limits and taught me so many things. I love showing and teaching others about the dairy industry. In the fall for one of my classes, I was able to bring a yearling into school and show my classmates how to handle and get ready for a show. In February, I brought a calf to school for Kiss the Farm Animal for National FFA Week. I love being a leader and teaching others about dairy. I work on the Klassic dairy farm, a small local dairy farm in Waseca. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I love being a leader and teaching others about dairy. I am the secretary of the Waseca FFA Chapter and have had many leadership roles within the Waseca County 4-H. I look forward to continuing to learn more about the dairy industry and furthering the education of others as well. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? Keep consuming and thank a farmer. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? Dairy is important in our daily lives and offered at schools, restaurants, Wadena County continued on next page
Waseca County continued etc. With schools and restaurants being shut down, lots of dairy products were thrown away. After openings once again, consumers have been helping the dairy industry tremendously. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? The public doesn’t understand the importance of farmers and the dairy industry. A farmer’s job is not easy, but we can all help by purchasing products.
Washington County Parents: Dave and Kathy Erf Oakdale, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I am the fth generation to grow up on my family’s farm where we raise about 20 dairy replacement heifers for a larger dairy in southern Minnesota. I am a Kelsey Erf, 19 sophomore studying dairy Dairy Star Sponsor: science with a minor in River Country Co-op communications at South Hastings, MN Dakota State University. I rivercountrycoop.com plan to use the knowledge 651-437-3527 I am gaining through my experiences to continue to be an advocate in the dairy industry upon graduation. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? Whether it is working the Moo Booth at our county fair or answering questions while making my way to the show ring at the state fair, I enjoy interacting and making connections with the public. Having these authentic and engaging conversations with consumers are essential for me but also for any dairy princess to possess. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? In times where consumers are ever the more curious of what goes on before their favorite products reach their dinner table, consumers have taken to social media to answer these questions. One of the most important dairy messages that the industry needs to share with consumers is that dairy is responsibly produced. The industry has already taken immense strides in improving social media presence, but there is so much more we can do as a community to provide that sense of transparency to our consumers. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? The dairy industry gives back. While attending college, I have been fortunate to have many leadership opportunities, such as being a South Dakota Dairy Ambassador and Dairy Club ofcer, that have allowed me to give back to our community by donating over $1,000 worth of dairy products to a local food pantry for families in need during these hard times. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? Through my studies at SDSU, I have learned that one of the most important demographics in the dairy industry is around the ages of 16-24 years old. In this age range, kids are becoming independent adults and are starting to make decisions for themselves, especially regarding their nutrition. It is important for dairy advocates like myself to inform this demographic of how wholesome and nutritious dairy products are and they should be a key part of their diets. Connecting with athletes of this age, especially through the NCAA, is a great way to help reach this demographic as these are the inuencers of this age group.
Dairy Star - MN Dairy Princess Edition • Saturday, May 8, 2021 • Page 21
Winona County Parents: Andrew and Sonya Clark Minnesota City, Minnesota
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/ or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I work on a dairy farm. We milk around 500 Holsteins three times a day. We also raise calves Emma Clark, 18 and grow crops, such as Dairy Star Sponsor: corn silage and alfalfa. Peoples State Bank My future plans are to Plainview, Elgin, Altura, continue working on Menomonie, Boyceville the farm and to attend PeoplesStateBank.com college for business and 800-252-3137 photography. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I love to communicate and build relationships with people. I value communication and want to share what I know and love with others. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? Dairy is safe and healthy. Milk contains nine essential vitamins and many other minerals. Dairy products are produced in safe environments. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? More farmers can join meetings virtually and expand their knowledge to better support themselves. There is more outreach through social media to better reach our audiences. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? I want to connect with children. We need to connect with the younger generation and start that good foundation in them. I want to help them understand that dairy is delicious and also nutritious. Parents: Chad and Kendra Kieffer Utica, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I have enjoyed working and growing up on my family’s dairy farm. We milk 300 cows with ve Lely robots. I often help with the lactation cows, feeding calves and Brea Kieffer, 18 managing the show cattle. Dairy Star Sponsor: I have enjoyed growing Ag Partners up in the dairy industry agpartners.net and am grateful for all of 800-732-1439 the opportunities I have had, as well as nding my favorite hobby of showing dairy cattle. This fall, I plan on attending the University of Wisconsin-River Falls to study biology and dairy science. I hope to nd a future career within the agriculture industry. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? To be a good dairy princess, one must be knowledgeable about the industry they are promoting and have a smile on their face while they do it. Being engaged in the dairy industry from a young age, I have learned many things that have expanded my knowledge on the dairy industry. I also plan to continue advocating to people in my community about the impact of dairy. For these reasons, I believe I possess the qualities to be a good dairy princess. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? Dairy farmers work hard to care for our animals and the land, and provide safe, healthy products for consumers’ enjoyment. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? The pandemic showed that milk and other dairy products were a staple food product when people were stuck at home. They relied on those products to support their families, which shows the importance of dairy in the
