What Happens To All That Butter?

Flashback to late August 2017 at the Minnesota State Fair. 

If you were one of the thousands of people who stopped by the Dairy Building to see the butter sculptures, you probably asked this question, "What happens to all that butter after the Fair?" 

2017 Butter Sculptures of Princess Kay and the finalists

M.A. Rosko of Fox9 Television has wanted that answer for years, so this week she met up with Princess Kay of the Milky Way finalist Margaret Socha, to get an answer to her question. 

Margaret and M.A.

Margaret began by explaining that after sharing 1 pound packages of her sculpture with supportive friends and family, much of the 90 pound butter sculpture was donated to her local FFA chapter for their annual sweet corn feed. The hardest part was making the first cut, and Margaret admits that it may be a long time before the face will be used.

Making the first cut was the hardest.

In the meantime, much of the butter is finding its way into baked items including the cookies that Margaret will be sending to her cousin in the Army, to share with his unit when deployed.

Warm cookies and cold milk. Who can resist?

You can view the "What happens to all that butter" episode at the link below. And Margaret was willing to share her cookie recipe too! So preheat the oven,  pour a  cold  glass of  milk and enjoy the show!

What Happens To Dairy Princess Butter Heads After The Fair? Video

Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 1/4 cup  flour

1  tsp baking soda

1 cup butter, softened

1/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1 3.4 ounce package instant vanilla pudding mix

2 eggs

1 12 ounce bag chocolate chips

Cream butter. Add  sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, pudding mix, and eggs. Mix flour and baking soda and add to above ingredients. Stir in chocolate chips. Bake on parchment paper for 10 minutes at 375 degrees.

'Atta Boy Dairy Farmers!

Don't we all appreciate a pat on the back once in a while?

 Isn't it exciting when your boss says, "Great job!" Or how about "Thanks Mom, dinner was great!" from your kids. We all like to be thanked and appreciated, and recently one of our local bankers gave dairy farmers an 'atta boy!

Frandsen Bank & Trust in Hastings, Minnesota said "Thank you dairy farmers" in celebration of June Dairy Month.  They realize the impact dairy farmers have on our community. 

Dairy farmers purchase machinery, trucks, fuel, and more from local companies. This creates jobs and produces revenue for our area. Dairy farming requires a large investment in land, buildings, equipment, and feed for the animals, so many farmers know their banker very well  :)

Only 2% of the United States population has a connection to farming, so events like this are important for folks to connect with the agriculture community. Thanks to Laura Stiles, local dairy princess, for greeting visitors and treating them to ice cream. Also, thanks to Sorg Farms for bringing Norman (the calf) to visit. And a HUGE thanks to Frandsen Bank!

P Is For Princess

It's June Dairy Month! The barn doors are open, 

so join me on my daily A to Z journey 

to learn more about dairy. 

  P Is For Princess

Hello readers, I am Gabriella Sorg the daughter of a dairy farmer, a dairy princess, and I just so happen to be neighbors with the Bremer family! I am excited to have this opportunity to share with you my experiences as dairy princess. 

 In order to become a dairy princess you have to have a connection to dairy farming. In my case I have loved growing up on my family’s dairy and diversified crop farm in Hastings, Minnesota. We farm on the same land my great-great grandfather began farming on in 1896 located right above the Mississippi River Valley. Currently, we milk 300 Holstein cows three times a day. We also raise our heifer calves and feed out our Holstein steers. In addition to raising livestock, we grow corn, soybeans and alfalfa. All of this makes Sorg Farms a busy place 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This gives me plenty of opportunities to help with chores! My favorites include calf chores of course, and to many people’s surprise gopher trapping! I still find the calves just as fun after 17 years, and love spending some high quality thinking time out in the fields.

I was crowned a Dakota County Dairy Princess near the end of April. A couple of weeks into May as my high school classmates were anticipating graduation I was excited about a different event. The Dairy Princess Leadership and Promotion Event in St. Cloud, Minnesota which doubles as the selection of the 12 finalists for Princess Kay of Milky Way. It was my first time attending “May Event” so along with my excitement came a little bit of nerves. The selection process includes a written application, a professional interview, a speech, and a mock media interview. I thoroughly enjoyed my time participating in workshops and to my surprise even some of the judging! I was reminded over and over again the dairy community is truly an extraordinary one as I received support and encouragement from other princesses, chaperones, and judges throughout the whole weekend. To top off my already educational and thrilling weekend I was named as one of the 12 Princess Kay finalists! This means you will be able to look for my face carved in 90 pounds of butter at the Minnesota State Fair this summer.

