Congratulations to the twelve young ladies named as finalists in the 57th Princess Kay of the Milky Way! Good luck to each of you!
The contestants’ names were announced at the conclusion of a statewide workshop for about 90 young women who live or work on dairy farms and serve as county dairy princesses. Seventy-three of them completed judging for the finalist positions, going through a personal interview and a mock media interview, and presenting a prepared speech.
Being a Princess Kay finalist means the princess will have her likeness carved in butter during the Minnesota State Fair, and participate in the Princess Kay contest. Princess Kay is crowned at the State Fair Band Shell the night before the fair opens, and is the first of the 12 to be sculpted.
The dairy princess program is sponsored by Minnesota’s dairy farmers through Midwest Dairy Association’s Minnesota Division. The current Princess Kay is Elizabeth Olson of Hutchinson in McLeod County.
The finalists are:
* Karen Anderson, 20, McLeod County, daughter of David and Donna Anderson of Lester Prairie;
* Michaela Bengtson, 18, Kandiyohi County, daughter of Jerome and Kristine Bengtson of Kandiyohi;
* Kristin Boyum, 19, West Otter Tail County, daughter of Al and Jean Boyum of Battle Lake;
* Joylynn Hadrich, 19, Stearns County, daughter of Dale and Corrine Hadrich of Avon;
* Megan Herberg, 21, Nicollet County, daughter of Steven and Kathy Herberg of St. Peter;
* Katherine Holdvogt, 18, Stearns County, daughter of Alvin and Bernie Holdvogt of Freeport;
* Labecca Johnson, 19, Houston County, daughter of Richard and Linda Johnson of LaCrescent;
* Kathleen Miron, 19, Washington County, daughter of Fran and Mary Ann Miron of Hugo;
* Brittany Moorse, 20, Lyon County, daughter of Greg and Becky Moorse of Minneota;
* Angela Sellner, 19, Brown County, daughter of David and MaDonna Sellner of Sleepy Eye;
* Ashley Swenson, 18, Nicollet County, daughter of Paul and Cindy Swenson of Nicollet; and
* Kelsie Trosen, 20, Wadena County, daughter of Allen and Karen Trosen of Verndale.
Source: Midwest Dairy Association