Banquet tickets on sale through Thursday

The 61st Mower County Dairy Princess will be crowned at the annual banquet on April 5 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Adams.

The 2014 candidates are: McKinzie Smith, daughter of Rick and Tracy Smith of Adams, sponsored by Land O’ Lakes; Lauren Mullenbach, daughter of Pat and Kris Mullenbach of Adams, sponsored by Four Way Farms; Mollie Smith, daughter of Randy and Valerie Smith of Adams, sponsored by Crowson Milk Trucking; and Lea Semones, daughter of Cheri Bentzin and Ed Smith of Rose Creek, sponsored by Foremost Farms USA. Three candidates will be eligible to compete at the state contest in May, where 12 finalists for the title of Princess Kay of the Milky Way will be chosen.

This year, five Mower County Milkmaids will be crowned. The Milkmaid program is open to third and fourth grade girls who have a passion for the dairy industry.

The 2014 candidates are: Gloria Hansen, daughter of Corey and Kaye Hansen of Austin, sponsored by Gene’s Dairy and Hansen Farms; Rachel Heller, daughter of Steve and Becky Heller of Adams, sponsored by Mayer Milk Hauling and Bubbles Café; Emma Haugen, daughter of Corey and Jen Haugen of Austin, sponsored by Kemps; Amelia Smith, daughter of Ed Smith and Heather Schmitz of Rose Creek, sponsored by Mayer Milk Hauling; and Lydia Reinartz, daughter of Steve and Darcey Reinartz of Adams, sponsored by Lamonte Gray & Stateline Vet Service.

Nicole Jax, 2013 Mower County Dairy Princess and finalist in the Princess Kay of the Milky Way competition, will keynote the banquet. Her butterhead carving from the state competition will also be on display. The banquet will again include the traditional scholarship auction, silent scholarship auction and many door prizes.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for the dairy social time, and the banquet meal will be served promptly at 7 p.m.

Tickets for the banquet are $10 and may be purchased until March 28th at Bubble’s Café in Adams or by calling Eugene Anderson at 507-477-3457.