Pk tab 2015

DAIRY ST R Special Edition

August 26, 2015

62

nd

Princess Kay of the

Kallie Baker

Jennifer Oelfke

Kylee Fernholz

Milky Way

Michele Green Samantha Keller Kyla Mauk

Maggie Mills

Ellen Sheehan McKinzie Smith Rachel Stender Morgan Uphoff Carley Vinkemeier

Princess Kay of the Milky Way Hall of Fame

2008

Kristy (Mussman) Miron Steele County

2009

Elizabeth Olson McLeod County

2010

Katie Miron Washington County

2011

2012

2013

2014

Mary Zahurones Morrison County

Christine Reitsma Stearns County

MarJenna McWilliam Polk County

Jeni Haler Carver County

Princess Kay Special Edition • Dairy Star • August 26, 2015 • Page 3

62nd Princess Kay of the Milky Way

Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2015 8:30 p.m. coronation of 62nd Princess Kay Minnesota State Fair Band Shell Free and open to the public

Who will be the next Princess Kay?

Princess Kay of the Milky Way is the ofcial goodwill ambassador for Minnesota’s dairy industry. Throughout her yearlong reign, she participates in numerous public appearances, promotional events and media interviews.

Twelve county dairy princesses are vying for the title of Princess Kay of the Milky Way after being selected as nalists during a statewide competition held in May. They will be judged on their communication skills, general knowledge of the dairy industry, personality and enthusiasm for dairy promotion.

One young woman will receive the coveted Princess Kay title and begin her immediate duties on opening day of the fair by having her likeness carved in a 90-pound block of butter. The other candidates will also have their likenesses carved in butter during the remaining days of the fair.

The Princess Kay contest is funded by dairy farmers through the dairy checkoff, to help increase demand for dairy.

Meet the candidates

Kallie Baker, 18 Plainview, Wabasha County

Kylee Fernholz, 19 Hoffman, Douglas County

Michele Green, 20 Greenbush, Roseau County

Jeni Haler 61st Princess Kay of the Milky Way

Samantha Keller, 19 Goodhue, Goodhue County

Daughter of Bruce and Natalie Wood. Kallie will start her freshman year at Iowa State University in the fall to pursue a degree in animal science. She enjoys showing cattle, baking and being with her family and friends.

Daughter of Mark and Michele Fernholz.

Kylee will start her sophomore year at Concordia College in Moorhead this fall where she is studying speech pathology. While at school, she also participates in intramural sports and hall council. In her spare time she enjoys showing cattle, sports and spending time on the lake.

Daughter of Doug and Corena Green. Michele will start her junior year at North Dakota State University this fall studying animal science with minors in ag business and agronomy. Michele is looking forward to playing intramural sports at school and enjoys volleyball, singing and four-wheeling.

Daughter of Ted and Lora Keller. Samantha will be a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin-Stout this fall where she is studying cross media graphics management. At school Samantha is involved in Stout Typographical Society, Honors College and FFA. She enjoys photography, painting and screen printing.

Kyla Mauk, 19 Howard Lake, Wright County

Maggie Mills, 19 Lake City, Goodhue County

Jennifer Oelfke, 19 Hamburg, Sibley County

Ellen Sheehan, 19 Rochester, Olmsted County

Daughter of Chris and Harlan Mauk. She will begin her sophomore year at South Dakota State University pursuing an agriculture education degree. At college she is active in SDSU dairy club, Sigma Alpha Sorority and collegiate FFA. She enjoys hiking, running and being on the lake.

Daughter of Kent and Deborah Mills. Maggie will attend the University of MinnesotaCrookston in the fall to pursue a degree in animal science. She enjoys showing cattle, running and skiing. She is involved in 4-H and FFA, and is currently serving on the Goodhue County Junior Fair Board.

Daughter of Jim and Jody Oelfke. Jennifer will start her sophomore year at Minnesota State University-Mankato this fall studying exercise science. At MSU she is involved in choir, intramural volleyball and Alpha Chi Omega Sorority. She enjoys dairy judging and crafting in her spare time.

Daughter of Jerome and Karen Sheehan..

Ellen is heading into her sophomore year at the University of Minnesota studying agricultural education. Ellen is involved in Gopher dairy club, ag ed club and Beta of Clovia Sorority at school. She enjoys golng and spending time with her friends, family and dog, Magic.

