Past Princess Kays honored, set stage for 60th annual event
Published 10:52 am Thursday, August 1, 2013
Adams native and sixth Princess Kay of the Milky Way Betty Jax Cole, along with other past Princess Kays, gathered at the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul last Saturday to celebrate the upcoming crowning of the 60th Princess Kay, and begin the official countdown to the Minnesota State Fair.
Princess Kay of the Milky Way will be crowned on the eve of the Minnesota State Fair, and will spend her year-long reign serving as the official goodwill ambassador for Minnesota’s nearly 4,000 dairy farmers.
To honor this milestone, Princess Kays past, present and future gathered at the Minnesota History Center this past Saturday to pay homage to the upcoming crowning and to celebrate the role each of the 59 princesses has played in the Princess Kay tradition.
The event included a ceremony featuring current Princess Kay Christine Reitsma of Sauk Centre, former Princess Kay Karen Bracken Geier (Princess Kay 11, 1964-1965), former Princess Kay Betty Jax Cole (Princess Kay 6, 1959-1960), Minnesota dairy farmer Kristine Spadgenske of Menahga, and the 12 finalists vying to be the 60th Princess Kay.
Nicole Jax of Mower County will be among this year’s 12 contestants.
The 60th Princess Kay will be crowned at the State Fair Bandshell 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 21.
The Minnesota State Fair runs Aug. 22 through Sept. 2.