Johnson cherishes her time as dairy princess
By Janet Kubat Willette
jkubat@agrinews.com
Date Modified: 07/15/2010 4:06 PM
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EITZEN, Minn. — Labecca Johnson is serving her second tenure as a Houston County Dairy Princess.
She ran for the county spot a second time not only to represent dairy producers and the dairy industry, but also to have the opportunity to compete for a spot as a Princess Kay finalist. She served as the FFA state reporter from April 2009 to April 2010, so was too busy to compete last year.
This year, Johnson followed in the butter tracks of sisters Leah and Londa and was named a Princess Kay finalist. Leah was a finalist in 2003 and Londa in 2007. Sister Leann was a regional dairy princess runner-up in the years when Princess Kay was chosen from among the 11 regional princesses.
Since 2001, county dairy princesses from across the state have gathered in May for a training event. Princesses are given the option of competing for a finalist slot. This year, 73 young women competed to be one of the 12 Princess Kay finalists. One of the finalists will go on to be named Princess Kay of the Milky Way on Aug. 25, the night before the Minnesota State Fair opens.
Johnson enjoys the duties that come with being a dairy princess, be it handing out dairy treats at customer appreciation events or helping with Breakfast on the Farm. Her favorite duty is visiting classrooms to talk to students about dairy farming and dairy products.
She spends the first few minutes reading the book, "Cassie Mooves In," written by her sister Leah when she was a dairy princess. The book talks about how all the farm animals were the best of friends and then Cassie the cow moved in. The storybook talks about what a cow is, how much she eats and drinks, how she produces milk and how that milk is processed at a processing plant. It also talks about how milk packed with nutrition.
Then she answers questions and explains the countywide dairy poster contest.
Being a dairy princess isn't about the crown and sash, Johnson said, it's about telling the story of the safe, wholesome product that dairy farmers produce. It's sharing the pride that dairy farmers take in their animals and their land.
It's also not a job for the faint of heart. At Houston County's Breakfast on the Farm, Johnson and her father, Richard, participated in a driving contest where her father was blindfolded and seated behind the wheel. She was his eyes for the contest, directing him through a straw bale obstacle course.
Her morning started early that day, rising at 3:30 a.m. to get ready and load everything into the car. She and her mother, Linda, left home near LaCrescent at 4:30 a.m. for the 45 minute to one hour trip to the Stan and Bev Meyer place near Eitzen, where the breakfast was held.
By 6:30 a.m., she was on the road again, running a quick errand to town to pick up the cheese for the Clergy Milking Contest.
She was back to the farm for the 7 a.m. breakfast start, handing out "I met a dairy farmer" stickers and greeting visitors to the farm.
At 8:45 a.m. she emceed the Little Farmer contest and interviewed contestants, asking them about their favorite farm animal and favorite dairy product. The Little Farmer contest is open to boys and girls age five and younger, Johnson said. They dress up like little farmers, wearing bibs, flannel shirts and caps. The winning boy and girl receive a book and all contestants get a prize just for participating.
Houston County Dairy Princess attendants, Rachel and Sophie Wiste, were the judges for the Little Farmer Contest.
Fifteen minutes later, it was the dairy princesses vs. the senior 4-H dairy quiz bowl team members in a quiz bowl demonstration.
Johnson helped get the 4-H quiz bowl program started in Houston County last year and this year advanced with her team to regional competition. Team members brought out their buzzers and faced off on the Udder Stage at the Meyer farm.
At 9:15, the quiz bowl demonstration gave way to the announcement of the dairy poster contest winners. Third grade students from across the county are eligible to participate in a dairy poster contest. This year's theme was "what does dairy mean to you."
Johnson announced the winners from each of the eight schools in the county that participated and the top three posters from the county. The top posters were displayed at Breakfast on the Farm and will be displayed at the Udder Place at the Houston County Fair, she said.
The top eight each received a T-shirt that said drink milk and the top three received a $5 gift certificate to be spent at the Udder Place or the Frosty Cow, the county ADA's mobile concession trailer, she said.
She also announced the Butter Knife and Milk Pitcher awards.
The Butter Knife award went to Elsie's Bar and Grill in Caledonia. The award recognizes restaurants that use real dairy products, Johnson said.
Bill Abrahamzon and Neil Beackman received the Milk Pitcher award. The award recognizes people or organizations that support the dairy industry. Abrahamzon and Beackman are members of the Houston County Cattlemen's Association, which grills the breakfast sausage at Breakfast on the Farm for no charge.
Then it was over to the Frosty Cow to hand out treats and around the farm to greet visitors and distribute more stickers.
The obstacle course with her father topped off the morning at 11 a.m.
By 11:30 a.m., it was time to clean up from the breakfast.
She was back home in time for the 2 p.m. milking. The family milks their 130 cows at 6 a.m., 2 p.m. and 10 p.m.
Johnson is the third generation on the farm. Her parents, Richard and Linda, are working on a farm succession plan. Her brother Jason farms with her parents. Her brother Paul started a genetic recovery program in the herd and is working on getting the Holsteins registered. Johnson and Leah and Londa own most of the 25 to 30 Jersey cows and heifers on the farm. All are registered.
Johnson has five brothers and four sisters.
Johnson has a busy summer of dairy duties ahead, handing out ribbons at the county fair, working in the Udder Place and the Frosty Cow and selling root beer floats at Caledonia on Tuesday nights during music in the park.