McKinzie Smith, 21 Adams, Mower County

Rachel Stender, 18 Lester Prairie, McLeod County

Morgan Uphoff, 19 Melrose, Stearns County

Carley Vinkemeier, 18 Norwood Young America, Carver County

Daughter of Rick and Tracy Smith. McKinzie will be a senior at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls this fall and is studying dairy science management. At school she is involved with the UWRF dairy club and intervarsity. McKinzie enjoys dancing, showing cattle and watching movies.

Daughter of Allen and Lisa Stender. Rachel will be attending Southwest Minnesota State University in the fall, where she will begin her freshman year studying secondary education-social sciences. She enjoys reading, writing, driving tractor and milking cows.

Daughter of Victor and Ann Uphoff. Morgan will be heading to Ridgewater College in the fall to study dairy management. She enjoys baking, running and scrapbooking, and is involved in PAS (post-secondary agriculture students) at Ridgewater.

Daughter of Jeff and Tina Vinkemeier..

Carley will attend Northeast Iowa Community College in the fall for dairy science and agriculture business. She is involved in 4-H dairy quiz bowl and dairy judging, and coaches community sports programs in her spare time.

Page 4 • Princess Kay Special Edition • Dairy Star • August 26, 2015

Kallie Baker, 18

Kylee Fernholz, 18

Plainview, Wabasha County

Hoffman, Douglas County

Parents: Bruce and Natalie Wood

Tell us about a favorite dairy animal on the farm. My favorite animal on my family’s farm is a 5-year-old Holstein cow named Daisy.

Daisy is the only heifer calf my very rst 4-H cow, Bessie, ever had.

Daisy was born in the summer of 2010 and my parents let me take care of her until I went back to school that fall. I showed Daisy the following summer at my county fair. She got rst in her class and I exhibited her at the Minnesota State Fair. She has been shown every summer since then.

What skills do you possess that would make you a great Princess Kay? Being Princess Kay would be a dream come true and I know I could represent the dairy farmers of Minnesota well because I posses leadership qualities, responsibility, a great work ethic, as well as the ability to talk to people about my passion. I gained these skills through the experiences I have had living on the farm, as well as through 4-H, FFA, NHS and the county dairy princess program. My greatest skill is talking to people.

Being Princess Kay would take my skills and make them even better.

If crowned Princess Kay, what message would you like to share with consumers? If I were to be crowned Princess Kay, a message that I would like to share with people would be about the family aspect of farming. I would talk about how our farm has been in the family for over 150 years and that we will continue to care for our animals with the best care we can possibly provide. I would also talk about how farmers are responsible stewards of the land. My goal would be to tell our story and represent a hard working group of people that includes my grandparents, parents, brother and sister.

What are the plans for your butterhead?

I plan to donate my butterhead back to my community. In my hometown of Plainview, we celebrate Corn on the Cob Days every August. On the Sunday of that weekend, we have a big parade and corn on the cob with butter and salt, which is donated by the local canning company for everyone who comes to enjoy. It would be really cool to be able to donate the butter that they use for the corn to a local tradition that I have enjoyed since I was little.

Parents: Mark and Michele Fernholz

Tell us about a favorite dairy animal on the farm. My favorite animal has to be my rst show calf, Ellie.

At the time, she was a little fall calf that just followed me anywhere.

At the county fair, I had no idea what was going on in the show ring and I noticed we were on the end. I thought we had lost so I was just standing there petting her, and all of a sudden a girl handed me a ribbon. We had won the class. I was actually on the winning end of the lineup. She stayed in our herd and we still show her daughters and granddaughters.

What skills do you possess that would make you a great Princess Kay? Some skills I possess that would make me a good Princess Kay is that I can talk to anyone. From young children to the elderly, I love talking to people. I also am very proud of my family farm so it makes it easy to tell people what we do and how we take pride in being dairy farmers. I am also a very motivated and reliable person.

If crowned Princess Kay, what message would you like to share with consumers?

That farmers work hard everyday to make sure their animals are healthy and happy, their farms are successful, and make sure they can produce the highest quality product.

What are the plans for your butterhead?

I plan to have a corn feed in my community with my butterhead. I want to use it as an event to promote dairy as well as a “thank you” to my friends and family for all their support.

