MONROE - Agriculture doesn't want to let go of Kristin Klossner, 27, of Mount Horeb.
But that's just fine with Klossner, a finalist in the 67th Alice in Dairyland contest hosted by Clark County on May 15-17.
Klossner grew up on a farm outside of New Glarus and entered her 4-H projects in the Green County Fair. Since earning a degree in secondary education with a minor in dairy science and working as an athletic trainer during college, Klossner has been a substitute teacher in New Glarus and Monticello schools.
"But I want to get back into the ag industry, in marketing and promotions," she said.
Being selected as Alice in Dairyland would be a giant step in that direction.
"My goal is to help consumers and producers connect," she said, "so people can see the faces of the farmers because they are their neighbors and people in the community."
Klossner said farmers and other producers in the agriculture industry are often heavily involved in many areas of a community, such as serving as members of school boards.
"They are busy all the time," she added.
Klossner also noted many children are now five generations from being raised on a farm, and some have never seen a cow or a farm first-hand. She would like children to ask local producers about their food, rather than rely on questionable information from websites.
The Alice in Dairyland Finals is held annually to select Wisconsin's official agricultural ambassador.
"Alice" is a public relations professional who works as a Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection employee speaking at community events, interviewing with statewide media and educating students about the state's billion dollar agricultural industry.
"They told me, "This will be the most thorough job interview you've ever been a part of,'" Klossner said.
With excitement building for the finals, Klossner is polishing her three-minute speech on Wisconsin Agriculture in the Global Market. She is also tweaking the details in a three-minute, three-products commercial she has to write for Something Special from Wisconsin, a trademarked program administered by the Division of Agricultural Development at the DATCP.
The three-day finals event also includes interviews, agribusiness tours, an impromptu question-and-answer session and the selection finale program.
She has yet to worry about her wardrobe for the finals, but for that, she said, will get help from her support system, past Alices and mother figures she knows.
Agriculture is unquestionably taking over Klossner's life.
She currently serves as the Green County Fair's superintendent of Cultural Arts and on the Green County 4-H Adult Leaders Executive Board. She is also a state leader with 4-H, FFA and the Wisconsin Junior Holstein Association, and an annually part of the Agriculture and Entry Department staff at the Wisconsin State Fair.
Klossner said she loved the county fair as a child and chose to participate in Green County, rather than in Dane County, as a 4-H member, raising Holsteins and Brown Swiss dairy show heifers, beef steers and show rabbits.
"Brown Swiss are beautiful girls, and can be quite stubborn," she laughed.
Event details about Alice in Dairyland Finals are available at aliceindairyland.com.
But that's just fine with Klossner, a finalist in the 67th Alice in Dairyland contest hosted by Clark County on May 15-17.
Klossner grew up on a farm outside of New Glarus and entered her 4-H projects in the Green County Fair. Since earning a degree in secondary education with a minor in dairy science and working as an athletic trainer during college, Klossner has been a substitute teacher in New Glarus and Monticello schools.
"But I want to get back into the ag industry, in marketing and promotions," she said.
Being selected as Alice in Dairyland would be a giant step in that direction.
"My goal is to help consumers and producers connect," she said, "so people can see the faces of the farmers because they are their neighbors and people in the community."
Klossner said farmers and other producers in the agriculture industry are often heavily involved in many areas of a community, such as serving as members of school boards.
"They are busy all the time," she added.
Klossner also noted many children are now five generations from being raised on a farm, and some have never seen a cow or a farm first-hand. She would like children to ask local producers about their food, rather than rely on questionable information from websites.
The Alice in Dairyland Finals is held annually to select Wisconsin's official agricultural ambassador.
"Alice" is a public relations professional who works as a Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection employee speaking at community events, interviewing with statewide media and educating students about the state's billion dollar agricultural industry.
"They told me, "This will be the most thorough job interview you've ever been a part of,'" Klossner said.
With excitement building for the finals, Klossner is polishing her three-minute speech on Wisconsin Agriculture in the Global Market. She is also tweaking the details in a three-minute, three-products commercial she has to write for Something Special from Wisconsin, a trademarked program administered by the Division of Agricultural Development at the DATCP.
The three-day finals event also includes interviews, agribusiness tours, an impromptu question-and-answer session and the selection finale program.
She has yet to worry about her wardrobe for the finals, but for that, she said, will get help from her support system, past Alices and mother figures she knows.
Agriculture is unquestionably taking over Klossner's life.
She currently serves as the Green County Fair's superintendent of Cultural Arts and on the Green County 4-H Adult Leaders Executive Board. She is also a state leader with 4-H, FFA and the Wisconsin Junior Holstein Association, and an annually part of the Agriculture and Entry Department staff at the Wisconsin State Fair.
Klossner said she loved the county fair as a child and chose to participate in Green County, rather than in Dane County, as a 4-H member, raising Holsteins and Brown Swiss dairy show heifers, beef steers and show rabbits.
"Brown Swiss are beautiful girls, and can be quite stubborn," she laughed.
Event details about Alice in Dairyland Finals are available at aliceindairyland.com.