Dairy St rMay 14, 2011

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introducing your County Dairy Princesses For 2011...

Special Edition

By Krista M. SheehanStaff writer

HUGO, Minn. – During the 12 days of the 2010 Minnesota State Fair, the newly crowned Princess Kay, Katie Miron, sat down on the floor of the dairy building next to the butter booth to talk with a family while they enjoyed their treats from the Dairy Goodness Bar. “The mother couldn’t be-lieve I was sitting on the floor in my dress and sash to take the time to talk with her family. To me it was no big deal,” said 20-year-old Miron from Hugo, Minn. “The biggest thing that moment taught me … is that if I can reach one person and make an impact on that one person’s life that day, my work is worth it.” Miron has carried that memory with her throughout her reign as the 57th Princess Kay of the Milky Way. Since be-ing crowned last August, Miron said the role of Princess Kay has been busy, memorable, inspiring and humbling.

Making an impact on others

Miron reflects on role as 57th Princess Kay of the Milky Way “My year has been full of ups and downs, but as a whole I can’t describe how great it is to have the opportunity to rep-resent dairy farmers in Minne-sota,” said Miron, the daughter of dairy farmers, Fran and Mary Ann Miron. Since starting her reign at the state fair, Miron has been busy with appearances, such as visiting with students, speaking at conventions and delivering Dominos pizza during Timber-wolves games to fans at their home with the Timberwolves’ mascot, Crunch. Elementary schools have been her favorite visits. “They (the students) really listen and take my messages in,” Miron said. “They are so excited, and their excitement is contagious. I don’t feel drained when leaving a school event. I feel ready for the next one.” School visits are a big re-sponsibility for Miron, who en-courages kids to drink milk and eat three servings of dairy each day in order to be healthy. “When I visit schools it

makes me appreciate the trust dairy farmers put in me. I hope I make them proud,” she said. Miron is able to interact with these dairy producers when she speaks at events and confer-ences. “It’s great to get back to talk to and connect with the produc-ers across the state to see what’s happening on their farms,” she said. During events such as the state FFA convention and the Minnesota Junior All-Breeds Convention, Miron is able to speak with farm kids. “To see (farm) kids of all ages working together and older kids mentoring the younger one was great,” Miron said about attending the Minnesota Junior All-Breeds Convention. “It dem-onstrates … we’re all connected by one common factor, by the same priorities and core values. We understand each other.” That understanding is part of the reason why she is excited about the May Event. “When I was a finalist it was like meeting best friends I never knew I had. We had a common connection,” she said. When the 12 Princess Kay finalists are announced, Miron said she’ll be happy to meet them. “More than making me sad, I’ll be really excited there are 12 energetic young women who will each do a wonderful job representing Minnesota’s dairy industry,” Miron said. During her last few months as Princess Kay, Miron is look-ing forward to June dairy month with grocery store promotions, breakfast on the farms and other large events. “I’m definitely ready for June. I’m looking forward to dedicating my time to travel-ing around to … bring my mes-sage of the dairy industry to the state,” Miron said.

Before the end of her reign in August, Miron plans to have a Farm-City day at her farm, a community celebration where she will use her butter head for the sweet corn meal. Although Miron said crowning the next Princess Kay this August will be bittersweet, she’s excited to see who will be the next one in the role. For the next Princess Kay, Miron gives some advice received from her sister, Ann. “Take a deep breath, step back, reflect upon and appreci-ate the opportunity you’ve been given. It’s so simple, but it’s so important because it’s easy to get caught up in the busyness of everything,” Miron said. After her reign is over, Miron will still keep a busy schedule. This fall, Miron will be a junior at the University of Min-

nesota-Twin Cities where she is majoring in agricultural educa-tion. “I want to fill my plate with extra curricular activities I wasn’t able to do this year,” Miron said. She’ll also be able to spend more time helping with chores on her home farm. “I think my dad and brother will appreciate that,” she said. As the volunteer coordina-tor of the All-You-Can-Drink milk stand, all 12 days of the state fair will also be in Miron’s schedule. Although she won’t be wearing her crown and sash as Princess Kay, Miron will still be promoting the dairy industry and talking with consumers after her reign. Maybe she’ll be able to sit down on the floor of the dairy building again to talk to a family about the dairy industry.

Photo SubmittedKatie Miron has been serving as the 57th Princess Kay of the Milky Way since last August when she was crowned the night before the opening of the state fair. Miron said she is looking forward to the last few months of her reign as Prin-cess Kay, especially June Dairy Month.

Photo SubmittedPrincess Kay Katie Miron sat with students during lunch on April 29 at Bamber Valley Elementary School in Rochester, Minn., where she spoke at an assembly earlier in the day. Miron said elementary school visits have been her favorite appearances as Princess Kay.

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Parents: Albin and Carol WarlingTown: Audubon What is your current status? I am currently at-tending Minnesota State Community and Technical College in Detroit Lakes with a major in business management/ownership. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your fu-ture plans. I enjoy work-ing on my family’s century old dairy farm. We milk 50 cows in a double-7 herring-bone milking parlor. I have future plans to either work on or own a dairy farm after I graduate from college. My involvement on the farm includes taking care of the calves and milking the cows. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audi-ence. I would choose milk for the dairy product, and I would promote it to elementary students. I would inform them how milk helped build strong bones in me, and that it helps to keep me healthy. I would show them that milk helps to soften a hard cookie, too. What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? I believe that the biggest concern in the dairy industry is the bad publicity that is sent out through the media. I would answer questions about this by informing them that a dairy farmer cares about the land, animals and community because they understand the land pro-vides for us, so we need to provide for it. Animals depend on the farmers for survival, just as the farmer depends on the animals. Farmers also care about the community be-cause of the fact that communities depend on farmers for survival, and farmers also depend on their communities as consumers of their products.

room. I would present this product by saying how beneficial and nutritious this dairy product is. It has many essential vitamins in it, and it helps build strong bones and minds. I would also bring in samples, not just of white milk but also different flavors that the class could enjoy. Showing a young audience how important dairy products are in their diet is an important topic for me. What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you ad-dress the public when they ask about these topics? One of the biggest concerns on the farm that I have witnessed for some time now is a fluctuating income. You never know how the prices are going to be from day to day and whether this next check will help pay the bills in full. Off the farm is the portrayal of the dairy industry itself. Sometimes, on the news you see and hear negative stories about the dairy industry. Modern media today sends information to us, and you never really know if you’re getting the whole story or not. With a steady income for farmers, I have witnessed that they are willing to strike a fair deal with companies and their associates. It’s not a matter of how much money you get, but a matter of security with money you will get in the future. Eliminating the fear of such a fluctuating income would be a big deal and greatly appreciated within the farm-ing community. With the portrayal of the dairy industry by the media, I can see how the general public may get the wrong im-pression. They should know that farmers give their all with everything that they do and would never imagine hurting their animals. Treating animals with care and producing safe products is of the utmost importance to farmers. That’s the message to get across.

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Nicole Warling, 19dairy Star Sponsor:Audubon Co-op

Elevator & Feed MillAudubon, MN218-439-6111

Parents: Berne and Jerry KroskaTown: Foley What is your current status? I am currently attend-ing South Dakota State Uni-versity. I am majoring in mu-sic education and minoring in sociology and psychology. I work as a cashier at Coborn’s Inc. during the summer and during the school year I work at Burger King Inc. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I am a 19-year-old col-lege student. I love music, and that is the degree I am pursuing. I play trumpet and piano, and I sing. I live and work on the Kroska family farm. I have seven brothers and one sister. My brother, Jay, will soon be taking over the farm. We milk Holstein cows. There are about 30-35 of them, and they all seem to have their own personalities. I feed the cows and the calves, bed down the stalls and help my brother milk cows when he needs me to. We milk with pipeline; Jay is setting up to install a parlor soon. In the future, I want to graduate from college with a bachelor’s degree in music education, and I want to get my master’s degree at one of the finest music schools in the nation. I would like to live in California someday. I want to raise a family, travel the world and live on a hobby farm. None of these dreams would be possible without the love and support of my family. They are my core and my every-thing. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audience. I choose milk, and I would present it to a fourth grade class-

Parents: Jesse and Coleen MesserTown: Foley What is your current status? I am currently a se-nior at Foley Senior High School. I hope to earn a job this summer to help pay for college. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I was born and raised on our 40-acre farm that we still reside on to this day. After I graduate from high school this June, I am plan-ning to attend the Universi-ty of Minnesota-Crookston, this fall for animal science with an emphasis on dairy cattle nutrition. Choose a dairy prod-uct and an audience, and tell us how you would pro-mote that product to that audience. I would promote milk to teen-aged students. I would begin by telling them the advantages of milk. I would go on to share with them that milk is the most nutritious natural sub-stance on the face of the earth. The proteins, fats and sugars are all beneficial to good health. The proteins repair and build muscle tissue, the fats are an energy giving portion and the sugar is also an energy giving portion, but is less sweet than cane sugar and is more easily digested by the body, therefore being better for you. All these things are good things that, hopefully, will make students want to drink more milk. What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? The milk prices. The farmers are paid very little and the big corporations taking the milk are mak-ing money. This is no longer a farming world of small farms sprinkled throughout the state; this is the kind of world that the little farmers are now being pushed out of, and the family-friendly work environment is dimin-ishing. There is no longer any use for the smaller farmer because the big-time farmer is making more money and can buy things to improve the quality of his milk while the small farm owners are struggling to make necessary improvements. I would tell the public about the small-time farmer, because I am one. I would attempt to tug at the heart strings of the people without gaining pity for myself. I would call attention to what is really going on, on and off the farm. The final product is not just something that comes naturally, it is something that requires many hours of hard work.

Parents: Tom and Mary PortnerTown: Sleepy Eye What is your current status? I am a senior at St. Mary’s High School. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I live on a dairy farm northwest of Sleepy Eye. We milk 265 Brown Swiss cows twice a day, and they are housed in bedded-pack barns. We also have an ag-gressive heifer raising pro-gram. I will be leaving the farm in the fall to attend University of Wisconsin-Superior to major in art therapy. Choose a dairy prod-uct and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audience. My favorite promotions are classroom visits because I love how the kids get so excited about learn-ing new things. With that said, I would promote the im-portance of drinking milk to elementary kids, discussing

Parents: Mark and Amy BlackwelderTown: Chokio What is your current status? I am currently finish-ing my senior year at Chokio-Alberta High School. I work part time at the Country Cor-ner Café in Graceville and on my farm. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I live on a 300-cow dairy farm. We grow corn, soybeans and wheat on 1,750 acres. I have an older brother, Brett, and a younger brother, Kent. In high school, I par-ticipated in 4-H, volleyball, softball and was the football manager and homecoming queen. I am also in band, speech, Business Profession-als of America, knowledge bowl, and am an honor student. I am responsible for feed-ing and caring for calves, taking care of my show animals, helping with DHIA testing, vaccinating cattle and picking rock. I will be attending the University of Minnesota-Mor-ris this fall to major in communications. I hope to have a career in planning and promotion, ideally in the agriculture industry. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audi-ence. When talking with teenagers and adults, I would pro-mote milk. Milk provides the body with essential nutrients. There are studies that show that people who eat a diet with a high amount of dairy burn more fat and lose weight faster than those with a low dairy diet with the same amount of calories. Pour yourself a tall glass of nutritious, delicious milk to complement any meal, whether it’s breakfast, lunch, supper or a snack. What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? Dairy farmers are committed to producing a quality and wholesome product for the consumers. There are animal activist groups that want the public to believe that farmers mistreat their animals. An animal’s productivity and health is important to farmers, and they provide excellent care to animals so they remain healthy and safe. If the public asked me about these topics, I would tell them the truth. I would tell them that farmers use the best practices on their farms and that they truly care about the well being of their animals. The animal activist groups only want the public to see or hear the negative in order to pro-mote their agendas. They alter what is shown in the media to make animal care practices look inhumane. The public needs to be aware of what the animal activist groups are doing and that the majority of the money that they may be donating to these groups is not going toward the care of animals.

Angela Kroska, 19dairy Star Sponsor:

AMPIPaynesville Division

www.ampi.com

Kathrine Lynn Messer, 18

dairy Star Sponsor:Frandsen

Bank & TrustFoley, MN

320-968-8774

Boston Portner, 18dairy Star Sponsor:

River Region Co-opof Sleepy Eye

Sleepy Eye, MN507-794-3001

Katelyn Blackwelder, 18dairy Star Sponsor:

Mel-Grove EnterprisesMelrose, MN320-256-7198

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the important health values and of course the great new flavors using posters and personal stories to allow the kids to relate to my message. What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? The rising expense of commodities needed to bring consumers our wholesome and pure product is a concern on the farm. Off the farm, consumers being misinformed by groups such as PETA and HSUS. I would explain to consumers that the rising prices in the store do not mean farmers are making more mon-ey. I would explain the rising cost of feed – particularly corn – and the rise in fuel prices – fuel that runs the trac-tors and the big trucks that haul our milk – are hurting the dairy industry, and that the prices have risen both in the stores and on the farms. I would address consumers on these issues by ex-plaining how farmers take excellent care of their ani-mals and by answering any questions they have about certain farming practices.

Carver County

Parents: Robert and Cher-yl RademacherTown: Cologne What is your current status? I am currently a freshman at Minnesota State University-Mankato and am majoring in psy-chology. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. We milk about 100 cows. We currently have 30 to 40 calves and around 30 heifers. Our farm is a three generational farm; my great-grandpa, Joe Rademacher, first obtained the land and then passed it down to my grandpa, Gilbert. My grandpa then passed it down to my fa-ther who currently is working the land with my older brother. My future plans include finishing college with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and obtaining a job, maybe in a school or as a mental therapist. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audience. If I had to promote a dairy product to a spe-cific audience, I would choose cheese sticks. My cam-paign would be geared towards mothers with kids in elementary school. My claims behind the commercial would be that cheese sticks are a delicious and nutri-tious dessert choice for children. They are getting one of the ‘3-Every-Day of Dairy,’ along with the enjoy-ment of a dessert that is fun to eat. What do you feel are the biggest concerns fac-ing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? The feed prices are becoming a problem as farmers aren’t getting paid enough money for their milk to cover the costs of $7-bushel corn, not to men-tion the rising prices of gas. Right now farmers are forced to pay $4 a gallon for diesel fuel. All of this just doesn’t add up when they are getting paid $16 to $18 per hundred weight of milk. To address the public, I would merely explain like I did above. The rising prices make it hard for dairy farmers to stay ahead. I would also include that all of the unrest in the economy adds a lot of stress to the individual budget of each and every dairy farmer, not just a few. It is something that affects us all.

Parents: Rick Haler, Con-nie HelgetTown: Norwood What is your current status? I am currently a senior at Waconia High School. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your fu-ture plans. I have lived on a dairy farm since I was 2. Currently, we are milking about 80 cows. My favorite part of the dairy industry has been showing cattle for both 4-H and FFA, which I have done for a total of 10 years. When I am not work-ing on my family farm, I enjoy performing in Show Choir, playing rugby, and volunteering. This fall I plan to attend the Univer-sity of Minnesota-Twin

Parents: Mike and Judy SellnerTown: Sleepy Eye What is your current sta-tus? I am a freshman at Minne-sota State University-Mankato majoring in public relations. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I live on a 400-acre dairy farm south of Sleepy Eye where my family and I milk about 100 Holstein cows. On the farm, my daily chores include feeding calves and heifers. I also help my dad milk cows on the weekends. My activities include 4-H, in-tramural softball and showing dairy cows. When I’m not busy with school work, my hobbies include playing softball, run-ning, four-wheeling, watching movies and spending time with family and friends. My future plans are to graduate from Min-nesota State University with a degree in mass communications. I hope to get a job working as a public relations specialist, pos-sibly in the dairy industry. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audience. The dairy product I would choose is milk, and my audience would be teen-age girls. I feel I would be best at promoting this product to them because, being a teenager myself, I can relate to them. I know, if given a choice, lots of girls my age would choose pop or juice to drink and completely lose out on all the benefits milk has to offer, including nine essential nutrients. Calcium is one of the essential minerals important in building strong bones, especially for women who may be prone to osteoporosis. To communicate milk’s value, I’d strive to speak to them about the importance of their health and that the choices they make now may affect them later in life. I would make known to women that milk is readily available in convenient bottles, and that there are no excuses for not drinking it. Whether it be fat free, reduced fat, chocolate or strawberry milk, the wide selection and availability of milk makes it easy to transport and drink on the go after a workout or during class. What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? I feel the biggest concern facing the dairy industry on the farm is the volatility of the milk price paid to the producers. Farmers work hard from sunrise to sundown to produce a wholesome and nutritious prod-uct with, at times, very little profit. I feel the biggest concern facing the dairy industry off the farm is the idea that many consumers are so far removed from the actuality of where their dairy products originate. Many indi-viduals have no idea of the diligence and care farmers practice in getting dairy products from farm to the refrigerator. To address the public on the volatile milk price, I would explain that the farmer receives only a small percentage of the price consumers pay in the store. While opinions may vary on the best way to fix the issue, farmers need support in order to obtain the power to efficiently communicate with our govern-ment’s policy makers. I feel that educating consumers of the pricing issue is the first step in receiving their support. Currently, Midwest Dairy Association’s People Behind the Product promotion is doing a great job of putting a face behind the product and showing consumers specifically who we are and what we do. This allows consumers to gain trust and confidence in the dairy industry. As a dairy princess, I am taking part in this sequence by educating the public through classroom visits, demonstrations and farm tours.

Parents: John and Patty RosenhammerTown: Sleepy Eye What is your current status? I am a freshman at the University of Minneso-ta-Twin Cities majoring in animal science-dairy produc-tion. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. In college I am active in the Gopher Dairy Club and Collegiate Agri-Women Club, as well as Lambda Delta Phi Sorority. At home, my two most influential or-ganizations included 4-H and FFA, where I was ac-tive holding many positions and participating in activities and continue to devote my time. I have been involved in both 4-H and FFA dairy cattle judging, have been a national finalist for my FFA dairy entrepreneurship profi-ciency, participated in dairy knowledge bowl, and enjoy being a county dairy princess. My favorite place in the world is Roseview Dairy, where 160 Holsteins and my family greet me each time I return home from school. Along with milking cows, we manage 500 acres of corn, soybeans and alfalfa. We milk in a double-12 parallel par-lor installed in 2009 and house all cattle in sand- or straw-bedded freestalls. Throughout my college career, I intend to engage in as many networking and agricultural learn-ing opportunities as I can, such as Ag Awareness Day and agri-women conferences. Upon earning my degree in dairy production in the spring of 2014, I plan to join the family partnership, incorporating new ideas to increase efficiency and genetically improve all aspects of our herd, thus fulfill-ing my passion as a full-time dairy farmer. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audi-ence. I would choose to promote chocolate milk to ath-letes. I would say, “After a workout your muscles are tired and your body needs to replenish its fluids. A serving of low-fat chocolate milk rebuilds your strength with protein and calcium to keep your bones strong and healthy.” What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? The three biggest concerns are organic versus non-organic, the public’s perception of the treatment of our animals and milk prices. Milk is milk. All milk undergoes numerous tests to en-sure its safety for consumption. The differences between organic and non-organic exist in the methods by which they were produced, not in their safety or content. All farmers treat their animals with care. A cow that is mis-treated cannot produce; thus farmers know the importance of caring for their animals. Animals on farms are housed in comfortable barns, with feed and water available, as well as adequate space to roam. Farmers are the hardest working individuals I know. They work 24 hours a day, seven days a week milking cows, treating illnesses, mak-ing decisions, keeping records, planting, harvesting, fixing equipment and so much more. The growing population, economic inflation and decreasing available land forces farmers to operate as efficiently as possible, yet unpredict-able funds often limit their innovative expansions.

Jackie Rademacher, 19

dairy Star Sponsor:Prairie Farm Supply

Belle Plaine, MN952-873-4234

Chaneen Haler, 18dairy Star Sponsor:Hastings Co-op

CreameryHastings, MN651-437-9414

Rick Haler ABS Global

Norwood, MN952-466-2054

Kelsey Sellner, 19dairy Star Sponsor:Miller Sellner of

Sleepy Eye & Bingham Lake

Sleepy Eye, MN507-794-2131

Laura Rosenhammer, 19

dairy Star Sponsor:Midwest Livestock

SystemsPine Island, MN507-356-8349

AMPINew Ulm Division

www.ampi.com

Cities campus. I have not decided on a major, but know I plan to minor in Spanish. After that, I am leaving my options open. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audience. Product: cheese. Audience: third and fourth graders. String cheese is the key. Kids love to have fun with their food, and I cannot think of a dairy product that is more entertaining than string cheese. It tastes great, parents love it, and kids like to eat it. I would start by showing them how the milk gets from the cow to them, how it is made into cheese, and then hand out string cheese for a snack. What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? I think some of the biggest concerns our in-dustry faces are the rapid decline in dairy farms and the high costs of operation. In the past few years corn and fuel have reached record high prices while land and milk have reached record lows. This makes operating a dairy farm challenging. Not impossible, but extremely difficult. When asked about the decline in farms, I attempt to address the positives of the farms that are still in opera-tion. Minnesota farmers work hard to keep their ani-mals healthy, care for the land, and to get wholesome products to consumers in cost effective ways. As far as questions about the economy’s affects on the industry, I would have to point out that dairy farmers are not the only people struggling in today’s economy. Just like many Americans, dairy farmers are doing the best they can with what they have, and are doing excellent work.

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Parents: Dean and Elizabeth JohnsonTown: Heron Lake What is your current sta-tus? I am a junior at South Da-kota State University in Brook-ings, S.D., double majoring in dairy production and agriculture education. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. My family and I own and operate an 80-cow dairy and farm 320 acres of land. On the farm my main responsibilities include milking, caring for calves, and keeping dairy records. Off the farm I have been involved with 4-H, FFA, band, choir, Little In-ternational, and the SDSU Dairy Club. Upon completing college, I would like to work within the dairy industry or work as a high school agriculture education in-structor. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audience. Milk is the product I would choose to promote to elementary students be-cause milk is a nutrient-dense product providing nine essential nutrients. Additionally, milk is a very versatile product that can be consumed at any time of day and with any meal. Since the school environment is an ideal setting for teaching healthy eating behav-iors, I feel promoting dairy products in the classroom is important. Furthermore, it is vital to teach students the importance of con-suming dairy products to encourage them to develop health eating habits when they are young so they remain lifelong consumers of dairy products such as milk. To promote milk to elementary students, I would visit their classrooms and describe how dairy farmers like my family work hard to take great care of our cows so they produce high quality dairy products. Then I would explain how milk is important in their diets and how it can help them to build strong bones and teeth. What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? With fewer and fewer people directly involved with agriculture and food production, I feel the biggest concern is the lack of knowledge about farming practices. People are concerned about how their food is produced, and they want to be able to put a face to the product. Consumers want to make sure dairy products are safe and are coming from healthy and well cared for cows. Also, consumers want to make sure the products they are buying have been produced using envi-ronmentally friendly practices. I would share with consumers that we as dairy farmers are committed to providing them with safe, high quality dairy prod-ucts while being responsible caretakers of the land. Also, I would explain what my family and other dairy farmers do to provide our cows with top-notch care. Finally, I would encourage consumers to learn more about dairy farming by visiting a dairy farm or by visiting Web sites such as Midwestdairy.com or dairyfarmingto-day.org. Parents: Ann and Dale

SandbergTown: Taylors Falls What is your current status? I just completed my senior year at Chisago Lakes High School. I work at many jobs including nanny work, mowing lawns and working around the farm. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I live on a 100-head Holstein dairy farm. I am planning on attending either the University of Wisconsin-River Falls or South Dakota State University next year, majoring in dairy science. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audi-ence. The product I choose is yogurt. I believe a very im-portant group of consumers to educate is children. Yogurt is so great for kids because they can choose from so many different flavors and still get the benefits of a wholesome nutritious product. What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you ad-dress the public when they ask about these topics? I be-lieve off the farm consumer image is a huge issue. We have to show the consumer we are producing a good, wholesome product, which is also very healthy and nutritious. I would start by showing and telling the public how much pride dairy farmers have in making a product that is healthy and nutritious. Farmers are dedicated to their cows and work all year long to ensure the consumers are pro-vided with the best products possible.

