I always dreamed of having my own horse. The movie Spirit inspired me to imagine a yellow-gold colored horse with a dark mane and tail. My first pony was not the yellow-gold color I pictured, but instead, she was perfectly brown and better than I ever could have imagined. This was just the beginning of my horse career, and I soon graduated to a slightly taller pony named Two Feathers. The stipulation was that I would learn more through 4-H, which also meant I could show at my local county fair.

4-H was integral to developing my public speaking and communication skills, amongst several others. I used to struggle to even say, “Hi, my name is Anastasia Poull.” Good thing that’s not the case anymore!

As a 4-H member, I showed at the Ozaukee County Fair for over 10 years with projects such as veterinary science, home environment, and horse and pony. I practiced public speaking during project judging and shared the story of agriculture with eager fairgoers.

Experiences like this encouraged me to continue my education. I graduated with three bachelor’s degrees in Animal Science, Agricultural Leadership, and Agricultural Science from South Dakota State University (SDSU) in May of 2023. I continued at SDSU to earn my Master of Arts in Communication and Media Studies through an assistantship with the Department of Animal Science. During this time, I co-managed the department’s social media, developed the inaugural animal science student peer mentor program, and planned student engagement events. One memory that stands out above the rest was experiencing agriculture in South Africa through an animal science international experience course. This is a guaranteed conversation starter if our paths have the chance to cross!

After completing my master’s, I returned home to work as an Agricultural Marketing Specialist for the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to connect with people and learn more about what makes our state’s $116.3 billion agricultural industry so unique. With the conclusion of this short-term position, I transitioned to work at Red Line Ranch, a diversified farm in my home area with a small dairy herd as well as pasture-raised beef and sheep. The first night of work brought me back to my grandparents’ dairy farm, where I first experienced agriculture alongside my family.

In Wisconsin, we have over 5,000 dairy farms that help supply the 46 dairy plants that make ice cream or ice cream mix. In America’s Dairyland, we sure know how to show our dairy love, with Wisconsinites purchasing 74 million pints of ice cream and sherbet in 2024. Talk about a sweet statistic!

Ice cream is easily my favorite food, even in the winter. It shouldn’t be a surprise that my favorite treat to enjoy at fairs is a refreshing chocolate milkshake. Ice cream and county fairs just naturally go hand-in-hand! Personally, I like to enjoy ice cream on any day that ends in “y.”

Throughout August, I’ll continue to celebrate our state’s county and district fairs and soak up all 11 days of the Wisconsin State Fair, August 6-16, 2026. Not only do our local fairs connect the community — they also have a $1 billion economic impact on the local economy and host 3.4 million visitors annually.

I look forward to meeting thousands of people throughout my year as the 79th Alice in Dairyland, traveling over 45,000 miles all across the state with Sprout, a 2026 flex fuel Ford Explorer.

While you’re out visiting our 70-plus state-aided county and district fairs this summer, enjoy National Ice Cream Month the Wisconsin way by looking for plant code “55” on your favorite flavors. This “55” is the state identification code used on cheese and dairy product labels to indicate that they were made at a licensed Wisconsin dairy plant! You can also find a local Wisconsin ice cream shop near you by visiting https://www.wisconsindairy.org/national-ice-cream-month/Wisconsin-Ice-Cream.

Alice in Dairyland is a one-year, full-time public relations professional employed by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP). Each year, Alice in Dairyland travels over 45,000 miles, promoting Wisconsin agriculture, as authorized by Wis. Stat. § § 93.07(3), 93.40(1)(e), and 93.44(1)). Alice in Dairyland conducts hundreds of media interviews, speeches, and school presentations in her position.

— Anastasia Poull is the 79th 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 anastasia.poull@wisconsin.gov.