Page 4 • South Dakota Dairy Princess Special Edition • Dairy Star • March 2015
Christy Achen, 18
Parents: Craig and Cindy Achen Warner, S.D.
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on and your future plans. My name is Christy Achen and I am a senior at Warner High School located in Warner, S.D. My family includes me and 10 siblings: Jessica, Emily, Jacob, Rachel, Roxann, Annie, Nicholas, John, Jack and Joe. My parents are Craig and Cindy Achen. Our farm consists of Holsteins, Brown Swiss and Milking Shorthorns. We milk 2,000 head of Holsteins right outside of Warner and our 4-H projects revolve around the Brown Swiss and Milking Shorthorns. My oldest brother Jacob manages the dairy and I work after school and on the weekends. On the dairy I take care of calf protocol from birth to about ve months. Calf protocol includes bedding, vaccination, treatment, feeding and general maintenance of the calves. On the weekends and after school I also am the relief feeder; I operate our tractor and mixer wagon and measure out the ration for 2,000 head. Along with this I enjoy working alongside my oldest brother and four younger brothers, I will miss that very much when I attend college next fall. What qualities do you have that will make you a good dairy princess? Qualities that I have that will make me a good dairy princess is my passion for the dairy cow and the industry. Growing up and living on a dairy has given me the passion and knowledge to be a good dairy princess. I not only love dairy cows and milk, but I know how important it is to take care of the cow so she is comfortable and produces milk. Furthermore I know the value of dairy in the diet and promote it through my school and community activities. My mom has been a very important gure in my life and has taught me many of these dairy princess qualities and so much more. Why is the dairy industry important to you, and why should it be important to everybody? The dairy industry has given me many opportunities. Growing up and living on a dairy farm has taught me many life skills that I utilize every day. Dairy farming has been my greatest education and clubs, such as FFA and 4-H, provide me with the opportunities to rene my life skills. The dairy industry also takes pride in its farmers and its product – milk. The industry – from the farmer to the promotion organizations – do so much to make sure the consumer’s milk is safe and delicious. If you could pick one dairy message what would it be and how would you deliver it? I want people to know how signicant dairy farming itself is for the farmer, for the community and for the consumer. Dairy farmer’s produce milk as a livelihood and take much pride in doing so. They not only want to provide a safe, nutritious and delicious product, but they want to do it in regards to the environment. People in agriculture want to connect with the consumer and public. I know many dairy farms that provide tours for the public including my own family’s dairy farm. At my family’s dairy farm, tours are given to FFA clubs, 4-H clubs, school classes and anyone who desires to take a tour. On the tour we take the visitors through our barns and facilities and also hand out cheese, milk and ice cream at the end of the tour. Having a tour like this allows us to inform people about the housing and comfort we provide for our animals, as well as inform people about the benets of dairy products in their diets.
Elizabeth Mayrose, 20
Parents: Jerry Mayrose and Pattie Mayrose Salem, S.D.
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/or work on and your future plans. I am currently a junior at South Dakota State University, majoring in agricultural leadership with minors in speech communications and agricultural law. I grew up in a family of nine on a small dairy farm in Salem where we milked Holsteins and raised corn, soybeans and oats. In high school, I participated in a variety of organizations including FFA, student council and Girls State. My time at SDSU is split between classes and a variety of campus activities including Sigma Alpha (a professional agricultural women’s sorority), Newman Center Ambassadors, CFFA, Dairy Club, Little International Staff, Youth Group leader, working for the FFA Association as an assistant pre-school teacher, and for the SDSU Dairy Research and Training Facility. In 2014, I also held two professional internships, one with the SDREA as a communications, member relations and grassroots intern, and one with the South Dakota Department of Agriculture as a policy and legal intern. My future plans include obtaining my degree and applying for AgriCorps – an organization dedicated to providing agricultural and leadership development in developing countries. I hope to use my degree to work in marketing or public relations, and eventually attend law school. My long-term goal is to become a policy advisor for a company or organization dealing specically with agricultural issues which pertain to South Dakota and small family farmers. What qualities do you have that will make you a good dairy princess? I am a lifelong advocate of learning, and as I’ve grown to realize how much more there is to know, I’ve also come to understand how important it is to be a teacher of what you’ve come to know to others. I love the role of teaching, especially in things I’m passionate about. I enjoy meeting new people and learning their stories, and I enjoy connecting people from different walks of life to one another. I’ve also been very fortunate to receive training in public speaking, policy making and government processes through leadership seminars and internships, and feel that I could offer those skills to the disposal of the people I would be serving through this opportunity. Why is the dairy industry important to you, and why should it be important to everybody? I have had the opportunity to see different parts of the world and experience several different walks of life, and while I’ve enjoyed learning about them I am so unbelievably blessed to have been raised the way I was: as a family working to operate a family farm. At the time, I didn’t realize just how valuable the skills and work ethic I was learning was, but in hindsight it is invaluable. To me, the dairy industry is important because it has shaped my own life along with countless others. I feel as if this industry is often not understood, and its complexity not realized. However, I think it is important that those not involved in the production aspect realize how for those involved it is not just a job, but also a way of life. Milk is essential to human health, and those who devote their lives to producing it are tasked with an enormous duty. If you could pick one dairy message what would it be and how would you deliver it? The South Dakota dairy industry is devoted to providing a wholesome product to the public while providing a wholesome lifestyle for those involved in production. South Dakota has so much potential for growth within the dairy industry, and now is the time to capitalize on what it could offer to so many. The dairy industry has been essential to my own life, and there are many more like me. I would hope to encourage others to share their own story through sharing mine.