Parents: Ann and Dale SandbergTown: Taylors Falls What is your current status? I am currently a soph-omore at UW-River Falls ma-joring in dairy science-man-agment. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I live on a 100-head Holstein dairy. The farm is a partnership between my dad and two uncles. In the fu-ture I would like work for an A.I. company and eventually come back and help manage my family farm. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audi-ence. My favorite dairy prod-uct by far is cheese. I think the best way to promote cheese is by simply stating the facts about it. It is a wholesome nutrient-rich dairy product that has large amounts of calcium and phosphorus. Like many other dairy products, it is dollar for dollar on what you are getting when you purchase cheese. Not to mention the many flavors and great taste of it. What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you ad-dress the public when they ask about these topics? I think one of the biggest issues facing the dairy industry today is the image and education the consumers are getting about dairy farms and products. If the consumers receive a posi-tive image about dairy farmers and the industry, they will be more willing to purchase dairy products. Educating the pub-lic on how important animals are to us, as well as how well cared for they are, is just as important as educating them on the nutritional values of the products.

Parents: Ron and JoAnn WickenhauserTown: Cologne What is your current status? Currently, I am going to Ridgewater Col-lege in Hutchinson for my generals. Tell us about your-self, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. My fam-ily farm consists of about 130 head of Holsteins, and we are currently milk-ing around 50. We are the second generation on this family farm. In the future I plan to either go into ag business or nursing. Choose a dairy prod-uct and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audience. I pick milk and an audience of children. I would promote milk by saying how yummy it is and by telling children milk is good for them, too. Milk has many good nutrients in it such as calcium and vitamin D to help produce strong bones. What do you feel are the biggest concerns fac-ing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about

Parents: Stephen and Kim WetzelTown: Chaska What is your current status? I am currently a freshman at North Dakota State University. I am study-ing animal science along with pre-vet. I work on my family farm where we grow cash crops. I am also a hired hand on my neighbor’s dairy farm and I have been there for two years. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I am a person who has loved animals all her life. I love the outdoors, go-ing horseback riding, dirt biking, four-wheeling, fish-ing and hanging out with friends. I also enjoy working on the farm at home and my neighbor’s farm. My family grows cash crops. We grow corn, soybeans, wheat, and grass alfalfa hay mix. At home I help by driving tractors and working in the fields. I also help fix equipment when machinery breaks down. I stack hay in the hay barn and help with harvest in the fall. On my neighbor’s dairy farm I am a hired hand. We milk 50 head, and raise heifers. I milk, feed, bed down, and do anything else that needs to be taken care of. I plan on going to veterinary school for large animal medicine after finishing my undergraduate schooling. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audi-ence. I would promote milk to elementary school chil-dren. I would make sure to tell them about all the nu-trients that are in milk that will help make them big and strong as they get older. I would make sure to tell the children how dairy products such as milk help make a balanced diet for all ages but especially for growing chil-dren because calcium which is a main nutrient in milk will help them be healthy and in good health. I would also tell the children that milk comes in different flavors like chocolate and strawberry which are just as good for you as regular white milk. Making sure that dairy is a part of their diet every day will help the children remain healthy throughout their lives. What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these top-ics? I feel that the biggest concern the dairy industry faces is the negative views toward the industry about some of the practices that are carried out. People who are outside of the industry may not know the full reason or the ben-efits that go along with some of the methods that are con-tinued. I would tell the public the truth and reasons why the methods are carried out. I would explain what goes on in the industry so the public has an understanding and knowledge of the practices that are carried out.

April Johnson, 21dairy Star Sponsor:Blue Hilltop, Inc.Lake Wilson, MN

507-879-3593800-821-7092

Teresa Sandberg, 18

dairy Star Sponsor:Federated Co-ops

Osceola, WI800-294-7661715-294-2789

Jennifer Sandberg, 20

dairy Star Sponsor:Federated Co-ops

Osceola, WI800-294-7661715-294-2789

Chelsea Wickenhauser, 19

dairy Star Sponsor:Waconia Veterinarian

ClinicWaconia, MN952-442-2119

www.waconiavet.com

Becky Wetzel, 19dairy Star Sponsor:

Tellers Dairy FarmChaska, MN

these topics? I feel the biggest concerns are the milk prices and the cost of land. At this point, everyone is trying to save as much money as they can. In order for a farmer to expand or a new farmer to start their business, the price of land needs to come down. Also, in order for farmers to make a profit, milk prices need to stay at a consistent level.

Chisago County

Cottonwood County

Parents: Dean and Elizabeth JohnsonTown: Heron Lake What is your current status? I am a freshman at South Dakota State University majoring in ag communica-tions and English education. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I live and work on an 80-cow dairy operation near Heron Lake, Minn. Growing up on a dairy farm has encour-aged me to pursue a career in the dairy industry. I have a passion for dairy and writing; therefore, I am majoring in ag communications in hopes of pursuing a dairy communica-tions related career. I am also majoring in English education to further my communication skills and to open the option of a career in teaching someday. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audience. I would like to promote chocolate and other flavored milks. The audience I would target would be high school and college athletes. Today, many beverages are available to quench thirst after athletic activity; however, few of these beverages truly replenish and refuel the body with nutrients. I would promote this beverage by explaining that flavored milks have the same nutritional benefits as non-flavored milk – it just offers great taste options. I also think it would be beneficial to talk to

Chelsey Johnson, 19

dairy Star Sponsor:Blue Hilltop, Inc.Lake Wilson, MN

507-879-3593800-821-7092

Dairy Star • Saturday, May 14, 2011 • Page 5 Cottonwood County continued dakota County continued

dodge County continued on next page

Parents: William and Juanita SorgTown: Hastings What is your current status? I am a senior at Hastings High School. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I am active in 4-H, FFA, the swim team, alpine ski team, National Honors Society and Spanish honors society. I live on a 200-cow dairy and crop farm with my family. In the future I plan to attend the Univer-sity of Minnesota-Twin Cit-ies to study pre-veterinary and animal science. Choose a dairy prod-uct and an audience, and tell us how you would pro-mote that product to that audience. I choose milk to promote to teenagers. I would tell them it’s the wise, healthy choice for a strong body. It has protein and cal-cium to help build strong bones and muscles. What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? The biggest challenge on the farm is to produce a quality product in an efficient manner to guarantee an abundant supply of quality dairy products for consum-ers and still leave a little profit for the farmer so they can continue to be in business. Off the farm, the biggest challenges the industry faces are the promotion of our industry and countering the negative views on our in-dustry. With a farming background, I think I am well pre-pared to tell the story of how farming works and to pro-mote the dairy industry in a positive way.

Parents: Roger and Julie JanakTown: Northfield What is your current status? I am attending the University of Minnesota as a freshman majoring in animal science, with a pre-veterinary emphasis. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I live with my parents and two younger siblings on a small hobby farm in North-field. I attend the University of Minnesota, where I am involved with the Gopher Dairy Club and am a member of the Beta of Clovia Soror-ity. Outside of school, I fill my time participating in the county and state 4-H pro-grams. Since seventh grade, I have been working at Mohn Dairy Farm in Lakeville where I milk 50 head of cattle and do the calf chores, along with multiple miscellaneous tasks around the farm. In the future, I plan to finish school and become a large animal veterinarian. From there, I will work with several local farms to ensure that the animals are healthy and able to create wholesome products for consum-ers. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audi-ence. Milk is a healthy, wholesome product that should be consumed daily by everyone, especially children. The adolescent years are the most important for bone develop-ment and growth, and milk is a great way to assist with that because it contains vitamins and nutrients, including calcium, that help build strong bones. Children look up to adults as role models and admire their actions, right down to what they consume. The best way to promote milk to the younger generation is to consume it ourselves and show how it is a healthy product that positively impacts our lives and also tastes great. What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you ad-dress the public when they ask about these topics? The dairy industry is constantly facing challenges on and off the farm. With the economy today, the cost to run and operate a farm is continuing to rise, making it difficult for small farms to compete with the larger, more industrial-based farms that have the technology and numbers to produce milk at a reasonable price. Another key issue is the welfare of the cows on the farms. There are several organizations around the nation that focus their efforts on showing the public how dairy cows are being mistreated and abused.

Parents: Pat and Darlene DonnellyTown: Farmington What is your cur-rent status? I will gradu-ate from Farmington High School this spring. I also work part time at a local hardware store. Tell us about your-self, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I live with my parents on a dairy farm in Farmington. I have four brothers who all help in some ways with the farm. In the fall I will be attending the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities to major in accounting and finance. Choose a dairy prod-uct and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audience. I would promote milk. It has so many health benefits, provid-ing people with vitamins and nutrients. I would stress the importance of drinking milk and the positive long-term affects it will have on a person, such as building strong bones. What do you feel are the biggest concerns fac-ing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? I think the biggest concern consumers have with dairy products is safety. They are concerned about things that may not be organic. I would explain to them the rigorous process and continued testing farms and the milk they produce go through. I would also help them see and understand the pros and cons of organic products.

Janna Sorg, 17dairy Star Sponsor:

Werner ImplementVermillion, MN800-770-4634651-437-4435

Jennifer Janak, 19dairy Star Sponsor:

Udder TechLakeville, MN888-438-8683952-461-2890

Beth Donnelly, 18dairy Star Sponsor:Ross EquipmentLonsdale, MN507-744-2525

Dakota County

Parents: Gary and Linda RemmersTown: Heron Lake What is your current status? I attend Minne-sota West Community and Technical College where I am majoring in account-ing and will graduate with an associate’s degree. I have been employed at The Shady Drive Inn in Stor-den, Minn., for four years as a waitress and cook. During the summer I also babysit and work at the lo-cal gun club. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I love living on our farm. I have a horse that I like to ride as much as I can. Our farm consists of 25 cows, heifers, our dog, cats and my horse. My grandparents help with the milking and farming. My future plans are to get my bachelor’s degree in accounting and live on a farm of my own with all sorts of animals. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audience. I would like to talk to first graders during classroom visits about drinking milk every day. The first question I would ask is if the students had milk on their cereal for breakfast. Most of the time, they would all say, “Yes.” Then I would ask them what other times they drink milk. Their answers would usually be at milk break, lunch and at supper. I would tell them that is great and they are on a good start to growing strong bones and teeth, and some day they will be as big and strong as their parents, older siblings, cousins and even their favorite sports player. Also, I would ask what flavor is their favorite because no matter what flavor it is, they still get all the essential nutrients they need. What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? Milk prices are a problem on and off the farm. The price of milk changes as much as the price of gas. People get upset about paying too much for gas and milk while the farmers say the prices are not good for milk. Farmers have to find alternatives to make up for the money they are not getting for milk. But the big-gest thing to remember is that the cows produce a very wholesome and nutritious product that everyone needs to stay healthy.

Emily Remmers, 20 dairy Star Sponsor:Blue Hilltop, Inc.Lake Wilson, MN

507-879-3593800-821-7092

school officials or student council groups to encourage them to take action with making milk available at sporting events and after practices. This could be made possible through milk vending machines and offering flavored milk at concession stands. What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you ad-dress the public when they ask about these topics? Off the farm, today’s society is in a food movement that has resulted in consumers’ demand to know where their food comes from and how it was produced. Many consumers want food that is nutritious, natural, produced sustainably, and from humanely treated animals. Society today is becoming farther and farther removed from agriculture, so fewer consumers completely understand management practices that are used on today’s dairy farms. Therefore, many consumers are vulnerable to be-ing misled about dairy farming’s image. On the farm, the dairy industry is continuing to adjust to a changing landscape of farms in Minnesota. As technology continues to develop and prices continue to fluctuate, many dairies are faced with tough decisions regarding expansion, remodeling, or leaving the industry. Consumers are willing to hear dairy’s story as long as we are willing to share it. As a dairy princess, I already share the messages that reassure consumers that dairy products are in fact produced using sustainable agriculture and dairy farmers take excellent care of their cows. I will continue to assure consumers that all dairy products are natural and nutritious regardless of farm size and varying management practices. Dairy farmers are some of the most dedicated workers in our state. So regardless of the challenges dairies are faced with, dairy products will continue to be produced in the best way possible for consumers. I would remind the public that each dairy farm is different and uses the management practices best for their farm. Whether a farm chooses to expand, re-model or continue to operate as they are, the product they produce is the same wholesome and nutritious product. With continued support of consumers the dairy industry will con-tinue to thrive in our state.

It is very important to realize that these groups spend their time finding the worst of the worst. I would address the public about these topics by in-forming them that the life of a dairy farmer is difficult and time consuming. They spend their time, day in and day out, caring for the cows that sustain their lives. Dedication and hard work 365 days a year, no matter what the weather con-ditions may be, are ways that our dairy farmers ensure they are producing a nutritious, wholesome products for con-sumers.

Parents: Paul and Ruth DaleyTown: Byron What is your current status? I am a senior in high school. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I am a senior at By-ron High School and will be attending the University of Minnesota next year. I am a very active member of the student council and various other school and community organizations. I also have a part-time job at Panera Bread in Rochester. My dad and his three brothers run a 900-cow milking operation and raise all replacement heifers. We own about 1,200 acres of land on which corn and alfalfa are grown to feed all our livestock. I help on the farm by stack-ing hay bales, driving tractor, feeding calves and covering the silage piles with plastic and tires. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audience. The dairy product I would choose to promote would be ice cream, which happens to be my favorite. I would promote this to kids and the younger generation because they are the future of the dairy industry. They are future consumers as well as employees. It is our job to prepare the younger gen-eration to be ready for the working world. We can do our part by positively promoting the dairy industry and getting them excited about what it has to offer.

Alyssa Daley, 18dairy Star Sponsor:

Pro FeedsKasson, MN

Pine Island, MNPlainview, MN800-356-8313

Dodge County

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Fillmore County continued on next page

Parents: Robert and Roxanne MassmannTown: Osakis What is your current status? I am currently a soph-omore at the University of Minnesota-Morris (UMM). I am double majoring in el-ementary education with a pre-primary emphasis and psychology. I worked as an elementary tutor at Morris Elementary School in an after school program called TREC/Zone. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. My family has owned and operated a dairy farm near Osakis for over 60 years. We currently milk about 58 Hol-steins. We also raise our own replacement heifers and feed-er steers and grow an assort-ment of crops. My favorite part of living on a family farm is working alongside my parents, brothers, sister, uncle, and grandparents throughout the year. In the future, I will contin-ue to share my passion for the dairy industry with everyone I meet by telling them about my experiences about growing up on a dairy farm. I plan on maintaining my involvement in the community and on our family farm. I hope to one day live on a family dairy farm. At UMM, I am a secretary/treasurer for Education Min-nesota Student Program (EMSP), a chapter core member of Students Today Leaders Forever (STLF), and am a part of the Big Friend Little Friend program. Through these programs, I have become very involved in the community and developed leadership skills that are beneficial to becoming a role model and a representative of the dairy industry. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audience. I would promote milk to elementary students because milk is an essential part of their diet, and it is important to instill the nutritional value in elementary students early. I would promote milk by informing the students about the milk pro-duction process – how milk gets from the cow to the kitchen table. I feel this is beneficial for all students to know, espe-cially about how milk is a safe and healthy product to con-sume. I would also offer the students a hands-on opportunity to make other foods using milk as one of the key ingredients. The last step would involve sharing personal stories about milk and talking about others who could serve as role models for the students. What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you ad-dress the public when they ask about these topics? With the current push for people to be ‘environmentally friendly,’ I think the main concerns facing the dairy industry are related to the environment and sustainability of resources. By being at UMM where sustainability is a big focus, I have seen the concern that people have for the environment and taking the necessary steps to do their part. On the farm the concern is keeping up with the technological advances that are aimed at conserving natural resources and protecting the environment even more than they do already. When addressing the public, I would talk with them about the steps that dairy farmers take to ensure that they are

Parents: Jim and Julie BosekTown: Garfield What is your current status? I am a freshman at North Dakota State Univer-sity, majoring in veterinarian technician and double mi-noring in animal science and large animal reproduction. I am employed at Little Brook Dairy and the NDSU Dairy Barn. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your fu-ture plans. I live on a 225 acre farm south of Brandon, Minn., with my parents and four siblings. In college I am involved in the Saddle and Sirloin Club and the Bison Dairy Club. I have been in-volved in 4-H for 13 years and I am very active in both my club and the county level. I raise Limousin beef; also I am very active in the Limousin Junior Association. I have

Parents: Lisa and Mike SullivanTown: Kasson What is your current status? I am currently a se-nior at Kasson-Mantorville High School. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. The lifestyle of liv-ing on a dairy farm has made me the person I am today. It has nurtured discipline which enables me to identify tasks, maintain focus and complete goals. These lessons have helped me with my figure skating, F.F.A. and showing my cattle at local and state fairs. I plan to become a reg-istered nurse practicing in a hospital on a medical surgery floor. After gaining experi-ence, I intend to pursue the training and education to become a nurse anesthetist. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audience. The product I would like to promote in the dairy industry would be milk. Milk is my favorite dairy product. It tastes great; it is heathy, and there is a variety of different fla-vors and types. The best way I would be able to promote milk would be talking to people and going to public events and into schools. I would tell my audience how the farmers take pride in making the milk, how the milk goes though a pasteurization process, and the health benefits of drinking milk. What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you ad-dress the public when they ask about these topics? The biggest concerns I have on and off the dairy farm is how some people think we treat our cattle poorly. In order to be a successful dairy farmer and stay in business, dairy farm-ers must treat their cattle with love, pride and respect. Ev-ery dairy farmer loves doing what they do and takes great pride in their work. I want the public to understand the pride every dairy farmer has for the cattle and how proud they are to be dairy farmers.

Samantha Massmann, 19dairy Star Sponsor:Osakis Creamery

AssociationOsakis, MN

320-859-2146

Crystal Bosek, 19dairy Star Sponsor:

Little Brook Dairy & Fernholz FarmsKensington, MN

Siobhan Sullivan, 18

dairy Star Sponsor:Dodge Vet Clinic

Dodge Center, MN507-374-2125

Carriage House Animal Hospital

Kasson, MN507-634-6781

Douglas County

been showing at local, county and state levels with my Lim-ousin and Jersey cattle throughout the years. I have worked at Little Brook Dairy for four years and at the NDSU Dairy Barn since I have started college. With my veterinary tech-nician degree and a double minor, I hope one day to work with Select Sires and start my own farm. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audi-ence. With obesity awareness becoming more publicized, I believe that not only do we need to educate children, but we need to educate adults, also. As a dairy princess, my goal is to educate the public about dairy farms and the healthy products which they produce. Milk is full of very impor-tant nutrients needed by the body daily. To help promote milk, I would visit schools and give a presentation to the different age groups about how important milk products are for them. I would also explain the food pyramid and show them how easy it is to get their recommended servings ev-ery day. What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? I believe that the biggest concern facing the dairy industry is people think the antibiotics which farmers treat a sick cow with get into their milk and the consumers drink it. Dairy farmers are committed to providing high quality milk. Cows get sick just like humans, and they need antibiotics. As a consumer, you should never worry about the antibiot-ics in milk because milk goes through strict testing at the farm and at the processing plant. If any milk tests positive for antibiotics, the milk is disposed of immediately, so it will never reach any consumers.

What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? I believe the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry be-gin with the public’s perception. In most cases, I think the general public is undereducated about several components of the dairy industry. I think the perception of animal rights and the increasing use of technology to be able to produce a large amount of quality dairy products that will satisfy the average American consumer are the biggest concerns currently facing the dairy industry. I also think there is a general concern about whether or not the younger genera-tion will have the ability or the interest to become involved in the dairy industry. When addressing the public, we have to stay positive about the dairy industry and do our best to promote it. Per-sonally, I will use facts and personal, first-hand experience to express my passion for the dairy industry.

protecting natural resources. I would also inform them that with recent research dairy farmers are working on ways to reduce their greenhouse gas emission, which is only at about two percent. I would like to make it clear to the public that dairy farmers live and work on the land. They know the im-portance of protecting all aspects of the environment. After hearing my side, I would like to hear the public’s response and clarify any questions they may have regarding other ways we protect the environment.

Faribault CountyParents: Mark and Vickie SohnTown: Blue Earth What is your current status? I am finishing high school and working at a nursing home as a Certified Nursing Assistant. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. Our farm is fam-ily owned and operated. My dad and his two brothers operate the farm while my cousin and I step in anytime help is needed. Our farm milks about 100 cows twice a day. Along with the cattle, we also have acreage. I am one in a family of six: my parents, me, my sister, Amy (15), my sister, Rachel (5), and my brother, Dane (3), as well as three puppies. After high school, I will be at-tending Presentation College in Fairmont, Minn., for the radiology tech program. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that au-dience. I would choose milk and the audience of young children. I would stress the importance of milk and how it helps them grow big and strong. What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these top-ics? The biggest concern is the increasingly disappearing numbers of dairy farms in southern Minnesota. It will cause more stress on the small farmers as bigger corpora-tions come in and try to buy out the smaller dairy farms. I would inform them to the best of my knowledge and keep it real and not try to make things sound worse or bet-ter than they are. If I don’t know the answer to one of their questions, I would direct them to my dad or someone with more knowledge on the particular subject.

Corin Sohn, 17dairy Star Sponsor:

Wingert Sales & Service

Plainview, MN507-534-4386

Fillmore CountyParents: Jeff and Carolyn FreeseTown: Lanesboro What is your current status? I will be graduating from Lanesboro High School on June 5 and plan to attend University of Wisconsin-Richland in the fall. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. My family and I live on a 60-cow dairy farm out-side of Whalan, Minn., near Lanesboro. We also raise many other animals, which we bring to area festivities in the form of a petting zoo. I some-times milk the night shifts or feed the calves. I am undecid-ed on what I want to pursue in college. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audience. I would like to promote the im-portance of drinking and eating all dairy products to younger people. This is because they need their three servings of dairy every day to stay healthy. Dairy products prevent many health problems for the future as well. What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you ad-dress the public when they ask about these topics? There is a concern that dairy farming is a bad thing and that farmers abuse their animals.

Sarah Louise Freese, 18

dairy Star Sponsor:AMPI

Rochester Divisionwww.ampi.com

Dairy Star • Saturday, May 14, 2011 • Page 7 Fillmore County continuedFillmore County continued

Freeborn CountyParents: John and Alana MillerTown: Oakland What is your current status? I will graduate from Austin High School this June. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I live on a dairy farm north of Oakland with my mom and dad. I have one brother who is currently a freshman in college at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. On our farm we milk about 125 Holstein cows. Every night, I help with the chores by feeding calves grain. Next fall, I plan to attend the Univer-sity of Wisconsin-Stout to major in graphic communi-cations management. Choose a dairy prod-uct and an audience, and tell us how you would pro-mote that product to that audience. I would choose elementary-aged kids, and the product I choose is milk. I chose elementary-aged kids because my family has host-ed the Freeborn County third grade farm tour, and I have had the opportunity to educate and teach the younger kids about the nutritional benefits of dairy products, es-pecially milk. Elementary-aged kids are eager to learn, and it is also important to get them on the right track in order for them to make healthy life long decisions. If I had the opportunity to visit a classroom, I would teach the kids about the health benefits of drinking milk in-cluding the benefits of calcium, vitamin D and protein. We could talk about how milk helps build strong bones and muscles and provides energy. As an added bonus, we could all drink chocolate milk at the end. What do you feel are the biggest concerns fac-ing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? One of the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm are the high costs of production. This is making our product more and more expensive to purchase for the consumer, which is mak-ing it hard for the farmer to stay in business. Another big concern that is facing the dairy industry is the animal rights groups such as PETA and the Humane Society of the United States who are trying to make the dairy farm-ers look bad. These animal rights groups find one bad situation and generalize it to all dairy farms. We can’t control the costs that influence this busi-ness, but I could inform the public about how hard the dairy farmers work to produce this wholesome product. I would invite the public to come and see our farm. I would show them how important cleanliness and cow comfort are to my family and our business. We work very hard every day to do all the little things right by providing fresh air to our cows, along with feed and bed-ding, to keep our herd healthy, comfortable and produc-tive. Some people forget that we are trying to make a living, too. A family cannot make a living with just 10 cows. You have to have a certain percentage of volume in order to make a good family living.

