She said she first aspired to be “Alice” while studying abroad when she developed a deep appreciation for Wisconsin agriculture and “I knew that I needed to continue sharing our agriculture industry.”

As Alice in Dairyland; Ripp sees one of her biggest challenges will be influencing consumer perception of agriculture in various ways including through the use of social media to tell the story.

Alice in Dairyland is a one-year, full-time marketing position with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.

AUDIO: Ripp talks about becoming Alice 2:47 mp3

Also on Saturday evening, the 64th Alice, Katie Wirkus presented long-time farm broadcaster Bob Middendorf of WGLR, Lancaster with the “Friend of Alice” award.

DATCP photo

The Alice in Dairyland Finals are underway in Grant County culminating in the naming of the 65th Alice on Saturday evening. Katie Wirkus looks back on what she describes as “a fantastic year” as Wisconsin’s 64th Alice in Dairyland:

Her biggest challenge? Overcoming the idea that Alice is a “princess”, “How do you explain to a five-year-old that you are an ambassador?” She says that while the tiara and sash do bring attention to Alice, it does contribute to the challenge.

She says her greatest accomplishment was all of the school visits and the opportunity to tell them all about agriculture in Wisconsin.

Wirkus says the only regret she has for the year is that while touring a cranberry operation last fall she didn’t ask to put on the waders and get into the water.  She hopes one of the state’s growers will invite her to do that this fall.

Her advice to the 65th Alice? “Be ready for a fun year and be flexible because everything changes as you are going along.”

As for those who are considering seeking the position at some time in the future? If you want to do it, “I would strongly encourage it but I would never force it.” She says the job is demanding so “you have to have a passion for it.”

Wirkus will finish her year in early June and then become a middle-school math teacher.

Alice in Dairyland is a one-year, full-time paid marketing specialist for the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.

AUDIO: Wirkus talks about her year 4:51 mp3

The Environthon is a program for Iowa high school students who want to learn more about natural resources and current environmental challenges. Teams are tested in wildlife, aquatics, forestry, soils and current issues. This year’s current issues oral competition theme was nonpoint source pollution, low impact development design and storm water management.

The Neillsville FFA “Learn to Garden at the Neillsville School Garden” will use the school garden as a living classroom for students and community members through a unique outreach program. They will use this living classroom to teach families throughout their community how to grow their own garden and preserve the harvest.

The Pulaski FFA “Fresh Grown for All” plans to design, plant, grow and maintain a community garden to provide their community with a space to grow their own vegetables. The area will be used to teach students about gardening and the importance of fresh fruits and vegetables in their daily diets. Students will also build Garden Boxes for the elderly in their community.

The Unity FFA “The Unity CommUNITY Garden” aims to provide fresh produce for their weekly backpack program during the school year. The ag education students will then present handouts and food samples from the garden to the elementary students to encourage them to try new types of fruits and vegetables.

The chapters applied for the competitive grants by explaining their plans to implement a year-long, sustainable project to address hunger in their communities. The projects needed to include educational outreach to the community and must involve youth in the design and implementation. The chapters will submit a series of reports throughout their projects and will participate in a “program showcase” display at the 2012 National FFA Convention. Just over $330,000 was granted to 140 chapters in 41 states.

World Dairy Expo’s 2011 Executive Committee members include, Front Row (L to R):Jim Crowley, Jr., Dairy Cattle Show Superintendent; Bill Barlass, Secretary/Treasurer; Debbie Crave, 1st Vice President; and Mike Holschbach, President. Middle Row (L to R): Alan Deming, Finance Committee Chair; Tom Morris, Dairy Cattle Exhibitors Committee Chair; Steve Strickler, Dairy Farmers of America; and Dean Hermsdorf, 2nd Vice President and Commercial Exhibitor Committee Chair. Back Row (L to R): Mark Clarke, General Manager; and Jeff Lyons, WI DATCP.

World Dairy Expo is October 2nd through the 6th in Madison, Wisconsin.