Celebrating Minnesota’s dairy community

Originally celebrated as National Milk Month in 1937 and officially recognized as June Dairy Month in 1939, this month has long honored the dedication and passion that dairy farmers have for their cows and the wholesome products they provide. While every event I have attended so far has had a lasting impact on me, there was something especially memorable about celebrating Minnesota’s dairy community at 23 different events across the state this June. Traveling 2,648 miles, from Norman to Carlton, down to Brown and Steele counties, and many places in between, I have experienced some of the most unforgettable interactions of the year.

I kicked off the month at the Grand Old Day Parade in St. Paul before visiting the Minnesota Department of Agriculture for an ice cream social. In the few days that followed, I attended Dairy Days celebrations in Glencoe, Hutchinson and Adams, in addition to Breakfast on the Farm events in Sibley and Steele counties. Each event had its own unique and fun way of celebrating dairy, but all shared the goal of providing transparency to consumers about how their food is produced and the work that farmers do. The next event I visited was Gopher Dairy Camp at the University of Minnesota, hosted by the Gopher Dairy Club. When I was younger, attending camp was one of my favorite summer activities, so going back as Princess Kay was extra special. I joined campers for an evening of fun and learning and was excited to meet each and every one of the young dairy enthusiasts.

The next week took me on a journey across Minnesota, and one that I will never forget. First, I spent Father’s Day close to home, where my dad joined me in the Water Carnival Parade in Hutchinson. A couple of days later, I attended Brisket on the Farm in Brainerd. The rainy evening didn’t stop the community from gathering for a delicious meal and learning about agriculture. Afterward, I traveled to Ada, where I first visited the Norman County Historical Society to share a brief presentation on the history of the Princess Kay program, before participating in their Kickoff to Summer parade and visiting the Norman County Fair. I then attended the Goodhue County Breakfast on the Farm and wrapped up the week at the Olmsted County Breakfast on the Farm. I especially enjoyed meeting with each of the school and daycare groups that brought over 200 students to the farm in Goodhue and visiting with many dairy farmers at each of these events.

The following day, I attended the Brown County Picnic on the Dairy. Here, I enjoyed participating in the farm tours and began the final full week of June. Next, I shared a brief presentation on my experience as Princess Kay with Big Stone County 4-H members over Zoom, then attended the first Night on the Farm in Hutchinson. This evening event gathered local agricultural businesses and highlighted the impact and importance of agriculture in our community. I then visited the Cosmos Library for story time with a small group of children before spending a day in Little Falls. There, I visited the Pine Grove Zoo for ice cream and dairy-related games, and the Morrison County Fair to spend time in the Ag Learning Center and help with the Century Farm Program.

In the last couple of days in June, I headed to Farmington for the Top the Tater Days parade and to Barnum for the Northeast Regional 4-H Dairy Clinic, where youth enhanced their showmanship and fitting skills with their animals. I found so much joy in helping with the hands-on learning throughout the entirety of this event, and can now say that I have helped clip a calf while wearing my crown and sash. This was a memory that I will never forget, and it’s moments like these that have made this entire year so rewarding.

During the busy and exciting month, each of these events was filled with enthusiasm and appreciation for the dairy community. It was so fulfilling to witness the incredible number of people eager to learn about agriculture in their local communities and willing to learn firsthand how their food is produced. While June Dairy Month has come to a close, I am optimistic that each family that attended a Breakfast on the Farm, each child that participated in a Dairy Days event, and every person who leaned into their curiosity for agriculture will continue to recognize the meaningful role the dairy community plays in their lives.

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.