Parents: Bryan and Dawn Vrieze of Racine, Minn.Town: I live in Spring Valley. What is your current status? I graduated from Rochester Community and Technical College with a veterinary technician degree and am currently working at Mayo Clinic. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I grew up on a hobby farm on the edge of town. I started my own dairy goat herd when I was 12. I was milking, raising, breeding, showing and selling goats. I started milking cows for my uncle, Ron Vrieze, when I was 15. I milked numerous week nights and weekend morn-ings throughout high school. I did not milk during college; I concentrated on school. I earned good grades and got a great job at Mayo Clinic. Something was missing, though, so I went back to milking cows part time for my uncle. We milk around 110 cows in a stanchion barn. I milk with a few of my cousins and my uncle. I plan on milking cows as long as I can; I tell everyone it is my fun job. I plan on going back to school for an ag business degree and switching my career from biomedical research to agriculture research for the USDA. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audience. I

Parents: Jonathan and Lori PetersonTown: Peterson What is your current status? I attend Rochester Com-munity and Technical College for general education classes and work part time as a nursing assistant at Good Shepherd Lu-theran Home. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I have spent a lot of my time being involved in 4-H for the last six years and FFA for the past four years. Our family owns and op-erates a large organic farm be-tween Rushford and Peterson. My parents have had the farm for 24 years and have been certi-fied organic for 11 years. In the fall, I plan to transfer to Min-nesota State College-Southeast Technical in Winona to major in practical nursing but will still be very involved with the farm. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audience. If I were to promote a dairy product to a group of elementary school students, I would choose milk because it’s in cake, chocolate, cookies, ice cream, meatloaf, pancakes and many more foods. It’s the primary ingredient in a lot of different foods that kids enjoy the most. What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? One concern people have off the farm is the safety of dairy products, and one concern on the farm is the way producers treat the animals and the envi-ronment. When I address the public about these two topics, I tell them that the products are 100 percent safe because milk never touches human hands and the machines it goes through have to be cleaned thoroughly after every time they’re used. If there is any product found to have any type of bacteria in it, it’s tossed out to keep consumers safe and healthy. When the public is concerned about the way producers treat their animals and the environment, I as-sure them both are in our best interest because the cows make our career, and we don’t get milk checks for milk that has any bacteria in it. So to make sure our milk is healthy, we first take care of our environment. If we don’t have well-managed land and water, we don’t have healthy cows, which don’t produce healthy milk. So if you’re drinking a tall glass of milk right now, it is healthy, which means the cows that it came from were treated with respect and the environment was not harmed.

Lindsey Miller, 18dairy Star Sponsor:

DFABruce Steege

Zumbrota, MN507-732-8894

Alyssa Vrieze, 21dairy Star Sponsor:

Marzolf ImplementSpring Valley, MN

507-346-7227

Kaitlyn Peterson, 17

dairy Star Sponsor:Hammell Equipment

Chatfield, MN 507-867-4910Rushford, MN 507-864-2845

Eitzen, MN 507-495-3326Harmony, MN 507-886-2255

like promoting all types of dairy products. My favorite audi-ence is elementary school children. A fun hands-on way that I have introduced dairy to kids in the past was to bring in small jars and fill them with a little cream and salt and let the kids shake the jars to make butter for themselves that they could spread on crackers. I also set out cheese so the kids can have different options to choose from. Crackers can get pretty dry, and nothing tastes better than to wash it all down with a cold glass of chocolate milk. What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you ad-dress the public when they ask about these topics? One topic of interest is the lowering of an acceptable somatic cell count. The new SCC requirement is a good regulation; be-cause of this regulation change, the consumers will benefit from having a healthier, more consistent product. Another topic for dairy farmers is the sale of raw milk. I think it is important for consumers to know all of the health risks that come along with having the option of purchasing raw milk from a farmer. It is great to have options, but they need to consider all the health risks that come along with consuming unpasteurized milk. A lifelong challenge that dairy farmers face are milk prices. What dairy farmers get paid for a hun-dred pounds of milk varies. Prices can be low or high, but a dairy farmer is persistent and dedicated to getting a high quality product to the consumer, no matter what the market is.

Goodhue CountyParents: Mike and Hettie CarlsonTown: Welch What is your current sta-tus? I am a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls majoring in agricultural marketing communications with a minor in dairy science. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I am proud to say I hail from a 70-cow registered Holstein dairy farm where my family and I strive to improve the quality of our farm each and every day. We use sound environmental practices to sus-tain our 250 acres of crop land where we produce the feed that our cows enjoy for breakfast, supper, and all the meals in be-tween. My favorite chores are milking and feeding the cows because of the connection I have with each one of them. I am involved in dairy club and Agricultural Communi-cators of Tomorrow at the UW-River Falls where I am able to share my passion for the dairy industry with others. After completing my degree, I hope to promote the dairy industry by speaking with consumers on how important dairy is in their life, and show them how much dedication and hard work goes into creating nature’s most perfect product. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audience. I love promoting dairy products to moms. Showing them how to use milk and cheese in their cooking by handing out recipe books and samples will allow them to see how easy and im-portant it is to get three servings of dairy every day. I would also stress the excellent economic values involved in having milk in the diet compared to other non-nutritional beverages. What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you ad-dress the public when they ask about these topics? As the daughter of a dairy farmer, we take great pride in caring for our animals and providing them with nutritious diets, safe liv-ing conditions, and monitoring them daily. I believe the public is often misled into believing the opposite. There are steps we can take to prevent these negative view points toward dairy farms such as speaking with consumers, opening our farms to tours, and using social media to our advantage. Helping to further educate the public on the dedication and care that goes into raising each calf through positive rein-forcement methods is a great way to show the consumers the passion dairy farmers have in caring for their animals. Using social and multi-media, the consumer can view the care we are giving our animals through routine veterinarian checks, help during birthing, and the constant availability to water and feed.

Amanda Carlson, 19

dairy Star Sponsor:Merchants Bank

Cannon Falls, MN507-263-4281

Goodhue County continued on next page

I have kept a close eye on some of the articles and videos that are out for the public to watch about these accusations. The majority of dairy farmers treat their animals very well because they need the cows to milk in order to get paid. On my family’s dairy, we have rubber mattresses, and we bed the cows with shavings every day so they are comfortable. This is an important for people to realize so they do no make false accusations against the dairy industry.

Parents: Ken and April ForssTown: Zumbrota What is your current status? I am a senior at Ken-yon-Wanamingo High School. I work on my parents’ dairy farm every day after school and on weekends. I also have a part-time job as a waitress. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. My parents and I live and work on a dairy and crop farm just north of Zumbrota. I have two sisters, Ashley (23), and brother-in-law, Adam (23), and Kristin (21). We milk 85 grade Holstein cows. We also raise heifers and calves on our farm. In addition to this, our family runs about 700 acres of cash crops and feed for the livestock. I plan to attend the University of Wisconsin-River Falls this fall. My major will be agricultural business with a minor in dairy science. I will continue to work on my parents’ dairy farm during my four years at River Falls. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audience. I would choose milk and elementary students. Milk has the same importance in children as it does in their pets. Puppies, kittens, calves, and piglets are just a few animals that get their nourish-ment from the milk of their mothers. It is very important that children receive the recommended amounts of dairy foods ev-ery day to stay healthy. There are many ways children can get their fulfillment of dairy products; milk being one of the best. Have a bowl of cereal in the morning and pour in extra milk. This is one very simple way to receive your milk. Chocolate

Nicole Forss, 18dairy Star Sponsor:

Security State Bank of Wanamingo

Wanamingo, MN507-824-2638

Page 8 • Dairy Star • Saturday, May 14, 2011

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Houston County

Kandiyohi County

Parents: Scott and Deanna DeWittTown: Caledonia What is your current status? I am currently in high school and working part time on my neighbor’s farm. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I am a member of the National Honor Society, so I do a lot of volunteer work like volunteering at blood drives, highway clean-ups, working at concession stands, helping at summer school programs, etc. I am very polite and am an ex-tremely hard worker. I work on my neighbor’s farm, and we milk about 2000 cows. They have a double-8 milk-ing parlor. My future plans include completing my general education at either Winona State University or Southeast Technical College in Winona until I am able to attend Palmer School of Chiropractics to become a chiropractor. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audi-ence. The dairy product I would promote is milk, and I would promote it to young children. I would begin by explaining all the benefits milk has to offer, like building strong bones and balancing their di-ets. I would also explain where milk comes from and how delicious it is. I would give them a fun quiz on what they learned and let them have a milk break. What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these top-ics? I feel the biggest concern is the unstable milk prices. I would address the public by saying it has a big impact on our communities and our world. These unstable milk prices can really affect our farms. A small farm can go out of business because of these prices. Their income can be less than their expenses. Farms depend on milk prices to make a living, and if the prices are not stable, they will not be able to support themselves and their families, which in turn will cause them to shut down. We need to address this problem and work out a solu-tion. One thing we can do is help farmers with feed costs by creating an insurance program that would pay farmers when the difference between milk and feed prices becomes too small. This would help because with today’s economy, it is extremely hard for farmers to feed their cattle. This will help them from going into too great of debt and will help them get back on their feet.

Parents: Allen and Jody KruegerTown: Caledonia What is your current sta-tus? I am a senior at Caledonia High School and am employed on my family’s dairy farm. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I am the oldest of three children. My dad co-owns and operates our 45-cow dairy cen-tury family farm along with his father and brother. We milk Holsteins, registered Brown Swiss, and crossbreds. Our cows are milked in a double-four herringbone parlor and housed in freestall barns. Be-sides dairy cows, we also raise dairy steers. I help with feeding calves, washing the feeding utensils and scraping sheds. During the summer, I prepare heifers and cows for 4-H shows. I help with leading, washing and clipping. My future plans consist of going to North Dakota State University this fall and exploring the possibility of majoring in education, agriculture or health communications. I plan to minor in Spanish. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audience. I believe milk needs to be promoted more in schools, especially in the elementary and middle schools. I would inform students of how important milk is for their body. The key to a healthy life is by starting at a young age to maintain a healthy diet. Milk will help them do this. It provides essential vitamins and nutrients naturally, that are not naturally found in many other products. Informing kids about healthy dietary choices at the elementary and middle school ages ensures a good jump-start to a healthy lifestyle. They will then help their families begin a healthy life, too. Children are usually along for the grocery

Parents: John and Dianne WelscherTown: Caledonia What is your current status? I am at senior at Caledonia High School Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I am 18 years old. I have worked at Hendel Farms just outside of Cale-donia for the last four years. Next year I plan to attend the University of Wiscon-sin-Eau Claire for business finance. Choose a dairy prod-uct and an audience, and tell us how you would pro-mote that product to that audience. I would promote yogurt to little kids. Yogurt is very healthy and a good snack. It is better for you than candy and cookies because it has milk in it. What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? I think the biggest concern for farmers is that milk prices are not the best right now. To the public, I would not answer negatively.

Parents: Gene and Shelly GatewoodTown: Willmar What is your current status? Currently, I am finishing up my first year at Ridgewater College in Willmar, taking general studies. I am employed at the YMCA childcare cen-ter in Willmar and also by Gatewood Farm. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I live and work on my family’s farm southeast of Willmar. We milk 66 cows and raise all of our re-placement heifers. We also raise sheep and many other assorted animals. In addi-tion to work and school, I am active with 4-H as the club secretary and with church activities. In my spare time, I enjoy relaxing with friends, singing karaoke,

Parents: Kent and Debbie MillsTown: Lake City What is your current status? I am currently a senior at Goodhue High School and work on my family’s dairy farm. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I am active in 4-H and FFA. Our dairy farm is located in Lake City, Minn. Our family has been milk-ing for four generations. We milk 250 Holstein cows in a double-10 parlor three times a day. We also farm 120 acres. I will be attending South Dakota State Univer-sity in the fall and majoring in early childhood educa-tion. Choose a dairy prod-uct and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that au-dience. In promoting milk to parents and their children, I would demonstrate creative ways to consume milk. In an early childhood/preschool setting, I would encourage parents to think outside the box when coming up with fun and creative ideas that would make milk a treat to drink. For example, adding flavor combinations and/or color to white milk is an imaginative idea. In an early childhood setting, I would do a sample survey where I would give the kids a choice of white, flavored or colored milk during snack time and would allow the kids to make the choice. What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these top-ics? Every farm is different. However, I feel that money has become the biggest concern that we face on and off the farm. On the farm, we face the daily struggles of stay-ing financially stable and maintaining a positive cash flow. Off the farm, consumers are finding it difficult to pay for dairy products at their local grocery store. I would respond that farmers need a price that is high enough to cover the costs of production while consumers require a nutritious and affordable product. It is the goal of the dairy industry to create this balance between pro-ducers’ and consumers’ needs.

Jennifer DeWitt, 18dairy Star Sponsor:Farmers Co-op

ElevatorCaledonia, MN507-725-3306

Caitlyn Krueger, 18dairy Star Sponsor:National Farmers

OrganizationCaledonia, MN507-725-3286

Elyse Welscher, 18dairy Star Sponsor:Wingert Sales &

ServicePlainview, MN507-534-4386

Julie Gatewood, 19dairy Star Sponsor:D & D Ag Supply& ConstructionPennock, MN320-599-4466

Abby Mills, 18 dairy Star Sponsor:

Ag PartnersGoodhue, MN651-923-4496

Arden Vangness DHIA Field Rep

Kenyon, MN507-210-2743

milk is also very delicious! Who doesn’t love chocolate? And when it’s in milk, you are able to enjoy the chocolate flavor and receive the essential nutrients needed. If chocolate isn’t your thing, there’s always strawberry and banana flavorings for your milk. Whichever way you choose, indulge in a cold glass of milk. What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you ad-dress the public when they ask about these topics? A huge issue facing the dairy industry on the farm is high feed costs. High feed costs are affecting farmers everywhere. Farmers are having trouble buying feed at such a high cost, but it is neces-sary to buy the feed to keep their cows healthy. If their cows aren’t healthy, they simply won’t be as productive. If the cows aren’t productive, the farmers lose money and sometimes even their cows. Our hard-working farmers are dedicated to their farms, health and well-being of their animals. Public perception is a big concern off the farm. Media makes things seem worse than they are, which portrays a false message. Organizations have been using the media to show conditions of horribly treated cattle. This makes society think that all cattle are treated this way when in reality, there are very few farms that provide bad conditions for their cattle. Society doesn’t realize we need to keep our cows safe and healthy to produce milk. If our cows aren’t producing milk, our farmers aren’t making any money. The media comes down hard on farmers, which is why we are working hard to show our communities the importance of health and cleanliness on our farms. When the public asks me about these topics, I simply say the farmers are devoted to their farms and dairies and they find ways to surpass the bad publicity. When it comes to high feed costs, farmers are able to take out loans or invest in their own land to grow their own feed. They always find a way to provide the nourishment needs of their cows. When it comes to public perception, I would have the same answer as before. Farmers are the hardest working people who work from sunup to sundown to insure the production of their industry. They are devoted to keeping their cows happy. Happy cows produce more milk. In reality, we treat our cows better than we treat ourselves. There are days when we skip meals or just grab a snack because we don’t have enough time to eat. Our cows always have fresh food and water on their tables (bunks/feed-ers) and definitely don’t have leftovers. They are bedded at least twice a week so they can lie down and relax as long as they want. How often do you get new bedding twice a week? These are just little things that are needed to keep our cows stress-free and relaxed so they are able to peak at production.

shopping so if we tell them how important milk is, they will encourage their parents to buy it. I would continue by telling the students to choose chocolate milk instead of a sports drink after exercising. It tastes good, is less expensive than the cur-rent sports drinks on the market, and has beneficial qualities. Chocolate milk aids in the recovery of fatigued muscles and continues to help their body grow, whereas sports drinks are only known to just hydrate the consumer. What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you ad-dress the public when they ask about these topics? I feel the biggest concern facing the dairy industry is how the public views dairy farmers and the products they produce. Consumers have various ideas about how we dairy farmers run our opera-tions. Some of their views are seen as positive while others are negative towards the industry. As a dairy princess, I am privi-leged to better inform the public about the choices we dairy farmers make every day to ensure a safe, wholesome product consumers can enjoy. As dairy princess, I assure the public that dairy farmers do whatever it takes to produce safe, wholesome products that are healthy for them such as milk, cheese and yogurt. Con-sumers need to understand dairy farmers care for the cows by providing safe, comfortable living environments, healthy diets, and health care when it is necessary. Dairy farmers, along with other farmers, also strive to conserve the land we use. Farm-ers use many different farming methods to reduce erosion and lower their carbon footprints. We understand the importance of working hard to create a product we can be very proud of. The public needs to understand three important concerns farmers are faced with everyday. 1.) They care about the health and well being of their animals, 2.) Farmers are conservationists of the land on which they work, and 3.) They are concerned about the safety of the products they produce for consumers, dairy being the most important product.

Dairy Star • Saturday, May 14, 2011 • Page 9 Kandiyohi County continued Le Sueur County continued

four-wheeling and playing pool. Next fall, I am going to start the dairy management program at Ridgewater College in Willmar. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audience. The dairy product of my choice would be cheese, which I would promote to middle-aged men and women. I would tell them just how delicious it is and let them know that there are many different kinds, varying from bacon to horseradish. I would go on to say that you could have mozzarella cheese on pizza, ricotta in lasagna, Parmesan on spaghetti, Swiss on hamburgers, any kind of cheese with crackers and in dips. To sum it up, if you want to spice up any food, you can always find a cheese to make it taste and look delicious. What do you feel are the biggest concerns fac-ing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? One of the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry is animal welfare. I would tell them that animal care is one of the most important pieces of a dairy farmer’s job. Dairy farmers guarantee to provide high-quality milk; it starts with taking proper care of their cows. Further, I would include that dairy farm-ers work closely with veterinarians to keep their cows healthy and comfortable. Environmental concerns also face the dairy industry. Pollution and manure odor are two common concerns. It would be explained that there are some things that a working dairy farm has to do and cannot be changed. I would explain that manure is ap-plied to fields according to a manure management plan to avoid pollution. Lastly, it is important to make sure people are drinking milk and continue to enjoy dairy products.

Parents: Kevin and Lori BussTown: Hutchinson What is your current status? I am currently a freshman at Ridgewater College and majoring in dairy management. I cur-rently work with my family on our farm, Kev-Lor Farm. I am involved in Postsec-ondary Agricultural Student Organization (PAS) and am active in McLeod County 4-H. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I am 19 years old, the youngest sibling of three and enjoy spending time with my family, sewing and caring for my animals. Dur-ing the summer when I am not promoting the dairy in-dustry, I help teach county 4-H camps and work with my animals prepping them for cattle shows. I work on our family farm, milking 55 Holstein and crossbred cows, feeding calves and managing the farm record system. I help with the field work, where our family runs 160 acres of corn, soybeans and alfalfa. After college, in the

Parents: Lane and Jill PetersenTown: Tyler What is your current status? I am a senior at RTR high school in Tyler, Minn. I work at a gas station in Ty-ler. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your fu-ture plans. I live on Maple Grove Farms, which is southwest of Tyler. I live there with my parents and my two sisters, McKensie (14) and Rhaegyn (9). Next fall I plan to attend the Uni-versity of Minnesota-Morris for mathematics. Choose a dairy prod-uct and an audience, and tell us how you would pro-mote that product to that audience. I would inform my fellow teens and also younger children on what nu-trients are in dairy products and what these nutrients do for the body. What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? With all of these new forms of technology, like sexed semen, there will be more heifers being born and also more milk being produced. The demand for milk will go down since there is a lot more milk being pro-duced and also the milk price will drop. So no matter what farmers do, that milk price will just keep on drop-ping. Since the demand for milk is going down, people should also assume the price for dairy products on the grocery store shelf will go down as well. This will allow more people to consume more dairy products and allow people to live healthier lives.

Parents: Patty and Dale KrekelbergTown: Le Sueur What is your current status? I am a sophomore at the University of Minne-sota-Twin Cities where I am pursuing a degree in animal science with an emphasis in dairy production. This sum-mer, I will be interning with Boehringer-Ingelheim Vet-medica, Inc. as a dairy sales intern. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I am from a small, family-run farm in rural Le Sueur. We milk about 60 cows, raise our own young-stock and farm about 100 acres. In the future, I would like to work in the dairy in-dustry either in an on-loca-tion job with cattle or doing promotions. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audi-ence. The dairy product I would choose is sour cream (one of my personal favorites), and my target audience is parents. Sour cream slips a lot of people’s minds as a dairy product, as well as one that still offers nutritional benefits. Like milk, sour cream contains both calcium and phosphorus-important nutrients for any diet. Sour cream is a great way to add some flavor to many meals, and it’s a swift way to add a little extra dairy to their children’s diets. What do you feel are the biggest concerns fac-ing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? Now more than ever, people want to know where their food comes from, how it’s manufactured, and they want to ensure that it is safe and healthy. While this provides farmers with a great opportunity to share our story, it also places the industry under a certain level

Parents: Robert and Carol HolickyTown: Le Center What is your current status? I attend Minne-sota State Community and Technical College in De-troit Lakes, Minn. I work at Hoefs’ Dairy in Montgom-ery Minn. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I am the youngest of eight kids and really en-joy every minute I spend with my family. I like to go hunting, fishing, bowling, and pretty much anything outside. I also love playing with my pets. I have a hus-ky, named Jack, that is turn-ing three this year. We have many cats, a few cows and a rabbit. The farm I work at is now milking about 210 cows. In the future, I would like to work for DHIA like my sister. I will be working there part time this summer, which I’m very excited about. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audi-ence. I would choose milk and I would have my audi-ence be kids in first and second grade. I would tell them milk has things that are good for them in it. Drinking milk every day will help make their teeth and bones a lot stronger. What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? The biggest concern facing the dairy industry off the farm is the high cost of dairy products in stores, and on the farm it is the milk prices that farmers get do not compensate for all of the costs they have to produce the milk. Farmers should get better pay than the store, getting the high prices for their hard work producing the milk. In the future we may have to pay two to five times the price we pay now for the dairy products that we buy in stores, with farmers getting paid the same prices, which isn’t fair. If we don’t want that to happen we need the public’s help to somehow to change this.

