Verndale's Trosen excited about being dairy princess
By Carol Stender
cstender@agrinews.com
Date Modified: 07/22/2010 9:16 AM
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VERNDALE, Minn. — Kelsie Trosen is excited about promoting the dairy industry.
The Verndale native is Wadena County's dairy princess and is a Princess Kay of the Milky Way finalist.
Through her royal roles, she is an ambassador for the dairy industry, she said.
Her fervor got its start on her family's multi-generational farm.
Three homes are located on the farmsite. Trosen grew up in one with her parents, Allen and Debbie, and three siblings. Next door is the home of her grandparents, Herman and Alice. Next to them, lives Trosen's uncle and aunt, Gordy and Debbie. They raised four children there.
"It was really like having eight siblings," she said.
From baling to feeding calves and from fieldwork to milking, they all worked on the farm. The 362-acre operation has 150 to 170 head of livestock.
She has especially enjoyed living close to her grandparents.
"It's been great," she said. "You got to know about their heritage and a lot of things they did on the farm in the past."
Trosen was home-schooled for eight years before completing her high school years at Verndale Public School. She recalls, completing her studies early in the day so she could spend more time with the cows.
She often shadowed Staples veterinarian Mike Mickelson as he worked with the herd.
"I talked his ear off," she said. "I became his secretary when he visited our farm. I'd write down all the information on our herd."
Mickelson was patient and answered all her questions. As she prepared for the dairy princess contests, he talked to her about the general public's perceptions of the dairy industry.
He was patient, answering her questions. And, as she prepared for the dairy princess contests, he offered perspectives he'd gathered from other dairymen and his work with the public about the dairy industry. He was one of several who helped Trosen prepare for her role as dairy princess. Her mom asked a co-worker, a former radio announcer, to have a mock radio interview with Trosen. And Wadena County dairy princess coordinator Becky Richter also worked with the local radio station to do the same.
Her father has talked about the industry and cow care and Trosen has searched the Internet for additional dairy product knowledge.
Her foray into Wadena County's dairy princess contest started in 2006 with the county's junior princess program. The experience was invaluable, she said.
She was crowned junior dairy princess the following year. Although she didn't participate in the program in 2008, she watched and learned how to promote dairy products. Trosen participated in the county's senior dairy program in 2009 and was crowned one of three princesses this year.
She credits Richter for providing the encouragement she needed as she prepared for the county and May Event contests.
"Becky always said that I should just be myself," Trosen said. "She gave me that push to be better at what I am. She has a heart for the industry. She was a finalist and she continues to be a part of the dairy industry."
Trosen is a sophomore at Trinity Bible College in Ellendale, N.D. She'll be transferring to Presentation College in Aberdeen, S.D., to study nursing.
She loves people and would like to be a nurse practitioner. In her work, she'll be able to stress the importance of dairy products and a balanced diet to her patients, she said.