A season of togetherness

As we step into the holiday season and I wrap up a month of fun and engaging Princess Kay appearances, I am reminded of the countless blessings in life. Coming home for Thanksgiving to join the family around the table is a special time and one that I look forward to each year. Sharing what we are all thankful for allowed me to take a step back and reflect on the opportunities the past month has held.

On Nov. 8, I was excited to join 30 Minnesota 4-H members at the first-ever 4-H Agriculture Education Leader Exchange. I presented to the group on how to advocate for Agriculture, and we put these skills into practice by creating a mock social media post. Following this, we engaged in two different activities to explore new, creative ways to consume three servings of dairy each day and understand sustainability on dairy farms. This was a fun event to interact with the youth who are taking advantage of the opportunities presented to them and engaging in many of the same activities I did not too many years ago. There is no doubt that the future is bright for the upcoming generation of agricultural leaders.

Toward the end of the month, I was able to attend both the annual meeting of the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation and the Minnesota Farmers Union Annual Convention. At the Farm Bureau banquet, I spent the evening with members from across Minnesota, and I had meaningful conversations with new and familiar faces.

I was also able to speak on the importance and value of being a part of a team in agriculture. When I think about agriculture and the effect we have on the world around us, teamwork — along with dedication, hard work and determination — is what truly sets our community apart. On the farm, I can often be found doing chores with my sisters, and no matter what, we try to do just about everything together. Just as my sisters and I make up a team in the barn, I see the same sense of teamwork on every single farm, no matter what is being produced. By being engaged in agriculture, we are redefining the word “teamwork” and serving as an example for the rest of the world as a community that truly works together to reach common goals.

The following day, at the Minnesota Farmers Union Annual Convention, I spent the first part of the morning in the childcare area, where I read a story and explored dairy products and dairy farming with the kids through a dairy coloring book. Following this, I joined members for a delicious meal and wonderful conversations and spoke on the perspective we share by being involved in agriculture. As a community rooted in agriculture, we share the perspective of knowing the work that happens on the farm, understanding the dedication that is put into raising livestock or growing crops, and the vital role we play in our economy. Whether we are educating the next generation of agriculture advocates, getting involved in various organizations or being the hands that work every day to produce food, fuel and fiber for the entire world, we all play an important role and have a unique perspective to share.

As I head back to school to wrap up classes and prepare for the Christmas season, I am excited for what the month has ahead and am beyond thankful for this season of giving and time spent with friends and family. I am beyond grateful for this opportunity to represent Minnesota’s dedicated dairy farmers and am so excited 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.