AFBM student Rachel Visser crowned 71st Princess Kay

As a second-generation CFANS student, being a proud Gopher is an attribute that began long before my journey at the University of Minnesota. In May, I completed my sophomore year studying Agricultural and Food Business Management and Agricultural Communication and Marketing. From hands-on coursework and serving as president of the Agricultural Business Club to conducting undergraduate research in the Department of Applied Economics and working in the Department of Animal Science office, I’ve embraced every opportunity to make the most of my undergraduate experience.

Growing up, I was surrounded by agriculture, especially the dairy community, and developed a passion for advocating on behalf of farmers and agriculturalists. This passion led me not only to the University of Minnesota but also to pursue a lifelong dream of becoming Princess Kay of the Milky Way. Now serving as the 71st Princess Kay, I have the privilege of representing Minnesota’s 1,800+ dairy farms and farm families as their goodwill ambassador. While my year-long reign will conclude in August, I can’t help but think the excitement is just beginning as we are now celebrating June Dairy Month. 

First celebrated as “National Milk Month” in 1937 and officially recognized as June Dairy Month in 1939, this month is a time to honor the contributions of dairy farmers and the products that play such a vital role in our diets. While being both Princess Kay and a college student throughout the past year, I have reflected on just how far the dairy community reaches and the interconnectedness of food, agriculture, and natural resources.

I might be biased, but when I think of an animal that connects industries, drives innovation, and promotes sustainability, I think of dairy cows. Every day, the average dairy cow’s diet includes about 26.5 pounds of byproducts like distillers' grains, soybean meal, and cottonseed. Even water is recycled on farms, with a single gallon often reused up to four times. Dairy cows continue to be the ultimate upcyclers and pave a path for sustainability within agriculture.

This June, let’s recognize the entire dairy community, from the farm employees and truck drivers to nutritionists and foodservice professionals. And of course, let’s celebrate the cows! Whether it’s an extra glass of milk, a scoop of ice cream, or a bowl of yogurt, enjoy your favorite dairy products this month, and join me in thanking the farmers who put food on each of our tables.