Q & A: Minnesota's New Dairy Princess Spent Snow Days In The Barn

MINNEAPOLIS, 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 Emily Annexstad, a 19-year-old college student from St. Peter. Annexstad came to the fairgrounds in August representing Nicollet County and left as the 64th Princess Kay of the Milky Way.

Close to 100 young women from across Minnesota are crowned county dairy princesses annually. Princess Kay finalists are then selected among the state's county princesses.

Dairy princesses are choosen 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.

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As Princess Kay for a year, Annexstad will serve as the official goodwill ambassador for more than 3,000 Minnesota dairy farm families. On top of that, she currently attends the University of Minnesota, where she is pursuing degrees in animal science, agricultural communications, and marketing.

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.

This week, Annexstad answered a few questions from Patch about her childhood, what she loves about dairy farming, and why she aspired to represent 3,000 dairy farm families in Minnesota:

I read that the Annexstad Family Farm was the 2014 Nicollet County Farm Family of the year. Did you grow up on that farm?

Yes, that is my farm. I am the third generation on my family’s farm, and grew up working
alongside with my grandparents, parents, uncles, and younger brothers.

How many acres is the Annexstad Family Farm?

We have 500 acres of corn and alfalfa for feed for our cows and soybeans and peas for
human consumption.

How did your interest in dairy farming begin?

My interest in the dairy community stemmed from my experiences growing up on my
family’s farm. Participating in other dairy related activities through 4-H and FFA such as showing
and dairy judging also increased my knowledge and interest in dairy.

What do you most enjoy about dairy farming?

The part I enjoy most about farming is that no two days on the farm are the same. I am
thankful that I grew up on a dairy farm, because I had no reason to be bored as a child. On snow days, while most of my classmates slept in, my brothers and I spent our day off of school the day in the barn, making sure our cows were warm, dry and comfortable.

What is your least favorite part of dairy farming?

Just like any job, there are challenging days on the farm. It is not always easy to spend
long days outside when it is -20 below or 100 degrees outside. But it is always worth it at the end of the day, when you see a calf grow into a cow or enjoy a cold glass of milk that you helped to put on the table.

What motivated you to compete for Princess Kay?

Experiencing first hand the dedication that Minnesota’s dairy farmers have for caring for
their cows and their land motivates me in many aspects of my life. I love the dairy community and the people in it, and I have always dreamed of being able to use my talents to share this with others.

How many different levels of competition did you have to go through before the crowning on
Aug. 23?

I was selected as one of the 12 Princess Kay finalists this past May, after a judging process at the Dairy Princess Leadership and Promotion Event. In August, the twelve of us went through an additional judging process to select the next Princess Kay.

The judging process involved everything from a written application, to a speech, to a mock media interview. Prior to this, I served as a county dairy ambassador for two years and a county dairy princess for one year.

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

The dairy community is one that is hard working and welcoming, and I am so grateful I
have the opportunity to represent them. Serving as the goodwill ambassador for Minnesota
dairy farm families is a humbling experience.

I am excited for the opportunity to share the story of what my family and I do on our farm all year long!

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?

Throughout the year, I will have the opportunity to engage with the public right on the
farm during events such as Dairy Days or Breakfasts on the farm.

I will also be able to share dairy farmer’s stories through classroom visits, social media, and conversations.

How can consumers in the Twin Cities support dairy farmers?

Consumers in the Twin Cities can support dairy farmers by getting their dairy 3 for me
every day. Milk, cheese, and yogurt are a powerhouse of essential nutrients, and are easy and
cost effective to incorporate into your diet.

They can also connect with the dairy community by following Midwest Dairy on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter and checking out Midwest Dairy’s website.

Do you have any special events planned for when the Super Bowl is played in Minneapolis in February 2018?

The Midwest Dairy Council is providing grants for Super School Breakfasts in 52
different communities throughout Minnesota. This was started in February of last year, as a
countdown to the 2018 Super Bowl.

Super School Breakfasts help fuel kids to stay active and have a successful school day.

I read you are pursuing degrees in animal science and agricultural communications and marketing at the University of Minnesota. How did you decide on those majors?

I find many different aspects of agriculture interesting. On the farm, I always enjoy
talking to our veterinarian and our feed nutritionists, who help keep our cows healthy.

I also enjoy reading agricultural publications and serving as a dairy princess. Animal science and
agricultural communications and marketing help me to learn more about all of these interests.

Do you have specific career goals for after college?

Although I do not have a specific career in mind, I do know that I want to work in the
dairy community after college.

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

Outside of all things dairy I enjoy playing and watching sports, completing DIY projects, and spending time with family and friends.

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

Photo credit: Matt Addington, used with permission