The 57th Mower County Dairy Princess will be crowned at the annual banquet, Friday, April 9, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Adams.

The 2010 candidates are Abigail Fay and Calli Smith. Brittney Ruechel and Madison Smith will be crowned Mower County Milk Maids.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for the dairy social hour, and the banquet meal will be served promptly at 7:30 p.m. The banquet will again include a scholarship auction, a silent scholarship auction and many door prizes.

Dairy princess candidates Fay and Smith are both eligible to compete at the state contest in May for a chance to be selected one of the 12 finalists for the Princess Kay of the Milky Way contest.

Fay, the daughter of Marlin and Diane Fay, is a senior at Grand Meadow High School. She plays volleyball and track, and she holds the school record for high jump. She is involved in student council and National Honor Society. Fay plans to attend Rochester Community and Technical Copllege after high school. She is being sponsored by Land O’Lakes.

Calli Jo Smith, the daughter of Randy and Val Smith, is a senior at Southland High School. Smith is active in FFA, and she’s currently serving as chapter president and regional secretary. She is also involved in SADD, Southland Sidekicks, softball, cheerleading and one-act play. She plans to attend the University of Minnesota this fall. She is being sponsored by Land O’Lakes.

Two Mower County Milkmaids will also be crowned. This program is open to third and fourth grade girls whose parents dairy or work on a dairy farm. The 2010 Milkmaids will be Brittney Ruechel, daughter of Shawn and Karen Ruechel of Adams, and Madison Smith, daughter of Ryan and Melissa Smith of Adams. Ruechel is sponsored by Land O’Lakes and Smith by Mayer Milk Hauling — Bruce & Bryce Mayer, Stacyville, Iowa.

Tickets for the banquet are $9 and may be purchased by April 2 at Bubble’s Café in Adams or by calling Eugene Anderson at (507) 477-3457.

The banquet will again include a scholarship auction, a silent scholarship auction and many door prizes. The Southland Rebellion vocal group will provide banquet entertainment.

Local auctioneer Terry Hamilton will run the annual scholarship auction. Early items up for auction include a John Deere 4320 collector tractor from SEMA Equipment, a 4020 John Deere model tractor from North Country Equipment, a Farmall Collector Edition lighted farm scene, a massage, a bottle of wine and a robe, and a signed print entitled “Big Plans” by renowned rural artist Bonnie Mohr.

A silent auction will also be held with funds going toward the college scholarships of those competing in the princess contest. Some items for the silent auction include a case of Ellsworth Creamery cheese curds, a 9-pound block of Land O’Lakes Swiss cheese, gift baskets, and a basket of homemade jams and jellies.

57th Mower County Dairy Princess crowning

When: April 9, meal starts at 7:30 p.m.

Where: Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 11 Fifth St. NW, Adams

Tickets: $9, available at Bubble’s Cafe or by calling 507-477-3457