BRODHEAD - Marie Mahaney hated unloading hay growing up on her family farm in Brodhead. It was always hot work. It was sticky. Hay got everywhere, even "in places there shouldn't be hay."
But by high school she was dedicated to farm work, active in FFA and readying herself for a career in agriculture. Now the 2007 Brodhead High School grad is pursuing a Master's degree in Public Health and Public Policy at Concordia University and living in Milwaukee.
She's also hoping to be the next Alice in Dairyland, the agricultural ambassador for the state. She's one of four finalists for the year-long public relations position. The 66th Alice in Dairyland will be selected during the three-day finals May 8 to 10 in Calumet County and will begin her duties June 3. The other finalists are Beth Babcock, Wisconsin Dells; Kristin Olson, Windsor; and Tammy Wiedenbeck, Lancaster.
Alice in Dairyland isn't Mahaney's first time competing for a public position. She was a first runner-up for Miss Wisconsin and served as the 2007 Wisconsin State FFA Reporter.
Mahaney is inspired by the sheer diversity of Wisconsin agriculture, from ginseng to cheese to cranberries to maple syrup.
"I am so proud to be from Wisconsin," she said. "That's what motivated me to become Alice."
Eventually Mahaney wants to get into politics.
"I'd like to go to Capitol Hill, to help regulate policies," she said.
In general she'd like to see more unity and people working together in agriculture, whether it's large-scale conventional rural farming, organic operations or roof-top gardens in cities. Too often, she said, the ag industry loses sight of the forest for the trees when it comes to farming policy.
"That's our food, fiber and fuel. I think sometimes people forget about that. Sometimes we become so divided within agriculture," she said.
For the Alice in Dairyland finals, Mahaney will be highlighting three Wisconsin companies with ties to agriculture. She's chosen Best of Brodhead, a shop of local products located at 905 10th St., as well as Tillie's Toffee in Brookfield and the pet food shop Stella & Chewy's in Milwaukee.
She's also an enthusiastic supporter of Growing Power in Milwaukee, a community gardening initiative. It's important to get urban dwellers invested in food production, she said, and she's especially interested in Growing Power's work in public schools.
"These students are genuinely excited about (growing produce)," she said, adding that it's reassuring to see young people getting involved and being able to embrace agriculture within an urban setting.
Early education in agriculture is where she got her start and it runs in the family - her mother, Marina, is a member of the Brodhead FFA Alumni. Mahaney was mucking stalls as a kid and managing her family's farm finances by high school, but she credits FFA with inspiring her career choice.
"Ag education and FFA have brought me where I am today," she said.
But by high school she was dedicated to farm work, active in FFA and readying herself for a career in agriculture. Now the 2007 Brodhead High School grad is pursuing a Master's degree in Public Health and Public Policy at Concordia University and living in Milwaukee.
She's also hoping to be the next Alice in Dairyland, the agricultural ambassador for the state. She's one of four finalists for the year-long public relations position. The 66th Alice in Dairyland will be selected during the three-day finals May 8 to 10 in Calumet County and will begin her duties June 3. The other finalists are Beth Babcock, Wisconsin Dells; Kristin Olson, Windsor; and Tammy Wiedenbeck, Lancaster.
Alice in Dairyland isn't Mahaney's first time competing for a public position. She was a first runner-up for Miss Wisconsin and served as the 2007 Wisconsin State FFA Reporter.
Mahaney is inspired by the sheer diversity of Wisconsin agriculture, from ginseng to cheese to cranberries to maple syrup.
"I am so proud to be from Wisconsin," she said. "That's what motivated me to become Alice."
Eventually Mahaney wants to get into politics.
"I'd like to go to Capitol Hill, to help regulate policies," she said.
In general she'd like to see more unity and people working together in agriculture, whether it's large-scale conventional rural farming, organic operations or roof-top gardens in cities. Too often, she said, the ag industry loses sight of the forest for the trees when it comes to farming policy.
"That's our food, fiber and fuel. I think sometimes people forget about that. Sometimes we become so divided within agriculture," she said.
For the Alice in Dairyland finals, Mahaney will be highlighting three Wisconsin companies with ties to agriculture. She's chosen Best of Brodhead, a shop of local products located at 905 10th St., as well as Tillie's Toffee in Brookfield and the pet food shop Stella & Chewy's in Milwaukee.
She's also an enthusiastic supporter of Growing Power in Milwaukee, a community gardening initiative. It's important to get urban dwellers invested in food production, she said, and she's especially interested in Growing Power's work in public schools.
"These students are genuinely excited about (growing produce)," she said, adding that it's reassuring to see young people getting involved and being able to embrace agriculture within an urban setting.
Early education in agriculture is where she got her start and it runs in the family - her mother, Marina, is a member of the Brodhead FFA Alumni. Mahaney was mucking stalls as a kid and managing her family's farm finances by high school, but she credits FFA with inspiring her career choice.
"Ag education and FFA have brought me where I am today," she said.