ST. PAUL, Minn. — Rebekka Paskewitz (PAS-SKI-WITZ), a 20-year-old college student from Browerville, Minnesota, representing Todd County, was crowned the 65th Princess Kay of the Milky Way in an evening ceremony at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds Aug. 22.
Paskewitz will serve as the official goodwill ambassador for nearly 3,000 Minnesotadairy farm families. She is the daughter of Alan and Vicki Paskewitz, and attends the South Dakota State University, where she is pursuing a degree in agricultural education.
Twelve county dairy princesses from throughout Minnesota competed for the Princess Kay of the Milky Way title. Blaize Dankers (DANK-ers) of Plainview, representing Wabasha County, and Korissa Lindquist (LIND-QUEST) of Kerkhoven, representing Kandiyohi County, were selected as runners-up.
Katherine Gathje (GAT-KEY) of Richmond, representing Meeker County, Ashley Maus(MOUSE) of Freeport, representing Stearns County and Julia Mullenbach (MULL-N-BAK) of Rose Creek, representing Mower County were named scholarship winners. Lindquist was also named Miss Congeniality.
Throughout her yearlong reign as Princess Kay of the Milky Way, Paskewitz will make public appearances to help connect consumers to Minnesota's dairy farm families. She will work to bring dairy to life through conversations, classroom visits and various speaking engagements.
Paskewitz's first official duty as Princess Kay will be to sit in a rotating cooler in the Dairy Building (located at the corner of Judson Avenue and Underwood Street) for nearly six hours to have her likeness sculpted in a 90-pound block of butter on the opening day of the Minnesota State Fair – Thursday, Aug. 23. This year marks butter sculptor Linda Christensen's 47th year carving the Princess Kay of the Milky Way winner and finalists at the Minnesota State Fair. Other finalists are scheduled to have their likenesses sculpted as follows:
- Friday, Aug. 24: Melendy Miller, Plainview, representing Wabasha County;
- Saturday, Aug. 25: Laura Grimm, Waconia, representing Carver County;
- Sunday, Aug. 26: Julia Mullenbach, Rose Creek, representing Mower County;
- Monday, Aug. 27: Amy Broll, Chaska, representing Carver County;
- Tuesday, Aug. 28: Megan Hollermann, Burtrum, representing Todd County;
- Wednesday, Aug. 39: Blaize Dankers, Plainview, representing Wabasha County;
- Thursday, Aug. 30: Ashley Maus, Freeport, representing Stearns County;
- Friday, Aug. 31: Katherine Gathje, Richmond, representing Meeker County;
- Saturday, Sept. 1: Catherine Thompson, Plainview, representing Olmsted County;
- Sunday, Sept. 2: Korissa Lindquist, Kerkhoven, representing Kandiyohi County; and
- Monday, Sept. 3: Calissa Lubben, Edgerton, representing Rock County.
Throughout the fair, Princess Kay and the other finalists will make appearances near the Butter Sculpture Booth in the Dairy Building, at the Moo Booth in the Dairy Barn and onstage at the Miracle of Birth Center. Princess Kay's Facebook page(facebook.com/princesskayofthemilkyway) will provide daily updates and photos of each completed butter sculpture.
Princess Kay candidates are judged on their general knowledge of the dairy industry, communication skills and enthusiasm for dairy. Midwest Dairy sponsors the Princess Kay program, which is funded by dairy farmers through their promotion checkoff.
Midwest Dairy® represents 7,400 dairy farm families and works on their behalf to increase dairy sales, foster innovation and inspire consumer confidence in dairy products and practices. Midwest Dairy is funded by checkoff dollars from dairy farmers in a 10-state region, including Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma
For more information, visit MidwestDairy.com. Follow us on Twitter and find us on Facebookat Midwest Dairy.
Source: Midwest Dairy
