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Crowned
2024 Cheese Days royal family complete as new Prince & Princess are crowned
2024 cheese days prince & princess
The two newest members of the 2024 Green County Cheese Days royal family were named on Saturday, June 8: Prince Reid Krueger and Princess Stella Doyle. There were 29 princess contestants and six prince contestants. The 2024 Green County Cheese Days royal family includes, from left to right, Ambassador Breanna Brooks, Queen Esther Zgraggen, King Tony Zgraggen, Princess Stella Doyle and Prince Reid Krueger. - photo by Adam Krebs

MONROE — The 2024 Green County Cheese Days royal family is complete, as Reid Krueger and Stella Doyle were picked as this year’s prince and princess. They join Ambassador Breanna Brooks and King and Queen Tony and Esther Zgraggen.  

The 2024 Cheese Days Prince and Princess contest was held June 8 at the Green County Courthouse. There were 35 total contestants that applied — 29 for the princess contest, and six for the prince. 

“All of these kids did a fabulous job — you should be so proud of them,” Heidi Witt, contest coordinator, told the parents of the contestants in the audience.

Witt told the crowd how pleased all the judges were to meet all of the contestants. She also was happy with how involved former royalty was in the process. Former queen Ruth Bergemann (2018 & 2022), princes Gabe Witt (2010), Eli Zimmerman (2012) and Simon Zimmerman (2016) were among the judges, as was 2016 princess Delaney Sweeney — who was just named the 2024 Monroe Dairy Queen — and 2010 Cheese Days Ambassador Trisha Pernot. Other royalty judges included Tony and Ester Zgraggen, this year’s King and Queen, current Ambassador Breanna Brooks, and 2022 Prince and Princess Braun King and Addison Wolff. Other judges included Jennifer Amacher and Andrea Sweeney.

Krueger, 11, said he is excited to be the prince. He told the audience he likes the festival’s big crowd and the music at Cheese Days. Doyle, 11, said her favorite part of the festival is walking around the square. 

The newly crowned prince and princess jumped right into the action. After initial royal photos were taken, the Cheese Days delegates began their ambassadorial duties, attending the Beer, Bacon and Cheese Festival in New Glarus later that same day.

They will appear at many events over the next three months, including several parades. 

All prince and princess contestants are invited to be a part of both the Friday, Sept. 20 Children’s Parade, and the Sunday, Sept. 22 Swiss Colony Cheese Days Parade.

Those interested in joining the Green County Cheese Days Parade can find the application online at cheesedays.com. Businesses are asked to theme/decorate or sign their entry to go along with one of:  Cheese, Dairy Farming, Agriculture, Swiss Heritage. Entertainers do not need to follow the theme.

The 2024 Green County Cheese Days Festival is Sept. 20-22.