Parents: Kathy and Craig HinsethTown: New London What is your current status? I am currently studying at Ridgewater College to be a Legal Ad-ministrative Assistant. I work at home on the farm and have a part-time job at Kandiyohi County Park #7 on Games Lake. Tell us about your-self, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I am a 2010 graduate of New London-Spicer High School. In high school I was involved in choir, 4-H and teaching Sunday School at church. I am currently still a member of the FFA and the New London American Legion Auxiliary. I plan to gradu-ate from Ridgewater College in December and want to find a job close to the farm so I can still help out. My family and I work together on our farm where we milk 40 head of black and white Holsteins in our tiestall barn. We run about 160 acres of land where we raise corn and alfalfa. We also raise Black Angus Beef cattle, chickens and have a goat. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audience. I’d sell chocolate milk to elementary school students’ parents. To promote chocolate milk to them, I’d explain that there are nine essential nu-trients including calcium, which is crucial for strong bones. Also, parents can be confident chocolate milk is safe for their growing children because of the strict safety regulations. Lastly, their children will want this nutritious beverage because it tastes so great! What do you feel are the biggest concerns fac-ing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? I feel one of the biggest concerns both on and off the farm are the prices. Low milk prices and high input prices make dairying today a challenge. When addressing the public about this challenge, I’d explain that the love and pride dairy farmers have for what they do is a key component. There are ups and downs in everything, but when you really love what you do and are proud of your work, you will work your hardest through anything.

Kelsey Buss, 19dairy Star Sponsor:

First District Association

Litchfield, MN320-693-3236

Kaitlin Petersen, 18

dairy Star Sponsor:Gorter’s Clay & Dairy

EquipmentPipestone, MN507-825-3271

Emily Krekelberg, 20dairy Star Sponsor:

United Farmers Co-opWinthrop, MN507-647-6600

Anna Holicky, 20dairy Star Sponsor:

Hoefs’ DairyNew Prague, MN

507-364-7785

Brenda Hinseth, 18dairy Star Sponsor:D & D Ag Supply& ConstructionPennock, MN320-599-4466

McLeod County

Lincoln County

Le Sueur Countyof public scrutiny. Every day, consumers are faced with a two-sided story of the dairy industry, and the challenge of picking a side. The most important thing dairy producers can do is get out there and communicate with consumers. Yes, they can read all about how milk is processed but it be-comes more real when they can hear actual stories from actual farmers. We need to remind the public that, as dairy farmers, our top priority is animal care. We spend our lives taking the best care possible of our cows. Our commitment to our animals allows us to produce a safe, wholesome product for all consumers to enjoy.

mcLeod County continued on next page

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fall of 2012 I will return to my family’s farm where I will take part in many of the different aspects of man-agement. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audi-ence. The dairy product I would choose to promote is flavored milk, the audience is parents. When it comes to nutrition and great taste, flavored milk is great at de-livering both. It’s packed with the same nine essential nutrients as white milk, in a variety of flavors kids love. Drinking low-fat or fat-free flavored milk helps youth get the three daily servings of milk and milk products recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans by keeping children away from obesity. What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? The biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on the farm is the increasing input costs and unstable milk prices. Off the farm concerns are the increasing prices of products and consumers being unsure of ani-mal care on the farm. I would tell them that dairy products are a nutrient rich product containing nine essential nutrients and dairy products are one of the safest products that a person can buy for their family to eat. Also dairy farmers are com-mitted to caring for their animals and land no matter what the price of milk is or how much the feed costs. All dairy farmers care for their animals so the cows produce pure and wholesome milk daily.

Parents: Jim and Lisa TurckTown: Litchfield What is your current status? I am currently a senior at Litchfield High School. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I am active in my school’s student council, National Honor Society, choir and varsity fastpitch softball team. Outside of school, I enjoy life guard-ing, teaching Sunday school and helping on my family’s dairy farm. My roles on the farm include feeding calves, feeding cows, milking cows and other various projects my dad has planned for me. After graduating from LHS this spring, I plan to attend St. Cloud State University in the fall for an intended nursing major. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audi-ence. To an audience of elementary students, I would choose to promote milk by planning a field trip out to my farm. I would split the group into two. One would go with my dad to be shown around the milking area, and the other group would go with me to be shown around the calf area. The kids would learn how and where the milk they drink comes from and the process it goes through from the cows to their dinner tables. After the tour, the class would head back to the school where they would be able to ask me any questions they have. We would end the day by having a trivia activity with prizes being dairy products for them to enjoy. What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? Major concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm are animal care and product wholesome-ness. I would address the public by telling them the simple

Parents: Vaughn and Joan EuerleTown: Litchfield What is your current status? I am currently a senior at Litchfield High School. In the fall, I will be attending Southwest Min-nesota State University, and I am undecided on a major at this point. I am employed on my family’s farm and milk cows after school. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I live on a farm five miles north of Litchfield. We milk 75 black and white Holsteins twice a day. Al-though I don’t know where college will take me, I plan to spend four years in col-lege and work hard to earn a bachelor’s degree. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audi-ence. If I had to promote a dairy product, I would choose milk and teach children the importance of having milk in their daily diet. Children are so intrigued by animals, so if they could visit a farm and see where their milk comes from, I believe it would intrigue them to drink more milk. What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? I believe the biggest concern facing the dairy in-dustry is the decrease in farm numbers. Years ago, most farms were small family farms. Now the small farms are forced to sell to larger corporations. I think growing up on a family farm has given me a strong background, and it’s sad that children in future generations will not have the opportunity of being raised on a farm. The public can not do much about the decreasing number of small farms. I just hope there will always be some farms to keep the tradition alive.

Parents: Joseph and Karen BeckerTown: Eden Valley What is your current status? I am a junior at South Dakota State Uni-versity in Brookings, S.D., studying dairy production and dairy manufacturing. I plan on graduating in May 2012 with a bachelor’s de-gree in both. I stay active with Collegiate 4-H and Dairy Club. I also have a part-time job at Syngenta Seed Company. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I grew up on a 150-cow dairy south of Eden Valley, which was eventu-ally expanded to 350 and then to 700 cross bred dairy cows west of Eden Valley. My dad, Joseph, also farms with his brother, Vern, and his wife, Mary Kay. Between the two families, there are six daughters, four of who are aspiring to stay in the dairy industry. After graduation, I plan on working in a dairy manufacturing plant, processing the raw milk product into the variety of dairy products available to-day. I would also like to obtain a connection to the home farm site that I grew up on. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audi-ence. I would like to promote milk as my dairy product, and I would promote it to middle school-aged children. I would go into the classroom of the students to explain the health benefits of milk such as the calcium and pro-tein that are in milk and describe how they are essential to a healthy lifestyle. Not only would I show pictures and posters explaining the benefits of milk, I would show different ways to use milk, such as adding flavors like chocolate, using it in shakes, or as an additive in other food products to make the food more delicious and healthy. In addition, I would take the classroom of stu-dents to a dairy farm, explaining that this is where milk actually comes from, and try to let the students become hands-on with what goes on at the farm. I believe it is important that we target young students to impact their futures in a positive way so they can use dairy products and grow up to be healthy and strong. What do you feel are the biggest concerns fac-ing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? I feel the dairy industry does not get the recognition it deserves and that people get a negative feel for the dairy industry and would rather buy other non-dairy products for consumption, and this decreases dairy sales. This turns around to the farmers who strive to make quality products, and it can decrease the milk price that the farmer receives. I would address the public in different promotion-al events like the ones that the dairy princess program sponsors, using radio, newspaper and television ads. I want the public to know that dairy products are one of the safest products in the market, and they are filled with many essential vitamins and minerals that the body needs. Dairy products are not only nutritious and delicious, but they are also wholesome and safe. Consuming the recommended amount of dairy can lead to health ben-efits such as preventing weak bones and teeth and reduc-ing osteoporosis. Milk is high in protein and also low in fat, making it even more healthful. Milk is an essential part of every person’s day, and should be consumed at least three times a day.

Parents: Tim and Ann NixTown: Plato What is your current status? I am currently at-tending Southwest Min-nesota State University in Marshall, Minn. I have two majors, the first is ra-dio/TV broadcasting and production, and the second is public relations with a minor in marketing. Along with helping my family out on the farm I am also em-ployed at Hillcrest Café in Norwood, Minn. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I am 20 years old and live on a farm near Pla-to, Minn., with my family. My family consists of my parents, Tim and Ann, and older brother, Joe, a young-er sister, Shannon, and a little brother, Andrew. I have many hobbies such as reading, listening to music and playing sports just to name a few. In the future I would like to lean towards the radio/TV side of my major with a career in TV production. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audi-ence. The diary product I choose is flavored milk and I am targeting the product towards kids. I would promote this product by telling and showing kids how it builds strong bones. Also how it gives them all the nutrients and vitamins that you need to refuel your body after you exercise. With all the different and delicious flavors, you are sure to find one that will be your favorite. Not only that but it is a “Mom approved” drink, so you don’t have to worry about her scolding you that it isn’t healthy, be-cause milk is healthy for you. What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these top-ics? I believe that there are two big concerns that face the dairy industry. One is the safeness of our products. With the recent events of the raw milk purchase, and the tsu-nami in Japan and the problems with the nuclear plants, people are going to want to know if the products they have are safe. To address this, consumers need to be in-formed that all dairy products are 100-percent safe. Milk is the most tested food product, with at least six different tests that are done before it’s made into cheese, yogurt and other products. It is also the most regulated product by the USDA. The second, and biggest, would be the di-minishing knowledge of dairy farms. With towns grow-ing bigger and less farms out there, the knowledge of where the dairy products in the store come from, is not being taught. In order for people to become aware of this I believe that more farmers need to step forward to show the consumer what they do every day. How they take pride in producing a wholesome nutritious products for everyone to enjoy. Also how farmers care for the land and the animals on their farm. Getting the consumer up close and personal with farmers will help them gain that knowledge of where the dairy products, they have every day, are coming from.

Amanda Turck, 17dairy Star Sponsor:

Valley Dairy Supply, Inc.

Eden Valley, MN320-453-6695

Emily Euerle, 18dairy Star Sponsor:

Center National BankLitchfield, MN800-893-3255

Jessica Becker, 21dairy Star Sponsor:

Centra-Sota CooperativeWatkins, MN320-764-9635

Elizabeth Nix, 20dairy Star Sponsor:

AMPIPaynesville Division

www.ampi.com

Meeker County

meeker County continued on next page

There are 60,000 dairy farms in the U.S. with 11,000 dairy farms in the

Midwest.

Dairy Star • Saturday, May 14, 2011 • Page 11 meeker County continued morrison County continuedmorrison County continued

morrison County continued on next page

facts of animal care. Dairy farmers’ commitment to pro-viding high-quality milk begins with taking good care of their cows. Dairy farmers work closely with veterinar-ians and animal nutritionists to make sure their cows are always healthy and comfortable. For the assumptions concerning wholesomeness, I would state, ‘Milk goes through strict quality controls to ensure freshness, purity and great taste. From the process of leaving the cow to the refrigerated holding tank, to being finally transported to the processing plants, the continuity of the milk stay-ing fresh and safe is never lost.’

Parents: Gary and Kim ZehowskiTown: Swanville What is your current status? I am a senior at Lit-tle Falls Community High School. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I am one of six kids in the Zehowski family. I have two brothers and three sisters. I live on a dairy farm with my little sister and par-ents. We milk 55 Holsteins on a 300-acre farm. I get up every day to do chores in the morning at 5 a.m. Farm-ing is a 24/7 job, and I love it. My favorite thing to do is driving the Bobcat in the fields in the summer picking up bales. My future plans are go-ing to the University of Minnesota-Crookston for animal science for four years. After Crookston, I plan to go to the U of M-Twin Cities for the vet program to become a large animal veterinarian. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell

Parents: Chuck and Pat TaxTown: Pierz What is your current status? Currently I am a senior at Pierz Healy High and have two jobs outside of the farm at Meadow Ponds and Subway. I am highly involved in school activi-ties including cross coun-try, dance, track, National Honor Society, Business Professionals of America and student council. I enjoy keeping busy, and my favor-ite hobbies are reading and running. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. My family moved to Pierz when I was 10 years old, and although it was a tough change, it was a great one. Living on a farm has been very eye-opening. There are constantly opportuni-ties to learn. Our dairy farm milks 61 Holsteins in addi-tion to having a chicken barn. My chores mainly involve feeding the cows and calves and keeping the barn clean by sweeping and scraping the aisles. I plan to attend the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities in the fall to double major in biology and chemistry and to continue on to medical school. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audi-ence. I would choose yogurt as my dairy product because it is one of my favorites. My audience would be 16- to 24-year-olds who have a busy schedule and don’t always have time to sit down for a meal and like to eat on the go. I would show them that yogurt is a great healthy snack that is quick to grab and has many benefits. The protein can give you extra strength along with the bone-building calcium. Both are included in this great-tasting treat. Also, there are many flavors, all of which help to pre-vent bad bacteria from building up in your body. Eating yogurt is a fast and easy way to stay healthy and prevent hunger cravings in between meals. What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these top-ics? I think the biggest concerns facing the industry right now are the rising costs of feed and the instability of milk prices. Also, PETA is really harming the image of the dairy industry by showing animal cruelty and general-izing all dairy farmers in that category. I would tell the public that our animals are treated kindly and humanely. They are given fresh straw to lay in, fans to cool them off when it is too hot, shelter to protect them from bad weather and to shade them, and many more amenities to ensure their comfort and safety. Dairy farmers want cows to be comfortable so they can produce more milk. Animal cruelty does not happen on my farm, nor the vast majority of all dairy farms, and the public should know that.

Parents: John and Lori KokettTown: Little Falls What is your current status? I am currently at-tending Upsala Area Schools where I will graduate this coming May. From there, I will be attending St. Cloud State University where I will be studying language arts to become a teacher. I also cur-rently work at Lange Oil gas station in Upsala. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. My family lives on a century dairy farm. We have 254 acres and we milk 56 Holstein cows. I have five brothers and one sister. I am the fourth child and am cur-rently the oldest living on the farm. My main duties on the farm are taking care of the three little kids and cleaning the house. My future plans in-clude attending St. Cloud State University after graduation and getting a teaching degree in English education. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audience. The dairy product I would choose would be milk, and I would want to speak to teenagers. With all of the pop and energy drinks that are in the market, teens will typically take these over something healthier like milk. They take pop and energy drinks based on taste, or it gives them a boost of energy that they need for the day. But what do caf-feinated drinks provide health-wise? My answer is nothing. These drinks provide an unhealthy dose of energy, and they contain chemicals that could later cause harm to the body. Milk, however, has the essential nutrients that one needs in order to stay healthy. It tastes good naturally, or one can add flavors to make it taste even better. Milk contains cal-cium to promote bone growth to keep kids strong. If milk consumption increases, we could have a healthier tomor-row. What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? The biggest concern facing the dairy industry on the farm would be maintaining profitability; off the farm it would be maintaining a good public image that farmers are respon-sible. I would address the public by informing them that farmers do the best they can to be efficient in their busi-ness. For animal welfare, farmers wouldn’t mistreat their animals if they wanted to run a good business. Those peo-ple need to try to understand that. They can’t just jump to conclusions.

Parents: Alan and Tina Gunderson, Scott and Bren-da BolligTown: Upsala What is your current status? I am attending Upsala Area School, and I graduate on May 28, 2011. I work at Paul and Kathy’s Supermarket in Upsala and Jordie’s Trailside Café in Bowlus. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your fu-ture plans. In my free time I like to hang out with my friends and boyfriend. I enjoy scrapbooking, and I love to go shopping. I love to play with my two young-est brothers, Jacob (4) and Daniel (1); they are so ador-able. I also like to go ice fishing and mudding with my boyfriend. After high school I am going to Central Lakes Col-lege (CLC)-Brainerd Campus for my AA degree. After finishing at CLC, I plan to go to a university for a career that I am still undecided about. I live on Gunderson Brothers Farm, about two miles out of Upsala. We milk about 70 Holstein cows and farm about 400 acres. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audi-ence. I would choose ice cream and my audience would be younger kids. I choose ice cream because what kid

Parents: Mark and Brenda WinkelmanTown: Princeton What is your current status? I am currently at-tending the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities working on my bachelor’s degree in animal science-pre-vet. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I have lived on our family farm my entire life and have been an employee the past five years. We have a dairy farm of 100 head. I plan to attend the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Minnesota to become a large animal vet-erinarian. Choose a dairy prod-uct and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audience. I would promote butter by emphasizing the benefits of using butter instead of margarine. I would also explain how when making homemade butter, which is simple and fast, you can add additional flavors that are not found in stores. What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? One large concern for the dairy industry today is the small dairy farms not being able compete with the large scale farms. I would explain that although some farms have had to close many others have been able to stay in business.

Jessica Zehowski, 17

dairy Star Sponsor:AMPI

Paynesville Divisionwww.ampi.com

Mary Zahurones, 17dairy Star Sponsor:Morrison County

Tractor & EquipmentPierz, MN

320-468-2161

Carolyn Kokett, 18dairy Star Sponsor:

ElmDale Creamery & Locker

Elmdale, MN320-573-2607

Kaitlynn Bollig, 18dairy Star Sponsor:

ElmDale Creamery & Locker

Elmdale, MN320-573-2607

Denise Winkelman, 18dairy Star Sponsor:Federated Co-ops

Princeton, MN763-389-2582

Mille Lacs County

Morrison County

doesn’t like ice cream? I choose younger kids because it is important to start telling kids younger the importance of eating and drinking dairy products. Then, after they have their ice cream cone, I would start telling them the important things. Examples would be that milk provides a lot of nutrients and calcium that your body needs to grow. Also, I would tell them milk builds strong bones, and if they drink milk, they can grow up and be big and strong like their parents. What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? I feel the biggest concern for the dairy industry right now is the negative image people are giving to the hard working dairy farmers. I would address this issue by telling them facts about the dairy industry and hard working farmers. For start-ers, according to the USDA, 98 percent of U.S. dairy farms are family-owned and operated, so they are not all corporate. Dairy farmers work with animal nutrition-ists and vets to make sure the cows are getting good nu-trition and good medical care. Then I would tell them that dairy products are one of the most highly regulated foods; they have to pass standards to ensure that it is safe to consume and also nutritious. If they do not meet these goals, the milk cannot be sold. The dairy industry is a good thing and needs to keep going forward to bet-ter America, because dairy products are simply the best. Farmers work hard and sometimes do not get recognized for it.

Page 12 • Dairy Star • Saturday, May 14, 2011

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us how you would promote that product to that audi-ence. The dairy product I would promote would be milk to younger kids. I would tell them that milk helps them grow strong bones and muscles so they can get as tall and muscular as their moms and dads are. What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? The fluctuation in milk prices is a big concern. When milk is high and then takes a drop, it is hard for farmers to break even for paying to get diesel and feed and whatever else is needed for the farm. I would address the public by telling them that we need to find a way not to have big drops in milk prices from month to month. Farmers are struggling to keep their farms going with the prices.

Parents: Gregory and Madeline Vander WalTown: Slayton What is your current status? Currently I am a student at Murray County Central in Slayton. I do dai-ly chores on our farm. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I am a senior in high school, who loves it. I love learning, and I like to take every moment I am blessed with and use it to my ad-vantage. The dairy farm that I live on milks about 600 cows and has roughly a herd of 500 steers. My fa-ther farms about 850 acres of alfalfa and corn. On this farm, my siblings and I care for about 160 calves. We all participate in 4:30 AM chores and as well as evening chores. It is a small farm that I will dearly miss at college. I will be attending col-lege at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. I have of-ficially gone into college undecided, but I am thinking of majoring in biology or a foreign language. I am look-ing forward to being able to serve my community and volunteering my time. I have been on several mission trips and these opportunities have shaped me more than anything else. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audience. I would choose butter. I would promote this to people who prefer margarine. I would tell consumers about studies which show that women who eat marga-rine have a higher chance of getting heart disease than those who eat real butter. Next, I would point out that margarine is only one molecule away from being plastic and has less nutritional value than butter. They both have the same amount of calories, but when heated while cooking, acids are released in margarine which create more trans-fats. Clearly, it would be healthier to eat real butter. What do you feel are the biggest concerns fac-ing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? One of my biggest concerns is people who attempt to regulate the dairy industry, especially those who know very little about it such as lawmakers making a “fart” tax. I am also concerned when legislators use environmental rules to inhibit or restrict larger dairies because they are seen as the enemy. These things are here to stay; therefore, we need to find a way to live with these necessary environmental rules without inhibiting larger dairies unnecessarily.

Parents: Donald and Stephanie ServickTown: LeRoy What is your cur-rent status? I am a senior at LeRoy-Ostrander High School. I work on my fami-ly’s 475-cow Holstein dairy farm. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I work on my fami-ly’s 475-cow Holstein dairy farm between Wykoff and Fountain, Minn. The farm is run by my uncles, Greg and Cory, as well as my grandpa, Gene. I work most weekends and throughout the summer. I plan to attend the University of Minneso-ta-Twin Cities to study nu-trition and hope someday to return to the farm. I am very involved in the National FFA Organization, where I have held many different leadership positions. I recently won the 2011 Minnesota State FFA Proficiency for agricul-tural education. I am also a member of National Honor Society, band, basketball, softball, pep band, drumline and elementary tutors. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that au-dience. I would choose milk. I would love to get into a classroom of young elementary students and teach them about how the milk gets from the cow to their glass. I think it is important for them to learn this early as the more they know when they are young, the more educat-ed choices they make as they become older consumers. What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? I think the biggest concern facing the dairy in-dustry is the public’s view of dairy farming. I think it is important people know most farmers take good care of their animals. Cow comfort is typically a farm’s top pri-ority. The media is the first to show someone taking care of their animals poorly. However, they seem to never acknowledge the farms that take great pride in providing

Parents: Ann and Brian ReinartzTown: Rose Creek What is your current status? I attend Southland High School in Adams, Minn. I will graduate on May 3, 2011. After school, I babysit for Lynn Helgeson. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I am 18 years old; I live one-half mile south of Rose Creek with my par-ents, two brothers and my twin sister. I work for Lester and Steve Heller on Triple H Dairy Farm near Adams. I milk cows every morning. I am thinking of attending Riverland Community Col-lege in Austin for my gen-eral education classes. Choose a dairy prod-uct and an audience, and tell us how you would pro-mote that product to that audience. I would promote yogurt to elementary students. I would talk about why yogurt is good to eat, and how yogurt is a great source of protein, fats, carbohydrates, and minerals. Most kids also love the taste of yogurt so I think it would be a great product to promote to young children. What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? I think one concern is the high price of corn, which makes it difficult for farmers to feed their cows for the price they are getting for their milk. The food price in the stores is also going up. Many of the smaller dairy farmers are having troubles trying to make ends meet. I would talk about how much work farmers go through and how we need to keep the dairy farmers in Mower County going so we do not have to get our dairy products from another country.

Parents: Pat and Kris MullenbachTown: Adams What is your current status? I am a senior at Southland High School. I work on my family’s farm and I also work at a neigh-boring dairy farm after school milking cows. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I grew up on a dairy farm south of Adams. I have milked cows and taken care of calves my whole life. It has been the best job I could ever have. My family sold our cows in the September 2009 in the dairy buyout. I now work on my neighbor’s dairy farm milking cows after school. I just can’t get away from milking cows. On the farm where I work they milk 200 Holstein cows. My future plans are to attend the University of Wiscon-sin-River Falls for animal science with an emphasis in dairy. I plan to become a dairy nutritionist and help dairy farmers with their feed rations for their cows. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audi-ence. The dairy product I would choose would be milk and my audience would be younger children. I would in-form them that milk is what gives them strong bones and helps them grow. I would also bring different flavored milk with me so they can try different kinds. I would tell them if they didn’t like the taste of white or chocolate milk, there are many other flavors they may choose. I would also inform them where and how the milk is pro-duced, from the farm to the store to their fridge at home and in the coolers at school. What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? An off-the-farm concern would be how many people are generations removed from the farm and don’t understand where their food comes from anymore. They know they can buy their food in a store, but they don’t have the background or understanding of how that food got into the stores in the first place. On the farm, a con-cern would be the fluctuating milk prices and the con-tinuing restrictions of antibiotic use in the animals. This is becoming harder and harder for not only the farmer but also the vets to treat these sick animals. The off-the-farm concern I would say we need to start knowledge of where food comes from in the school setting. The kids would take home what they have learned and share it with the rest of their family. We need to set up a class or program at school so these kids have an idea of where their food comes from. Maybe a class trip to a farm would be a good start. For the on-farm con-cern, I would assure people milk is the most tested prod-uct on their supper table. There are restrictions and with-drawal dates on antibiotics being used and the farmers know this because they take extra caution when a treated cow comes into the barn to be milked. Farmers eat what they produce, so they take extra caution when treating an animal. For the milk price concern, dairy farmers have a daily struggle of what the milk prices will do that day along with any day. Dairy farmers have learned to be the most efficient farmers because they have to try to keep costs down with the fluctuating income they have. The last few years of low milk prices have put too many dairy farmers out of business.

