A Step Closer To Princess Kay of the Milky Way

This is a fun, exciting and nail-biting weekend for dozens of young ladies from Minnesota. May 16-18 is the Dairy Princess Promotion Workshop in St. Joseph, MN. It is a weekend devoted to skill-building to share the message of dairy farmers commitment to providing safe, high-quality milk and dairy foods, including taking good care of our cows and the land. 

 

MarJenna McWilliam, 60th Princess Kay of the Milky Way

 

 

But how are these young women chosen to attend this workshop? Each of them are from a dairy farm family, or they, or their parents or guardian are employed by a dairy farm. They are selected as their county's dairy ambassadors, and then move on to the May Event in St. Joseph. This is also where the 12 finalists are selected  for the Minnesota dairy industry's goodwill ambassador, Princess Kay of the Milky Way. Candidates are judged on a written application, a short speech, a professional interview, and a mock media interview. Live updates of the finalist announcements will be posted to Princess Kay’s Facebook page during the luncheon. On Twitter, updates can be obtained by following the hashtag #MNPrincessKay.

 

After a busy summer of June Dairy Month promotions, parades, and County Fairs, the 12 finalists come together again in August for more judging. Princess Kay is then crowned the night before the Minnesota State Fair opens and serves as the dairy industry’s goodwill ambassador for a year, helping people understand the dedication of dairy farmers to wholesome and nutritious food, and the way milk is produced. Dairy farmers sponsor the dairy princess program through Midwest Dairy Association.

 

 MarJenna McWilliam and her finished butterhead

All 12 of the Princess Kay finalists have their likeness carved in butter during the Minnesota State Fair and make public appearances during the Fair’s 12-day run.

 

Exhausting? You bet! Worth it? Absolutely!

We at Bremer Farms are proud to support this program and anxiously look forward to the announcement of the finalists, and the crowning of our 61st Princess Kay of the Milky Way.

  

 

Dear Diary, My State Of A-Fairs

 Friday, August 23, 2013

Dear Diary, 

Today was my first visit, for this year, to the Minnesota State Fair. As in years past, we drove to the local Park-n-Ride to catch the bus to take us to the fair. Since I'm not a fan of driving in traffic, nor do I get a thrill out of driving around the grounds looking for a parking spot, riding the bus is a blessing from above! Today I am joined by daughter Sara. 

Our day began with me judging 4-H demonstrations. I learned about pigeons, rabbits and chickens by some very knowledgeable 4-H'ers. After completing my judging session, it was time to hit our usual first stop, the butter head booth.

Princess Kay is always carved on the first day of the fair, so she is finished.

Each 90 pound block of butter waits in the rotating cooler to become a likeness of one of the Princess Kay finalists.

Princess Kay finalist Alydia Lee visits with a fair-goer while taking a break from the butter booth; dressed comfortably for the 40 degree temps in the booth, but pretty toasty for an 89 degree day outside the cooler.

Our friends Molly and Andy were at the fair too. Their son Finn especially loved the cows in the Miracle Of Birth Center. I believe a trip to our farm is coming soon so Finn can continue honing his skills on mooing.

I never could pass up a photo opportunity with a cow! You may not be able to take a cow home with you, but the good news is milk comes to your grocery store within 2 days of leaving our farm. So leave the cow-care to us, and enjoy the freshness of dairy.

 

 

I'll be back to demonstration judge again on Sunday. Looking forward to new adventures. Until then, good night diary.

Jan