Princess Kay Special Edition • Dairy Star • August 26, 2015 • Page 5

Michele Green, 20

Samantha Keller, 19

Greenbush, Roseau County

Goodhue, Goodhue County

Parents: Doug and Corena Green

Parents: Ted and Lora Keller

Tell us about a favorite dairy animal on the farm. I’ve spent countless hours with a cow named Omax. I’ve shown her at the county fair for eight years and state fair for four years.

She’s the best listener a girl could ask for and is always there for me when I need a shoulder to cry on or need to unwind. We’ve had some successful runs together showing and now it is continuing with her daughters. She holds a very special place in my heart.

Tell us about a favorite dairy animal on the farm. It is hard for me to pick my favorite dairy animal because I have had many favorite cows. On my farm, we give each cow a unique name. Over the years, I have named a lot of different cows.

When I was 8, I named a heifer calf after my second grade friend, Angie. After that, I kept naming her calves after my other friends. My tradition has continued throughout the last 10 years, and I always enjoy seeing a cow that is named after one of my friends.

What skills do you possess that would make you a great Princess Kay? I am very friendly and easy to talk to. I’m always smiling or laughing which would help people be able to approach me easily. By having a simple conversation with me, one would be able to see the passion and love that I have for my dairy cows. I love to share that with people and answer any questions that they may have about anything relating to dairy.

I would feel very honored and blessed to be able to represent the hardworking dairy farmers of Minnesota, knowing that they trust me to reach out to people by sharing with them about what we do on our farms and the nutritious foods that our cows make.

What skills do you possess that would make you a great Princess Kay? My work ethic and exibility. Growing up on my farm has taught me how each day is different and you never know what is going to happen. Princess Kay can have long days with multiple appearances within that time. A good work ethic allows me to have a positive attitude during the whole day. Princess Kay represents the dairy farmers and the dairy community, and it would be my job to be a positive role model. Because I have worked on my family’s farm, I have the knowledge and passion about dairy. I can tell my story about living and working on my family’s farm.

If crowned Princess Kay, what message would you like to share with consumers? I’ve been very active in volleyball, basketball and other various sports from fun camps in elementary school to playing competitively at a two-year junior college. I really enjoy sharing my passion for sports and combining it with the love I have for the dairy cattle and the nutritious milk that they make.

After almost every practice and game, I would refuel my tired body with chocolate milk. It’s so fun to connect my story to kids since they are eager to listen and see a princess. I’d like to help teach them about healthy diets and fun ways to exercise so they can instill a healthy lifestyle at a young age by being active and getting their three servings of dairy foods every day.

What are the plans for your butterhead? As of right now, I plan on having a meltdown next fall. My brother and dad want to plant sweet corn this coming spring and invite the whole community out to my farm for a corn feed while using my butterhead.

If crowned Princess Kay, what message would you like to share with consumers? Dairy farm families, like mine, are committed to caring for their animals and land, so that they can make families and their communities healthier by providing fresh and fast milk, cheese and yogurt. Cows are cared for by families, like mine, just like 98 percent of dairy farms in the U.S. Dairy farmers are passionate about caring for their animals every day of the year to provide high quality milk to stores in just 48 hours. When making milk your family’s mealtime beverage, a family can bridge nutrient gaps by getting three servings of dairy a day.

What are the plans for your butterhead?

I have not decided what I want to do with my butterhead yet. My grandma did, however, offer up her freezer to store it until I decide what to do with it. Having 11 people in our house, we go through butter pretty fast. In the future, I might want to donate parts of my butterhead or have a big community party.

Page 6 • Princess Kay Special Edition • Dairy Star • August 26, 2015

Kyla Mauk, 19

Maggie Mills, 18

Howard Lake, Wright County

Lake City, Goodhue County

Parents: Chris and Harlan Mauk

Parents: Kent and Deborah Mills

Tell us about a favorite dairy animal on the farm. When I was little my favorite cow was No. 27.

When I was little, I was not very creative so instead of a name, I just called her No. 27.

I had the amazing opportunity to watch her be born and then grow up to be a high-producing milk cow that provided people with wholesome, nutritious milk. I remember going out to the barn every day just to see what my favorite cow was up to. She was a great cow that helped support our family farm.

Tell us about a favorite dairy animal on the farm.

On my family’s dairy farm, our herd consists primarily of Holsteins, but we also have a very special Brown Swiss. This cow, Lola, is now a permanent member of our fresh cow pen.