Caitlin Vander Wal, 18dairy Star Sponsor:

Gorter’s Clay & Dairy Equipment

Pipestone, MN507-825-3271

Lauren Elizabeth Servick, 18

dairy Star Sponsor:Northern Country

Co-opStacyville, IA

641-710-2348

Brianna Reinartz, 18

dairy Star Sponsor:Meyerhofer Bagging

Stacyville, IA507-259-5863

Claire Mullenbach, 18dairy Star Sponsor:

Foremost Farms USABaraboo, WI

800-362-9196

Murray CountyMower County

comfort for their animals. I would use personal examples. I think it is important to tell people how well dairy farmers take care of their animals. My family’s cows get feed every day before I eat. They get vaccinations and regular health checkups at prescribed times. They get to lie in a bed of sand and are free to roam their pens aside from the three times they leave to be milked at their scheduled time. They have fans and sprinklers working to keep them cool dur-ing the hot, muggy summer days we experience here Minnesota. These are all practices many dairy farmers use to keep the comfort of their cows at the highest level to reduce stress.

Cows have an acute sense of smell, and

can smell something up to six miles away.

Dairy Star • Saturday, May 14, 2011 • Page 13 Nicollet County continued olmsted County continued

olmsted County continued on next page

Parents: Roger and Melinda HoltegaardTown: Rochester What is your current status? I am a freshman at Winona State University, majoring in nursing. I’m a member of the nursing club at WSU. In addition, I am a youth leader in 4-H, and enjoy showing horses along with working on my family’s dairy farm. Tell us about your-self, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I grew up on my family’s third-genera-tion dairy farm, Blue Ho-rizon Farm, just outside of Rochester. We milk 300 cows in our double-6 her-ringbone parlor. We take care of about a thousand total head. I’m very active on the farm; I especially enjoy taking care of the calves and cutting hay. Work-ing on my family’s dairy farm has taught me patience, responsibility and teamwork. I plan on graduating from Winona State Universi-ty and their nursing program with the hopes of work-ing at the Mayo Clinic. As a nurse, I look forward to educating the public about the dairy industry, spe-cifically about the nutritional benefits on consuming dairy products. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audience. I would promote milk to college students. As a college student myself, I always hear about the dreaded ‘freshmen 15.’ As young adults newly out on our own, we can take steps towards a healthy lifestyle by having a glass of milk with our meals. Milk has nine essential nutrients and when you drink milk you close that nutrient gap. Studies have shown drinking more milk can prevent weight gain. By preventing weight gain, you will prevent chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis.

Parents: Ron and Michelle Heins Town: Eyota What is your current status? I am a student at Northeast Iowa Commu-nity College in Calmar, Iowa, where I am major-ing in dairy science tech-nology and ag business. Tell us about your-self, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I grew up on the same farm my dad was raised on with Regis-tered Guernsey cows, and gradually my parents tran-sitioned the herd to Regis-tered Brown Swiss cattle. Now we milk 200 Regis-tered Brown Swiss cows in a double-seven herring-bone parlor with compost bedding pack barns we built in 2006. My plans are to

Parents: Craig and Lana WienekeTown: Leota What is your current status? I just finished my freshman year at Iowa State University where I studied dairy science. Next fall, I will transfer to Northeast Iowa Community College to continue to study dairy science. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I live in the small town of Leota, Minn., and work on VanEssen Dairy Farm one mile outside of town. It is a small family-run farm that milks about 110 cows in a new robotic milking barn. In the future, I plan to graduate from col-lege and come back to my home area and use my dairy science degree in nutrition or herd management. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audi-ence. The product I would choose is ice cream. I would promote this by going to public events and serving it to people of all ages. While serving it, I would talk with people not only about ice cream, but about the dairy in-dustry and answer their questions. What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? A major concern in the industry on the farm is the well being of the animals and a concern off the farm is the price of dairy products in the store. When asked about the well being of the animals, I would tell people that farmers take pride in their ani-mals. The animals are the farmer’s income, so they need to be treated right in order to produce to their fullest. As for the concern of the prices of dairy products in the store, dairy farmers are doing their best to be efficient on their farms to keep prices in the stores down to consum-ers’ liking.

Parents: Dan and Shelley Schugel Town: New Ulm What is your cur-rent status? I’m cur-rently a sophomore at MSU-Mankato, majoring in sports management. I work at Hy-Vee and life-guard for the city. Tell us about your-self, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I’m 19 years old. I am from New Ulm, Minn., and am a 2009 graduate from New Ulm High School. On our dairy farm, my family milks 35 Holsteins on 300 acres and grows alfalfa, wheat, oats, corn and soy-beans. My future plans are to pursue a career in sports management and live in the Twins Cities area. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audience. I would choose cheese and tell people of all ages that people crave cheese more than any other food. You can eat mac and cheese, put it on your burg-

Parents: Steven and Kathleen Herberg Town: St. Peter What is your current status? I am a senior at St. Peter High School, but I have attended South Cen-tral College through the PSEO program for the past 1.5 years. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I live on a fourth-generation dairy farm where my family milks 60 Holstein cows. In addition to the milk cows, we grow corn, soybeans and alfalfa. My farm responsibilities include dairy milking, calf chores and occasionally field work. I am actively involved in 4-H, Minnesota Junior Holstein Association and FFA. My hobbies include showing cattle, travel-ing and spending time with family and friends. I will attend the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities starting this fall. I will work towards a degree in ag industry and marketing with an animal science minor. I look forward to a career in the dairy industry in the area of communi-cations and public relations. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audi-ence. I would choose milk as my dairy product and my audience would be teenage girls. I would inform them that drinking milk is much better for them than other sugar-filled drinks, and milk can help them lose weight and build strong bones. Drinking milk as a teenager will have good health benefits for the rest of their lives. What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? I think one of the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry, off the farm, is the negative light shed on dairy farming regarding cow care and the environment and how farmers care for the land we call home. I would share with the public that cow comfort is a number one priority on most farms; a happy cow is one that produces milk, so it’s vital for the producer to make sure the cows are comfortable. I would share that cows eat a balanced diet and have access to clean water twenty four hours a day. Our cows are also cared for by a vet-erinarian to ensure good cow health. I would also share that farmers live off the land so they find it important to be good stewards of the land. An example of how we are good stewards of the land at our farm is using environ-mentally safe cleaning products in our milk house thus reducing hazardous run-off water. Our compost barn is also environmentally friendly. A problem on the farm is profitability for dairy farm-ers. Milk prices, farmers receive, have fluctuated greatly the past 36 months. Profitability is a must for farms to stay in the dairy farming business.

Annabelle Holtegaard, 19dairy Star Sponsor:

Dairyland EquipmentPlainview, MN507-534-3161

Alana Heins, 19dairy Star Sponsor:Plainview Milk

ProductsPlainview, MN507-534-3872

Keela Wieneke, 19dairy Star Sponsor:Blue Hilltop, Inc.Lake Wilson, MN

507-879-3593800-821-7092

Danielle Schugel, 19

dairy Star Sponsor:AMPI

New Ulm Divisionwww.ampi.com

Molly Herberg, 18dairy Star Sponsor:Farmers’ Elevator

of St. PeterSt. Peter, MN507-931-2112

Nicollet County

Nobles County

Olmsted County

ers or just eat it alone. What do you feel are the biggest concerns fac-ing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? What the public take away when they hear other’s talking about raw milk and that organic is better. I would reassure them that milk goes through pasteurization and it has nine essential nutrients to provide you with a healthy, balanced diet. As long as they are drinking milk – whether it’s skim, whole or organic – it is important to have three servings every day.

graduate from NICC in December 2012 with degrees in dairy science technology and ag business. Then I plan to work for a business in the dairy industry be-fore returning to my parents’ farm, and gradually buy into the dairy. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audience. I would choose chocolate milk to promote to the parents of young children. I would promote chocolate milk by talking about its wonderful health benefits and its great taste. Sometimes children don’t always know what they should consume and they just want what tastes good. With chocolate milk, they get both. Parents are happy because their children are get-ting a great source of calcium, protein and other es-sential nutrients, while the kids are happy because it taste great. Parents should also be aware of the excel-lent health benefits that chocolate milk has for them. An active person should drink chocolate milk instead of drinking Gatorade after a workout. It is a great way to refuel the body with protein and carbohydrates that muscles need, and it is a tasty, nutritious treat. Choco-late milk is an easy way to get three servings a day. What do you feel are the biggest concerns fac-ing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? The biggest on-farm concern dairy farmers are facing is the uncertainty of the price of milk. Milk prices have fluctuated dramatically over the past couple of years and have put dairy farmers in financial strains. The big concern off the farm is the disconnect between agriculture and its consumers. A majority of the public does not know or understand where and how dairy products are produced. This leaves room for misconceptions about what we are doing on our dairy farms. We need to inform the public about what we are doing on our dairy farms. We should explain how farmers use the technology available to us to produce a wholesome product that is a good source of calcium and protein from cows that are healthy and happy.

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What do you feel are the biggest concerns fac-ing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? I feel that the biggest issue facing the dairy industry are false accusations about animal rights issues. I feel the best way to resolve this problem is for dairy farmers to be open about their daily animal prac-tices. As a dairy princess, I can take an active role by opening our dairy farm for public tours and educating the public on what really happens on the dairy farm. Dairy farmers are both loyal stewards of the land and devoted animal caretakers.

Parents: Edward and Sherri Twohey Town: Stewartville What is your current status? I am a sophomore at the University of Min-nesota-Twin Cities. I am majoring in agricultural education leadership and communications with mi-nors in animal science and mass communications. Tell us about your-self, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I am the oldest of five siblings and my family and I milk 230 grade and registered Holsteins. My earliest memory on the farm is of my grandpa and I bottle feeding calves. We would always have races to see whose calf would win. Little did I know, my grandpa grabbed the bottle with the larger nipple so he could win. This is just one of the memories that sparked my passion for the dairy industry. Growing up I was in-volved in dairy judging, Minnesota Junior Holstein Association, 4-H, and FFA. In college I am involved in the Gopher Dairy Club, the Agriculture Education Club, CFANS Student Board and Beta of Clovia So-rority. Being away at college has helped me realize how lucky I am to have been able to grow up on a dairy farm and how much I miss the cows when I am gone. My goal after I graduate is to obtain a job in public relations or communications for a dairy com-pany and to raise heifers for my family’s dairy farm. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audience. I would choose cottage cheese because it is one of my favorite dairy products. I would market the product to a group of teenagers. I chose to promote cottage cheese to teenagers because many do not eat cottage cheese and do not realize the potential health benefits that cottage cheese has to offer. I would pro-vide them with samples of different types of cottage cheese and a variety of fruits and other things com-monly eaten with cottage cheese. Along with the sam-ples I would stress the importance of cottage cheese. Cottage cheese is a food used to help maintain weight because it is very low in fat and carbohydrates but very high in protein. It is also a great source of cal-cium and vitamin D. Cottage cheese is also a common ingredient found in lasagna. What do you feel are the biggest concerns fac-

Parents: Bob and Barb PetitTown: Plainview What is your current status? I am currently a freshman at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, majoring in agricultural education with a minor in animal science. Tell us about your-self, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. When I am not in school, I live on my family farm near Plainview. My farm is a first-generation dairy farm, as my dad grew up on the farm raising hogs and sheep. We milk be-tween 50 and 60 cows in a 30-stall stanchion barn. We also raise corn and al-falfa on 160 acres for our feed. After graduation I would like to work as a 4-H program coordinator or with a dairy related business. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audience. My product would be yogurt and my audi-ence pre-teens.

Parents: Paul and Susan KylloTown: Byron What is your current status? Currently, I am a senior in high school. This summer, besides my dairy princess duties, I will be working for my parents on our farm. Tell us about your-self, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I have been homeschooled my whole life and have re-ally enjoyed the freedom and diversity it has given me. How many other kids get to help with a twisted stomach surgery for biol-ogy? Being at home has given me the opportunity to be more deeply involved with our farm. We milk around 95 cows. My main duty is caring for the baby calves until they are around 6 months old. I also milk once a week and fill in as needed. We own about 400 acres of land, 210 of which are tillable. This fall, I will be attending the Association Free Lutheran Bible School in Plymouth, Minn. After two years there, I plan to pursue a degree in law enforce-ment or aviation. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audience. I would choose to promote milk to a group of second graders. I think the best way to interest this age group is by visual aids to get their attention as well as something hands-on. I would show them what a cow eats, how she gets milked, and the process milk goes through to get from the farm to the grocery store shelf. Then, I would tie in how milk is a necessary part of their diet to help grow strong bones for all the activities they want to do. What do you feel are the biggest concerns fac-ing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? The biggest concerns are high cost of land, feed, and supplies along with the widely fluc-tuating milk prices are a big challenge for farmers. Another concern right now is the issue of how ani-mals are cared for. Animal rights activists would like to portray animal agriculture in a very negative light. I would address the public by telling them the truth – farmers work very hard to produce a tasty, whole-some product, and farmers are not getting rich at it. About the animal rights issue, I would tell them that farmers rely on their cows for the livelihood and that it is in their best interest to take good care of them. I would also mention the FARM Program.

Parents: Roger and Melinda HoltegaardTown: Rochester What is your current status? I am a freshman at North Dakota State Univer-sity majoring in equine sci-ence. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I grew up on my fam-ily’s dairy farm, Blue Hori-zon Dairy Farm, located in northeast Rochester, where we milk 300 Holsteins. The Blue Horizon Dairy Farm has been in my family since my grandpa, Raymond Holtegaard, bought the farm in 1949. Now my family’s farm is going into its third generation with my brother, Nathan Holtegaard, farming alongside our father, Roger Holtegaard. Today my family’s dairy farm continues to grow and thrive. My family farms 800 acres, raising all our own feed. We work hard and around the clock raising bull and heifer calves into prosperous cows and steers. By growing up and working on a dairy farm, I was able to have many different and wonderful opportuni-ties that most people do not get to experience. I had the chance to join clubs such as 4-H and FFA where I was able to train, care for and show cattle at the county and state fair. Because of dairy farming, I developed a strong interest and a deep respect for the dairy industry. I con-tinue to stay active in clubs such as 4-H, FFA, North Da-kota State University Dairy Club and NDSU Saddle and Sirloin Club, which broadens my knowledge about the industry. I worked on my family’s dairy farm every day doing different jobs from feeding calves to fixing fence. These jobs taught me tremendously about responsibility, time management and team work. I credit dairy farming for building my character and making me into a strong, hard working young adult. Dairy farming gave me and continues to provide me with amazing opportunities. Therefore, I plan to carry on with my interest and give back to the industry by staying involved and promoting the dairy industry. I also plan to continue my schooling at North Dakota State University and graduate with a degree in equine science. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that au-dience. I would promote chocolate milk to athletes by informing them about the great benefits of consuming chocolate milk after exercising. These benefits include gaining muscle, losing fat and refueling your body. Re-searchers have conducted studies that discovered milk is the best option for a post-workout beverage. Chocolate milk is the best choice because it’s a source of nine es-sential vitamins. It also contains high quality protein and carbohydrates and includes little sodium and sugar. What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? I believe the biggest concern for the dairy indus-try right now is the animal rights movement that is oc-curring. With the animal rights movement taking place, a lot of propaganda is happening which hurts the dairy industry. I would address the public about the propaganda by explaining how dairy farmers are wonderful animal caretakers and how they are great stewards of the land. Dairy farmers work hard every day to ensure animal safety and comfort. Not only do they respect the ani-mals, but they also respect the land. As a dairy princess and a daughter of a dairy farmer, I believe educating the public about the admiration that dairy farmers have for farming is extremely important.

Theresa Twohey, 20 dairy Star Sponsor:

All American Cooperative

Stewartville, MN507-533-4222

Kelsey Petit, 19 dairy Star Sponsor:Plainview Milk

ProductsPlainview, MN507-534-3872

Annette Kyllo, 18dairy Star Sponsor:

AMPIRochester Division

www.ampi.com

Marjorie Holtegaard, 19dairy Star Sponsor:

Dairyland EquipmentPlainview, MN507-534-3161

I remember being told to drink my milk as a little kid. It still holds true for me at this age. People need to have dairy products that contain calcium in their diets. I know a glass of milk may not be your favorite drink, and with busy lifestyles , it is not always the most convenient. So why not grab a container of yogurt? You will still get the great calcium needed for your growing bones. With so many flavors you are sure to find one or two you will love. Grab a container before sports practice, or have some with cereal in the morn-ing. It’s healthy for you, quick, ready to go and tastes great. I would also have yogurt sticks available for sam-ples. What do you feel are the biggest concerns fac-ing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? Animal Rights groups are a concern. Dairy farmers take great pride in their animals. Why would we want to inflict harm on the animals that produce milk, which is our income and our liveli-hood? Dairy farmers take special issues in the care for their cows from water mattresses to manicures (hoof trimming). We do what is best for our animals. I would ask animal rights activists if they have personally ever visited a farm or talked with a pro-ducer about the care of their animals, or if they are only going by what they have seen on the Internet. I would explain how we care for our animals with daily cleaning and bedding. We use very little medicine, instead, feeding properly and maintaining monthly health checks to prevent problems before they arise.

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ing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? Some of the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry today are education, animal welfare and concern for the environment. When addressing these concerns with the public, I would choose to focus on the positive aspects. First with education, there are many organizations out there actively working to promote the dairy industry. Along with those organizations, all the wonderful dairy prin-cesses across the state are working hard to educate the public about dairy. It is extremely important to continue to promote the dairy industry seeing as more and more people are becoming removed from the farm and agriculture. As far as animal welfare goes, there is some negative media out there concerning the dairy industry. On our farm the animals are treated with the utmost care and respect. As dairy farmers, it is our job to see that the animals are well cared for at all times. Dairy farmers take the best care of their ani-mals because it is the right thing to do. Lastly when it comes to the environment, dairy farmers are excellent stewards of the land. Dairy farmers live and work on their farms, so they understand the importance of pro-tecting our natural resources, so that it will be there for future generations.

Parents: Greg and Laura StageTown: Vesta What is your current status? I am currently a high school senior at Wa-basso Public High School. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I live and work on my family owned and oper-ated dairy and grain farm. We are currently milking 60-head of dairy cows and farming 1,000 acres of corn, beans and alfalfa. This fall I plan to attend South Dakota State University majoring in dairy manufacturing. Choose a dairy prod-uct and an audience, and tell us how you would pro-mote that product to that audience. If I had to choose one dairy product, I would choose cream cheese, and my audience would be the middle-aged group. I would promote cream cheese as a dairy product by first letting them know it is a dairy product, even though it is eas-ily forgot about. I would then go on to tell them about the many ways cream cheese can be eaten and different ways of cooking with it. What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these top-ics? I feel the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm are prices. I have talked to people not related to the dairy industry, and they have made com-ments about how dairy farmers should be making good money because the prices of products in the store are so expensive, but when looking at the amount of money you get for the milk, it isn’t an accurate amount. I would address the public about this topic first, by explaining the process milk has to go through to get it to the store as a finished product. I would also explain how the money we do make is put back into the cows for feed and supplies to put out a good quality milk to be made into dairy products.

Parents: Greg and Laura StageTown: Vesta What is your current status? I am a junior/senior at Southwest Minnesota State University. I would like to become an elemen-tary, early childhood educa-tor with a minor in special education. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I reside on my fam-ily’s dairy and grain farm. We milk 60 cows. We also harvest corn, beans and al-falfa on 1,000 acres of land. Choose a dairy prod-uct and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audience. In a class-room I would promote milk because the students always want to become big and strong, and drinking milk is a way for them to build strong bones. This technique would be especially ben-eficial to the young males in the class, but all of the students will want to drink milk to become bigger and stronger. I would also bring some milk to share with the students. What do you feel are the biggest concerns fac-ing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? I think many people in the community are concerned with the quality and cleanliness of our dairy products. I think many people are concerned that the products we produce are not safe to consume. Our products must be tested and pass a number of state and federal tests before they are sent to a dairy plant. At the plant, the fluid milk is tested again. It is also cleaned at the plant to ensure that it is safe for the con-sumers. The equipment the farmers use on the animals must be sanitized before and after use. A farm is not able to operate unless it passes inspection.

Parents: Robert and Bette Jean PaulzineTown: Lowry What is your current status? I am currently a senior at Minnewaska Area High School and will be graduating this May. Tell us about your-self, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I am the youngest of five chil-dren; I have one sister and three brothers. My oldest brother, Nate, farms with us. I am involved in vol-leyball, basketball, track and field, and am current-ly an officer for our FFA chapter. This past sum-mer I visited Washington, D.C., for the Washington Leadership Conference. I’m also involved with the art club. This past winter I got to visit Paris. I live on a small dairy farm milking 60 head of Holsteins and a few crossbreds. I help my brother milk whenever I can. We also have a small beef herd and raise all of our heifers and steers. We farm about 300 acres, which include pasture for rotational graz-ing, alfalfa, corn, small grain and beans. I’m very active in 4-H and enjoy showing dairy cattle, dairy steers, beef, swine, poultry, and many home environ-ment projects. I will be attending Alexandria Techni-cal and Community College for a two year program in health and fitness and later attending Anoka Technical College for physical therapy assistant. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audience. I decided to talk about cheese to seventh and eighth grade students; these are the students who are making their own decisions about their diets. They are also buying their snacks at school and after school events. String cheese is very easy for those kids to grab and stick in their back packs for whenever they get hungry. String cheese is very nutritional and low in fat. It is also very good. I often bring a 24-pack of string cheese on the bus for my team mates for on the way to an away game. They enjoy it so much, and it is easy for me because we get it right off the milk truck. I would promote this product by passing out samples at parades and ball games and telling people all the benefits of cheese and other dairy products. What do you feel are the biggest concerns fac-ing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? One of the biggest concerns is to con-vince consumers that dairy producers are committed to caring for their animals and the environment while providing a safe and healthy product and to not allow animal cruelty videos to be shown to the consumers without an investigation. The cattle injection site is another big issue, and requires protocol so they leave as little damage as possible. Injections are always giv-en in the neck triangle to minimize the damage to the saleable meat and it seems to minimize the trauma to the cow. I will talk to consumers so they know and believe in the products they buy at the grocery store. For con-sumers, animal and food safety is important. Milk contains nine essential vitamins and nutrients our bod-ies need. Dairy farmers understand this, and they take pride in knowing they are able to help Americans by providing them with safe and good tasting dairy prod-ucts they can enjoy every day. One step to educate all of us has already started with a 4-H program that makes it mandatory for all 4-Hers to attend Livestock Quality Assurance and Ethics Training. It teaches us to give shots and not to be cruel to our animals and how to care for them. I would also encourage con-sumers to not judge all producers by what they see on the news, but to look at the broader picture. The wel-fare of our animals is our success. Dairy farmers work hard every day to ensure the products that consumers buy are safe and healthy by taking good care of their animals. They have strong work ethic and sound val-ues.

