A group of dairy princesses from Morrison County paid a visit to the County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, June 11 to introduce themselves and discuss their important work promoting the local dairy industry.
Stacy Happke, the coordinator of the county’s dairy princess program, was joined by Dairy Princesses Josi Smude, Paige Fellbaum and Paige Gerads. Happke explained how the program helps young women gain confidence through public appearances and interactions with community members over the course of their year of service.
“The most things that I see every year from a group of young ladies is the confidence that they gain from being maybe some shy young girls in March to the following March,” Happke said. “The confidence that they gain over a year of talking to people in our community is just amazing.”
The dairy princesses represent Morrison County at parades, school visits, the Morrison County Fair and other events. They share their experiences growing up on dairy farms and educate people of all ages on the importance of local milk production.
Gerads grew up on a dairy farm just outside Upsala, which was sold in January. With this being her second year as a dairy princess, she continues to advocate for farmers.
Fellbaum said classroom visits are a favorite, where she enjoys teaching children about dairy cows and how milk makes it from farm to table. She grew up on a farm in Swanville, which was sold in 2023.
Smude has lived on her family farm near Harding and Lastrup her entire life. She said one of her favorite activities as a dairy princess is to give out ice cream at events. As she was a junior in high school, she was selected as a junior dairy princess. Gerads and Fellbaum were either seniors in high school or had recently graduated, so they were selected as full dairy princesses.
Excited by hearing about Smude liking to give out ice cream, Commissioner Robert Kasper asked if she had brought any for the Board that morning.
“I ate it all last night,” Smude said, causing laughter.
Commissioner Randy Winscher asked how the program coordinates with neighboring counties that have their own royalty. Happke explained each county’s princesses focus on local promotions while coming together for larger regional festivals.
One princess, Gerads, is among the top 10 finalists to represent Minnesota as the 71st Princess Kay of the Milky Way at the upcoming Minnesota State Fair, taking place from Thursday, Aug. 22 through Monday, Sept. 2 in St. Paul. As one of the finalists, Gerads will have her likeness carved in butter.
The Board expressed support for the princesses’ work promoting the dairy industry, which remains an economic driver in rural Morrison County. After introducing themselves, Happke and the dairy princesses posed for photos with commissioners. The Board thanked the princesses for their dedication to dairy farming and looked forward to seeing the positive impact of their outreach efforts in the coming year.
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