Are you prepared?

Malorie Thorson, 72nd Princess Kay of the Milky Way

Matt Addington/Midwest Dairy

Happy National Dairy Month, everyone. The month of dairy is officially here, so my question is, are you prepared?

I have been asked this question frequently as I have attended events or talked with my local dairy community. My truthful answer is, I believe so.

Before my time as Princess Kay, the question of preparedness always came up in conversation with my parents as we discussed responsibilities on the farm for the upcoming summer. My father’s response was always that he was, as long as Mother Nature cooperated. With planting season officially complete and haylage on the horizon, the weather could affect the outcome.

On the other hand, my mom’s response is similar to mine. We believe we have prepared our facilities and employees to prioritize animal comfort, even when temperatures get warmer. In preparation, my family became ready to complete all the tasks, even the unexpected ones. In the same way, that has been my experience while attending all my events in May.

Dairy advocacy

When May started, I felt excitement in the air. I had a strong feeling the excitement came from all the students I visited during the first three weeks of May. They were not only excited for the upcoming summer break but also that they could wrap up their school year with a visit from Princess Kay.

Circle of Life Academy, New York Mills elementary school and Urban Ag Day each presented a unique opportunity to connect dairy into the students’ story. While at Circle of Life Academy, I learned our native Minnesota citizens are all lactose intolerant. So, when I asked them how they still like to enjoy dairy, many responded by saying cheese and were surprised to learn about other lactose-free dairy options.

Then, at New York Mills, I had the pleasure of kicking off their kindergarten students’ dairy journey. On Monday, I taught them all how dairy farmers care about their cows, and on Tuesday, they took a tour of the Mursu family farm. Additionally, I was also fortunate enough to have “coffee and conversation” with the town’s senior center. Almost all of them grew up on a farm and enjoyed asking questions about the changes in dairy farming over the years.

Finally, during the first two days of Urban Ag Day, I interacted with over 1,000 third graders. Like my time at New York Mills, I kicked off their day by teaching them about the daily chores on the farm. After my time was complete, many students came up to ask more detailed questions about dairy farming and walked away excited to share their information with fellow classmates.

The excitement did not stop there. Following the weekend of the May Leadership Event and announcing this year’s finalist, I went back to the Minnesota State Fairgrounds to ring the cow bell to start the 2026 Milk Run. From first time racers to a family tradition, all attendees learned how dairy can fuel their active lifestyle. Whether that was through conversations or spinning the trivia wheel, it was an amazing event to showcase how dairy does more.

Last, but certainly not least, Music in the Park and Clay County Breakfast on the Farm kept the excitement for summer strong as we connected with consumers through community.

Whether that was through a common love of country music or conversation while waiting in line for pancakes, I enjoyed greeting and conversing with people of all ages about my dairy story and my role as Princess Kay.

So, as I reflect on this past month, I was prepared and am now ready. I am ready to see how our Minnesota dairy community creates opportunities for education, advocacy and connection with our local communities. But, most importantly, I am excited to embrace all the opportunities this month will bring, even the unexpected ones. Because, just like my parents have always said, “You cannot expect all the unexpected, but you can be prepared.” Yet, my question still stands: Are you?

Princess Kay of the Milky Way, Malorie Thorson, serves as the Minnesota dairy community’s goodwill ambassador. Malorie grew up in Waverly, Minnesota. She attends South Dakota State University majoring in Dairy Production with plans to return to her family farm as the sixth generation. Malorie loves trying out new recipes and baking, swing dancing, reading, and spending quality time with her family during early morning milking shifts. Her parents are Andrew and Colette Thorson.

Princess Kay is active doing school visits and events representing dairy farmers, and sharing the importance of dairy farming and dairy foods at appearances across Minnesota.