Whether it’s drinking a glass of milk for dinner, seeing celebrity milk mustaches on posters at my school, or spending time on dairy farms across the state and beyond, Wisconsin dairy has always played a massive part in my life. It’s no wonder my year as Alice in Dairyland has immersed me even more in this incredibly influential part of Wisconsin agriculture.
In one of my sweetest campaigns, I began my term as 76th.t Alice in Dairyland is celebrating National Ice Cream Month with media and friends across the state. We learned how to make Salty Vanilla No-Churn Mascarpone Ice Cream at home, and oh boy, was it delicious! Plus, this campaign gave me the perfect excuse to enjoy ice cream at several parlors, stores, and county and county fairs throughout the summer, like The Pearl in La Crosse and Kelley’s Country Creamery in Fond du Lac.
Summer also brought numerous county fairs and the Wisconsin State Fair, which featured competitions for pioneering products, dairy exhibits, milking and butter-making demonstrations, and meetings with fairgoers of all ages.
The trade fair season has spilled out right into World Dairy Faira long-standing tradition in my family. Being able to walk across those colorful shavings to deliver the 2023 Supreme Champion envelope is something I will never forget. I have always loved how an event like the World Dairy Expo unites people from all over the world through a shared love of dairy farming and agriculture, and this year as Alice was no different.
The holidays have always been my favorite time of year, especially because of the baking that comes with it! Sharing recipes during 12 Days of Wisconsin Dairy and more about Wisconsin butter in December was a great way to kick off the holiday season. Our dairy cows provide us with plenty of cream to keep Wisconsin’s 13 butter mills running, making Wisconsin one of the top two butter-producing states.
As we entered the first part of the novel year, I loved connecting with Badgerland Girl Scout troops to promote the Wisconsin dairy industry at places like Seven Acre Dairy Company and Sassy Cow Creamery. This educational program, titled “Adventures of the Milky Whey,” explored dairy through history, science, technology, and more! We also thank Hoard’s Dairyman Farm and Hinchley’s Dairy Farm for hosting our Girl Scouts last fall.
The second annual Wisconsin Artisan Cheese Bracket was a great opportunity to hear from Wisconsinites about their favorite cheeses. I even got to do a live poll at several Hy-Vee grocery stores, handing out samples and seeing which ones customers liked the most. There’s nothing better than watching consumers react when they try a delicious Wisconsin cheese for the first time!
I learned so much around Earth Day when I spoke to the media about the sustainability practices our dairy farmers are using to ensure our robust dairy heritage survives for generations to come. Farmers work with nutritionists to ensure their cows are as hearty as possible, plant cover crops to keep the soil hearty, and conserve and recycle water many times over. Cows are also some of our best recyclers, turning feed that is unfit for human consumption into milk that is ready to drink.
It seems fitting that a year surrounded by our mighty dairy industry ends with June Dairy Month. I look forward to dairy breakfasts, sharing the stories of our farmers with Wisconsinites near and far, and a final chance to truly celebrate America’s Dairyland. As we honor our state’s dairy industry, look for the “Proudly Wisconsin” dairy badge or the number “55” on dairy product packaging to support local farmers and processors while strengthening Wisconsin’s dairy industry.
As I wrap up the final weeks of my term, I want to thank the farmers, partners, friends and family, online fans and all of you, our wonderful supporters, for making this one of the best years of my life. I close with your ice cream-loving, squeaky cheese curd, 76t Alice in Dairyland, Ashley Hagenow.
