Next week, Minnesota’s dairy community will celebrate the coronation of the 62nd Princess Kay of the Milky Way.

At 8:30 p.m. on Aug. 26 at the Minnesota State Fair Band Shell, reigning Princess Kay, Jeni Haler of Norwood Young America representing Carver County, will pass her crown on to one of 12 county dairy princesses vying for the title.

Princess Kay of the Milky Way serves as the official goodwill ambassador for Minnesota’s nearly 3,500 dairy farmers. The finalists for the title of 2014-2015 Princess Kay of the Milky Way are:

—McKinzie Smith, 21, Adams, representing Mower County, daughter of Rick and Tracy Smith;

—Kallie Baker, 18, Plainview, representing Wabasha County, daughter of Natalie and Bruce Wood;

—Kylee Fernholz, 19, Hoffman, representing Douglas County, daughter of Mark and Michele Fernholz;

—Michele Green, 20, Greenbush, representing Roseau County, daughter of Doug and Corena Green;

—Samantha Keller, 19, Goodhue, representing Goodhue County, daughter of Ted and Lora Keller;

—Kyla Mauk, 19, Howard Lake, representing Wright County, daughter of Chris and Harlan Mauk;

—Maggie Mills, 19, Lake City, representing Goodhue County, daughter of Kent and Deborah Mills;

—Jennifer Oelfke, 19, Hamburg, representing Sibley County, daughter of Jim and Judy Oelfke;

—Ellen Sheehan, 19, Rochester, representing Olmsted County, daughter of Jerome and Karen Sheehan;

—Rachel Stender, 18, Lester Prairie, representing McLeod County, daughter of Allen and Lisa Stender;

—Morgan Uphoff, 19, Melrose, representing Stearns County, daughter of Victor and Ann Uphoff; and

—Carley Vinkemeier, 18, Norwood Young America, representing Carver County, daughter of Jeff and Tina Vinkemeier.

Dairy princesses are selected on the basis of their communication skills, personality, general knowledge of the dairy industry and its products, and their commitment to dairy promotion. Dairy princesses serve as spokespeople to consumers, conduct media interviews, make classroom visits to educate students about dairy, give speeches to various organizations and make public appearances at promotions or events.

Princess Kay candidates and Minnesota’s county dairy princesses are daughters of dairy farmers, employees of dairy farms, or daughters of dairy farm employees. They must be graduating seniors in high school when crowned, and not yet 24 years old, and they must not be married.