NEW GLARUS - A New Glarus woman is optimistic that three times will be the charm as she seeks the Alice in Dairyland position for the third time in as many years.
"It's such an amazing learning opportunity," Kristin Klossner said. "We're so diverse and getting to learn more about agriculture, and grow myself through the process is a great opportunity."
Klossner, 29, was raised on and currently lives on her family's 257-acre dairy farm in rural New Glarus. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin-River Falls with a degree in secondary education, she now works as a sales associate at West Revenue Generation Services. But she hopes to spend the next year as Alice in Dairyland. One of six candidates, she intends to run to expand on her knowledge of agriculture learned through years of showing cows through 4-H, FFA and Junior Holsteins of America.
Alice in Dairyland serves as a public relations professional for the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection and travels throughout the state promoting agricultural products to people of all ages. DATCP is celebrating its 69th year of the Alice in Dairyland competition.
"Everybody needs agriculture," Klossner said. "Food isn't created in the grocery store. Supporting the industry that's feeding America is really important."
Klossner is no stranger to the interviewing process, which she described as a multifaceted test to see which candidate performs best in a simulation of actual Alice in Dairyland duties. There is a speaking time for each woman as well as a television interview and radio conversation. Though Klossner said she has considered her application for the position on a yearly basis, she might return for the 70th competition if her third try does not end on a positive note.
Getting to know others within the agriculture industry has been a highlight of the process.
"I look forward to getting to meet other producers," Klossner said. "Getting to learn about different areas and being able to tell that story. I'm so excited to share that with others."
Klossner has been dedicated to a personal cause within the ag industry since 2013 as well, when her brother, then 19, died in an accident during the Wisconsin State Fair. Klossner coordinates the John Klossner Memorial Fitting Contest during the Green County Fair as a way to honor her younger brother.
The family has also established the Dairy Dash 5K Fun Run along the Lakeshore Path of the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus in coordination with the Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity. The third annual Dairy Dash is Sunday. Proceeds benefit the Brain Injury Association of America. There are also two scholarships in John Klossner's name; one offered exclusively through UW-Madison and the other to statewide members of the Wisconsin Holstein Association.
"He was very passionate about it," Klossner said. "He loved to show younger members how to do it. He was actually one of my role models, even being younger than me."
The Alice in Dairyland candidate discussion panel will take place May 6 in Waterloo. On May 7, the finale banquet will begin at 4:30 p.m. in Watertown, with the finale program following at 7 p.m.
"It's such an amazing learning opportunity," Kristin Klossner said. "We're so diverse and getting to learn more about agriculture, and grow myself through the process is a great opportunity."
Klossner, 29, was raised on and currently lives on her family's 257-acre dairy farm in rural New Glarus. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin-River Falls with a degree in secondary education, she now works as a sales associate at West Revenue Generation Services. But she hopes to spend the next year as Alice in Dairyland. One of six candidates, she intends to run to expand on her knowledge of agriculture learned through years of showing cows through 4-H, FFA and Junior Holsteins of America.
Alice in Dairyland serves as a public relations professional for the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection and travels throughout the state promoting agricultural products to people of all ages. DATCP is celebrating its 69th year of the Alice in Dairyland competition.
"Everybody needs agriculture," Klossner said. "Food isn't created in the grocery store. Supporting the industry that's feeding America is really important."
Klossner is no stranger to the interviewing process, which she described as a multifaceted test to see which candidate performs best in a simulation of actual Alice in Dairyland duties. There is a speaking time for each woman as well as a television interview and radio conversation. Though Klossner said she has considered her application for the position on a yearly basis, she might return for the 70th competition if her third try does not end on a positive note.
Getting to know others within the agriculture industry has been a highlight of the process.
"I look forward to getting to meet other producers," Klossner said. "Getting to learn about different areas and being able to tell that story. I'm so excited to share that with others."
Klossner has been dedicated to a personal cause within the ag industry since 2013 as well, when her brother, then 19, died in an accident during the Wisconsin State Fair. Klossner coordinates the John Klossner Memorial Fitting Contest during the Green County Fair as a way to honor her younger brother.
The family has also established the Dairy Dash 5K Fun Run along the Lakeshore Path of the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus in coordination with the Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity. The third annual Dairy Dash is Sunday. Proceeds benefit the Brain Injury Association of America. There are also two scholarships in John Klossner's name; one offered exclusively through UW-Madison and the other to statewide members of the Wisconsin Holstein Association.
"He was very passionate about it," Klossner said. "He loved to show younger members how to do it. He was actually one of my role models, even being younger than me."
The Alice in Dairyland candidate discussion panel will take place May 6 in Waterloo. On May 7, the finale banquet will begin at 4:30 p.m. in Watertown, with the finale program following at 7 p.m.