Princess Kay Of The Milky Way: 19-Year-Old U Of M Student Crowned

Minnesota has a new princess. Emily Annexstad, a 19-year-old college student from St. Peter, Minnesota, representing Nicollet County, was crowned the 64th Princess Kay of the Milky Way in an evening ceremony at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds Wednesday.

Annexstad will serve as the official goodwill ambassador for more than 3,000 Minnesota dairy farm families. She is the daughter of Rolf and Jean Annexstad, and attends the University of Minnesota, where she is pursuing degrees in animal science and agricultural communications and marketing.

Princess Kay candidates are judged on their general knowledge of the dairy industry, communication skills and enthusiasm for dairy. Midwest Dairy Association sponsors the Princess Kay program, which is funded by dairy farmers through their promotion checkoff.

Twelve county dairy princesses from throughout Minnesota competed for the Princess Kay of the Milky Way title. Jessaca Zuidema of Blomkest, representing Kandiyohi County, and Margaret Socha of Corcoran, representing Wright County, were selected as runners-up.

Quinci Scherber of Rogers, representing Hennepin County was named Miss Congeniality. Annexstad and Zuidema were awarded scholarships, along with Samantha Traxler of Le Center, representing Le Sueur County.

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Throughout her yearlong reign as Princess Kay of the Milky Way, Annexstad will make public appearances to help connect consumers to Minnesota's dairy farm families. She will also promote the Fuel Up to Play 60 program, through which she encourages students to get 60 minutes of physical activity each day and eat a healthy diet that includes three servings of dairy, according to a news release.

Also read: 2017 Minnesota State Fair: Bargains, Ways To Save, Discounts

Annexstad's first official duty as Princess Kay will be to sit in a rotating cooler in the Dairy Building (located at the corner of Judson Avenue and Underwood Street) for nearly six hours to have her likeness sculpted in a 90-pound block of butter on the opening day of the Minnesota State Fair – Thursday, Aug. 24.

This year marks butter sculptor Linda Christensen's 46th year carving the Princess Kay of the Milky Way winner and finalists at the Minnesota State Fair. Other finalists are scheduled to have their likenesses sculpted as follows:

• Friday, Aug. 25: Margaret Socha, Corcoran, representing Wright County;
• Saturday, Aug. 26: Abby Hopp, Chatfield, representing Fillmore County;
• Sunday, Aug. 27: Rebecca Schubert, Rice, representing Benton County;
• Monday, Aug. 28: Anna Broll, Chaska, representing Carver County;
• Tuesday, Aug. 29: Samantha Traxler, Le Center, representing Le Sueur County;
• Wednesday, Aug. 30: Madelin Lindahl, Lindstrom, representing Chisago County;
• Thursday, Aug. 31: Quinci Scherber, Rogers, representing Hennepin County;
• Friday, Sept. 1: Ashley Warren, Watkins, representing Meeker County;
• Saturday, Sept. 2: Jessaca Zuidema, Blomkest, representing Kandiyohi County;
• Sunday, Sept. 3: Shelby Campbell, Maple Lake, representing Wright County; and
• Monday, Sept. 4: Gina Holdvogt, New Munich, representing Stearns County.

Throughout the fair, Princess Kay and the other finalists will make appearances near the Butter Sculpture Booth in the Dairy Building, at the Moo Booth in the Dairy Barn and onstage at the Miracle of Birth Center.

Photo credit: Matt Addington