Parents: Steve and Marla VilandTown: Pipestone What is your current status? I have finished my freshman year at South Dakota State University where I am majoring in animal science. Tell us about your-self, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I grad-uated from Pipestone Area Schools in 2010. While in high school, I participated in 4-H, FFA, track, band and cross country. In col-lege, I am involved with the SDSU Dairy Club. I grew up on our small fam-ily dairy farm, and I am very grateful for it. As of 2007, our farm became a Century Farm, and we have had dairy cattle for over 50 years. I started showing cattle when I was 4 years old, and it is one of my favorite hobbies. I intend to earn a bachelor’s degree in animal science from SDSU in May 2014. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audience. I would choose chocolate milk. I would speak to an audience of people who are concerned with the nutritional values of flavored milk and those who are considering taking flavored milk out of school lunches. I would let them know that milk is milk and will always be nourishing for their child. I would let the audience know that I have been drinking chocolate milk since second grade because of a taste aversion. With regular exercise, I have been able to keep my body extremely healthy. Recently, I heard my high school has started providing chocolate milk after sports practices, and I asked the athletic direc-tor about this. I was delighted to hear him say they have proven milk is one of the best drinks to “re-fuel.” Chocolate milk is definitely nature’s best sports drink. What do you feel are the biggest concerns fac-ing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? I feel the biggest concerns are the con-sumers’ view of the treatment of animals and their concerns about the nutritional value of dairy products. I would emphasize to the public that only happy, healthy and comfortable dairy cows produce the most plentiful amounts of milk. With high milk production along with longevity traits as a farmer’s goal, why would farmers mistreat their cattle if the cows are not going to perform as well compared to being happy? I would tell people there are always reduced fat op-tions available for dairy products. People can get milk that’s 98 percent fat free. Fluid milk is always whole-some and nutritious, and it is extremely beneficial for active people.

Della Stage, 17 dairy Star Sponsor:

Gorter’s Clay & Dairy Equipment

Pipestone, MN507-825-3271

Dalton Stage, 21dairy Star Sponsor:

Gorter’s Clay & Dairy Equipment

Pipestone, MN507-825-3271

Shayla Rae Paulzine, 18

dairy Star Sponsor:AMPI

Dawson Divisionwww.ampi.com

Meg Viland, 19dairy Star Sponsor:

Gorter’s Clay & Dairy Equipment

Pipestone, MN507-825-3271

Redwood CountyPope County

Pipestone County

Page 16 • Dairy Star • Saturday, May 14, 2011

Redwood County continued Renville County continued Rice County continued

Parents: Brian and Stacey GillenTown: Medford What is your current status? I am a senior at Faribault High School and also a Post-Secondary En-rollment Option student at South Central College. In addition to helping out on my parents’ dairy farm, I work at Faribault Ace Hard-ware as a sales associate and a cashier. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I live on a second-generation dairy and crop farm in Medford, Minn. We currently milk 90 Hol-stein cows, raise all our re-placement heifers and dairy steers, and crop farm 900 acres of soybeans, corn, al-falfa and oats. When I’m not in school or at my job in town, I work with my parents in the barn helping with the cows or driving tractor to assist with field work. My future plans are to obtain a degree in agribusiness at South Central College in North Mankato. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audi-ence. Milk would be the dairy product that I choose with my audience being teenagers. Teenagers tend to pick up a lot of bad eating habits, and we need to remind them of how these habits can affect their body as they get older. We need to tell them information about how good milk is for them and how easy it is to get this nutrient-filled product in many different favors and options.

Parents: Paul and Audrey DubanTown: Faribault What is your current status? I am currently fin-ishing up my senior year at Faribault High School. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I like to snowmo-bile, spend time outside and with my friends, show dairy cattle for 4-H and be on the farm. Our farm is run by my parents, two younger brothers and I. We milk 90 Ayrshire and Holstein cows and raise all of the young-stock. During the summer, our cows rotationally graze on pasture. I water, feed and bottle-feed the calves milk and also feed the heifers. I milk usually three nights a week or whenever it’s needed. Next year, I plan on attending Ridgewater College in Willmar and majoring in dairy management. I hope to someday either have my own farm or be an employed manager. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audi-ence. Kids need to learn at a young age how important drinking milk is and how getting their 3-A-Day of dairy products now is going to affect their bodies in the future. In order to promote that to kids, drinking milk has to be fun. You need to get their attention by using people they see as idols and showing them that they can be just like their hero if they drink their milk. Kids are eager to learn if you give them the opportunity to. What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? I think the biggest concern on the farm right now is how expensive it has become to dairy farm. The cows need to eat in order to produce milk and the price of everything – corn, fuel and everything in between – has risen. When you are only breaking even or losing money, it forces family farms to have to quit. Off the farm, the biggest concern is how the media sometimes portrays the dairy industry as being unsanitary and the animals not being treated how they should be. I would tell consumers that dairy farmers are always thinking about how to better their farms and work hard to keep their cows clean and healthy everyday.

Parents: Paul and Linda Dietz and Jodie Dietz Town: Faribault What is your current status? I am a senior at Bethlehem Academy High School in Faribault, Minn. Tell us about your-self, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I plan to attend the University of Wisconsin-River Falls as a double major in math and ag education. I work at RKB Dairy, which is my aunt and uncle’s, Kathy and Randy Bauers,’ farm. The farm has a mixture of Jerseys and Holsteins and milks about 100 cows. Choose a dairy prod-uct and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audience. I would choose to promote milk to an audience of women. I strongly believe women should drink milk as much as possible because of all its nutritional benefits that not only help prevent the onset of osteoporosis and also helps with weight management. To help promote milk to women, I have been talking to my classmates and underclassmen about all the benefits of milk. I will also attend as many events as I can as a dairy princess and promote milk as I talk with everyone. What do you feel are the biggest concerns fac-ing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? One concern facing the dairy industry is the issue of raw milk. The definition of “raw milk” is unpasteurized or homogenized milk. This basically means that it’s milk straight from the milk tank. Some people have turned to consuming raw milk products because of health and nutrition reasons; these products are thought to have higher levels of vitamins, enzymes, minerals and good bacteria than pasteurized milk products. The sale of raw milk products is cur-rently illegal because of poor health and safety code violations from the early 1900s. The bad reputation of raw milk products may have been justified back then, but things have changed. While the sale of raw milk products can be slightly beneficial to individual farmers, it can hurt the dairy industry. If more people go back to consuming raw dairy products, the price of milk may go down because the demand of milk may decrease. Because the sale of raw milk products is il-legal, if the people selling these products get caught or the people consuming the products become sick, there may be some consequences that not only reflect upon them but also other dairy farmers. The sale of raw dairy products may be illegal, but not all raw dairy products are “bad” for you as long as you know and trust your source.

Parents: Kirby and Ann AlbrechtTown: Fairfax What is your current status? I am a senior at Minnesota Valley Luther-an High School in New Ulm. I’m involved in ten-nis, basketball, golf, jazz band, a capella choir and National Honor Society. This will be my second summer working at Fort Ridgely State Park. Tell us about your-self, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I live on a farm south of Fair-fax with my parents and three sisters. My dad oper-ates a dairy and crop farm with my two uncles. They currently are milking 70 cows. I will be attending South Dakota State Univer-sity in Brookings this fall for a major in general stud-ies. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audience. I would choose milk as my dairy product to promote, and I would target my audience towards

Parents: Dennis and Jane PlaetzTown: Lucan What is your current status? I am attending the University of South Da-kota, pursuing a master’s degree in chemistry. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I grew up on Red-wine Dairy in southwestern Minnesota. My dad has 45 milking cows and 200 heif-ers and calves. Growing up, my sisters and I helped with chores whenever we could and I still enjoy going out to the barn whenever I’m home. I plan to attend phar-macy school after complet-ing my master’s degree. Af-ter becoming a pharmacist, I would like to work in a small rural community in Minnesota. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audi-ence. Milk has essential nutrients for everyone, whether you are 1 year old or 100 years old. Each new generation is living longer than the last, so it is even more important for people to take care of their body starting with child-hood. Calcium is the biggest nutrient milk provides, and while there is calcium in fortified orange juice and soy milk, the body can’t break it down into a usable source as readily as the calcium in milk. What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? I see an increase in misinformation concerning the treatment of livestock as one of the largest concerns. I think this is because most people are less connected to life on the farm than they used to be. While attending college, I met people from large cities who didn’t know much about farm life or dairy cows. They had the mis-conception that the animals were not treated well or as individuals. When people assume our animals are not treated properly, I am personally offended. When this happens, I correct them because these assumptions are clearly wrong. I have invited people with this misconception to our farm to show them how we treat our animals. I let them know dairy cows are a dairy farmer’s livelihood and when the cows are not fed, watered and taken care of they will not produce milk to their potential. While there is always room for improvement, dairy farmers are doing everything they can to make sure the animals are treated humanely. We have made tremendous progress with regard to cow comfort, and by improving cow com-fort we are simultaneously improving cow welfare.

Emily Gillen, 17dairy Star Sponsor:

Isaacson ImplementNerstrand, MN507-334-4059

Clarissa Duban, 18dairy Star Sponsor:Hastings Co-op

CreameryHastings, MN651-437-9414

Elisabeth Dietz, 18 dairy Star Sponsor:

Isaacson ImplementNerstrand, MN507-334-4059

Jessica Albrecht, 18dairy Star Sponsor:

Bongards’ CreameriesBongards, MN952-466-5521

Rachel Plaetz, 23dairy Star Sponsor:Farmers Co-Op

Association of Milroy504 Euclid AvenueMilroy, MN 56263 Rice County

Renville County

12- to 14-year-olds. Teaching them the importance of milk in their teen years would be my main focus. As kids enter middle school, they become more involved with athletics and are at the growing stage of their lives. Keeping milk in their diets is important in the formation of strong bones and healthy bodies. Milk also re-energizes the body after a physical workout. Informing teens at an early age will encourage them to drink milk on a daily basis. What do you feel are the biggest concerns fac-ing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? I feel the biggest concern facing farm-ers today is milk price instability. I want the public to know how dairy farmers contribute to our local econ-omies. When milk prices remain low for extended pe-riods, we start losing dairy farmers. This impacts rural communities in a negative way.

Rice County continued on next page

Dairy Star • Saturday, May 14, 2011 • Page 17

Rice County continuedRice County continued

Rock County continued on next page

What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? The biggest concerns facing the dairy industry are low dairy producer profit and price volatility. The reality is that the public really doesn’t under-stand these issues that producers are dealing with. We have to explain to them that we as producers cannot con-tinue supplying America’s food with profits being so low that we have to have some stability and work together.

Rock County

Parents: Cal and Char LubbenTown: Edgerton What is your current status? I am currently working as a hair stylist at MasterCuts in the Empire Mall in Sioux Falls. It is surprising the interaction I get with my clients to be able to reach out and inform them about the importance of the dairy industry. A lot of people find my story fascinat-ing, a hard working farm girl moving to the city to be a hairstylist. Yet, on days off, I go home to help work on the farm. Tell us about your-self, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I live and work in Sioux Falls, but I come home on my days off to work on my parent’s farm. Along with me are my twin brothers (18) and my younger sister (12). Cur-rently, we are milking around 200 cows and raising the calves. My dad also farms the land with crops; he has corn, soybeans and alfalfa. I assist in milking the cows, feeding calves and keeping up with records. At the age of 20, no one knows what their future will hold, who they will be or where they will be at, but I have an idea of what I want. I’d like to settle down and live on a dairy farm raising baby calves, yet continue working in the salon to interact with the general public. I want to raise a family and teach my kids responsibility and a good work ethic. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audience. I’d promote cheese to grade school kids. I

Parents: Wayne Brands, Dawn GunsalusTown: Luverne What is your current status? I am a sophomore at North Dakota State Uni-versity. I changed my ma-jor to pre-veterinary medi-cine, so I will be in Fargo three to four more years. After completing the pre-vet program at NDSU, I plan to apply to the Uni-versity of Minnesota vet-erinary program. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I have lived on a dairy farm my entire life. We milk 87 cows, most of which are Holsteins. Along with working on the farm, I am also a certi-fied nursing assistant at Mary Jane Brown Home in Luverne, Minn. After getting my veterinary license, I plan to move back to Luverne so I can stay connected to the ag industry I have known my entire life. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audience. I would promote yogurt to women over 50 years old. I would run a free program for those who are over 50 and at risk of developing bone loss – os-teoporosis. I would also include fun, tasty, healthy recipes where yogurt is used. What do you feel are the biggest concerns fac-ing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? I feel the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry are how safe the public thinks our milk is, and keeping our dairy animals healthy amidst the pathogens and diseases affecting our farms. I would tell the public that farmers are dedicated to providing the public with safe and high quality dairy products. We ensure our animals are given the best care possible and are given routine checks by lo-cal veterinarians.

Parents: Ray and Bridget Pieper Town: New Prague What is your current status? I am a freshman at Bemidji State University where I am majoring in secondary science educa-tion. Tell us about your-self, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I work on my parents’ dairy farm where we milk 360 cows two times a day. On the farm I milk the cows, feed calves and do other chores around the farm. Choose a dairy prod-uct and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audience. The dairy product I choose is milk and my audience is PETA. Milk does the body good. Milk was our first food and the only food that would have allowed us to survive. Milk contains nine essential nutrients and vitamins, including protein, vitamins A, D and B12, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, riboflavin, niacin, zinc and magnesium. All of these nutrients are needed in our daily diet for a complete balance of nutrition and to help maintain a healthy way of living. Government regulations have a zero tolerance and nobody ever has to worry about drinking an unsafe product. It is 100 percent safe to drink. What do you feel are the biggest concerns fac-ing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? The biggest concern the dairy industry has on the farm is trying to make a constant profit. The biggest concern facing the dairy industry off the farm is the animal rights activist groups Trying to make a constant profit in the dairy in-dustry has always been a major problem farmers face. Without a guaranteed profit every year, more and more farmers are leaving the dairy industry, and with-out farmers there would be no milk. Animal rights ac-tives groups like PETA say that dairy animals are not cared for and using the products they produce is inhu-mane. This is a huge problem because when groups of people say false information about farming, farmers get a bad name and a false image.

Parents: Paul and Linda MeyerTown: Faribault What is your cur-rent status? I am a senior at Faribault High School, and I am employed as a lifeguard and swim lesson instructor at the Faribault Community Center. I also help out on my family’s dairy farm. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. After graduating, I plan to attend Bemidji State University next year. I teach swimming lessons and am a lifeguard at the Faribault Family Aquatic Center and Faribault Community Center, and I teach Sunday school at my church. I am also involved with the First United Bank’s Junior Board of Directors in my commu-

Parents: Paul and Barb LiebensteinTown: Dundas What is your current status? I am a junior at South Dakota State Uni-versity majoring in dairy production and agriculture business. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. At school I am an active member of the dairy club and a staff member of Little International, a club that puts on judging con-tests for high school kids and showmanship contests from college kids. Upon graduating I plan to work in the ag industry and return home some day. I grew up on a 400-cow dairy in Dun-das, Minn., with my young-er sister, Mary. Our farm is a first generation dairy that my Dad started. Our farm hosts 500 to 700 people a year on tours, with groups as large as 300 people. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that au-dience. I would choose to promote chocolate milk to a school board that is considering removing it from their lunch room because I think it is important to keep dairy products in schools. I would let them know that there are many health benefits to kids consuming chocolate milk. Not all kids like white milk, and if chocolate milk keeps them consuming the nutritious product it is worth it. Even though there is a sugar content, the nutrient value of the milk out weighs the sugar content. What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? The biggest concern facing the dairy industry is the public’s misunderstanding on what it takes to feed the world. The public is now almost three generations removed from farms and have many misconceptions about how we take care of the land and our animals. It usually takes just a little education to help people better understand where their food comes from and that we are doing a very good job with what we have been called to do. As dairy farmers, it is important to be honest and share with the public why we do what we do. I think the best way we do this is by being open to having tours, and sharing our story with anyone who wants to learn more about the daily care dairy farmers give their cows.

Tina Lubben, 20dairy Star Sponsor:

Gorter’s Clay & Dairy Equipment

Pipestone, MN507-825-3271

Katelyn Brands, 19dairy Star Sponsor:

Gorter’s Clay & Dairy Equipment

Pipestone, MN507-825-3271

Maria Pieper, 19dairy Star Sponsor:

Land O’LakesMelrose, MN320-256-7461

Jessica Meyer, 18 dairy Star Sponsor:

Isaacson ImplementNerstrand, MN507-334-4059

Grace Liebenstein, 20dairy Star Sponsor:

Land O’LakesMelrose, MN320-256-7461

nity. At school I am involved in Link Crew, the Rotary Strive program, band, pep band, track and cross country. My family lives and works on a sixth-generation dairy farm that has been in my family for 150 years. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that au-dience. I would promote milk to adolescents by telling them about all the benefits of milk such as its abundance of calcium and other vitamins and minerals. As people age their bones are more susceptible to breaks and frac-tures. Calcium is a necessity for bone health and also helps prevent the onset of osteoporosis. What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? I think the public’s misconceptions of animal welfare is a big concern. I would explain to them that the dairy farmers care for and maintain adequate housing for their animals. From calf to cow these animals are the livelihood of the dairy producers and their families and the farmers de-pend on their animals to be as productive as possible.

The average cow produces enough

milk each day to fill six one-gallon jugs, about 55 pounds of

milk.

Page 18 • Dairy Star • Saturday, May 14, 2011Rock County continued Scott County continued

The greatest amount of milk produced in one year

was 59,298 lbs by a Holstein cow named Robthom Sue Paddy.

would start off by informing them that cheese is ev-erywhere. Cheese is on pizza, on burgers, in grilled cheese sandwiches, and there is string cheese. Cheese is a healthy, nutritious, quick and easy snack to grab on the run. In our county, during parades, we throw out cheese sticks to help promote dairy. What do you feel are the biggest concerns fac-ing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? I feel a big issue concerning the dairy industry is getting people on the same understanding of animal care and treatment. Sometimes the general public has the wrong interpretation or don’t under-stand what happens on the farm fully. I always reas-sure them that no matter what they have heard farmers are fully committed to providing their animals with the best care possible, which in turn provides them with safe, high quality dairy products.

Parents: Randy and Cheryl WarnerTown: New Prague What is your current status? I am currently a stu-dent at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minn., pursing a nursing degree. I work both on the dairy farm with my dad, Randy, and have a campus job. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I am a full-time stu-dent at Gustavus with plans of graduating with a nursing degree and minor in dance. I am a member on the Gusta-vus Adolphus College dance team, play volleyball and en-joy running track. I have an older sister (Rochelle) and two younger brothers (Austin and David), making me one of four children. My mom, Cheryl, is a substitute teacher for the New Prague School District and my dad, Randy, is a dairyman. I live on a 300-acre dairy farm where we milk 85 Hol-stein cows and raise corn and soybeans. I am a third-gen-eration 4-Her and showed cattle along with other general projects at Scott County for 12 years. I had the opportunity, as every 4-Her’s dream, to show at the Minnesota State Fair five years in a row. In the future, I plan to continue promoting the dairy industry in any way possible with ap-pearances in banks, parades and libraries, educating con-sumers and the general public about the dedication farmers and producers have to provide safe, healthy and delicious products for consumers to enjoy. Hopefully, in the years to come you will see my face carved in 90 pounds of butter at the State Fair as your Princess Kay. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audience. “Ah! The power of cheese!” If I had to pick a dairy product to promote to children, I would pick my favorite ... cheese. In order to promote this product to children, we would first sample cheese. As I am sitting enjoying my favorite snack, I would explain the many different types of cheese offered because everyone knows hands-on participation is a very effective way of learning. As we are sampling the cheese, we could discuss the process of making cheese starting with the farmers to how it finally reaches the consumer. We could watch a tour of how my sponsor Le-Sueur Cheese Company makes the many flavors of cheese and make it interesting for kids. There are many flavors and types of cheese to choose from, so I would promote kids finding their favorite types and having fun eating it. Education is the first step in promoting any product. I would talk to the kids about how nutritious cheese is for the body and es-sential in promoting strong health. Finally, I would expose them to how accessible consumption of cheese products are ranging from string cheese as a quick snack in the car, cheese and crackers at a party, and grilled cheese for lunch or just a slice of cheese on a burger. I find the combina-tion of personal experience, visual and oral exposure, to be an effective strategy. As a dairy princess, I believe it is my duty to education everyone on the importance of dairy products by starting with the younger generations that will be able to teach future generations and go back to their par-ents. What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? Many farms are failing in these hard financial and econom-ic times. The dairy industry is losing the family-farm feel, which is being replaced with large corporation farms and robots. With the drop in milk prices and increasing feed ex-penses, it is hard for farmers to come out ahead or hang on. Without family farms, we lose history, families lose jobs and incomes, and the general public loses those farmers willing to educate and producers who show pride in their work 365 days a year under all conditions. Farmers take care of their animals and consumers, but who is taking care of and looking out for the farmers? Everyone goes through their ups and downs, and all we can do is support the farmers of Minnesota who provide for consumers and hope for better times to come. Taking the time to educate and explain to the public what problems face the American family farm is crucial to increase aware-ness of the struggles they face each day. After consumers are aware of these current problems, they can appreciate the work and sacrifice farmers put forth to produce quality product for consumers, as well as why we need farmers forever. As a dairy princess, I plan to support these farmers and spread awareness to all consumers about the benefits and dedication farmers put forth for our overall health.

Parents: Mary Ann and John RuehlingTown: New Prague What is your current status? I am currently at-tending New Prague High School and helping on our dairy farm. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your fu-ture plans. My dad’s great grandfather founded our farm in 1826. I’m the fifth generation to live on this farm. My uncle, Marty, and my dad have a partnership. We milk 220 Holstein cows, raise all of our youngstock and run about 1,600 acres. I help year-round with the milking and animal care. When I’m not in school, I drive tractor to shred stalks and help wherever needed. I’m also active in 4-H and show prospect calf, sheep and dog among other projects. We also have horses, cats and chickens. After high school, I plan on helping on the farm until I’m sure of my future plans. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that au-dience. I’d like to address any group of people to let them know my favorite dairy product is Bongards Ba-con Cheese. I love this cheese because it has a creamy texture. I love to put it on crackers or add it to macaroni and cheese. It can be added to basically anything to add a smoky and cheesy flavor. What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? One of the biggest concerns I have would be educating the public about the importance of farming and letting them know someone has to feed the world. During the last housing boom, my dad was told by a city official that “our land was too valuable to be wasted on farming.” I am worried that that person isn’t alone in this way of thinking; where would that leave us for the future? I would try to give the public honest and straight forward answers.

Parents: Tim and Jody O’LoughlinTown: Shakopee What is your current status? I am a junior in high school, and I also work part time. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. My grandparents own a dairy farm in Sha-kopee that the whole fam-ily is involved on. I help with fieldwork, feeding the calves and other odd jobs. I plan to study to be veteri-nary technician at Ridgewa-ter College in Willmar in the fall of 2012. I was born and raised in Shakopee and enjoy dance, cheerleading, 4-H and FFA. I enjoy show-ing cattle, working with them every day and revolv-ing my whole summer around them. I am also on my FFA chapter dairy judging team. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audi-ence. I would choose ice cream and promote it to young children and teens. I would do this through presentations at their schools, handing out ice cream and showing them the good all farmers do to create products. What do you feel are the biggest concerns fac-ing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? One major concern is the milk prices. The rise in gas prices also is affecting farmers because fuel is needed to run all the equipment that plant, harvest and dry crops as well as just doing everyday chores. Being the daughter of a crop farmer, I know my dad is concerned about the rising fuel costs because it im-pacts all the other products farmers need to be success-ful. Fertilizer and seed prices, as well as the prices of many other things, have increased because it costs a lot more to ship them to each farm.

