Area Dairy Princesses planning leave State Fair buttered up on Owatonna

OWATONNA — Who wouldn’t want their head immortalized in butter?

Well, immortal until the toast is done, that is.

But a butter bust of each of the Princess Kay of the Milky Way finalists is one of the perks of becoming Minnesota’s top dairy princess. This year, two of the five Steele County Dairy Princesses will contend for the top honor of Princess Kay of Milky Way.

Steele Countians Kristy Mussman and Elizabeth Kern, both 20, are state finalists who will compete at the State Fair at St. Paul in August. As finalists, the two women will have their heads carved in butter for one day at the fair.

However, the Princess Kay of the Milky Way carving will be held the first day of the fair.

“The first day of the fair, Princess Kay has her head displayed in a 90-pound block of butter,” said Char Hovland, Midwest Dairy Association princess coordinator for the Minnesota Princess program.

In 1965, the American Dairy Association of Minnesota began its tradition of having the likenesses of dairy princesses sculpted in butter. For the 12 days of the fair, each of the 12 Princess Kay finalists will have her butter head displayed.

Many former princesses have done everything from melting the butter down to be used for a special occaision to displaying their head at their own wedding.

Mussman’s older sister was a finalist five years ago. Her likeness still remains in the freezer of Mussman’s grandfather. Mussman said she will probably store her butter sculpture there as well, but she hasn’t decided on long-term plans.

The Minnesota Princess Program is celebrating its 55th anniversary this year. The program boasts more than 90 county princesses across the state. Princesses are daughters of dairy farmers, employees

of dairy farms or daughters of dairy farm employees.

The state and county terms will last one year and throughout the year, Princess Kay and the county princesses strive to educate and promote the dairy industry.

“Throughout the year, (Princess Kay) serves as a goodwill ambassador for the Midwest Dairy Association,” Hovland said. “She’ll make special appearances, especially in schools.”

Princess Kay coronation will be held the Wednesday before the state fair’s opening, Aug. 20. Women who have graduated from high school through age 24 are eligible to run for princess.

Wendy Reuer can be reached at 444-1565.

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