A month of new beginnings

September was a month of excitement and change, marking the transition from summer to fall. It’s a time to reflect on the busyness of the past season, and for me, this means celebrating an eventful summer filled with success, excitement, and personal growth.

September held the conclusion of an unforgettable Minnesota State Fair, the beginning of my sophomore year of college, and anticipation for World Dairy Expo. Beyond my role as Princess Kay of the Milky Way, these exciting milestones remind me to cherish every opportunity I am given to share my passion for dairy and celebrate the community that has shaped my journey.

As I write this from the Coliseum at World Dairy Expo and take a look around, I can’t help but reflect on the whirlwind of the past month. Settling back into the rhythm of campus life and beginning my year as Princess Kay has allowed me to appreciate how interconnected the dairy community is. This fall, as I kick off my sophomore year, I’m filled with excitement to continue my academic journey and dive into new opportunities. From participating in the Gopher Dairy Club and the university honors program to conducting undergraduate research on Federal

Milk Marketing Orders, I know this year will be rich with learning experiences that will expand my knowledge of the dairy industry.

At the beginning of the month, my mom safely delivered my butterhead back home while my excitement grew for my first appearance as Princess Kay outside of the state fair. I kicked off the year with the LeSueur and Blue Earth County’s Breakfast on the Farm in Lake Crystal, Minnesota. There, I connected with the local community over delicious pancakes and meaningful conversations. The event, run entirely by volunteers, including FFA students from nearby schools, was a wonderful reminder of how agriculture brings communities together. As a former FFA member, I felt a sense of pride watching these students take on leadership roles and work together to celebrate their shared passion for agriculture. Following breakfast, my day was spent handing out cow hats, serving milk, and chatting with excited children at a combine simulator — an unforgettable start to my year representing Minnesota’s dairy industry.

Another recent highlight was attending a St. Paul Saints baseball game, where I participated in a sustainability social hosted by Midwest Dairy. Not only did I throw out the first pitch, but I also gave a live radio interview, where I shared facts about sustainability, talked about my role as Princess Kay, and answered the ever-popular question, “What happens to the butterheads after the fair?” With around 6,000 attendees, it was a great opportunity to promote sustainability in the dairy industry. Midwest Dairy also sponsored a section for students from the University of Minnesota’s College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences to come and enjoy the game. The rain held off for a beautiful evening of cheering on the Saints with friends and family while sharing my passion for the dairy community.

While September brings a close to the summer and we step into a busy October, I can not help but smile when I am driving down the road on a late fall evening and see the fields lit up with the commotion of harvest. Amid this busy time of year, whether we are in the classroom or the fields, we are reminded of the new routines that this changing of the seasons brings to us all. The past month has been filled with incredible learning opportunities, personal growth, and unforgettable memories, and I cannot wait for what the rest of the year has in store.

Princess Kay of the Milky Way, Rachel Visser, serves as the Minnesota dairy community’s goodwill ambassador. Rachel grew up in Hutchinson, Minnesota working on a neighboring dairy farm. She attends the University of Minnesota double majoring in Agricultural Food and Business Management and Agricultural Communications and Marketing. Her favorite dairy food is cheese sticks. Her parents are Barry and Shannon Visser. Princess Kay is active doing school visits and events representing dairy farmers, and sharing the importance of dairy farming and dairy foods at appearances across Minnesota.