From the milk in our morning coffee to the after-dinner trip to Culvers for ice cream, the dairy industry significantly impacts our everyday lives and diets. For FFA alumni and dairy royalty, Anna Euerle, the dairy industry is a passion, one she gets to celebrate for the whole month of June each year.
“From a very young age, I knew I was going to be involved in the dairy industry,” Euerle says. “I grew up on a dairy farm working with my parents and siblings. I showed dairy cattle and was a 4-H member. When I started high school joining Litchfield FFA was a logical step.”
The skills and experiences gained from FFA led the Litchfield, Minn., native to serve as the 68th Princess Kay of the Milky Way. Princess Kay serves as the official ambassador for nearly 2,500 Minnesota dairy farm families, and spends a year visiting with all types of dairy stakeholders, speaking to students across the state, and supporting programming such as the Fuel Up to Play 60 program with the Minnesota Vikings.
“It’s an honor to get to advocate for the industry I’m passionate about,” Eurele says. “It’s important for all FFA members to realize that advocacy can take on lots of forms. Sometimes it’s giving a speech in front of a big crowd, but it’s also as simple as a conversation with a friend about agriculture.”
There are many ways FFA members can cultivate their passion for the dairy industry. Participating in the Milk Quality and Products career development event (CDE) can help members understand the different properties and benefits of dairy products. The Dairy Cattle Evaluation and Management CDE can help develop skills in dairy cattle selection and herd management. Partnering with a local or national organization such as Culvers can help raise awareness for the industry while also raising funds to support the needs of the chapter.
“The greatest thing about being a member of the FFA is that you gain exposure to so many niche areas of agriculture,” Eurele says. “Today, I’m pursuing a degree in food science and technology and hope to one day become a milk inspector. My FFA experience helped me hone my passion for this industry and I can’t wait to see where it takes me.”
