FALCON HEIGHTS, Minn. — If newly-crowned Princess Kay of the Milky Way Rachel Visser could have just one dairy product for the rest of her life, she would choose butter. Visser will be immersed in churned cream as her likeness is sculpted the first two days of the Minnesota State Fair into 90 pounds of her favorite dairy product.
“(Being Princess Kay) is super exciting,” Visser said. “It almost doesn’t feel real, but I’m so excited for the next 12 days at the state fair and the next year ahead.”
Visser is the daughter of Barry and Shannon Visser, of Hutchinson. The 19-year-old, representing McLeod County, will be a sophomore at the University of Minnesota where she studies agricultural and food business management and agricultural communications and marketing.
“I really got my start in the dairy community through working on the farm,” Visser said. “I really want to share that it’s the people around me who have fueled my passion, and that’s the case for anybody. It’s the people around them who encourage them to do what they love and to share their passion, whether it is the dairy industry or something different.”
Visser did not grow up on a dairy farm, but became involved in the dairy industry 11 years ago when she showed her first Jersey calf.
Visser works for Chad and Stacy Bohn, who own Stadview dairy farm located near Litchfield. Visser is involved on the farm and helps care for her leased and owned show animals.
“I fell in love with the hardworking dairy farmers, and I wanted to learn everything about what they did to produce healthy dairy products,” Visser said. “I’m super excited to share the dairy story, not only my story, but from farmers across the state of Minnesota.”
Katie Ketchum, representing Winona County, and Grace Woitalla, representing Stearns County, were named runners-up.
The trio of Visser, Ketchum and Woitalla also received three $1,000 scholarships given by Midwest Dairy.
Mackenzie Moline, representing Nicollet County, was named Miss Congeniality.
Visser said one of her goals as Princess Kay will be to work with children.
“I love working with kids,” Visser said. “If I can connect with them with my love for dairy, that would be awesome.”
Visser’s parents said they felt honored for Visser to be among the other finalists for Princess Kay. They said a trait that stands out to them about their daughter is her drive.
“When she finds something that she’s passionate about, she will give it 110% whether it’s helping out on the farm, (or) whether it is advocating for the industry,” Shannon said.
Her father agreed.
“Her best day at the fair is when she gets to talk to fair goers and gets to share her passion for the industry and talk about the great work farmers do every day,” he said.
Visser will be spending the first 12 days of her reign at the Great Minnesota Get-Together.
“I’m really super excited to get to know the fairgoers and share a little bit about my passion for dairy,” Visser said.
One of her first duties as Princess Kay will be to have her likeness sculpted in butter by Gerry Kulzer. Visser said she likes to put butter on everything and is not concerned with finding uses for her sculpture.
Visser will not be alone at the state fair; her family will also be at the fair all 12 days showing. Her sisters, Hannah and Kayla, said they are proud of their sister.
“She can always bring people together no matter who she’s around or who she’s with,” Hannah said. “She can always bring people together and just create a community.”
Visser is grateful for the dairy farmers she is representing.
“Thank you for the hard work that they do,” Visser said. “I look forward to learning more about what they’re doing on their farms and promoting their story and what they’re doing to produce healthy dairy products.”
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