Hello Wisconsin! My name is Sarah Hagenow, and I am incredibly honored and elated to serve Wisconsin over the next year as the 78th Alice in Dairyland! I am excited to travel to every corner of our beautiful state, engaging with many communities and elevating the stories that make Wisconsin food and agriculture so special. Being able to serve in the role of Alice in Dairyland is a sincere dream-come-true, as I have looked up to this program ever since I was a little girl and admired all the ways in which Alice promotes agriculture. 

In the last months, you may have seen stories surrounding the Alice in Dairyland selection process. My fellow Top Candidates and I underwent an extensive interview process beginning in January, during which we completed writing assignments, created videos for social media, conducted media interviews, and came together for the three-day finale event in Crawford County in May. It was heartwarming to see the community that gathered around the Top Candidates throughout the process, and I am very grateful to the hard-working individuals on the Crawford County planning committee who made everything exceptional. 

I grew up in Poynette, WI, in the south-central part of the state, where I was involved in youth organizations such as 4-H and FFA. Through these, I had the chance to exhibit dairy cattle and other livestock at local fairs, which instilled in me a passion for hard work, responsibility, and connecting with others. Dairy cattle judging was also a large part of my 4-H career, which helped me gain skills in public speaking that I know will come in handy as I help amplify voices throughout Wisconsin agriculture. 

This passion led me to attend the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, where I spent the past four years diving into all things agriculture in my education! I was involved in organizations like the Gopher Dairy Club, the Agricultural Business Club, and the collegiate agricultural mentor program, and held a student worker position with the Department of Animal Science. I also had the opportunity to complete several internships that helped me understand the importance of communications, business, and policy in sharing the agricultural story with various audiences. 

I cannot wait to immerse myself in Wisconsin’s diverse and dynamic agriculture industry as the 78th Alice in Dairyland. My appetite for learning will surely be fed during this year as I have the chance to tour farms and agribusinesses, attend numerous conventions and events, hear stories from consumers, interact with students in classrooms, and take in the full Wisconsin agricultural experience. With ice cream month upon us, I hope to showcase the abundance of high-quality dairy products in our state and ways to enjoy this fan-favorite sweet treat throughout the summer. I look forward to meeting many of you along the way as well and learning about your experiences with Wisconsin food and agriculture. I am beyond excited to get started on the journey ahead!

—  Sarah Hagenow is the 78th Alice in Dairyland, Wisconsin’s agriculture ambassador who works with media professionals to educate consumers about the importance of agriculture to Wisconsin’s economy and way of life. She can be reached at sarah.hagenow@wisconsin.gov.