New dairy ambassadors crowned

DES MOINES, Iowa — New dairy royalty was crowned Aug. 6 at the Iowa State Fair. Kelsey Timp was named the 2025-26 Iowa Dairy Princess, and Alia Domeyer earned alternate honors. Timp was also named Miss Congeniality by a vote of her peers.

“I was in disbelief when they announced me,” Timp said. “When I was announced Miss Congeniality, I thought it was a step in the right direction, and it made me even more nervous. Then, I heard my name called, and I thought I was dreaming. I was excited, shocked and in disbelief.”

The two were named Iowa Dairy Princess and Iowa Dairy Princess Alternate after a competition Aug. 5-6 at the Iowa State Fair. The competition was an intense 36 hours, consisting of group interviews, individual interviews, a speech competition and a written test. The field featured 13 contestants, the most for Iowa Dairy Princess since 2017.

Timp did not grow up on a dairy farm, but her grandparents, along with an aunt and uncle, each have dairy operations in Iowa. With those family ties, the Ossian native found her passion.

Timp started showing dairy heifers at 4 years old. She saw her cousins earn the dairy princess honor for her county, and saw the impact she could have on the industry. Working with her cousins and family members, Timp found a passion for dairy that she has continued to pursue.

“As soon as I could drive, I found a job on a local dairy farm milking cows,” Timp said. “I absolutely loved it. Unfortunately, they did close and had a herd dispersal sale in April 2023. But like any farm kid would do, I found another job on a different dairy farm. I work at Irish Grove Dairy, where we milk between 130-140 cows. I’ve been there for two years.”

Timp will take that passion for the dairy industry to Ames this fall. She starts her freshman year at Iowa State University and intends to major in agriculture communications and agriculture business.

After graduation, Timp intends to work in marketing or sales with a dairy or dairy-related company so she can continue to educate and communicate about the dairy industry. She hopes to one day open a dairy operation of her own.

Domeyer also does not come from a family farm but found herself drawn to the dairy industry. Her mother was the Iowa Dairy Princess 30 years ago and she has seen cousins on both sides of her family and others in her community participate in the dairy princess program.

“I’ve always looked up to the girls in the county who have gone through the program,” Domeyer said. “Watching those past participants really drove it home for me that I needed to come back and support the community that supported me.”

Domeyer has been an active participant in her 4-H club since she was in fourth grade, participating in dairy judging and dairy quiz bowl. She was also a member of an FFA dairy judging team that finished third nationally, earning a trip to Europe.

“The way our community came together to support our dairy judging group was incredible,” Domeyer said. “Our community funded our trip to Europe.”

When she first started in 4-H, Domeyer’s parents insisted that she have an animal of her own to show. She chose to participate in dairy because she saw all the opportunities in the dairy community.

With the help of her parents, she purchased her first Jersey calf and has continued to grow a herd of her own at Kunde Jersey Farms and has since begun working on the farm with her animals.

Domeyer is a junior at the University of Northern Iowa, studying finance and marketing. The native of Delhi intends to work as an agricultural loan officer. She said she wants to use her platform in banking to benefit the dairy community.

“My goal is to help give back to the people who have helped me,” Domeyer said. “Young farmers and all farmers who want to further their farm, meet their goals and advance their production, I want to do what I can to help them.”

Timp and Domeyer will begin their reign as Iowa Dairy Princess and Iowa Dairy Princess Alternate, respectively, beginning Sept. 1.