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community. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? As a dairy princess, the most important demographic to connect with is kids. At my school, many kids dump their milk out or do not even take milk at lunch. It is becoming more common in school-aged children to refuse to drink milk. The most attention needs to be given to those kids. Once we reach out to kids, the truth and benets about dairy will travel to their parents as well. Parents: John and Connie Meyer Rollingstone, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I am a senior at Lewiston-Altura High School. I am involved in National Honor Society, student council, FFA, drama, track and eld, and 4-H. I love showing dairy Megan Meyer, 17 cattle and dairy judging Dairy Star Sponsor: on the Winona County Pettit’s IBA, LLC Dairy Judging team. My Lewiston, MN parents own Quarry Hill 507-269-5714 Dairy, a third-generation Holstein herd where we grow all our forages to feed our cattle. I plan to attend Iowa State University in the fall and possibly major in journalism. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? My passion for dairy farming combined with my knowledge of the industry and belief that dairy products are a great source of nutrition makes me a good advocate for the dairy community. I am excited to share my experiences from growing up on the farm and the health benets of dairy products. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? Dairy is incredibly healthy for you, and dairy farmers are committed to their animals and the environment. Many people cut dairy out of their diets because they think it is not as healthy as other options or are concerned about its’ carbon footprint. I want consumers to know that dairy includes nine essential nutrients, has proven health benets and farmers are committed to sustainability. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? Dairy farmers never stopped working during this pandemic. They continued to provide their products and feed the nation despite the world coming to a halt. This showed that people must always eat, and if they always eat, farmers will be working to provide products. The pandemic proved how fragile the supply chain is and how important the role of farmers is in the economy. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? I want to connect with kids my age and college kids. They are the future of market trends, so it is important they are aware of the facts about consuming dairy. Social media heavily inuences them, and this is a great opportunity for me to step up and use social media to show them the benets of dairy in their diets. Parents: Terry and Jana Prigge Winona, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/ or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I am a senior at Lewiston Altura High School and plan to further my education at the University of Minnesota-Rochester to pursue a career in the medical eld. I live and work on my family’s 260cow dairy farm where I feed calves. We grow all of our own feed on the acres we run.
Emily Prigge, 17 Dairy Star Sponsor: Lewiston Sales, Inc. Lewiston, MN lewistonsales.com 507-523-2112
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Winona County continued What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I am friendly and like talking with and meeting new people and am looking forward to connecting with consumers and educating them about the dairy industry. I am a good leader that I credit to my leadership roles in 4-H and FFA. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? It is important to teach the health and wellness benets of dairy products as well as the importance of caring for the cows to produce high-quality products. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? It is important to eat a well-balanced meal that is full of different nutrients to maintain a healthy life. Regardless of the many setbacks dairy farmers experienced over the past year, they continued to work long hours to provide food for Americans across the country. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? I would like to connect with young kids to educate them about the variety of dairy products available and how benecial they are to their health. I feel it is important to reach out to them at a young age as habits are being formed. Parents: Kim and Kimberly Pronschinske Rollingstone, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/ or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. My parents own and operate a 260-acre dairy farm 2 miles southeast of Altura. As fourth-generation dairy farmers turned organic in 2011, we milk about 90 Annabelle cows twice a day, care for Pronschinske, 18 chickens, pigs and ponies Dairy Star Sponsor: and raise our crops. With Story Sales & Service graduation nearing, I am Faribault, MN planning on furthering my storysalesandservice.com education by attending a 800-491-3724 two or four-year college to obtain a degree in either agricultural science or agricultural business, if not both. No matter how much extra schooling I pursue, I will be working at the same time to avoid as much debt as possible and hope to stay connected to the farm. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? Having grown up on a farm, my tenacity, adaptability and ability to work harder and smarter are what set me apart from others. I am a strong listener and understand the importance of thinking before acting in most situations for the best outcome. When faced with difculty, I am resilient and always try to do my best to succeed or get one step closer to doing so. I am outside every day laboring like other farmers do, and therefore, I can easily relate to their experiences. This can provoke conversation in the sharing of ideas which is worthwhile because if others are willing to share their knowledge with you, especially farmers, it is always good to be openminded so you can be better too. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? Share the benets of dairy with those you may know who are not as informed as you are. Dairy products have wholesome nutrients that are perfect for all aspects of life, and these certainly outweigh those advertised by sports drinks. By sticking with dairy, you can refuel your body the way it craves and support a necessary industry at the same time. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? Through the pandemic, it has become a more public realization that even when the rest of the world is staggering to stay aoat, elds like the dairy industry must continue their daily routines to provide for the world just as they had before, just now with more precautions in some aspects. People have had the chance to see how valuable agriculture is to their everyday life as essential workers were made known to the world and farmers were considered frontline workers. This goes to show that what these people do for their communities is crucial and not just something that can cease to exist without immense repercussions reaching into every area of life.
