Finding a home in dairy

GLENCOE, Minn. — When Kalley Christen was in third grade, she started leasing Brown Swiss cattle to show before eventually purchasing her own in 2021. Today, Christen and her sister, Brielle, own four animals and show them across the Midwest.

“I truly found a passion,” Christen said. “I really found a place where it doesn’t matter that I didn’t come from a farm. I’m still treated equally as everyone and have really found a home in the dairy community.”

Christen, the daughter of Keith and Angela, is one of the 10 Princess Kay of the Milky Way finalists. Although Christen did not grow up on a farm, because of her involvement in the show ring and as a county dairy princess, she has chosen to study agricultural business and dairy science at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and then pursue a career in the dairy industry.

“I wanted to share my dairy story since it isn’t a regular story,” Christen said. “I want to show my passion by informing consumers about how nutritious dairy is for them, and how farmers are always caring for their animals 365 days a year to make sure that our milk is always safe and nutritious.”

Growing up, Christen leased cattle from Dave Sprengeler until he sold his herd. Since Christen had grown attached to the Brown Swiss breed and showing, she continued to lease from other farmers. When Christen purchased her own Brown Swiss five years ago, she housed it with John Donnay at Sunkist Acres near Glencoe.

“Dad and I went to the sale together and I actually got to pick one out personally that we were going to bid on,” Christen said. “We ended up getting that one.”

Christen and her siblings, Brielle and Emmitt, lease from Donnay to show Holsteins and Brown Swiss in addition to helping milk Donnay’s 50 cows. The Christens have shown at county fairs, the Minnesota State Fair and World Dairy Expo.

Being involved in the dairy showing realm led Christen to run for McLeod County dairy princess in 2025 and 2026.

“Some of my favorite memories of being a princess have been going to daycares and bringing calf bottles,
ear tags, ID collars and talking to them about dairy farming, and then making butter with them,” Christen said.

Christen has not decided what do with all the butter from her future butterhead, only that she will share it with family and friends in college. In the meantime, Christen will be promoting dairy across her county and state.

“Farmers care and they’re constantly working 24/7, 365 days a year to make sure that our milk is always safe and nutritious for us as consumers,” Christen said. “As a consumer I feel confident every time I drink a glass of milk that it is always safe and nutritious for me.”

This summer, Christen is focusing on her dairy princess duties, but in the future, she would like to work in sales within the dairy industry.

“Dairy has played a huge role in my life since I started showing and made such an impact in my life that I wanted to continue in the future,” Christen said. “I really like sales and talking to people and building connections.”