Princess Kay candidate owes much to family
By Carol Stender
cstender@agrinews.com
Date Modified: 07/29/2010 9:46 AM
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BATTLE LAKE, Minn. — West Otter Tail County dairy princess and Princess Kay of the Milky Way finalist Kristin Boyum plays several roles on her family's Battle Lake dairy farm. She's fed calves, baled hay and milked cows, to name a few. And she's also been a teacher.
Boyum and her family have hosted several trainees through the Communicating for Agriculture's former international exchange program.
"I've had the opportunity to work with my family and teach people from overseas what Minnesota's dairy industry has to offer," she said.
It's been about five years since the family has had trainees on their farm, but the experience has given Boyum a strong foundation as she promotes the industry.
Boyum, the youngest of Al and Jean Boyum's three children, was active in 4-H and FFA at Battle Lake High School. Last year she was a college freshman atConcordia College in Moorhead majoring in food, nutrition and dietetics. The combined experiences of preparing for contests with youth organizations and classroom presentations has given her confidence and abilities to talk to others, she said.
She could have taken part in the dairy princess program after her high school graduation, but says she's glad she waited. Boyum decided to participate in the West Otter Tail dairy princess contest after her father asked her to.
"I'd always thought about it as a little kid," she said. "I thought it was cool just as any little kid does. But my dad simply asked if I would do it. I think because of his contribution to the farm, it seemed like something I should do."
It wasn't just because of her father that Boyum participated this year, she said. She's also self-motivated.
"Once I signed the papers to take part, it seemed like something that's larger than I pictured it would be," she said. "What the Midwest Dairy Association has done for the last 56 years has been outstanding. They are getting the message across to so many people. It also goes to my dad and him showing me what farming is about. I want to further that message. He can only reach so many people who may come to see the farm. This is a role where I can do more networking and reach more people."
The family farm got its start from her grandparents, Anita and the late Earl Boyum, who purchased the property in 1955. They also got the family involved hosting international ag trainees.
Her parents took over and moved to the farmplace in 1991. They've developed the dairy to a 140-head Holstein herd. They built a straw-bedded free-stall barn and milk in a double-six herringbone parlor. They farm 500 acres of alfalfa, corn, wheat and soybeans.
Boyum has two older brothers. Aaron is a teacher in Warren and Brett is a veterinary school student at the University of Minnesota.
The May Event banquet where the 12 Princess Kay of the Milky Way finalists were announced was an emotional time for the 19-year-old. Brett had graduated from college and was preparing to start veterinary school and a summer USDA internship in Russia the same weekend.
"We agreed that we couldn't attend each other's function, but we support one another," she said.
Her parents, grandmother Anita and brother Aaron were there and, when her name was announced as a finalist, wiped away tears of joy. After the banquet, she got hugs from her parents and turned to her grandmother. Anita looked at her granddaughter with tears in her eyes.
"It made me cry just a little bit more," she said "She'd been a part of the farm with grandpa. It all started with them."
As she talks about the dairy industry to others, Boyum remembers the lessons she's learned through her school and organization involvement and she recalls her work with the farm trainees.