The 60th Mower County Dairy Princess will be crowned at the annual banquet, Friday, April 5, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Adams. Princess Kay of the Milky Way Christine Reitsma, Sauk Centre, Minn., will be a special guest and speaker at the banquet. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for the dairy sampling and social hour. The banquet meal will be served at 7:30 p.m.

The 2013 Mower County Dairy Princess Candidates are:

Maetzin Cruz-Reyes, daughter of Rosario Cruz and Luisa Reyes, Taopi. Maetzin’s sponsor is Dr. DeHoogh of WD Professional Services. Sarina Gronseth, daughter of Rande and Tami Gronseth, Sargeant. Her sponsors are Gene Anderson and Larry Larson.

Nicole Jax, daughter of Doug and Becky Jax, of Waltham. Jax is being sponsored by Sargeant Grain.

McKinzie Smith daughter of Rick and Tracy Smith of Adams. McKinzie is being sponsored by Land O’Lakes, Inc.

Christine Vrieze, daughter of Ron and Robin Vrieze of Racine. Christine is being sponsored by her siblings Craig and Alayna Vrieze.

The Mower County Dairy Princess Contest is the first level of competition for the Princess Kay of the Milky Way competition, which culminates at the Minnesota State Fair.

Two Mower County Milkmaids will be crowned. The Milkmaid program is open to third- and fourth-grade girls whose parents dairy or work on a dairy farm.

The 2013 Milkmaids are:

Gloria Hansen, daughter of Corey and Kaye Hansen of Austin, and Rachel Heller, daughter of Steve and Becky Heller of Adams. Hansen is being sponsored by Gene’s Dairy and Hansen Farms. Heller’s sponsors are Mayer Milk Hauling and Bubble’s Cafe.

The banquet will again include the traditional scholarship auction as well as a silent scholarship auction and many door prizes. New items at this year’s scholarship auction will include an Amish-built hickory rocking chair and a four-in-one child’s chair.