Q And A With Princess Kay: Meet Rebekka Paskewitz

TODD COUNTY, MN — Every year on the night before the start of the Minnesota State Fair, a new dairy princess is crowned. This year's princess is Rebekka Paskewitz, a 20-year-old college student from Browerville, Minnesota.

Paskewitz is the 65th Princess Kay of the Milky Way.

Close to 100 young women from across Minnesota are crowned county dairy princesses annually. Dairy princesses are chosen on the basis of their communication skills, personality, general knowledge of the dairy community, and their commitment to the promotion of the dairy industry.

The Midwest Dairy Association sponsors the Princess Kay program, which is funded by dairy farmers through their promotion checkoff.

Minnesota's dairy princesses are daughters of dairy farmers, employees of dairy farms, or daughters of dairy farm employees. The program gives them the opportunity to represent the lifestyle and community in which they were raised.

This week, Paskewitz answered a few questions from Patch about what she loves (and doesn't love) about dairy farming, what else she's passionate about, and why she aspired to become a dairy princess:

What are some common misconceptions about dairy farming?

While I was at the Minnesota State Fair, my favorite trivia questions to ask fairgoers was, “What percent of farms are family owned?” The most common answer was less than 50 percent. I was always eager to share that 98 percent of farms are family-owned.

Dairy farms come in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes one family owns a farm and sometimes multiple families work together on a farm. One thing that every farm has in common is the high standards set in caring for our animals, producing foods responsibly, and supporting our communities on and off the farm.

While listening to one of my favorite authors, I learned that “perception is reality.” Each of us has the ability to view dairy farming as we choose. As a spokesperson for dairy farmers, I hope to transparently share dairy farming with those I meet.

If there is one thing I could share to shift a common perception of dairy farming, it would be that farmers care. No matter the farm, we are all committed to the same end goals.

What do you most enjoy about dairy farming?

I love that dairy farming requires a team. People of all backgrounds and talents comprise the dairy community and we need each of those players to form our team.

I’m not a veterinarian or financial expert, but I can and proudly do communicate dairy with others. Maybe you are a dairy farmer, seed salesman, or someone who enjoys putting extra cheese on your take-and-bake pizza. I do too!

Dairy involves all of us, and that’s one thing I love about what I do. Having such a diverse team within the dairy community allows us to improve in every area of what we do, and it’s also so much more than that. It provides a wide base of support and encouragement for one another.

My uncle told me how nice it is to have other farmers, milk truck drivers, and even our church family, who all experience dairy in different ways. If he ever needs a break from the field, there is always a friend ready to meet for a treat and some laughs at the local ice cream shop. If he ever has a tough month on the farm, the dairy farmer he met at a farming conference is a phone-call away, and most-likely undergoing some of the same struggles.

What I enjoy most is simple, yet so important - in dairy, we are a team.

What is your least favorite part of dairy farming?

I love Minnesota but working in the cold is not always something I love. Dairy farming doesn’t stop when the temperature drops or a March blizzard sets in. Every day of the year, we care for our animals with the same effort and purpose. Having a family to work with also helps!

I have recruited my sisters multiple times to finish chores quickly on a cold morning before coming in to mom’s homemade hot chocolate. Like any career, there are certain responsibilities we like better than others. But at the end of the day, dairy farmers love what they do.

What motivated you to compete for Princess Kay?

I grew up watching the Princess Kay of the Milky Way Coronation and thinking it was simply magical. Being crowned as Princess Kay became a childhood dream as I watched my cousin Emily serve as a finalist. A few years later, competing for Princess Kay turned into a goal as I watched my cousin Sarah achieve her own goal of being on that stage. Though this was my spark of interest in Princess Kay, my motivation ended up being so much more.

The dairy farm wasn’t outside my front door growing up, but it was right down the road. My uncles both owned dairy farms, which stemmed from the family farm my grandpa started. I remember how special it felt as a kid to have dairy farming in my family. From farm chore intermissions on Christmas Eve to racing around the barn on a massive Easter Egg hunt, the farm strengthened our love, support, and of course fun as a family.

I started spending more time on the farm when I trained my first show calf, Madison. I spent time learning from my cousins as we prepared our calves and loved being a part of the family tradition.

When I interviewed for Princess Kay of the Milky Way, I actually placed photos in my journal of my grandpa, dad, and cousins helping me and Madison at our first county fair. It’s one more reminder that my journey as Princess Kay started with and will always include my family.

Eventually, I found my place feeding calves on the farm after school. From the beginning of high school through my first year in college, I spent as much time as I could on the farm. I later started helping a farm with their community outreach. I learned that my niche was sharing our dairy farm with other people. Through tours, school visits, and social media, I was able to take dairy off the farm, and share every piece of it with other people.