Good Luck
and
GOOD LUCK
to all the South Dakota Dairy Princess Candidates!
to all the
South Dakota Dairy Princess Candidates! Lake Norden Cheese Company 408 Dakota Street • P.O. Box 169 Lake Norden, South Dakota 57248-0169
Phone: 605-785-3683
www.dairiconcepts.com
www.dfamilk.com
South Dakota Dairy Princess Special Edition • Dairy Star • March 2015 • Page 5
Katie Merrill, 19
Parents: Allen and Kristi Merrill Parker, S.D. Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/ or work on and your future plans. I am a freshman at Presentation College in Aberdeen, where I am majoring in nursing. At Presentation, I am involved in cheerleading. I grew up on a dairy farm right outside of Parker. I am also actively involved in 4-H in which I have shown calves in the past. Every summer, my dad offers an opportunity to all kids who don’t live on a farm to come and work with calves two months before the Turner County Fair and then show the calves at the fair in a novice class. What qualities do you have that will make you a good dairy princess? I like to think of myself as a fun, energetic, optimistic and passionate young woman. I have a lot of experience with public speaking through 4-H, National Honor Society, Oral Interp and other clubs and organizations. I value what others have to say and love to share my own, personal experiences. I believe I am a strong candidate because I am not afraid to stand up for what I believe in, and I would be honored to stand up and speak out for dairy farmers across the state. Why is the dairy industry important to you and why should it be important to everybody? The dairy industry is important to me because it has greatly inuenced my life. I believe that growing up on a dairy farm has instilled morals and values in my family such as work ethic, respect and integrity. I also believe the dairy industry should be important to everyone because it affects our everyday life. By eating three servings of dairy products daily, we are getting the nutrients we need, such as calcium and vitamin D, which can prevent diseases like osteoporosis further down the road. If you could pick one dairy message what would it be and how would you deliver it? If I could pick one message, I would promote the 3-Every-Day of Dairy campaign. I believe it is very important that people, especially young people, need to be consuming three servings of low-fat or fat-free dairy daily to prevent calcium deciencies which can lead to bigger problems later in life, like osteoporosis. Milk and milk products supply three of the four nutrients, calcium, vitamin D and potassium, which are of concern in the diets of Americans. Because school-age kids are still growing and developing, I would deliver this message by going into classrooms and speaking with students about incorporating dairy products in their diets.
Good Luck to all the South Dakota Dairy Princess Candidates!
Mercedes Zemlicka, 19
Parents: Daron and Valerie Zemlicka Watertown, S.D.
Tell us about yourself, the farm you live and/ or work on and your future plans. I have been a member of the Prairie Hustlers 4-H club for 11 years in which I showed dairy and sheep. I have judged dairy at county and state levels, as well as qualifying several times for judging at the National Dairy Expo. On our dairy farm, we milk about 45 head of grade and registered Holsteins, have a ock of registered Hampshire sheep and a herd of beef cows, as well. I am in charge of taking care of the Holstein calves on our farm plus milking cows in the morning. Now I attend Lake Area Technical Institute for nancial services, taking the ag nances option. My future goals and plans are to learn more of the techniques of owning and having a dairy farm from my father. In the future, I would be honored to hold the tradition of the sixth generation dairy farm in my family. What qualities do you have that will make you a good dairy princess? I am a very persistent person and have a great, positive attitude. I would help people realize what the dairy industry is all about and how much it means to me, as well as the producers. I want to be able to represent the little dairy farms out there plus be able to tell people how important all sizes of dairy farms are. This would mean the world to me. Big or small, they all produce milk for the nation and provide a healthy diet to everyone. Within the dairy industry everyone has their own job to make things work. Dairy has been in our family for several generations and I want to make my family proud that I would be a spokesperson for the dairy industry in our state. Why is the dairy industry important to you, and why should it be important to everybody? Growing up on a dairy farm I have learned to be a hard worker and have a lot of patience. With those, I have learned to be more determined in everything I do. Being with all the cows everyday I have a bond with them that’s indescribable and it teaches me to enjoy the little things. People do not realize how much work the producers put into make a healthy product for everyone. If you could pick one dairy message what would it be and how would you deliver it? I would educate the consumers and make them more aware of how their dairy products get from the cow to the table. Also, I want to tell everyone, young and old, how much the dairy industry has been growing and doing everything in their power to be environmentally safe. We take good care of our cows so that their milk is the highest quality that it can be.
