Seniors! CELEBRATING OUR
See pages 12 & 13 of the Second Section for our High School Senior Feature!
DAIRY ST R
May 23, 2020
“All dairy, all the time”™
Volume 22, No. 6
Princess Kay nalists named in virtual event
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Josh Lingen, a dairyman from Balaton, Minnesota, uses this portable sales counter to make soŌ serve ice cream and brew cappuccinos at indoor events. The custom built counter was rst used Feb. 4, 2018, at Super Bowl LII at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Lingen has operated a soŌ serve ice cream business for the past four years.
Women to take year ahead as privilege to represent farmers By Jennifer Coyne jenn@dairystar.com
ST. PAUL, Minn. – In a rst-ever event of its kind, Minnesota’s dairy community gathered online to nd out who would be named the next Princess Kay of the Milky Way nalists. Mackenzie Craig was returning home from breeding cows as she listened to the broadcast on her phone. “I was on the road all day and just wanted to be done in time to hear who the nalists would be,” Craig said. “When they started to describe nalist No. 8, I thought she sounded like me. Then, when they announced my name, that was my proudest moment.” The daughter of David and Wendy, Craig, 19, of Alexandria, represents Douglas County. She is joined by Emily Benrud, 20, of Goodhue, representing Goodhue County; Brenna Connelly, 19, of Byron, representing Olmsted County; Emma Friauf, 19, of Glencoe, representing McLeod County; Taylor Jerde, 20, of Northeld, representing Dakota County; Katherine Maus, 18, of Freeport, representing Stearns County; Maggie Meyer, 20, of Grove City, representing Meeker County; Maggie Molitor, 17, of Rockville, representing Stearns County; Valerie Sauder, 20, of Pine Island, representing Dodge County; and Rebeckah Schroeder, 20, of Caledonia, representing Houston County. The 10 women will vie for the title of 67th Princess Kay of the Milky Way in August. During the Facebook video streamed live May 17, Princess Kay Amy Kyllo spoke of opportunity and the vast possibilities that are ahead for the incoming 10 nalists. “We have to see the opportunities we have and recognize the privilege we have to represent farmers,” she said. Turn to FINALISTS | Page 7
The ice cream guy
MN dairyman sells ice cream to promote dairy, connect with consumers By Jerry Nelson
jerry.n@dairystar.com
BALATON, Minn. – Most dairy farmers do as much as they can to promote and support the dairy industry. But dairyman Josh Lingen has taken dairy promotion to a higher level, one that involves connecting directly
with consumers via soft serve ice cream. It all began four years ago, when Lingen purchased a small soft serve ice cream machine. “I just felt that there was a need for ice cream at some of our local small-town festivals and county fairs,” Lingen said. “Our rst ice cream event was in a
tent on a street corner during the Balaton Fun Fest.” Lingen is a fourth-generation dairy farmer. He and his parents, Denice and Randy, milk 380 cows, many of which are housed in a robotic milking facility. “The cows are doing great,” Lingen said. “They are currently Turn to LINGEN | Page 5
Wedding plans altered by pandemic Sextons continue with ceremony, reschedule celebration for fall By Krista Kuzma
krista.k@dairystar.com
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Lance and Kayla Sexton stand in the pasture for wedding pictures at Kayla’s parents’ dairy farm in Fountain, Minnesota. The couple was married May 16, but had to postpone their celebraƟon unƟl the fall because of the pandemic restricƟons.
FOUNTAIN, Minn. – Since their engagement in December 2018, Lance and Kayla Sexton had been making the perfect plans for their wedding day. They booked the church, locked in the caterer, conrmed with their photographer and decided on a DJ, amongst other decisions. “We had hopes that planting would be done and it would be before hay started so that’s why May 16, 2020, was the day we picked,” Kayla said. “It would be the perfect weekend in our mind.” Then the novel coronavirus pandemic hit, followed by the shutdown of most of the state’s businesses two months before the Turn to SEXTONS | Page 5