Out of a field of six candidates, Calli Smith, Adams, was crowned 2012 Mower County Dairy Princess at the 59th Annual Dairy Princess Banquet on April 13 at the Sacred Heart Auditorium in Adams.

Smith is the daughter of Randy and Val Smith and attends the University of Minnesota. Nearly 230 guests attended the annual dairy celebration.

The following five young women will serve as Mower County Dairy Ambassadors: Lauren Servick, daughter of Donald and Stephanie Servick, LeRoy; Christine Vrieze, daughter of Ron and Robin Vrieze, Racine; Nicole Jax, daughter of Doug and Becky Jax, Waltham; Faith Miller, daughter of Lynn and Sherilyn Miller, LeRoy; and McKinzie Smith, daughter of Rick and Tracy Smith, Adams.

Victoria Hansen was named 2012 Mower County Milkmaid; this is a county program open to third- and fourth-grade girls with an interest in the dairy industry. Hansen, who also served as a milkmaid in 2011, is the daughter of Corey and Kaye Hansen.

During a social hour, the royalty and candidates served samples of dairy products.

Lauren Servick, who also served as 2011 Mower County Dairy Princess, shared some of her experiences in the past year as princess.

The Mower County American Dairy Association honored past board member Julie Jax with the “Milk Pitcher” award. Jax served six years on the board. The “Golden Butter Knife” award is presented each year to a business that uses real dairy products, and The Ladies of Sacred Heart were this year’s recipients. For many years, this church group has served meals for the dairy princess banquet, and it uses real dairy products at other events throughout the year.

Board Chairperson Chris Sukalski thanked the many sponsors and donors, as more than 100 local businesses contributed to the program and to scholarship funds. Sukalski highlighted some of the promotional activities carried out by Mower County’s dairy promotion board, which include coordinating more than 25 dairy royalty appearances per year, two malt wagon events and a new promotion with the Austin Bruins Hockey Team.

Sukalski recognized two dairy families that retired from dairy farming in the past year: Marlin and Diane Fay, Grand Meadow, and Lester, Janet and Steve Heller of Adams. She also mentioned that there are 34 dairy farms in Mower County, which ranks 29th in Minnesota for milk production.

Sukalski spoke on behalf of the Midwest Dairy Association, where she represents the dairy farmers of Dodge, Mower and Olmsted Counties. One of the newest initiatives funded in part by dairy farmers is Fuel Up To Play 60 — a program to teach children to eat healthy and get 60 minutes of exercise every day. Dairy promotion organizations are using results of research supporting the role of dairy products in health.

The annual banquet is organized by the Mower County American Dairy Association Board, which is chaired by Chris Sukalski, LeRoy, and includes Vice Chair Rick Smith, Adams; Secretary Tanya Miller, LeRoy; Treasurer Gene Anderson, Waltham; and Princess Coordinator Tracy Smith, Adams. Additional board directors include Connie Irvin, Rose Creek; Randy Smith, Adams; Randy Stephenson, Rose Creek; and Dan Weness, LeRoy.