Parents: Dale and Shelli Van WestenTown: Steen What is your current status? I am a senior at Hills-Beaver Creek High School. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I am active in FFA, Mock Trial, Math League, and Knowledge Bowl in school. I live on an acre-age with my parents and have sheep and cow/calf pairs. I work at Teune’s Dairy where I milk cows, do calf chores, and clean the equipment. This fall, I will attend Northeast Iowa Community College in Calmar for dairy science technology. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audience. I would promote string cheese to an audi-ence of parents of young children, about preschool age. I would tell these parents that string cheese is a healthy, fast snack that can improve their child’s bones, muscles, organs and other tissues. When served in the proper amount, cheese not only provides calcium, but protein, vitamin A and vitamin D as well. What do you feel are the biggest concerns fac-ing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? I feel the biggest concern facing the dairy industry on the farm is with cost and production. Off the farm, I feel the biggest concern is the public’s misguided views of animal health and treatment. If I was asked about the concern of cost and pro-duction, I would tell the public that it is a real strug-gle. The cost of feed, medicine, and other necessities is going up and the price of milk is low. They may suggest that dairy farmers produce more milk to com-bat the problem, but it would cost more to raise more animals. If I was asked about animal health and treat-ment, I would say the media focuses on the negative. Dairy farmers want their animals to be healthy and treated right because that means better milk produc-tion. There are always cases of a few “bad apples,” but as a whole, I feel dairy farmers want their animals to be in the best condition possible.

Kayla Warner, 19dairy Star Sponsor:

Waconia Farm SupplyWaconia, MN888-741-3276

Maggie Ruehling, 17

dairy Star Sponsor:River Country Co-op

Montgomery, MN507-364-5059

Erica O’Loughlin, 17dairy Star Sponsor:

AMPIRochester Division

www.ampi.com

Alaina Van Westen, 18dairy Star Sponsor:

Gorter’s Clay & Dairy Equipment

Pipestone, MN507-825-3271

Scott County

Dairy Star • Saturday, May 14, 2011 • Page 19 Stearns County continuedSibley County continued

Stearns County continued on next page

Stearns County

Sibley County

Parents: Richard and Cindy KlaphakeTown: Freeport What is your current status? I am a senior at Melrose High School and will graduate on June 3. I work on a 160-cow dairy north of Albany on week-ends. Also, I go out for chores every morning at home with my mom and dad before school. Tell us about your-self, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I live on a 45 cow dairy. My parents own Holsteins and I love to be out in the barn. I like to milk and feed calves. I also help with most of the field work. I can do pretty much anything other than combine. I love to cut hay. I am a member of Adley Creek 4-H Club and Melrose FFA. This fall I am at-tending Ridgewater College in Willmar for Dairy Management. I am very excited to start this fall. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audience. If I were to promote a dairy product, it would be milk to first graders because I feel we need to get younger children to want to drink milk instead of pop and other non-nutritious drinks. I would have fun games for the kids to play and learn about not only milk but the dairy industry. Giving them a game to play would not only test their knowledge but also teach them. After all most first graders are very com-petitive. I would also show them a video from when the milk comes out of the cow to when in ends up in households. What do you feel are the biggest concerns fac-ing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? My biggest concern for the dairy indus-try would be all the negative publicity on the internet and made up facts. When you go to Google and type in “Dairy Industry” you find more negative Web sites than positive ones. When asked about all the negative publicity out there, I would say farmers could help this if they all made up a Web site on their farm show-ing people how things are done and all the regulations farmers have to follow to be able to sell there farms.

Parents: Randy and Sherry BertramTown: Spring Hill What is your current status? I am a senior in high school. Tell us about your-self, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I live on a 50 cow dairy about a mile from Spring Hill with my parents, two brothers and sister. I help out at home with milking, feeding, and fieldwork. I also work on a 500 cow dairy by Melrose. I plan on attending Ridge-water College this fall for agri-business. Choose a dairy prod-uct and an audience, and

Parents: Craig and Cindy AchenTown: Sauk Centre What is your current status? I am a junior at the University of Minnesota majoring in animal science with a dairy emphasis and a minor in leadership. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. My family previ-ously owned and oper-ated Achen Family Dairy just south of Sauk Centre. Growing up, my main re-sponsibility was milking the herd of 70 cows. Recently, my family and the herd moved to Indiana; however, my family is still in partner-ship in Union Dairy near West Union, Minn. I have maintained my residency, activities and interest here in Minnesota. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audi-ence. I would promote the use of cheese and other dairy products in preparing meals to moms. I would do this by inviting moms to a cooking demonstration and show them how easy it is to add cheese to all kinds of recipes. While doing this, I will highlight the nutritional value of dairy products. What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? One of the biggest concerns facing the dairy in-dustry on and off the farm is the difference in opinions of raw milk. Recently, I was approached by one of my classmates seeking a nearby farm where he could purchase raw milk from a pasture based farm to make his own dairy prod-ucts. I genuinely appreciated his ambition but wanted to know more. I asked him why raw milk would be the best option. He described that raw milk from a pasture based farm is a more natural option and believed that it was more nutritious because the cows were in an en-vironment that they evolved from. He understood what pasteurization was but thought that it denatured the milk and made it less nutritious. We carried on a conversation where I shared that dairy farmers, like my family’s farm, care for our cattle by providing them with a nutritious ration, a constant supply of clean water and a comfort-able place to rest.

Parents: Ken and Gwen WendingerTown: Arlington What is your current status? In fall I will be a junior at Southwest Min-nesota State University in Marshall, Minn. I am cur-rently pursuing an agribusi-ness major with concentra-tions in farm management and finance. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. My family is made up of myself, my parents, my five older brothers and their families. We all help around the farm as much as possible. We milk 83 Hol-stein dairy cows and run about 500 acres of land. Choose a dairy prod-uct and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audience. I would choose chocolate milk and my au-dience would be sports teams of all ages. When com-pared to sports drinks, chocolate milk after practices and workouts is more beneficial. Chocolate milk has natural sugars the body can break down easily, has protein to refuel the athletes and calcium to keep bones strong and able to sustain pressure and stress from workouts. What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? Right now there are a few major issues concern-ing the dairy industry, one is that $7 corn is not helping feed costs by no means. Another is that there are consid-erably less farms now, but some of the ones that are left

Parents: Jim and Jody OelfkeTown: Hamburg What is your current status? I am completing my freshman year at North Dakota State University in Fargo, with a major in pub-lic relations and advertising and a minor in agricultural communications. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. My family and I re-side on our century dairy farm in Hamburg. We milk about 190 registered Jer-seys. While keeping busy with the dairy industry, we also have our own cash crop business. My parents, grandpa, three siblings and I all do our part to make certain everything runs ef-ficiently on the farm. Whether it begins with feeding calves, mixing feed or milking cows; we understand that every aspect is important to ensure that our animals are healthy and well-cared for. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audi-ence. Yogurt is the perfect on-the-go, nutrient-rich snack for any age. One third of your dairy calcium require-ments can be satisfied with an 8-ounce serving of yogurt. My yogurt promotion would entail the many varieties of yogurt and the incredible convenience. For example yogurt can be purchased in a tube-like package for busy, active families. Whether you prefer a dessert-like flavor or classic strawberry, yogurt can be a great budget smart choice. What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? A concern facing the dairy industry today on and off the farm is the long term commitment that dairy farms have to protect the environment and their commu-nities. I would assure the public that dairy farmers are responsible caretakers of their land. A common public concern would consist of water conservation and wa-ter quality. Farmers are committed to maintain a clean water supply for the community, families, and for their cattle. More specifically, it is important to provide dairy cattle with safe, clean water to produce wholesome, high-quality milk.

Kate Klaphake, 17dairy Star Sponsor:

ElmDale Creamery & Locker

Elmdale, MN320-573-2607

Amanda Bertram, 18

dairy Star Sponsor:Central Minnesota

Credit Union888-330-8482 myCMCU.org

Emily Achen, 21dairy Star Sponsor:Dairy Star, LLC

Sauk Centre, MN320-352-6303

RoseAnn Wendinger, 19dairy Star Sponsor:

Bongards’ CreameriesBongards, MN952-466-5521

Janet Oelfke, 19dairy Star Sponsor:

State Bank of Hamburg

Hamburg, MN952-467-2992

have greatly increased in size. Also consumers seem to need more security about the regulation of dairy prod-ucts. The best way to address the public about the secu-rity of dairy products is to inform them that dairy is one of the most regulated industries, withstanding multiple tests throughout production to ensure quality. Also, of-fering consumers choices such as organic gives them the ability to have peace of mind when buying great dairy products for their families.

tell us how you would promote that product to that audience. Well, I would have to choose cheese as the dairy product and people my age as the audience. I would promote cheese by showing people how easy it is to include cheese in any meal. It adds flavor and also has nutrients that are easily forgotten with a busy school and work schedule. Whether you slice it, melt it, shred it, cheese can easily be added to anything. What do you feel are the biggest concerns fac-ing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? Right now I think that gas prices are a big concern to everyone. It will be a lot more expen-sive to put the tractors in the field this spring with the gas and diesel prices going over $4 a gallon. It affects milk truck drivers and other transport jobs that go over a hundred miles in a day, too. The milk price is also a concern with farmers. There are more and more farmers selling their cows in the last couple years because the income just doesn’t even out with the expenses anymore. I would just say it like it is. Everyone is going through hard times. It is going affect you in some way no matter where you live or what you do. Problems are fixed with a bit of thinking and hard work.

Page 20 • Dairy Star • Saturday, May 14, 2011

Stearns County continued Steele County continued

Swift County

Steele County

Parents: Kevin and Kim VoorheesTown: Benson What is your current status? I have completed my freshman year at Pre-sentation College in Aber-deen, S.D. I am pursuing a career in ag business. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. Our family owns and operates a 300-cow dairy near Danvers, Minn., named LenMar Farms. The dairy farm name stands for my grandparents Leonard and Margaret Voorhees who began the dairy. Our goal is to continue to raise healthy, content cows that produce quality, wholesome dairy products. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audience. As a dairy princess, I am motivated to encourage and educate elementary children about the importance of drinking milk and including dairy products in their diet. By visiting classrooms, I have the opportunity to share my knowledge about our cows and the dairy industry and the importance of drinking milk to stay healthy and active. What do you feel are the biggest concerns fac-ing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? High feed costs have a crucial effect on the profitability of Minnesota’s dairy farms. While trying to manage a successful, environmentally sound dairy operation, farmers are very concerned about new regulatory guidelines of the E.P.A. Despite high feed costs, dairy farmers continue to provide their cows with the best care to produce a quality product for the consumer while complying with environment friendly practices.

Parents: Mike and Julie MussmanTown: Claremont What is your current status? I am a senior at the Owatonna High School. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I am proud to repre-sent the third generation to live and work on our fam-ily’s dairy farm with my two sisters. My family and I maintain 100 Holsteins, milking about 40 cows and raise alfalfa, oats, corn and soybeans on 400 acres of land. I am involved in FFA, 4-H, National Honor Soci-ety, symphony orchestra, dairy judging, dairy bowl and Farm Bureau. I will be traveling to Europe this June to compete at the International Dairy Judging Contest. I plan to attend the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities with a major in agriculture education. I

Parents: Pete and Karen KasperTown: Owatonna What is your current status? I am a freshman majoring in agricultural education (leadership and communications emphasis) with minors in animal sci-ence and sustainable agri-culture at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I am a member of 4-H and FFA. I enjoy the Gopher Dairy Club, Ag Ed Club, Collegiate Agri-Women and Beta of Clovia Sorority on campus. On my family’s farm, we milk 280-registered Holstein and Jersey cows. I have enjoyed growing up on our fam-ily dairy with my siblings, Tony and Caitlin. My duties on the farm include milking cows in our double-8 parlor, feeding calves and miscellaneous work around the farm. I also enjoy helping with field and yard work. Upon graduation in May of 2014, I plan to continue to grow my dairy herd and obtain a job in agricultural marketing. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audi-ence. Since milk is my favorite dairy product, I would begin by letting consumers know that our dairy cows are comfortable and well cared for. They are fed according to their nutritional needs, and we have a nutritionist who looks over our feed ration to ensure the cows are healthy. This combination allows cows to produce the most per-fect snack – milk. Milk is a healthy snack for anytime of the year; it contains calcium and eight other essen-tial nutrients that you should enjoy three times daily. On my family farm, we are proud to work hard and produce high quality products for you. What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? I believe animal care is becoming an increas-ingly popular topic both on and off the farm. Product safety is another topic that I feel is at the forefront of consumers’ minds. I feel, as a dairy princess, both of these topics are important to address with consumers, and I know we can make a difference. Dairy farmers have a strong sense of pride for their farms; it is where families are raised and where life is celebrated. On my family farm, we take many measures to ensure our cattle have comfortable bedding, fresh wa-ter and feed, and are well cared for. Our cattle are pro-vided with comfortable bedding and are visited regularly by our veterinarian and nutritionist in order to maintain optimal health. All of this is done to ensure that our cat-tle are comfortable and produce the healthiest products. Dairy products are safe; they are among the most highly regulated foods in the country. On average it takes just 48 hours for milk to travel from farm to grocery store, ensuring the best product for consumers.

Parents: Steve and Julie MiddendorfTown: Sauk Centre What is your current status? I am currently a senior at Sauk Centre High School. I work on the fam-ily farm and waitress at the Padua Pub. Tell us about your-self, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. At Sauk Centre High School, I am a member of the ten-nis team, an editor for the yearbook, and a member of the FFA. I live on a dairy farm south of Sauk Centre where my family milks 85 cows. My du-ties include feeding young livestock, milking cows, and doing a variety of field work during the summer. I plan to attend NDSU this fall for architecture. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audience. I would talk to a group of elementary stu-dents about cheese. I would talk about the many vari-eties available, the nutritional value, and the process of how it is made. I would also bring a few samples along to share with the classes. We would also enjoy an activity together such as a game. What do you feel are the biggest concerns fac-ing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? Milk prices are always a concern, but I feel that the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry today include animal welfare and environmental is-sues. I would explain to the public that dairy farmers do everything in their power to take good care of their animals and give them clean water, nutritional feed and comfortable housing. As far as environmental issues are concerned, a lot has been done to address many of the feedlot and manure issues. Dairy farmers understand the importance of conserving and protect-ing the natural resources that surround us.

Parents: Vernon and Michelle MeierTown: Watkins What is your current status? I currently attend Ridgewater College where I am majoring in dairy management. Right now I have an internship through school working on a 600-cow dairy located south of Richmond. Tell us about your-self, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I grew up on a calf raising facil-ity where we raised calves for several different dairy farms. After my family moved off the farm, I got a job at a 300-cow dairy farm located north of Cold Spring. I am currently working for a 600-cow dairy farm as my internship through school where I am a herdsperson. My future plans include graduating from college with an AAS degree in farm operations and management with a dairy emphasis. I also plan to either buy or work/tran-sition into a dairy farm. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audience. I would choose ice cream and promote it to a general audience by saying that there is a flavor for everyone. What do you feel are the biggest concerns fac-ing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? Low milk prices, high feed prices and PETA. Dairy farmers work hard every day to take care of their cows because their cows are their source of live-lihood. They need to take care of their cows to make a profit to support their families.

Kaylee Voorhees, 19

dairy Star Sponsor:Glacial Plains Cooperative

De Graff, MN320-843-5364

Kelsey Mussman, 18

dairy Star Sponsor:Story Sales & Service

Faribault, MN800-491-3724

Stephanie Kasper, 19

dairy Star Sponsor:Northland Farm

SystemsOwatonna, MN800-385-3911

AMPIRochester Division

www.ampi.com

Leah Middendorf, 18dairy Star Sponsor:

Elrosa Grain and Feed Inc.Elrosa, MN

320-697-5515

Kirsten Meier, 19dairy Star Sponsor:

Cold Spring/St. Joseph/Paynesville Veterinary

Clinic P.A. 320-685-3237

hope to someday become an agriculture teacher, FFA advisor and have my summers “off” to show cattle across the state of Minnesota. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audience. I would pick milk and target it towards mothers because the one thing they are concerned about is the health of their children. Mothers want the healthiest foods in their children’s daily diet. Milk is a powerhouse of nine essential nutrients and vitamins while still providing a healthy nutritious drink for the whole family to enjoy. It really is the best bang for their buck. What do you feel are the biggest concerns fac-ing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? The biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm are the care of our ani-mals, land and the environment. I would let the consumer know that in order to provide a wholesome, nutritious product it begins with taking good care of their cows. Veterinarians and dairy farmers have a close relationship because both are inevitably working towards keeping their cows healthy and comfortable. A dairy farmer’s cows will receive checkups, vaccinations and anything that needs to be done to maintain their health. Dairy farm-ers also live near the land they farm, so they recognize the significance of protecting natural resources.

It takes 12 pounds of whole milk to

make one gallon of ice cream.

Dairy Star • Saturday, May 14, 2011 • Page 21 todd County continued todd County continued

Parents: Bill and Jody DurowTown: Mazeppa What is your current status? I am a junior at the University of Minnesota majoring in animal science dairy industry. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your fu-ture plans. When I am not away at college, I help on our 120-acre family dairy farm in Mazeppa. We milk approximately 50 Holstein and Brown Swiss cows, and we raise corn and al-falfa for feed. My future plans include coming back to the farm to continue my involvement in agriculture in addition to owning my own bovine ultrasounding business. I would also like to professionally judge dairy cattle. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audience. The dairy product I like to promote to adults is cheese. Consumers have a wide variety of options for different tastes because of the many dif-ferent flavors. Besides this, cheese is a very versatile product. It can be used in cooking, as a garnish, or just as a snack. Also, cheese is one of the few dairy prod-ucts that can be consumed by people who are lactose intolerant. What do you feel are the biggest concerns fac-ing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? I feel a large concern in the dairy indus-try, for the producers and the consumers, is providing a safe and quality product. I would say dairy farmers take pride in provid-ing a safe and quality product for consumers. Since a dairy cow is a farmer’s livelihood, it is beneficial to make sure the cow is healthy and comfortable throughout her life. This results in a wholesome qual-ity and nutritious product being produced. A final point I would make is dairy products are also one of the most regulated food products in America through quality inspections.

Parents: Mike and Keri SalberTown: Browerville What is your current status? I am currently a student at Browerville Public High School where I am a senior. Tell us about your-self, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I am an 18-year-old farm girl who lives on a 72-cow or-ganic dairy farm. I enjoy feeding the baby calves and watching them grow. I am the fifth child out of six children. I have four older brothers and one younger sister. My parents have farmed organically since 2003. I plan on going to

Parents: Mike Motl and Kim HarffTown: Browerville What is your current status? I just finished my freshman year at Gustavus-Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minn., where I am pursuing a degree in chem-istry and following the pre-medicine program. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. My family farms 300 acres near Browerville where we milk around 85 Holstein cows. When I am home, I am responsible for taking care of the calves and relief milking if needed. On campus, I am involved in Chemistry Club and Pre-Health Club. I am also in-volved in 4-H. I plan to at-tend medical school and become a doctor after college. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audi-ence. A great product that I would choose to promote is cheese. Specifically, moms can utilize cheese as a good source of calcium and eight other essential nutrients for their families. Cheese is one of the most versatile products available in the food industry and it is great for all ages. Cheese makes it easy for moms to ensure their children are receiving their three servings of dairy every day because it can be eaten in such a variety of ways. It is very simple to pack a cheese stick in your child’s lunch or to put some cheese in lasagna for dinner. Most importantly, moms can be sure that they are getting the most for their money with dairy products. They can be sure of this because they will be feeding their family a powerful nutrient-packed dairy product helping them to stay healthy and strong. What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? Currently, one of the greatest concerns facing the dairy industry is that most of the general public is generationally removed from the farm. This makes it difficult for their questions about our industry to get answered since dairy farmers are constantly working, 365 days a year. However, dairy farmers are working hard to remedy this by utilizing social media as a tool to share our message with consumers. With everyone us-ing Facebook and Twitter, it makes sense for the dairy industry to also become involved. Through outlets like these, dairy farmers can easily show consumers how they care for their animals with compassion daily, and how dairy products get from farm to you.

Parents: David and Shirley HulinskyTown: Burtrum What is your current status? I am currently at-tending Central Lakes Col-lege in Brainerd and will graduate this spring. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I am proud to come from a 300 acre, 60 cow dairy farm near Burtrum where we milk Holsteins, Jerseys, Brown Swiss and Milking Shorthorns. I en-joy working together as a family on our farm, where we struggle and succeed together. One of my favor-ite sayings is that there has never been a career more about family than farming. In the future I hope to re-main close to the dairy industry, for it has made me who I am today. I would like to become a nutritionist or work on a calf raising operation. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audi-ence. I would have to go with milk, aiming my message towards teenagers. There are some teenagers who think dairy products are fattening; therefore, they do not get their three servings every day. I would tell these people that milk is very delicious and nutritious because it has nine essential nutrients helping everything from your muscles to your bones to your teeth. In fact it is actu-ally better for you to drink milk after a workout than sports drinks. There is nothing more refreshing than a cold glass of milk and cookies after school. What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? One of the main issues facing the dairy industry

Parents: Allen and Charlet BlommelTown: Clarissa What is your current status? I am currently go-ing to Browerville Public School as a senior. Tell us about your-self, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I like to spend a lot of my time with my family and friends, as well as partici-pate in school activities. I live on a farm with about 50 Holstein cows, and we farm about 400 acres. I plan on attending college at MSU Moorhead to pur-sue a bachelor’s degree, but I have not yet decided which major I am going to choose. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audience. The dairy product I would choose to pro-mote would be cheese, to an audience of parents. I would show how cheese is a great dairy product that is very versatile. It can be used in many ways, such as making a sandwich, adding it to other dishes, or just eaten as a snack. It includes the same nutrients that are found in any other dairy products. It is just a great-tasting product that is good for you. What do you feel are the biggest concerns fac-ing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? I think the biggest concern facing the dairy industry is that the consumption of dairy prod-ucts has decreased, which has caused a surplus of those products in the US. This has put the farmers on the short end, making a low profit. It is hard for small farms to continue what they love doing if they are un-able to be financially stable. I would tell the public that even though it may not seem like a major issue, it is a serious matter to every-one, especially farmers. They could help by buying more dairy products to help support farmers.

Caitlin Durow, 20dairy Star Sponsor:GB Feed & SupplyBellechester, MN

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Samantha Salber, 18

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Milking SystemsAlbany, MN

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Emma Motl, 19dairy Star Sponsor:Osakis Creamery

AssociationOsakis, MN

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Tiffany Hulinsky, 20dairy Star Sponsor:

AMPIPaynesville Division

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Kimberly Blommel, 17

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Wabasha County

Todd Countytoday is the idea that cows are mistreated and used just for production purposes. However this is not true and in fact it is quite the opposite. Farmers take great care of their cows. Our cows are our livelihood. When our cows are happy, we are happy; happy cows are healthy cows. Farmers take very good care of their cows from day one to the day when they have their first calf to their golden years, giving them a comfortable place to sleep, calling a vet for when they are sick and having a nutritionist help make sure they get a balanced diet, and our cows eat breakfast before we do in the morning.