To a l l o u r
Preserving and Enhancing a Sustainable Dairy Environment in South Dakota P.O. Box 31 • Brookings, SD 57006
PINE ISLAND, MN • 800-233-8937 BEATRICE, NE • 800-342-5657 SIOUX FALLS, SD • 800-705-1447 MENOMONIE, WI • 715-235-5144 OWEN, WI • 715-229-4740
Dairy is the 6th largest agricultural business and South Dakota’s No. 1 industry. Dairy generates more than $508 million in annual economic activity and employs over 1,838 South Dakotans with over $10 million in business taxes. Source: Dr. Gary Taylor, SDSU
Page 8 • South Dakota Dairy Princess Special Edition • Dairy Star • March 2015
Congratulations to the candidates of the 60th South Dakota Dairy Princess Contest
Christy Achen
Elizabeth Mayrose BLUE HILLTOP, INC. 507-879-3593
800-821-7092
www.bluehilltop.com
Mercedes Zemlicka
THESE AREA BUSINESSES ARE PROUD TO HAVE YOU REPRESENT SOUTH DAKOTA! PARKER VET CLINIC PARKER, SD Ron Goode, DVM
L ARGE AND SMALL ANIMALS
605-297-3356
Milk Procurement Division
www.parkervetclinic.com
HURKES IMPLEMENT COMPANY 415 10th St. NW, Watertown, SD 605-882-2497 • 1-800-658-3537 • Fax 605-882-2750
Katie Merrill
Sales: 605-886-3817 Parts: 605-882-3420 Watertown, SD
Your Success, Our Passion
Duane Broek 605- 881-1989 Dennis Fischer 605-590-0654 David Ripp 605-770-7518 Chris Thue 605-360-3385
605-886-3039 www.watertowncoop.com
Member FDIC
For all of your Ag needs, contact us at: 605-696-2325 • Brookings, SD
Brookings, SD • 605-696-7400
Tri-State Livestock Sanborn Division 712-729-3255
Puthoff Repair Sales & Service Inc. Salem SD Phone: 605-425-2018
Lake Area Veterinary Clinic 601 10th St SW Watertown, SD 57201
(605) 886-5002
www.lakeareavetclinic.com
V & M Distributing 1-800-648-6507
www.vandminc.com Farmers Are Our Bread And Butter
605-695-3328
Freeman Division 605-925-4234
DAIRY SCIENCE Congratulates all the Dairy Princess candidates
armers Implement and Irrigation
Over 30 years of experience
www.strayvoltageconsulting.org
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY
Watertown, SD
STRAY VOLTAGE CONSULTING email: jlush@brookings.net
Central Plains Dairy Association 218-236-8420
T gro he fa auc wing stest ti d Midon in airy we the st!
Sioux Center, Iowa 712-722-0681 • www.tristatelivestock.com
Good Luck! 102 Main Street | Tulare, SD 605-596-4114 • 800-698-5432 For All Your Building Needs...
LANDMARK BUILDERS, INC.
320 1st Ave. NE • Watertown, SD Toll Free: 1-866-688-0561 e-mail: landmark@dailypost.com
Watertown, SD
Greg Bohn 605-237-2625 605-886-5741
Brookings, SD 57006 • PO Box 29 • East Highway 14 Bypass
(605) 692-6153 or 800-658-5447
AGRI-TECH
3127 Hwy. 14 Bypass • Brookings, SD 57006
605-352-7100 West Hwy. 14 • Huron, SD 57350
RURAL MFG. CO., INC.
820 N US Hwy. 81, PO Box Q Freeman, SD 57029 Toll Free 1-800-477-7135 Ph. 605-925-7135 • Fax 605-925-4174
www.ruralmfg.com
Hay!
Rock Valley Hay Auction Co.
OfÀce: 712-476-5541
Cell: 712-470-1274 • Fax: 712-476-1026 Rock Valley, IA • Paul Mc Gill, Owner
www.rockvalleyhay.com
Shane Moberg, Manager 605-690-7336 | 605-692-0955 | agritech@swiftel.net
201 East 22nd Ave. • Milbank, SD 57252 Phone (605) 432-9503 • Fax (605) 432-7848
NDE NEW DIRECTION EQUIPMENT COMPANY
Toll Free 888.336.3127 www.ndeco.com
Ed Dorneman 605-886-2595 • Cell 605-881-9017 Quality new and used feeding equipment
605-886-2228 Watertown, SD
Castlewood Farmer’s Elevator 1-605-793-2181