Lola is a personable and friendly cow.

She waits by the gate every morning and night while I feed our calves, waiting for me to give her a big hug.

She has two daughters who are just like her, Mocha and Charlotte.

What skills do you possess that would make you a great Princess Kay? I believe that my ability to connect with all kinds of people is a great skill that Princess Kay can have. I try my best to follow the motto, “seek rst to understand.” It is important to understand why people think the way that they do. I also believe that my skills in communication are a great t for Princess Kay. Through FFA and 4-H, I have had some great public speaking and communication training. I am condent in my ability to speak in front of large groups of people or have a one-on-one conversation.

What skills do you possess that would make you a great Princess Kay? I have always loved talking with people. Throughout my life, I have immersed myself in various communication and leadership positions, such as acting as an FFA ofcer, serving on agricultural youth boards to 4-H, being a member of speech team and serving on the student council. From these experiences, I have acquired skills in written and oral communication, including facilitating group discussions and giving presentations. My strongest communication skill is listening with respect to what people have to say and sharing information that is relevant to them. My passion and dedication to serving dairy farmers and the dairy community are additional strengths I possess. Being able to effectively communicate with people and share my passion about the dairy community is the perfect combination.

If crowned Princess Kay, what message would you like to share with consumers? If I was crowned Princess Kay, the message I would like to focus on is the nutritional benets of dairy foods. Dairy is irreplaceable in our diets because it is a source of nine essential nutrients, including calcium and Vitamin D. Milk, cheese and yogurt offer high nutrition with a great economic value. Also, I would like to continue to share the importance of chocolate milk after a workout. I love to run, and when I am nished, I always refuel with a glass of chocolate milk. It is the perfect combination of carbohydrates and proteins that my body needs to refuel my exhausted muscles. It tastes great, too.

What are the plans for your butterhead?

As of now, I do not have any specic plans for my butterhead. I denitely want to use it in a way that can involve the whole community. The support and encouragement I have received from my community has been absolutely amazing. I would love it if my whole community could enjoy it with me.

If crowned Princess Kay, what message would you like to share with consumers? Growing up in a strong dairy community and on my own family’s farm, I have seen our dairy farmers work day in and day out to provide everyone with nutritious highquality milk to enjoy every day.

What are the plans for your butterhead? After the state fair, I would like to bake treats, such as cookies, and donate them. The Great American Milk Drive has inspired me to donate the cookies to a local food bank so people can enjoy a cold glass of milk with a delicious cookie.

Princess Kay Special Edition • Dairy Star • August 26, 2015 • Page 7

Jennifer Oelfke, 18

Ellen Sheehan, 19

Hamburg, Sibley County

Rochester, Olmsted County

Parents: Jim and Jody Oelfke

Tell us about a favorite dairy animal on the farm.

Each year, most of my summers involve me preparing a few of my dairy cattle for show, so you could say I become a bit attached to them. There is one animal in particular that I and my family have spent much time with, and her name is Highview T-bone Vodka. She resembles exactly what our farm is about and that is raising high production dairy cows. Many people know her as the 12th cow in history to receive both the President’s Trophy and the Hilmar Cheese Yield Trophy in the same year, but we especially know her for her unique personality on the farm and in the show ring. She is a powerhouse in the parlor and you can denitely tell by her large stature and always being the rst to the feed bunk.

What skills do you posses that would make you a great Princess Kay? Since I was a little girl, I looked up to Princess Kay and as I grew up, I became more aware of the role she had, which has aspired me to achieve this goal of mine. Princess Kay represents all of Minnesota’s hard-working dairy farmers and, to myself, it is one of the most honored roles. I would be so blessed and proud to have earned that. Communication is extremely important, especially when relating dairy with our everyday lifestyles. Being Princess Kay is more than having the knowledge of our modern day dairy community, but being able to draw the attention from a group of people to listen to the words I want to share. If given the honor of being Princess Kay of the Milky Way, I would use that crown and banner to the best of its abilities by sharing our story. The story of a hard-working and dedicated dairy farmer.

If crowned Princess Kay, what message would you like to share with consumers? For six generations, my family has been dedicated to producing the highest quality foods by ensuring the upmost care for our animals and protecting this land that we live and work on, just as many other dairy farmers would.

