MADISON — After nearly two years of waiting, a new Alice in Dairyland will be chosen Saturday evening at a finale banquet held at the Monona Terrace Convention Center.
The three-day Alice finals are sponsored by the Dane County Alice in Dairyland host committee.
Due to the lingering COVID-19 health pandemic which affected many events, the Alice finals are back for the first time in nearly two years.
The six contestants, all first-time finalists, were announced on March 11 after a round of interviews and application evaluations. They are: Amber Katherine Cafferty, 25, of Fountain City; Amelia Anne Hayden,21, of Sharon; Courtney Elise Moser, 23, of Westby; Taylor Paige Schaefer, 22, of Franksville; Samantha Josephine Schuessler, 23, of Antigo; and Charitee Logan Seebecker, 26, of Mauston.
The 2022 Alice in Dairyland will succeed Julia Nunes, 24, of rural Tilden in Chippewa County. She earned the title on June 20, 2020, in Delavan and held the job during the two years of the COVID-19 health pandemic, making her the longest-served Alice in Dairyland in the 74 years of the state agricultural ambassador program.
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The 2022 winner will officially begin her duties on July 5 and will spend the following 12 months educating and promoting Wisconsin’s vast agricultural industries to a wide variety of audiences and at schools.
The first Alice in Dairyland was Margaret Jean McGuire of Highland, who was chosen on May 19, 1948, during Wisconsin’s centennial celebrations at State Fair Park in West Allis. It was the first year that state agriculture department took over the former Wisconsin Dairy Queen competition, which began in 1932. She is now Margaret Blott, 92, of Mukwonago, a retired school teacher.
Special guests during Saturday’s 7 pm banquet will include former Alice titleholders that span 75 years, including Blott.
The first and only La Crosse County woman chosen as Alice was Joan Mary Engh of La Crosse in 1960 at the finals held at Richland Center. Engh would later be named Miss La Crosse in 1962 and then was selected as Miss Wisconsin 1962 in Kenosha on June 30, 1962. Two months later she placed first runner-up to Miss America of 1963 in Atlantic City, NJ.
La Crosse County previously hosted the Alice in Dairyland finals on June 27, 1953, when Mary Ellen Jenks of Chippewa Falls won the coveted crown. The county also hosted the annual event on June 13, 1970 when Susan E. Masterson of Janesville earned the title; and lastly on June 22, 1990, when Kimberly Ann Nettesheim of Elkhorn won the title.
IN PHOTOS: Julia Nunes as Alice in Dairyland
Calf
Julia Nunes, 73rd Alice in Dairyland, stands with a calf on the edge of a cornfield.
Photos Courtesy of the Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin
Julia Nunes at family farm
Julia Nunes at family farm
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Julia Nunes farm
Julia Nunes shares her family farm through a virtual tour.
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Julia Nunes
Julia Nunes is the 73rd Alice in Dairyland
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Julia Nunes
Julia Nunes
Contributed photo
Julia Nunes
Current Alice in Dairyland, and Chippewa Falls native Julia Nunes will remain in the position until July 2022 due to the cancellation of the 2021 competition.
CHIPPEWA HERALD
Digging the crop
Julia Nunes of Chippewa Falls, this year’s Alice in Dairyland, visits Alsum Farms & Produce in central Wisconsin to learn about potato processing.
Contributed photo
Spuds galore
Potatoes are processed at Alsum Farms & Produce in central Wisconsin. Julia Nunes of Chippewa Falls, this year’s Alice in Dairyland, visited the site to learn about potato processing.
Contributed photo
Julia Nune’s Alice in Dairyland
Julia Nunes
Checking on business
Julia Nunes of Chippewa Falls will visit dozens of agribusinesses around Wisconsin as the 73rd Alice in Dairyland.
Well-traveled kernel
Julia Nunes will be spending a lot of time behind the wheel of Kernel, the flex-fuel Ford Explorer, as Alice in Dairyland.
Alice in waiting
Julia Nunes showing Hyacinth at the fair in 2005.
Julia Nunes
Julia Nunes was born and raised in Chippewa Falls, growing up on her parents dairy farm taking care of animals with her three sisters.
FOR THE CHIPPEWA HERALD
Julia Nunes
well
Corn for all
Pictured is Alice in Dairyland Julia Nunes enjoying some corn with friends.
Contributed photo
gov. Evers and Julia Nunez
At the Opening Ceremony Governor Tony Evers stands with Julia Nunes, Alice in Dairyland 2020-22.
Travis Dewitz
Julia Nunes
Julia Nunes shows some of the Wisconsin cheese
Julia Nunes
Julia Nunes
Julia Nunes
Plenty of cranberries
Plenty of cranberries
Julia Nunes
A sea of cranberries
A sea of cranberries
Julia Nunes
Julia Nunes
Julia Nunes: “This harvest season, celebrate the little red fruit that packs a big punch. Not only are cranberries healthy, but delicious.”
Julia Nunes
special guests
The 74th Alice in Dairyland Julia Nunes introduces herself to spectators attending the 30th Little Britches Dairy Show, Friday, Sept. 17. Also pictured are (from left) Vernon County Dairy Youth Ambassador Harlee Harbaugh, 2020 and 2021 Wisconsin Fairest of the Fairs Cayley Vande Berg, Vernon County Junior Fairest of the Fair Jenna Harrington and Vernon County Fairest of the Fair Courtney Moser.
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