Dairy Days to feature Princess Kay

With the popular Breakfast on the Farm canceled, the Steele County American Dairy Association has come up with a different alternative to promote dairy. The group will host Dairy Days at the Steele County Fairgrounds this weekend.
Jon Schmidt, president of the dairy association, said his group had to decide in April based on the COVID-19 restrictions at that time. So without knowing what would happen, the association nixed the Breakfast on the Farm, which typically occurs in early June and attracts as many as 1,200 people.
Last year the association held Drive-in Dairy Days in late June to give people a chance to enjoy their favorite malts while maintaining social distancing.
However, this year’s Dairy Days will add many of the activities that people have come to enjoy at the Breakfast on the Farm. There will be horse and buggy rides, a petting zone, an activity tent for kids and a few milk cows on display. The activities will be featured on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“We had great success with last year’s Dairy Days, so we are bringing a lot of the events from the Breakfast on the Farm to the fairgrounds,” Schmidt said.
Besides the dairy association offers its popular malts, Dairy Days will have three other food vendors. They include Schem’s Kettle Corn, Auntie L’s Deep Fried Oreos and El Rey del Taco.
Brenna Connelly, who reigns as the current Princess Kay of the Milky Way, will be appearing at the dairy promotion on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. Princess Kay is the goodwill ambassador for Minnesota dairy farmers. She helps people understand the dedication of dairy farmers to wholesome and nutritious food and the way milk is produced.
Connelly grew up in Byron by working on her cousin’s dairy farm. She is a sophomore at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities studying agricultural communication and marketing.
In addition to Princess Kay, the seven Steele County dairy princesses will be making appearances throughout the weekend.
With June being Dairy Month, Schmidt said it’s important for the local dairy association to stay connected with consumers. “We want to stay involved in the community and show off the dairy industry,” he said, adding it’s essential to educate the public about the importance of a dairy diet.
Schmidt said the association plans to return to the Breakfast on the Farm next year.
 
 
Photo: Current Princess Kay of the Milky Way Brenna Connelly of Byron will be appearing at Dairy Days in Owatonna on Saturday.