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Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? I would like to stand up for the smaller dairy farms that are doing much of the same as the larger farms but on a smaller scale. These farms produce milk of the same, if not better, quality and are essential for a variety of reasons to their communities. The families that run them are doing what they love, taking care of the land and animals to provide for their fellow man on a much more intimate basis where they can truly appreciate the fruits of their labor rsthand and nurture their youth to be diligent, resourceful and down-to-earth human beings. I want these farms to know they are valued as they are what strive toward the survival of the dairy industry in this modern world.
Parents: Karl and Nicole Hills Monticello, Minnesota
Wright County Parents: Brian and Theresa Beaudry Otsego, Minnesota Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I am a senior at St. Michael-Albertville High School and am a PSEO student at North Hennepin Community College. I am going to graduate from Jalyssa Beaudry, 18 both high school and Dairy Star Sponsor: North Hennepin with my liberal arts degree this Munson Lakes Nutrition Howard Lake, MN spring. I am the oldest of 320-543-2561 six kids and live on my family’s fourth-generation dairy farm. We milk 65 Holstein cows. I have been in 4-H for nine years and am the president of my club. This fall, I am going to attend the University of Wisconsin-River Falls where I hope to major in agriculture business with a possible minor in dairy science. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? My best qualities that make me a good dairy princess are my outgoing personality and work ethic. I am a talkative person and love to talk about all the exciting experiences I have by being on a dairy farm. I am a hard worker, and in everything I do, I try to give 110% all the time. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? With the continuing advancement of technology, supply and prices should remain steady. There are many new developments in plant-based proteins which have taken part in a new era of dairy products. These plant-based alternatives lack the same amount of nutrients as animal products including vitamins A and B12, calcium and protein when compared to cow’s milk. Many consumers do not know this when they buy the products so I would like to share a message of wisdom with consumers about the nutrients in the milk they buy. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? Through this pandemic, dairy at the stores was scarce. I would walk down the dairy aisle and there would be maybe one kind of cheese, and the time you went to the store dictated how many gallons of milk there was. It was such a weird time because farmers were producing too much milk, but yet the stores were empty. It showed the community that dairy is an essential part of everyone’s diet. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? As a dairy princess, I would love to connect with kids ages 6 to 12 years old. This age range is full of curiosity, and dairy would be a perfect subject to learn about. Learning while you are young is a lot easier and opens your perspective on the world as well.
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/ or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I am a senior at Monticello High School, but I take classes through the University of Minnesota. I am a huge book nerd, Katherine Hills, 18 especially history. I love Dairy Star Sponsor: going to church and have Munson Lakes Nutrition played the cello for six Howard Lake, MN years. I lease an animal in 320-543-2561 exchange for work on the Glessing Family Farm, which is run by my grandparents and aunt and uncle. After I graduate, I am attending the University of Minnesota-Crookston where I want to double major in animal and equine science. After that, I want to pursue a DVM and become a large animal veterinarian. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I am capable of talking to many different personality types. In addition, I am passionate about the dairy industry, as I have been blessed to experience it rsthand. I also want to share that passion with members of my community. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? Chocolate milk is actually one of the best things to drink after a workout. It helps to replace lost uids as well as providing minerals to regain energy. How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? While everything was shutting down last March and into this year, dairy farmers never stopped. They were going out twice a day to provide the country with milk, cheese, yogurt and ice cream. Without dairy farmers, this past year would have looked a lot different. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? I would love to connect with my generation about the continual importance of dairy. To me, the relevance of dairy farming and that lifestyle has become less and less prevalent as time has gone on. I hope to bring more relevance to the dairy lifestyle, especially to my generation. Parents: Chris Amanda Zeidler Cokato, Minnesota