Northland Community and Technical College to pur-sue a career in surgical technology. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audience. Ice cream and a third grade class. First I would start out by asking how many like ice cream and what they like to put on top of it. After getting their response, I would ask how many like to eat po-tato chips and what flavor. I would explain how much better ice cream is for you than potato chips. I would compare the two on nutrition and have samples for them to taste. Then I would show them that a scoop of ice cream is just as convenient as a bowl or bag of potato chips and a lot healthier. What do you feel are the biggest concerns fac-ing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? The milk prices for the farmer because the farmers are not getting paid enough to make a liv-ing and to keep on farming. The milk prices for the consumer keep going up while the money does not get back to the farmers. The idea of how farmers treat their animals because there is some speculation on the fact that farmers do not take care of their animals. This is a concern off the farm because it makes the consumers weary about the dairy industry. Another big concern on the dairy farms is that there are not many young farmers out there to replace the ones that are retiring. This affects the consumers because it lim-its the amount of dairy products that will be produced in the future. I would approach the topic at hand with a positive attitude and not put any part of the dairy industry in a bad light. I would try to make the response as up lift-ing and not put my own opinion in the answer while keeping the dairy industry in mind. I would add one or more of the key messages as the conversation con-tinues.

Page 22 • Dairy Star • Saturday, May 14, 2011

Waseca County continued Washington County continued

Parents: Shawn and Kathy NelsonTown: Fergus Falls What is your current status? I am currently a se-nior at the Fergus Falls High School and have been a Post Secondary Enrollment Option (PSEO) student at Minnesota State Commu-nity and Technical College (M-State) both my junior and senior year and will be graduating this spring. Besides my chores on the farm, I work in Fergus Falls at a care facility. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I have grown up on a 60 cow dairy farm about 10 miles north of Fergus Falls with my family milking Holstein and Holstein-cross dairy cows. My daily farm chores are feeding and caring for the calves on the farm. I also keep busy with many cleaning jobs, like scrubbing the milk house, parlor or farm machinery. I have participated in band/choir, art, and was an editor on the high school annual staff. I very much enjoy being involved in youth group/church activities and spending time at home with my family on the farm. I have also been apart of 4-H, showing animals at the county fair. My future plans are to finish the last year of an associ-ates degree at M-State in Fergus Falls and then transfer to a university. I am interested in art or elementary edu-cation. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audience. If I were to choose a dairy product and an audience, I would choose milk as a dairy product and school children as my audience. It is so important for young children to know the importance of the essential nutrition that milk provides to be healthy and active as they grow. Drinking milk can help maintain a healthy weight and build strong bones, muscles and teeth. If we can educate our children on all of the many benefits of dairy products, we could possibly help to set a healthy lifestyle for generations to come. I would encourage them to drink milk as often as possible. Whether it be by simply having a bowl of milk and cereal in the morn-ing, choosing milk in the lunch line or as an after school snack. With so many different flavors, it is not only a healthy choice but tastes great as well. What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? Many dairy farmers share the same concerns and issues that come with running a dairy farm. I would say the degree to which these common concerns affect them differ between farm size. Coming from a small farm, one of the biggest concerns is the rising price of fuel/energy and grain prices that have caused an increase in the cost of production. The volatility of the milk price is also an issue. From a consumer’s perspective, the price of milk has increased in stores. I would explain to them this is because of the high demand for milk and corn right now. For a larger dairy farm, the concerns of animal care, and environmental regulations are probably bigger concerns as well. A greater herd size, comes with increased government permits and regulations farmers need to operate a dairy. The public can be assured that the importance of healthy cattle, manure management and water usage is crucial to dairy farmers because of how we depend on the land and cattle for business and quality of life. Many dairy farmers take pride in their milking herd and the land they own and operate.

Parents: Pat and Sharlene DaningerTown: Forest Lake What is your current status? I am currently a freshman at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities majoring in agricultural education. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your fu-ture plans. My farm has 60 Holstein cows, with about 140 total head. We farm 200 acres, which includes pasture for rotational graz-ing, alfalfa, and corn. At the University of Minnesota, I am involved in Gopher Dairy Club, Agricultural Education Club, Beta of Clovia Sorority, University Honors Program, and Col-lege of Food, Agricultural, and Natural Resource Sciences Research Apprentice-ship Program. I also just finished my year of service as the Minnesota FFA State Secretary and enjoy showing and judging dairy cattle. In the future, I hope to be in-volved in the family farm while teaching agricultural education at a high school in Minnesota. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audi-ence. In promoting milk to parents, I would focus on its nutritional benefits. In a society that is health conscious, nutrition is important! Milk is known as nature’s most perfect food, as it provides calcium, vitamins A and D, and many other nutrients. It is essential to get enough calcium to build strong bones and teeth, especially for children and teenagers. Milk is also a great choice to encourage kids to “Fuel Up To Play 60” in a balanced diet. Other beverage choices do not have the nutritional benefits of milk, chocolate milk, or other flavors of milk. Milk is not only a nutritionally sound choice for kids, but it is also a great option for adults. Milk can help in losing weight and is beneficial in any diet. Kids are not the only ones who need calcium; it is just as important for adults. Being able to convey the nutritional informa-tion in an educational, yet light, atmosphere provides for some of the best advocating. What do you feel are the biggest concerns fac-ing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? I feel that the biggest concern facing dairy farmers is the connection consumers have to their food. As dairy farmers, we have the responsibility to care for our animals, land and family; however, we also have the opportunity to connect consumers with their dairy products. The dairy industry will not face public distrust and misconceptions if we can connect consumers to the people that produce their food to give them the correct facts about what it is we take pride in. It is a privilege for me to be known as a dairy farmer. People I talk to are surprised when they find out that I live on a dairy farm. For me, it gives one more con-

Parents: Chuck and Kris MantheyTown: Janesville What is your current status? I am a senior at Janesville Waldorf Pember-ton High School. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I am active in swing show, choir, band, cross country, track and FCCLA. I am also very active in 4-H and enjoy showing poultry and dairy steers. I live on a small family farm. We used to milk 40 head of Holsteins and crossbreds. We cur-rently aren’t milking at our farm due to a barn fire but have cows at other farms. I had the responsibility of feeding the cows and calves and helping bale hay. I plan to attend the University of Wisconsin-River Falls in the fall. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audi-ence. I would promote flavored milk to young school-

Parents: Raymond and Cheryl SeibertTown: Sebeka What is your cur-rent status? I am currently working on my parents’ dairy farm. This fall I will attend North Dakota State University in Fargo, N.D., where I will major in ani-mal science. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I have grown up on a dairy farm and have always loved working with ani-mals. My parents own a 60-cow dairy operation with 60 to 70 replacement heif-ers. We milk in a double-8 swing pit parlor and the cows are housed in a loose housing bedded pack barn. We also farm 240 acres of land on which we rotate corn and alfalfa hay. I plan on staying in the dairy industry for the rest of my life, but I do not know to what extent that will be. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audi-ence. My product is cheese, and I will present to a fifth grade class. I would start out by asking the kids some questions like: How many of you like dairy products and what are some of the benefits? After that I would organize some activities or games and give out some string cheese for prizes. What do you feel are the biggest concerns fac-ing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? There are many concerns facing the dairy industry, such as sensible land use regulations and mis-conceptions on the misuse of antibiotics. I believe the biggest concern facing the dairy industry right now is the lack of consumer knowledge on where their food comes from. I would start by teaching the public about techniques and operations dairy farmers use to make sure the public knows that only the best care and procedures are used on the farm. When it comes to land use, we have to fol-low instructions, like when it comes to spreading fertil-izer. We can’t use fertilizer close to open water or if it is supposed to rain within so many hours after spreading. Not only do we have to follow instructions for land, but also for antibiotic use. Just like people, the cows need to be healthy to bring any sort of profit. Farmers only use antibiotics when they need to. The cow also must be taken out of production until the antibiotics are out of her system. The best way to inform people about where their food comes from is to be out talking to the public. One of the best places to start this public education is in the classroom.

Jenna Nelson, 18dairy Star Sponsor:

Lakes Area CooperativePerham, MN

218-346-6246

Erin Daninger, 19dairy Star Sponsor:Ellsworth Co-op

CreameryEllsworth, WI715-273-4311

Sarah Manthey, 18dairy Star Sponsor:

Building Equipment Outlet

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Allyson Seibert, 18dairy Star Sponsor:

First National Bank of Menahga & Sebeka

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West Otter Tail County

Washington County

Waseca County

Wadena County age children. A classroom visit would be a good time to educate children about the essential nutrients that milk provides for good health. By promoting flavored milk at a young age, children will learn the benefits of milk. Fla-vored milk has the same nine essential nutrients as white milk and is a healthy alternative to soft drinks. Drinking low-fat or fat-free milk helps children get the three daily serving of milk recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? I feel some of the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry, both on and off the farm, are providing fresh, wholesome dairy products to consumers and pro-viding the best care for their cows while protecting the environment. We need to educate the public that dairy farmers work hard every day to provide the best care possible for their cows. In providing the best care for their cows, they are providing consumers with fresh, great tasting, wholesome dairy products. Dairy farmers are also con-cerned about the environment. They help preserve the land where they live and work. They want to protect the air and water they share with others. By taking good care of the environment, it will ensure healthy cows and a healthy business, while maintaining a quality of life that make the world a better place for future generations.

nection to their food and credibility in order to promote agriculture and the dairy industry. They also know that I am available to ask any questions that may arise about dairy farming. With the average consumer being three generations removed from production agriculture, it is more important now than ever before that they have a connection to a farmer. Being an advocate for the dairy industry is something that I am truly passionate about, and I believe that the dairy industry will need to con-tinue to make advocacy a priority in our world.

Dairy Star • Saturday, May 14, 2011 • Page 23 Winona County continuedWinona County continued

Parents: James and Michelle WoodardTown: Winona What is your current status? I have completed my second year of school at Northeast Iowa Com-munity College, where I’m majoring in dairy sci-ence. I’m now back at the home farm working with my father. Tell us about your-self, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I have a strong love and passion for the dairy industry, and respect all the farmers that work long days just to provide us with such a great product. I love that I had the opportunity to be raised on a dairy farm. My family farm is run by my dad, James, mom, Michelle, myself and my two younger brothers, Jamie and Jordan. We milk 85 grade and registered Holsteins, raise all our replacement heifers and steers, and farm roughly 280 acres. We milk in a step-up parlor, and our cows are housed in a freestall barn. Our calves are

Parents: Cliff and Cindy ThompsonTown: Lewiston What is your cur-rent status? I am a senior at Lewiston-Altura High School and will be graduat-ing early June. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I am the youngest daughter of five children. Our farm is a family farm where we milk 175 dairy cows, raise 200 heifers and farm over 650 acres of land. We focus on provid-ing wholesome and nutri-tious dairy products to the consumer, using the latest technology to help make the quality of the products as safe as possible. Our farm is owned and operated by my father and my brother whom I have enjoyed and loved to spend time and work with ever since I was little. My future plans involve attending Winona State University this fall. I am looking into becoming a nutritionist for the dairy industry. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audi-ence. The dairy product I would choose would be whole-some milk, focusing on the needs of younger children so they get the good habits eating dairy products start-ing at a young age. I would focus on having businesses make dairy products available at the checkout counters, rather than just soda. By doing this, children would be introduced early enough to these dairy products, such as strawberry milk, at a younger age, rather than just soda. What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? The biggest concerns on and off dairy farms are the way consumers view and interpret some of the information and misinformation on the dairy industry. Consumer want to know how well we farmers take pride in caring for our animals, but they may be misled by a few dairy operations they hear about in the news. I would address the issue by inviting a consumer who may have misunderstandings of the dairy industry to come out to our farm. This way, I could personally show them how much pride we, as farmers, take in car-ing for our animals and their well being of life.

Parents: Keith and Theresa Speltz Town: Altura What is your current status? I am a senior at Cotter High School in Wi-nona and will be attending the College of St. Benedict in the fall. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your fu-ture plans. I live on a dairy farm north of Altura. My family milks about 250 Holstein cows three times a day. Our milk goes to Ellsworth Creamery where it is processed into cheese and cheese curds. We have about 500 tillable acres where we grow our own crops for feed. I am very ac-tive in my school. I partici-pate in cross country, gym-nastics, and track and field as well as a few non-athletic activities. I work as a waitress at Ginny’s Supper Club in Rollingstone as well as at The Elba House in Elba. My future plans are to attend the College of St. Benedict and graduate with a degree in four years. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that au-dience. There are so many choices of dairy products to choose from, but I think I would choose milk. I also feel I could go in many directions with different audiences. I think the audience that would benefit the most would be teenagers. To promote milk I would like to be in a class-room setting. This way I could teach all of the important facts about milk and why it is more beneficial than other sport drinks and pop. What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? I think the biggest concern facing farmers is how they struggle to keep their farms going financially. Farming is a lot of hard work and sometimes the milk prices don’t reflect that, and it makes it very difficult for cash flow. There are a number of concerns facing the industry off the farm. I think two of the biggest issues the dairy industry have are the negativity towards dairy farming and the competitive market of beverages and replacement dairy products.

Parents: Jim and Deb SobeckTown: Winona What is your current status? I am a freshman at the University of Minneso-ta-Twin Cities. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I live on a 150-cow dairy farm with my family and attend college in Min-neapolis. I plan to study abroad in Italy my junior year studying art and psy-chology. After college, I’d love to join the Peace Corps and teach the world about sustainable agriculture. Choose a dairy prod-uct and an audience, and tell us how you would pro-mote that product to that audience. I love kids, so I’d promote ice cream to a group of kindergarteners. I’d bring in some ice cream samples for them and tell them how dairy products help create strong bones. I know kids love to talk so I’d ask them questions about their favorite ice cream and how they think it’s made. What do you feel are the biggest concerns facing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? A huge concern facing the dairy industry today is the impact it’s leaving on the environment. Through-out my years in 4-H, I’ve had many questions from the public concerning the negative effects on the environ-ment. When asked about this issue, I explain the ways dairy farmers are attempting to decrease their carbon footprints as well as ways they are trying to make farm-ing benefit the earth. A few examples are: proper manure recycling and management, reuse of water and crop ro-tation.

Parents: Lyle and Cyn-thia KammererTown: Winona What is your cur-rent status? I am going to school for early childhood education at Southeast Technical College in Wi-nona. I will be graduating in December 2011. Tell us about your-self, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I live on a 360-acre dairy farm where my parents and my brother and his fam-ily farm together. We milk Holsteins in a double-8 parlor. Once I graduate, I hope to work in a pre-school setting either as a teacher or teacher’s aide. Choose a dairy prod-uct and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audience. I’m already promoting dairy products to young kids. Through field trips to our farm and an occasional classroom visit, the children are learning the overall importance of dairy products and why they are good for them. What do you feel are the biggest concerns fac-ing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? People need to get more informed about the health values of dairy products. I would explain to people all the advantages of dairy products.

Parents: Matt and Barb DaleyTown: Lewiston. What is your current status? I am finishing my senior year of high school. Tell us about your-self, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I like playing volleyball. I like to go out to dinner with friends. I’m a pretty care-free person and I will try almost anything. I love to be around all of my fam-ily and would do anything for them. I enjoy hiking and jet skiing at our fam-ily cabin during the sum-mer months. I work on my family’s 1,500-cow dairy farm. I work every other weekend and I help out taking care of calves during the week whenever I can. Next year I am attending the Minnesota State University-Mankato to pursue a degree in nursing. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audience. I would promote yogurt to school children. Yogurt comes in every flavor you could possibly imagine. I keep myself fit and healthy by exercising and having a delicious yogurt every day. Go-Gurt is a great way to have yogurt on the go. It’s easy to freeze and can be eaten as a frozen treat. What do you feel are the biggest concerns fac-ing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? I feel that the biggest concern in the dairy industry is that people don’t know where there food comes from. Not everyone realizes the work that goes into it. I would tell them about my job. I would tell them that to get dairy products, many things have to flow very smoothly. It takes a team effort. High quality dairy products don’t come about on their own.

Jessica Woodard, 19

dairy Star Sponsor:S&S Dairy Systems

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Whitney Thompson, 17 dairy Star Sponsor:Luehmann’s IBALewiston, MN507-523-3608

Erin Speltz, 18dairy Star Sponsor:

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Plainview, MN507-534-4386

Halley Sobeck, 19dairy Star Sponsor:

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Emily Kammerer, 21dairy Star Sponsor:

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Merissa Daley, 17dairy Star Sponsor:Lewiston Feed &

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Winona County When I am approached about these issues, I would remain positive, understanding, and honest when talk-ing to people. I would give facts that support the dairy industry, its products, and its producers. I would assure them that dairy producers are proud of what they do and produce a product that is healthy, safe and beneficial.

Winona County continued on next page

Page 24 • Dairy Star • Saturday, May 14, 2011Wright County continuedWinona County continued Wright County continued

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fed 1.5 gallons of pasteurized milk each day for two months. After that they either go to the steer lot or the heifer lot. My dad does all our A.I. breeding. As for the future I plan to go to school in the fall for market-ing. I hope to one day work for an A.I. company or be a special education teacher. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audience. I would promote cheese to adults so they can give it to their children. While celebrating Easter with my family, I heard my little cousin ask his mom for juice. He never asks for milk; it’s always juice. After hearing that I sat next to my aunt and asked how much milk he’s had today. She replied with, “He had milk at breakfast, and he’ll have milk at dinner to-night.” I simply had her do the math and she came up with one plus one equals two, which is not three – the number of servings of dairy products people need in one day. I said, “So is he just not going to get three serving of dairy today?” She said, “Maybe not today, but most days he does.” As the day went on I was thinking how could I get him one more serv-ing of dairy. Then I saw the cheese in Grandma’s re-frigerator. Little kids always eat crackers, so why not give my 2-year-old cousin a cracker in one hand and a piece of cheese in the other. It worked. The cheese was gone before the cracker and he wanted more. What do you feel are the biggest concerns fac-ing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? I feel many farmers are still struggling from the 2009 record-low milk prices in over 30 years. Yes, milk prices have come back up; however, feed costs have skyrocketed as well, and the income and output scale is still not balanced. I reassure consumers that the farmers are still tak-ing quality care of their animals so they can receive the wholesome, nutritious dairy products.

Parents: Gene and Mary LambertTown: Buffalo What is your current status? I am a senior at Buffalo High School. Next fall I am attending South Dakota State University (SDSU). Tell us about your-self, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I live west of Buffalo on a dairy farm with my family. We have a herd around 60 head and also run about 1,000 acres of crop land. I work at Sterling Drug in Buffalo. Whenever I’m not working there I’m at home doing chores. My chores consist of helping my dad milk, feeding grain, skid steer work, bedding down the younger calves, feed-ing milk, and anything else that needs to be done. This coming fall I am heading down to SDSU. I haven’t chosen a major but am planning on working in the ag-ricultural field during my schooling and after I gradu-ate. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audience. For my dairy product, I would have to choose milk. It is one of the most basic and natu-ral ingredients out there. For and audience, I choose children in grade school, mostly focusing on middle school. I feel in those few years kids are most likely to follow others, and when someone at their lunch table says milk tastes weird they are just going to listen to them. I would like to get more posters in the halls and in classrooms stating simple, healthy facts about milk. In the lunch line, I would like to see more options in the selection for milk. There are so many students who don’t take milk because, simply enough, there isn’t skim. And going even deeper, I would love to go to different schools and talk to students about all the benefits of drinking milk. Also, I would give students the opportunity to ask me any questions they might have about the dairy industry. What do you feel are the biggest concerns fac-ing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? I think one of the biggest concerns is that most people are “third generation removed from the farm.” When most people don’t have anyone in their family who lives or works on a farm they aren’t able to understand what happens in our field. Throughout my grade schooling my parents have been very open with my teachers and our school ad-ministration. We have hosted many tours of our farm. Whenever I meet new people, I let them know I live on a farm, and a lot of them ask questions about what we do. All of those questions I answer to the best of my ability. If the answer isn’t satisfactory, I make sure I get back to them so I know they are able to under-stand.

Parents: Sean and Linda GroosTown: Howard Lake What is your current status? I am currently a senior at Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted High School. Tell us about your-self, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. The oldest of four children, I live on our family dairy farm, Minkota Holsteins. Our registered Holstein milking herd numbers at 180 head and we farm 200 acres of corn and alfalfa. My main responsibili-ties on the farm are parlor management, calf care and show herd management. I enjoy exhibiting cattle during summer shows and at State Fair. While in high school, I have been active in 4-H, FFA, National Hon-or Society, student council, choir, basketball, track, attend youth group and teach Sunday School. I will be attending the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities this upcoming fall to major in agricultural education. I hope to secure a position in the market-ing/communications field in the dairy industry and return to the family farm to raise my family some day. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audience. Ice cream is a cool treat enjoyed by many year-round. A group of elementary children would be excitedly jumping up and down at just the mention of this tasty treat. I would promote ice cream in their classroom by using a display board and my personal experience to show how this tasty product is created as well as the many other delicious products that are made from milk. What do you feel are the biggest concerns fac-ing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? One of the greatest concerns to dairy producers is the significant gap between producer and consumer. Consumers are often misinformed regard-ing the nutrition and safety of dairy products as well as the economically good buy that they are. Today’s dairy producers need to be educated and ready at all times to defend and promote the industry we take great pride in. On average, consumers are a minimum of three generations removed from a family farm. This said, it is our job as producers to share our passion for ag-riculture and ensure consumers that milk continues to be nature’s most perfect food. Dairy farmers take great measures to guarantee customers receive a safe and wholesome product at an affordable price. Our local breakfast on the farm event shared this encour-aging message with over 1,800 urban guests last year.

Parents: Paul and Veda DavisTown: Cokato What is your current status? I am 18 years old and a senior at Dassel-Co-kato High School. I have been working on our fam-ily farm for the past four years. Tell us about your-self, the farm you live and/or work on, and your future plans. I have been involved in many things throughout my years in school and com-munity. I’ve been active in the FFA since 2007 and am currently serving as the Chapters Secretary. I competed at the National level this past year in Indi-ana, in Parliamentary Pro-cedure. I also play piano and I am active in the band at school. For the past four years, I have been going on mission trips to different states to help the communi-ties that need help to rebuild their life and community up. On our farm, we milk around 270 Holsteins, farm 1,200 acres and have around 600 animals. I also raise beef cows for my Supervised Agriculture Experience. I was a Wright County Dairy Ambassador for the 2010-2011 year. I will be going to South Dakota State University this fall to study and major in ag business and global studies with a minor in accounting. Choose a dairy product and an audience, and tell us how you would promote that product to that audience. A dairy product that I like to promote is ice cream. The audience that I would choose is the younger generation. I feel that it is important for them to understand that their treats are not just candy that you find in a store, but from our dairy cattle and farm-ers. Ice cream is a big seller in the dairy industry. There are so many uses for this treat. You can use it for smoothies, weddings, family gatherings and many more you can think of. You can use it for comfort after a surgery. With so many flavors out there, you can al-ways find one you like, and the toppings you can add are endless. What do you feel are the biggest concerns fac-

Krista Lambert, 18dairy Star Sponsor:

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The Country StoreHoward Lake, MN

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Rebecca Groos, 18dairy Star Sponsor:

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The Country StoreHoward Lake, MN

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Katie Davis, 18dairy Star Sponsor:Munson Lakes

Nutrition & The Country StoreHoward Lake, MN

320-543-2561

Wright County

ing the dairy industry on and off the farm? How would you address the public when they ask about these topics? My biggest concern about what is fac-ing the dairy industry on and off the farm is one: where people really think their food comes from, and two: are milk prices going to stay where they are or in the future going to take a drastic turn for the worst. People don’t realize that the farmers are the ones who are out there 24/7 feeding the animals and rais-ing crops for livestock and humans. I would go to el-ementary schools and talk to the kids and watch their facial expressions after they realize where their food comes from. After we go and show them pictures, share personal experiences and have worksheets for them. Go out into the public and talk to the people, sharing the news about the topics they are concerned about is how we can promote the dairy industry.