I knew that Princess Kay of the Milky Way was aimed at doing just that, which motivated me more than ever, to pursue the opportunity. Between my spark for the Princess Kay tradition and my motivation found on and off our family farm, I knew Princess Kay was a dream worth chasing.

What does it mean to serve as the "official goodwill ambassador" for the more than 3,000 dairy farm families in Minnesota?

Serving as the official goodwill ambassador for Minnesota’s dairy farmers is an honor. Princess Kay of the Milky Way is a 65-year tradition focused on its farmers.

From my family’s farm to Minnesota’s family of farms, we have worked hard to uphold the tradition of responsibly-produced, nutrient-rich foods. Over the next year, I will be able to form connections that share this tradition with farmers and their communities. To say it simply, I feel humbled to have been chosen for this unique responsibility.

It’s a dream I have always had and a goal I’ve worked hard to experience. But more than that, Princess Kay is the world-renown dairy spokesperson that ensures outreach and prosperity for Minnesota’s dairy family. From the moment that crown touched my head, I’ve been sure that nothing could be better than this.

During your year-long reign as Princess Kay, what are some of the ways you will try to connect consumers to Minnesota's dairy farm families?

I have always felt at home in dairy, and I hope that throughout this year, I can welcome others into our community. As the dairy community grows and changes, it is more important than ever to include consumers of all ages on our dairy team. Over the next year, I am excited to be involved in consumer-based events, specifically with Fuel Up to Play 60 in coordination with the Minnesota Vikings, parent groups, and K-12 school visits.

At the Minnesota State Fair, I was able to share the values, experiences, and goals of Minnesota dairy farmers. I enjoyed meeting countless consumers and having heart-filled conversations with dairy farmers from Minnesota, the surrounding states, and even Norway and France.

While I engage in conversations with students, consumers, producers, and more, in the coming months, I look forward to sharing the common goals we have in providing healthy and sustainable foods that add to our experiences, no matter where we sit on the dairy team.

If there is ever an opportunity for Princess Kay of the Milky Way to expand dairy outreach or share dairy with others, I'd encourage you to request my participation here.

To continue growing the outreach of Princess Kay of the Milky Way, I also hope to build upon our existing social media platforms through new content based on stories, recipes, and smiles founded in dairy. I would encourage you to connect with the Princess Kay of the Milky Way Facebook page and Instagram to add more dairy goodness in your social network.

Do you have specific career goals for after college?

I do! As a very futuristic young person, I find myself looking at where I will be in five, ten, and even fifty years down the road. After college, I hope to teach high school agriculture in a rural Minnesota community. My dream further down the road is to expand my career in agricultural education to the community through direct farm and food experiences. I think it would be so fun and beneficial for consumers and producers alike to connect and explore agriculture and food together.

No matter where I land, you can be sure I will carry the skill and passion of “AGvocacy” with me.

What are some things outside of dairy farming that you're passionate about?

Christ, Coffee, and Crocs. Outside of road trips, tractor restoration, and public speaking, I am extremely passionate about the role my faith, espresso, and Minnesotan things (like crocs) play in my life.

I strongly believe that my faith in God is what establishes my character. I aim to be a positive, encouraging, and loving leader. My faith allows me to let go of my fears, press on through hard times, and count my blessings with peace and a happy heart.

Every day I can be found with a seasonal coffee and extra espresso. I’ve grown to love not only coffee, but the powerful gesture it provides in my life. I often find myself suggesting, “let’s grab coffee and catch up soon.” It’s a solid connection point, and I love nothing more than a Caribou Coffee Pumpkin Latte and a second-to-none conversation.

Last but not least, crocs. As a Minnesotan going to college in South Dakota, I’ve learned quickly that as soon as you slide into a pair of crocs, people assume you’re from Minnesota. Crocs are a way for me to express how much I love Minnesota. My crocs tag along with me for the best Minnesotan adventures.

Some of my favorite Minnesota adventures include jumping in as many of our 10,000 lakes as possible, chopping firewood with my family, or adding socks to my crocs on a typical snowy January day.

I read that you’re from Browerville. In January, Patriots QB Tom Brady said he has family in Browerville, and he used to help his grandpa milk cows on his dairy farm there. Have you met any of Brady’s family?

Unfortunately, I have not. I have heard a lot about Tom Brady’s family nearby, and hope that over the next year, I can connect with them through this unique role.

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William Bornhoft is Patch's Minnesota editor. Reach him at William.Bornhoft@Patch.com

Photo credit: Matt Addington, used with permission