and
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, or your parents work on, and your future plans. I grew up in the small town of Cokato. I am attending Ridgewater College in Willmar for dairy management. I plan to graduate in May 2022. Grace Zeidler, 19 I work at Chanlore Farms Dairy Star Sponsor: Inc., a local dairy farm Munson Lakes Nutrition in Cokato where I began Howard Lake, MN working in June 2017. 320-543-2561 From my time working at Chanlore Farms, I found my passion in the dairy industry and love for dairy cattle. What qualities do you possess that make you a good dairy princess? I enjoy talking to people about the dairy industry. I am able to communicate my thoughts well, and I am willing to listen and learn new things. I also enjoy promoting the dairy industry and look forward to sharing my passion with others. What do you think is one of the most important dairy messages to share with consumers right now? Small family farms have been the backbone of the dairy industry for many generations, and as the average age for dairy farmers increases and there are fewer opportunities for young farmers to get into the business, it is becoming more and more challenging to sustain family farms. Wright County continued on next page
Wright County continued
ConƟnued from CONNELLY | Page 1
How has the pandemic shown the important role dairy plays in our communities? COVID-19 has shown us how fragile supply chains can be within the global food system. It has spotlighted that disruption in one link can hurt many other links of the supply chain. For a while, we had many news headlines about milk being poured out. While this was not what farmers wanted, it is what happened. In the last year, a lot has happened, and with all the negative things that have come from 2020, we can say as a dairy community that we have different approaches to marketing and selling products to consumers. Which key demographic do you want to connect with as a dairy princess? I want the opportunity to work with urban families to help them learn and understand where the dairy products they consume in almost every meal three times a day come from and how these products are produced.
were also joined by Minnesota Vikings legend Greg Coleman who shared incredible words of wisdom and support of Minnesota dairy farmers.” The highlight of her Princess Kay reign so far has been doing a book reading for Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom’s Farm and Food Book Week where she read, “Chuck’s Ice Cream Wish: Tales of the Dairy Godmother.” There were over 25 classrooms from across Minnesota listening to her read via Zoom. There was a brief question and answer session following Connelly’s book reading. “I loved this event because it allowed me to interact with students and their excitement was contagious,” Connelly said. “We had so much fun talking about dairy and what a dairy farmer’s day looks like.” Connelly’s takeaway from this particular event was her ability to connect with so many students in just one event. “The opportunities this year has brought for us to share our stories in new and creative ways is inspiring,” Connelly said. Connelly will be attending more virtual and in-person events in the coming months including a Fuel Up to Play 60 Virtual Field Day, virtual Gopher Dairy Camp, Hutchinson Dairy Days, Dairy Night at the Rochester Honkers Game and several county breakfasts on the farm across the state. For those serving as county dairy princess and perhaps looking to run for Princess Kay, Connelly’s advice is to believe in oneself. “Never sell yourself short,” Connelly said. “It is important to be bold and brave. Most importantly, enjoy every moment you are given
Dairy Star - MN Dairy Princess Edition • Saturday, May 8, 2021 • Page 23
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Brenna Connelly helps package bread at Open Arms of Minnesota last fall in Minneapolis. The nonprot delivers meals to criƟcally ill clients and sends out 382 gallons of milk to its clients each week.
to interact with others and share your dairy story. Be condent in yourself and show how passionate you are about the dairy community you know and love.” By the end of the summer, Connelly will be passing on her role to the next Princess Kay but she will not be retiring her advocacy role. Upon graduation, Connelly plans to pursue a career in an agriculture-related eld where she can continue advocating for agriculture and highlight the stories of farmers.
Despite her non-typical year serving as Princess Kay, Connelly is honored to be representing Minnesota dairy farmers this year. Her reign has proven that dairy’s message can be spread to many people in many different ways. “We now have the opportunity to nd new and creative ways to connect with others,” Connelly said. “We can reach more people than ever before. Take advantage of these opportunities to share your story.”