We take pride in the work we do and putting the freshest foods on the shelf 48 hours after it leaves the farm. Whether you are a dairy farmer or just picking up a glass of milk you purchased from your local grocery store, each one of us has a part in this process.

What are the plans for your butterhead?

I wish I had something fun to share, but it will most likely go right next to my sisters’ in my grandpa’s freezer. Although, making comparisons will be pretty interesting seeing how we all look alike.

Parents: Jerome and Karen Sheehan

Tell us about a favorite dairy animal on the farm. My favorite dairy animal on the farm was my cow, Roswell.

She was the rst calf I ever showed in 4-H and I showed her for many years. I love all of my cows on the farm, but none of them has ever compared to Roswell.

What skills do you possess that would make you a great Princess Kay? If you ask anyone in my family, they will tell you I love talking. I especially love telling my family’s story about dairy farming and how we care for our animals every day. I enjoy meeting new people and telling them about the dairy community, which I am so proud to be a part of.

If crowned Princess Kay, what message would you like to share with consumers? I would like to share that cow comfort is a top priority for dairy farmers. On my family’s farm, we always say if we take care of the cows, they will take care of us. Also, by taking great care of our cows they provide us with a healthy product that we can enjoy daily.

What are the plans for your butterhead? I plan on donating my butterhead back to my community. I am so grateful for all of the love and support the community has given me and donating my butterhead is the least I can do to say thank you for everything others have done.

Page 8 • Princess Kay Special Edition • Dairy Star • August 26, 2015

McKinzie Smith, 21

Rachel Stender, 17

Adams, Mower County

Lester Prairie, McLeod County

Parents: Rick and Tracy Smith

Tell us about a favorite dairy animal on the farm.

On the farm that I currently work at, my favorite cow is Lace.

She stands right next to the water faucet.

She always likes to be in my face and lick me when I try to hook up a hose.

My favorite calf is Betty Ann. She has the cutest markings on her.

What skills do you possess that would make you a great Princess Kay? I love talking and getting to know new people. I love having enthusiasm in whatever I am talking about and also always having a smile on my face.

If crowned Princess Kay, what message would you like to share with consumers? I would like to express my passion for the dairy community, tell my story about growing up on a dairy farm and how I will continue the tradition of dairy farming once I graduate from college. I also want to nd the ways people are consuming their three servings of dairy a day.

What are the plans for your butterhead? My plans are to donate some to the local food shelf and have a community corn feed.

Parents: Allen and Lisa Stender

Tell us about a favorite dairy animal on the farm.

My favorite dairy animal on our farm is the Brown Swiss, Dezi. I love the way she looks, and I love playing with her uffy ears.

Dezi loves to be played with and I am frequently caught brushing her with a currycomb. She even played a role in how I was asked to prom. She is a beautiful animal and holds a special place in my heart.

What skills do you possess that would make you a great Princess Kay? I possess the skills to talk to a variety of age groups. I love talking to people about what I believe in. I have the ability to tell people what goes on my farm because I experience it rst hand. The facts and stories that I share with consumers are true, real and come from experience.

If crowned Princess Kay, what message would you like to share with consumers? I would share the message that all cows are cared for 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days each year. It is very important to me that my cows are healthy so they can produce wholesome milk that is on store shelves in 48 hours for people to enjoy.

What are the plans for your butterhead? I plan to keep my butterhead in one piece until I, hopefully, have a daughter some day.

I would love to have a picture of her with it in hope that someday she might be a butterhead as well. Then, I plan to use it to for a corncob feed in my county and use it in different recipes.

If I do not have daughter, I plan to start using the butter to make cookies for my family, friends, community and, of course, to bring to the barn for a snack while milking cows.

Princess Kay Special Edition • Dairy Star • August 26, 2015 • Page 9

Morgan Uphoff, 19

Carley Vinkemeier, 18

Melrose, Stearns County

Norwood Young America, Carver County

Parents: Victor and Ann Uphoff

Tell us about a favorite dairy animal on the farm. My favorite animal on the farm is a heifer that I received for my 19th birthday from my boss.

She is a very friendly Red and White heifer. I am excited to take care of her.

