It’s National Dairy Month

The month we have been waiting for all year is finally here. It is National Dairy Month. I’m so excited to kick off my June activities and appearances. This past month has been a busy one though, and I have lots of information to share all about it.
I started the month off in Ogilvie at Agriculture Day. We had students in kindergarten through 12th grade who saw different animals and farm implements, planted a small garden, made ice cream and more. I spent the day at the ice cream making station visiting with students while they made their very own ice cream in a bag.
I then traveled to Minneapolis for the Leadership and Promotion Event, where there were 60 young women in attendance. We had a series of workshops on advocacy, etiquette, nutrition and even made a trivia wheel that could be taken home and used on the county level. As you learned last month, we also named the 10 finalists for the 69th Princess Kay of the Milky Way. I was honored to lead the announcement of the finalists on Facebook.
I was also able to visit the kindergarten students at Lake Mills Elementary School in New York Mills. They toured a nearby dairy farm the week prior to my visit and were excited to share with me what they had learned. After, I shared one of my favorite dairy-related books with them. We talked about different ways we keep cows comfortable on the farm. From sand bedding, fans and using mist to cool the cows, these students were on top of their game when it came to remembering all the ways that cows are kept comfortable.
Then, I headed back to the Twin Cities into Eagan at TCO Stadium for the Minnesota Vikings
Field Day. These three days were packed with fun memories for all 2,400 students in attendance. There were activities around the field for students to participate in, like relay races, bean bag toss and puzzles. The students were from the metro area and had a lot of questions about dairy farms and how we care for our cows. We came prepared with all the necessities that are used daily on farms, like teat dip cups, calf bottles, ear tags and a milking claw. I used these items to show them firsthand how they are used, and that as dairy farmers, we pride ourselves on providing the very best care for our cows. Though I was tired at the end of these busy three days at TCO Stadium, the experience was incredibly rewarding, and I was honored to share so many things about dairy farms with the students and teachers at the field day.
I rounded out the month in Mora at Kindergarten Day on the Farm. Though it was a cold, rainy day, we made the best of it with the students who braved the weather. Students could see sheep, llamas, goats, pigs, horses, poultry and two of the sweetest calves named Lonestar and Sylvia. I spent the day with the calves talking about how calves are cared for on the farm, how much and what they eat, and lots of other fun facts. In the end, it turned out to be a great day on the farm.
As we look at June, I encourage you to attend your local breakfast on the farm or equivalent. You may even find me there. I will be out and about at lots of different events over the course of the month promoting the wonderful dairy products we produce on our farms each day. I’m excited to embark on all of my dairy-filled adventures this coming month, and I hope to see some of you along the way. It’s truly an honor to be able to represent you all this month and every month.
Princess Kay of the Milky Way Anna Euerle serves as the Minnesota dairy community’s goodwill ambassador. Princess Kay is very active doing school visits, representing dairy farmers at the Fuel Up To Play 60 activities in conjunction with the Minnesota Vikings, and sharing the importance of dairy farming and dairy foods at appearances across Minnesota.
Euerle grew up in Litchfield, Minnesota, working on her family’s dairy farm. She will soon graduate from Ridgewater College in Agribusiness with a dairy emphasis. In her free time she enjoys cooking, baking and being outdoors.