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Page 24 • Dairy Star - MN Dairy Princess Edition • Saturday, May 8, 2021
Organizations come together to fight hunger Olmsted County ADA creates March Milk Madness fundraiser By Krista Kuzma
krista.k@dairystar.com
ROCHESTER, Minn. – Rather than simply making a donation to its local food pantry, the Olmsted County American Dairy Association board decided to get others involved to make it fun. The board challenged other organizations to also gather funds during March to donate to Channel One Food Bank based in Rochester. They called it March Milk Madness with funds being used to purchase dairy products to those in need. Together, ve organizations – Olmsted County ADA, Minnesota Dairy Initiatives, One Gallon at a Time, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Rochester and Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Rochester – collected $15,875 to help ght local hunger. “For our county, this is a big deal to be involved in an almost $16,000 product giveaway. There’s denitely a need for dairy products,” said Kevin Connelly, Olmsted County ADA board member and dairy farmer from Byron. “This was a unique and interesting way to do it. We’ve got a good start if we want to do it again next year.” When the Olmsted County ADA approached Gloria Dei Lutheran Church to be involved in the fundraiser, Pastor Dave Berg had no hesitations. “It was a no-brainer,” he said. “To partner with Channel One and help them have access to dairy products is a continuation of the way we serve and love our neighbors.” To create more incentive for the congregation to raise money, the ADA asked Berg if he would be willing to milk a cow by hand if the church raised $2,000. “It was one part fun, but also we have a long history of being passionate about issues of housing and hunger, so this was completely in step with where we had put our energies for serving the community,” said Berg about his congregation. “And, it’s in step with the spirit of our place to gure out how to have fun doing it. All of it came together in a perfect way for us.”
KRISTA KUZMA/DAIRY STAR
Virginia MerriƩ (third from right), Channel One Regional Food Bank execuƟve director, is surrounded by representaƟves from the ve organizaƟons that raised money for the March Milk Madness fundraiser. The organizaƟons and representaƟves are – (from leŌ) Todd Speltz, Minnesota Dairy IniƟaƟves board member; JusƟn Chapman, pastor at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church; Joshua Poencet, operaƟons and outreach ministry director at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church; Carrie Ostman, Olmsted County American Dairy AssociaƟon board member standing in for a representaƟve from One Gallon at a Time; and Princess Kay Brenna Connelly, represenƟng Olmsted County American Dairy AssociaƟon, her home county. The church quickly surpassed its goal of $2,000 and went on to gather $7,245. “We’re in crisis right now,” Berg said. “Especially during the pandemic, food is scarce and people are needing it now more than ever. If we can help provide quality food for people, in this case in the form of dairy which is more expensive and harder to come by for people, the nutritional part of it alone hopefully will improve people’s lives.” At the end of March, Berg visited Connelly’s farm and milked a cow by hand. A video of the event was shown to the congregation during the virtual Easter service April 4. “I appreciated the opportunity to be a part of it,” Berg said. “I hope it raised awareness about food insecurity and the work of our dairy farmers. I think it often gets missed by most of us like myself who just go to the store to pick up milk and cheese. To have a connection to the source. I hope this built awareness on many fronts and maybe inspired many people to be a part of the solution.” Virginia Merritt, executive director
of Channel One is thankful for the fundraiser. “It helps us to serve our shoppers in the best possible way,” she said. “Our shoppers tell us they want those fresh foods. So, with a donation like this for dairy, which is one of the top ve things our clients want and need to be healthy, we can use our buying power to buy that in bulk and distribute it throughout the region.” Channel One covers 14 counties in southeast Minnesota. Before the pandemic, 1 in 11 Minnesotans was food insecure. Now that number is 1 in 9, Merritt said. “Just over a year ago, it felt like all of a sudden everything was closing, and we had to gure this out,” she said. “We can’t just close the food shelves. Hunger doesn’t go away. It gets worse with the job losses, loss of income and the parents having to leave the workforce to not have childcare or children going to school.” This left Channel One with a lot of work in a short period of time. “This time last year, all our food was being served in boxes,” Merritt
said. “We went from more of a retail presence, which is what we prefer so people can come and choose what they want – to having all the food in boxes for drive up pick up.” Since then, Channel One has learned a lot and people in the community have come together to help. “We’ve formed new partnerships that will last us outside the pandemic,” Merritt said. Full client-choice shopping reopened in October and the footprint of the food shelf expanded including additional cooler space from CARES Act funding. “We’re already back better,” Merritt said. “A lot of our partners are back better. We’re going to take what we’ve learned and change the way we serve people.” This is thanks in part for organizations like the Olmsted County ADA who recognize the importance of giving food to those in need through fundraisers like the March Milk Madness.
PHOTO SUBMITTED
KRISTA KUZMA/DAIRY STAR
Princess Kay of the Milky Way, Brenna Connelly, speaks to a television reporter before the check presentaƟon April 23 to Channel One Food Bank for the March Milk Madness fundraiser the Olmsted County American Dairy AssociaƟon organized.
Pastor Dave Berg from Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Rochester, Minnesota, prepares to milk a cow by hand in late March on Kevin Connelly’s dairy farm near Byron, Minnesota. Berg said he would milk a cow if his congregaƟon beat its $2,000 fundraiser goal for the March Milk Madness fundraiser organized by the Olmsted County American Dairy AssociaƟon.