A tiara tradition

PINE ISLAND, Minn. — The Stan and Amy Sauder household is full of crowns, sashes and even a couple butterheads.

Amy was a regional dairy princess and Princess Kay of the Milky Way finalist in 1986. Now, her and Stan’s daughters — Valerie Brekke, Amanda, Ellie and Josie — have worn a crown representing dairy farmers of Dodge County as well. Their youngest, Dori, age 13, has not yet been able to compete at the county level.

“It’s been wonderful to have the girls follow in my footsteps and become princesses,” Amy said. “For me, it’s a heritage experience to represent your family and farm like that.”

Valerie was also a Princess Kay of the Milky Way finalist in 2020.

“When I got the chance to really represent the dairy industry of Dodge County, I was just so excited to do that,” Valerie said. “I was so proud to come from a multigeneration family dairy farm and really represent the history of my family and the work that we do. I was really happy to get to share that story and talk to consumers.”

Amy grew up on the farm operated by her parents, Kenneth and Florence Alberts, near Pine Island. Today, Amy and her three brothers own and operate the same family farm, Pine Shelter Farms, where they milk 600 cows. The Sauder sisters grew up helping on the farm alongside their uncles and cousins. After completing the University of Wisconsin-River Falls Farm and Industry Short Course, Josie returned to work full time at the dairy while also serving as a Dodge County dairy princess.

“I have always loved working on the farm and sharing my experiences with others,” Josie said. “We work hard every day to produce a wholesome product, and I am proud of our family and farm.”

Amanda works part time at the dairy in addition to holding a full-time job in town.

“I’m excited to continue in my role on the farm as the sixth generation,” Amanda said. “I love sharing what we do on the farm. This program gave me a really good opportunity to connect with other people and put a face to the dairy industry.”

Sharing the dairy message with consumers is important to all the Sauders.

“Getting to talk about dairy and agriculture is so important for agriculture literacy,” Ellie said. “A lot of people don’t know where their food comes from, and so we need to work on closing that ag education gap.”

Five of the Sauders’ cousins whom they work alongside have also served as dairy princesses, and their cousin, Mackenzie Alberts, was named a Princess Kay finalist in 2023.

Since the Sauder sisters are spread out in age, Valerie and Amanda served together and Ellie and Josie serves together as county princesses at the same time.

“Getting to watch each of my sisters step up and take on that role for our county and see the same pride for our family farm and the same passion for talking about dairy and sharing that with consumers was great,” Valerie said. “The growth that we all experienced through the role of a dairy princess has been really cool and getting to share the same memories with my sisters has been such a wonderful thing.”

While Amy did not share the dairy princess experience with a sister, she said she appreciates that her daughters have had that opportunity.

“What has been so fun with having this many daughters in the program is that they have been able to be princesses together,” Amy said. “That’s precious to me seeing them do events together.”

Growing up, the Sauder sisters were also involved in 4-H and FFA, where they participated in dairy and public speaking events. Valerie, Amanda and Ellie have chosen to take it to the next step, obtaining ag communications degrees at college.

Amy said her experience being a dairy princess included many of the same events that her daughters also participated in, such as riding in parades, visiting with consumers, and the cow milking contest at the Dodge County Fair. However, Amy said the statewide judging for Princess Kay with the May Leadership Event and events for the finalists have changed over the years since she served.

“The duties are pretty similar to when I was a dairy princess, but the training the girls receive is much more thorough,” Amy said. “The way that the girls are getting more training, experience and friendships that will last them a lifetime (is great). They get to know each other as candidates prior to the coronation at the state fair. That is something that we didn’t get.”

Running for county dairy princess was never forced upon the girls Amy said; each stepped into the role full of passion for the industry they were surrounded by.

“Growing up, I loved the dairy princesses,” Valerie said. “I always looked up to these girls from my county wearing the beautiful crowns and handing out ribbons at the county fair. … When I was young, I didn’t really understand all the things that they did, but I knew I wanted to be like them. Later on, I loved having conversations with people about dairy products and how dairy is raised and produced in the work that we do on our farm.”

Even though it has been a few years since some of the Sauder girls have worn a crown and sash, they continue to promote dairy every chance they get.

“You never really stop promoting dairy,” Amy said. “With our non-farm friends, they all know we milk cows and I keep telling them to buy milk, cheese and butter. Anytime we have a potluck situation, we always do a plate of cheese or bring the milk, something that promotes dairy.”

As the crown and sash continue to make their way through the Sauder family, the memories continue to grow.

“We’re a very close family, so getting to share this experience as dairy princesses between us girls and our mom has been really special,” Valerie said.