What skills do you possess that would make you a great Princess Kay? My role as a dairy princess is to inform the general public of the goodness of dairy foods in a way that people can understand, and leave the conversation with a positive image of the dairy community. I believe that I have the communication skills to do so. People are also more willing and comfortable to approach a person with a smile. I am dependable as I have a strong reputation of being prompt to events, meetings, school and work. I am eager to share my passion for dairy with others by telling my story and answering questions truthfully and to the best of my ability, with a smile.

If crowned Princess Kay, what message would you like to share with consumers? My key message as Princess Kay would be to inform the community about the nutritional benets of milk and other dairy foods.

Milk contains nine essential nutrients that everyone – young and old – needs to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

That is why it is important for everyone to have at least three servings of dairy daily.

What are the plans for your butterhead? My favorite pastime is baking cookies, therefore, I will use some of the butter for making cookies to share with family, friends and organizations that I am proud to be involved in. I would also like to have a sweet corn feed and serve butter from my butterhead, as well. However, my parents are considering investing in a rotating showcase cooler to display my butterhead in the living room.

Parents: Jeff and Tina Vinkemeier

Tell us about a favorite dairy animal on the farm. On my family farm, we have every breed of cattle and my favorite breed is the Jersey. My favorite Jersey is Cinder. I bought her for my 4-H project, and her and I have made special memories. She won Reserve Champion Jersey at the Minnesota State Fair last year. Jerseys are known for their curiosity, but my Jersey cow even gives me hugs.

What skills do you possess that would make you a great Princess Kay? Some skills I possess are that I have a lot of dairy knowledge and I can easily talk to all age groups. I enjoy telling everyone about my family dairy farm and the nutritious products the cows make. I enjoy going to nursing homes and talking about how things have changed and what else could change in the future. I also love answering the children’s questions about how you feed a calf and milk a cow.

If crowned Princess Kay, what message would you like to share with consumers? If I was crowned Princess Kay, I would want the public to know that every farmer cares for their cows like they care for their family. Farmers give their cows an unlimited amount of food and water, and a comfortable place to live.

With all of this care, the cows give nutritious dairy products for all of us to enjoy.

What are the plans for your butterhead? I am not sure what I will be doing with my butterhead, but the scraps will be used for our annual 4-H cookie bake for shut-ins.

Page 10 • Princess Kay Special Edition • Dairy Star • August 26, 2015

Dairy Goodness Bar and All-You-Can-Drink Milk Stand

The Dairy Goodness Bar, located at the corner of Judson and Underwood, regularly ranks among the fair’s top food attractions. Located in the dairy building near the butter sculptures, the Dairy Goodness Bar is open throughout the fair from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. daily.

In 2014, the Dairy Goodness Bar served malts, sundaes, ice cream cones, yogurt, cheese sticks, fresh cheese curds and milk. Nearly 181,500 ice cream treats – including 93,000 malts – were served throughout the fair.

To accommodate the demand, 14 two-sided treat dispensing machines run simultaneously throughout the fair. They’re connected to a high-tech stainless steel pipe system that delivers a steady ow of ice cream and malt mixes from a giant cooler so workers don’t need to stop and rell the machines.

In 2015, a new featured avor, Salted Caramel Puff, has been added to the menu. The avor, made up of dairy farmers’ secret state-fair recipe vanilla ice cream or malt, topped with creamy caramel sauce and nished with the perfect crunch of Old Dutch Puffcorn, was selected in an on-line poll earlier in the year, and will be part of a new annual featured avor series known as “Flavor of the Fair.”

Throughout the fair, Dairy Goodness Bar visitors can make suggestions for 2016’s Flavor of the Fair with the top choices put to a vote next spring.

Malts ($6) are available in salted caramel puff, chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, rhubarb-strawberry, apple-caramel, raspberry or blueberry avors. Sundaes ($5) are available in salted caramel puff, chocolate, caramel, apple-caramel, strawberry, rhubarb-strawberry,

raspberry or blueberry.

Strawberry is the number one fruit avor. In 2014, Dairy Goodness Bar workers used 5,790 pounds of strawberries and 3,960 pounds of rhubarb-strawberry.

Raspberry is the second most popular fruit avor, with 4,380 pounds used in 2014.

The Dairy Goodness Bar features Minnesota grown apples and strawberries from Pine Tree Orchard in White Bear Lake. Ice cream cones ($3) are available in vanilla, chocolate and twist avors.

