New Princess to be Crowned August 12 at Iowa State Fairgrounds



Midwest Dairy AssociationEleven young women involved with the Iowa dairy community will compete in the contest to win the title of 62nd Iowa State Dairy Princess. The contest will begin on August 11 in Ankeny, with the coronation on Wednesday, August 12, at 8 p.m. at the Multi-Media Center of the Cattle Barn at the state fairgrounds in Des Moines.

The princess and her alternate are charged with helping consumers learn more about dairy products and the farm families who tend the farms and cows that provide them.

The contestants are:


  • Kylie Burmeister, 18, daughter of Kerry and Keri Burmeister of Hardy, representing Humboldt County;
  • Melissa Gaul, 19, daughter of Dan and Jean Gaul of Holy Cross, representing Dubuque County;
  • Kelly Hain, 18, daughter of Doug and Jo Hein of Nora Springs, representing Cerro Gordo County;
  • Paige Huitink, 19, daughter of Harlan and Nelva Huitink of Hospers, representing Sioux County;
  • Katie Kerndt, 18, daughter of Brad and Mary Kerndt of Lansing, representing Allamakee County;
  • Ally Klein, 18, daughter of Lora Klein of Readlyn, representing the Iowa Brown Swiss Association;
  • Kara Maxwell, 21, daughter of John Maxwell and Trish Reisener of Donahue, representing the Iowa Jersey Cattle Club;
  • Emily O'Connell, 18, daughter of Pat and Marilyn O'Connell of Earlville, representing Delaware County;
  • Mary Scott, 18, daughter of Mike and Kathleen Scott of Westgate, representing the Iowa Holstein Association;
  • Leslie Sivesind, 17, daughter of Dan and Jane Sivesind of Waukon, representing the Iowa Guernsey Breeders Association; and
  • Kate Stewart, 18, daughter of Matt and Diana Stewart, of Oelwein, representing Fayette County


The winners are chosen on the basis of their knowledge and enthusiasm about dairy, personality and communication ability. Both the princess and alternate receive scholarships from Midwest Dairy Association, which sponsors the contest and princess program on behalf of Iowa's dairy farmers.

The outgoing Iowa Dairy Princess is Mikayla Lien, daughter of Gary and Patty Lien of Calmar, and the Alternate Princess is Rylie Pflughaupt, daughter of Jordan and Traci Pflughaupt of Vinton. Their reigns will be completed at the end of the Iowa State Fair, and the new Princess and Alternate will begin their duties on September 1.

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8.7.2015