Congratulations to Cassandra Krull, of Lake Mills, Wis. – the new National Jersey Queen!
Cassy will represent Jersey breeders for the next year with her participation in events such as the Annual Meeting of the American Jersey Cattle Association, World Dairy Expo and The 60th All American Jersey Shows & Sales.
The National Jersey Queen contest lasted two days with 10 outstanding young women from across the country competing for the coveted crown. Participants had to pass a general dairy knowledge test, were interviewed by a panel of judges, and prepared a two-minute video presentation that demonstrated their ability to represent the Jersey breed through public speaking.
On the tanbark trail, in the classroom, in 4-H and FFA and in her community, Cassy is a tireless promoter for the dairy industry and agriculture. These activities were recognized by a top 10 ranking in the 2010 National Jersey Youth Achievement Contest, being selected for the 2010 Garland Bastin-NAILE Scholarship, and her selection to the second Jersey Youth Academy this past July. She was an honor roll student all through high school, and is a freshman at Allen County Community College in Iola, Kansas.
Cassie Chittenden, Schodack Landing, N.Y., was named first alternate in the contest. Cassie is a fourth-generation Jersey breeder with numerous accomplishments to her credit. She received third place in the 2010 National Jersey Youth Achievement Contest, a third award in the National Jersey Youth Production Contest, and showed the winner of the Sunbow Farms Trophy for high producing cow of the 2011 All American Junior Jersey Show. A sophomore at Cornell University, Cassie was selected for Jersey Youth Academy’s inaugural class in 2009.
Kelli Carstensen, Petaluma, Calif., was the second alternate. She ranked fourth in the 2010 National Jersey Youth Achievement Contest and received the Jack C. Nisbet Memorial Scholarship. She is a junior at California Polytechnic State University, majoring in dairy science with a minor in agricultural business. After graduation, she plans to pursue a career in dairy cattle genetics or marketing, or continue on to law school to become an agricultural lawyer. Kelli was a member of the second class of Jersey Youth Academy.
The Queen and her court presented awards for the National Jersey Jug Futurity and The 59th All American Jersey Show, plus assisted with the clerking of The All American Jersey Sale.
The Charlene Nardone National Jersey Queen Fund provided scholarships of $500, $300 and $200 to the Queen and two alternates.