Princess Kay of the Milky Way facts for kids
The Princess Kay of the Milky Way is a special title given to the winner of the Minnesota Dairy Princess Program. This is a yearly contest put on by the Midwest Dairy Association. For one year, Princess Kay acts as a friendly helper for Minnesota's dairy farmers. She helps share how important dairy products are. The Princess is crowned every year at the Minnesota State Fair. She also gets a scholarship to help with her education. News about Princess Kay is often shared across Minnesota and even the whole country.
The idea for this contest came from Lew Conlon. He worked for the Minnesota Dairy Industry Committee. The name "Princess Kay of the Milky Way" was chosen in 1954. Over 10,000 people suggested names in a contest!
Becoming a Dairy Princess
Girls from different counties in Minnesota can become Dairy Princesses. They must meet certain rules to join. These county princesses can then try out for the Princess Kay of the Milky Way contest. This big contest happens each spring.
About 100 princesses usually compete. From these, 10 finalists are chosen. These 10 girls then help out at the Minnesota State Fair. The new Princess Kay is picked just before the State Fair starts. Her crowning ceremony happens the night before the Fair opens. During the 12 days of the Fair, Princess Kay makes many appearances. She also travels all year to represent Minnesota dairy farmers.
To enter the contest, girls must be U.S. citizens. Their parents, guardians, or siblings must work in dairy farming. They also need to have finished high school. Contestants must be under 24 years old. They must also be unmarried and have no children. Judges look for good communication skills and a friendly personality. They also check how much the girls know about the dairy industry. A strong desire to help promote dairy products is also important.
Amazing Butter Sculptures
Since 1965, artists have carved sculptures of Princess Kay. They also carve sculptures of the other finalists. These carvings happen one per day at the Minnesota State Fair. Each recent butter sculpture is made from a 90-pound block of special butter. This butter is made by Associated Milk Producers in New Ulm, Minnesota. The carving happens inside a glass-walled refrigerator. This way, everyone can watch!
The butter carving booth is very popular at the Fair. It takes about 6 to 8 hours to carve each princess's sculpture. For almost 40 years, Linda Christensen has been the artist. She carves all the Princesses' butter sculptures. After the Fair ends, each Princess gets to take her butter sculpture home.