In 2015, the Dairy Goodness Bar will sell fresh cheddar cheese curds from Redhead Creamery near Brooten, one of the state’s newest farmstead cheesemakers. Fresh curds in zesty and garlic avors from Eichten’s in Center City are also on the menu ($3 per 4oz. package). Greek yogurt ($1) is available in strawberry and honey vanilla, and regular yogurt ($1) in raspberry, blueberry and peach. Strawberry Go-Gurt® is available for $1. Cheese sticks ($1) are available in cheddar, mozzarella, pepper jack and smoked mozzarella. Milk ($1) is available in 1% chocolate or white.

The current Dairy Goodness Bar debuted in 1968.

In 1994, dairy farmers funded a major long-term improvement to the Dairy Goodness Bar, installing a state-of-the-art mini ice cream plant to assure food safety and the ability to expand business. In 2010, a new energy efcient cooler was built, and in 2011, dairy farmers replaced all 14 malt and ice cream machines with brand new Taylor brand units. The new units are more efcient and help serve more customers per hour, in keeping with the Dairy Goodness Bar’s growing business.

Salted Caramel Puff Malt debuts as inaugural “Flavor of the Fair”

Dairy Goodness Bar malts at the Minnesota State Fair are a time-honored tradition, and fair-goers know they can expect mainstays like vanilla and chocolate, and favorites like apple-caramel and rhubarb-strawberry to appear each year. But this year, Midwest Dairy Association’s menu will include the Salted Caramel Puff malt, which was chosen on-line by the public in the inaugural “Flavor of the Fair” contest.

In May, Minnesota’s dairy farmers invited maltlovers to visit Midwest Dairy’s website and Facebook page to take the “Flavor of the Fair” poll and choose a favorite between three delectable avor combinations, all featuring Minnesota ingredients.

The tasty Salted Caramel Puff winner can be enjoyed this year as a sundae or malt and is made with Minnesota dairy farmers’ secret state fair recipe vanilla ice cream or malt, topped with creamy caramel sauce and nished with the perfect crunch of Old Dutch Puffcorn.

To add to the fun, during this year’s Minnesota State Fair, fair-goers can suggest 2016 “Flavor of the Fair” combinations at the Dairy Goodness Bar while they enjoy this year’s avor. The Dairy Goodness Bar, located in the Minnesota State Fair’s dairy building (corner of Judson and Underwood), will feature a location where visitors can write in avor suggestions of their own to be considered for next year. Each day, avor suggestions will be entered into a drawing and a winner will be chosen at random to receive a copy of "The Dairy Good Cookbook: Everyday Comfort Food from America’s Farm Families." This year’s fair runs from Aug. 27-Sept. 7.

Match the Facts

Maggie Mills

Rachel Stender

1)_____________

2)_____________

Match the unique fact to the girl it belongs to.

Samantha Keller

Jennifer Oelfke 3)_____________

Morgan Uphoff

4)_____________ 5)____________

Kylee Fernholz

Kallie Baker

Ellen Sheehan

Michele Green

McKinzie Smith

Kyla Mauk

Carley Vinkemeier

6)_____________

7)_____________

8)_____________

9)_____________

10)_____________

11)____________

12)____________

A) I love listening to rock music, especially ‘80s rock.

B) At school, I am involved in Stout Typographical Society, a club that is run like a small printing business.

H) Traveling and exploring new places is my favorite thing to do. I have almost been to more countries than I have states.

C) I own 11 Brown Swiss cattle.

I) I have never broken a bone, which is very surprising for me as I had 23 stitches and lacerated tendon right before summer started a few years ago.

D) My family and I are featured on a Kemps’ milk carton as one of Kemps dairy farm families that are proud to provide communities with great tasting milk.

J) During my freshman year at college, my basketball team won the NJCAA National Championship. In my wildest dreams, I never would’ve thought I’d receive a national championship ring.

E) My family hosts foreign exchange students. We have hosted nine so far.

K) I have an obsession with shoes, and I probably have around 50 pairs.

F) One of my favorite snacks/sandwiches is a Miracle Whip and lettuce sandwich. It is so good.

L) My front tooth is fake. It has been knocked out four times.

G) I strongly dislike ketchup, and probably any other condiment you could think of.

Answers: 5-A, 4-B , 7-C, 1-D, 10-E, 8-F, 3-G, 11-H, 2-I, 9-J, 12-K, 6-L