Aside from the State Fair I have many other events to look forward to this summer. As a county dairy princess I get to spend time promoting dairy and sharing the dairy farm story throughout Dakota County. I have made visits to elementary classrooms to share with students the importance of getting their three servings of dairy each day and to answer questions they had about dairy farming. My two fellow Dakota County Dairy Princesses and I will continue to make appearances throughout the summer at parades and other community events.

I am grateful for the opportunities I have as a dairy princess. Not only do I get to share my passion with members of the community, but I get to serve the dairy community that has had a tremendous impact on my life. Dairy farming will continue to be part of my life as I pursue an agricultural career at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. Happy June Dairy Month!

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.

  

 

I'm Having An A-FAIR!

My Jersey heifer Bonnie and I at the Washington County Fair - 1968

True confessions...I'm having an A-FAIR! It's a love A-FAIR with County Fairs! I think I have my parents to blame for this County Fair addiction. My mom and dad were superintendents of various departments at the Washington County Fair ever since I was a baby. Dad served as the chairman of the Fair Board for many years too. Washington County is also where I spent my 11 year 4-H career. After marrying John, my love A-Fair continued in Dakota County where Sara and Michael spent their many 4-H years and I served as a 4-H Leader. For nearly 30 years I have been staying connected to County Fairs by "working" as a judge for 4-H and open class exhibits and demonstrations at several fairs. There is too much to enjoy to refer to this as "work". I love staying connected to 4-H and County Fairs! Another true confession... I have passed on my addiction to Sara and Michael, as they also judge at County Fairs. 

After judging this week, I spent some time seeing some of my favorite sites at the Dakota County A-FAIR.

Dakota County Dairy Princesses Janna, Maggie, Beth

Ryan H. and his 4-H beef

Hannah L. and Abigail G. Youth-In-Action 4-H demonstration

In just 2 weeks I will begin judging 4-H demonstrations at the State Fair! True confessions...I have a love A-Fair with the Minnesota State Fair Too!

Shakes and Floats Without The Root Beer

HCTV Staff  (My son, Michael is holding the red bindle stick)

 Shakes and Floats!

I love a parade! I may be a bit bias, but I think Hastings Rivertown Days has one of the best! Hastings is located on the banks of the "Mighty Mississippi" so we embrace the river! Our three day community festival is held the 3rd weekend of July each year. The weekend is filled with shows, dances, crafts, a carnival and so much more, but my favorite is the parade.

My daughter Sara helps too.

Our family has helped with the Hastings Community TV float for the last three years, (since my son started working there). Building the float is almost as exciting as being in the parade. It is fun to watch the parade viewers wave at the cameras on the float, to see themselves on TV. We have a lot of "hams" in Hastings!

Klover Klub 4-H helps distribute milkshakes

I also have another favorite in the parade. It's the County Dairy Princesses. Each year our three princesses walk with the Hastings Co-op Creamery. Together with Klover Klub 4-H, they hand out hundreds of milkshakes to the spectators that are eager to enjoy a cold, tasty treat while they watch the parade. Chocolate shakes and a parade! So sweet!

Dakota County Dairy Princesses

Janna Sorg and Beth Donally.

Not pictured Maggie Stiles.

60 Promising Princesses

This is a fun, exciting and nail-biting weekend for 60 young ladies from Minnesota! May 18-20 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 products, including taking good care of our cows and the land. 

But how are these 60 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 Princesses, 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.  

After a busy summer of June Dairy Month promotions, parades, and County Fairs, the 12 finalists come together again in August for more judging. Our 59th Princess Kay of the Milky Way is then crowned the night before the Minnesota State Fair. Exhausting? You bet! Worth it? Absolutely!

Our Princess, Sara

 Seven years ago, my daughter Sara was one of the 12 finalists named at the May Promotion Event. I remember sitting at the banquet listening to the clues about the next finalist before her name was revealed.  I thought, wow, she sounds like a well-rounded, busy gal." Ladies and gentlemen, from Dakota County, Sara." Yes, like a good mom I cried, and cried. I always knew she was worthy of representing the Dairy Industry, but now everyone knew.

You can learn the names of this years lucky finalists by going to Princess Kay's Facebook page or on Twitter by using the hashtag #MNPrincessKay. Finalists will also be posted at Midwest Dairy.