Special Iowa Dairy Princess Edition
DAIRY ST R
July 29, 2014
Promoting her true passion
Schmitt reflects on her reign as Iowa Dairy Princess BY MISSY MUSSMAN Staff writer
FORT ATKINSON, Iowa – Since Mariah Schmitt was Winneshiek County’s Little Miss Squirt at the age of 8, she has always wanted to represent the dairy industry. “It was my dream to be the Iowa Dairy Princess,” Schmitt said. “Dairy is truly my passion.” That dream became a reality a year ago when Schmitt, the daughter of Carl and Ter-
ry Schmitt of Fort Atkinson, Iowa, was crowned the Iowa Dairy Princess. “It’s been an amazing and wonderful opportunity,” Schmitt said. After being crowned last August, Schmitt hit the ground running, putting over 5,000 miles on her car and attending numerous events across the state. “Each one is special in it’s own way,” Schmitt said. “It’s hard to pick just one (favorite).” However, numerous events
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Schmitt helps two young children feed a Jersey calf during the Breakfast on the Farm at the Northeastern Iowa Community College dairy facility this June in Calmar, Iowa.
stood out to her. One of which was the beginning of the Iowa Games this summer. “It was interesting to hear the answers the kids had for the dairy trivia wheel questions,” Schmitt said. “They were, to me, simple ones they didn’t know. It was rewarding for me to help them and teach them something they didn’t know about dairy.” Schmitt had a similar experience during the breakfast on the farm hosted by the Northeast Iowa Community College dairy facility. “I helped feed calves bottles of water all day,” Schmitt said. “I shared how we care for the calves and that this was something I do everyday. They (visitors) loved it.” Fuel Up to Play 60 was another promotion Schmitt worked with. “It was fun running drills with the players and learning cheers from the cheerleaders, but the best part was being there with the kids and talking about dairy farming and the benefits of having chocolate milk after exercising,” Schmitt said. “It was so neat to see how we can incorporate dairy into our everyday lives in so many different ways. I never would have imagined having these types of opportunities.”
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Mariah Schmitt is finishing her reign as the 2013-2014 Iowa Dairy Princess. Schmitt is the daughter of Carl and Terry Schmitt, who milk around 50 cows near Fort Atkinson, Iowa.
Schmitt has also been able to throw out the first pitch at an Iowa Cubs game and participated in the Great American Milk Drive this year where she met Iowa’s Governor, Terry Branstad. “He’s a celebrity around here,” Schmitt said of meeting the governor. “To see his appreciation for what dairy farmers do everyday is remarkable. His support is huge.” Getting unique questions from consumers comes with
Recent Iowa Dairy Princesses
the territory of wearing the crown. The most unique question she got was at the Fuel Up to Play 60 Summit. “As the Iowa Dairy Princess, I didn’t expect to be asked questions about pigs,” Schmitt said with a laugh. “A little boy asked me what my opinion was about them.” Even though her expertise was in the dairy industry, Turn to SCHMITT | Page 2
2011 Princess
2011 Alternate
2012 Princess
2012 Alternate
2013 Princess
2013 Alternate
Kendra Moser Clayton County
Alyssa Meyer Bremer County
Logan Wordan Iowa Brown Swiss
Karla Hageman Guernsey Breed
Mariah Schmitt Winneshiek County
Celina Young Bremer County