I am from Waukesha County, where the first county fair in Wisconsin took place! Photo Credit: Halei Heinzel
My name is Halei Heinzel, and I am excited and honored to begin my journey as the 77th Alice in Dairyland! Summer is finally here, and I cannot wait to spend these summer months promoting Wisconsin agriculture across the state.
Wisconsinites have been celebrating agriculture all summer long at county fairs for 182 years! The very first county fair took place in my home county of Waukesha in 1842. Originally an event to celebrate the 4th of July, the fair’s highlight was a plowing match between farmers. Today, Wisconsin hosts 74 county fairs, showcasing many exhibits from farm machinery and automobiles to sports, crafts, and music, with agriculture remaining at the heart of the county fair experience.
County fairs bring together farmers, agribusinesses, and community members in a shared celebration of Wisconsin’s agriculture industry. I am looking forward to advocating for and promoting fairs across Wisconsin where everyone can learn about agriculture, and where the hard work of our farmers is showcased and celebrated. Fairs have a unique way of making everyone feel welcome and involved, regardless of a person’s age or background. Many Wisconsin fairs also highlight our state’s diverse agriculture industry, contributing $104.8 billion to our economy and providing over 435,000 jobs.
County fairs also have a positive effect on their surrounding communities. For small business owners, the week of their local county fair is often one of their biggest sources of revenue. Visitors come for the fair, but they also enjoy the hospitality of local small businesses and their high-quality product offerings.
During the many Wisconsin fairs in July, we also celebrate National Ice Cream Month. Wisconsin is home to 46 ice cream plants, supplying Wisconsinites with about 75.4 million pounds of ice cream per year. That is about 2.6 gallons of ice cream per person! In my travels this year, I am looking forward to supporting local creameries and businesses that offer Wisconsin ice cream and frozen custard any chance Ihave! Whether you’re choosing chocolate or vanilla, a cup, or a cone, you are supporting more than 5,600 Wisconsin dairy farms. Buying local Wisconsin ice cream and other dairy products is delicious, sustainable, and contributes to the vitality and economic health of our state’s $45.6 billion dairy industry. Don’t forget to look for the Proudly Wisconsin Dairy Badge when shopping for these delicious dairy products!
Summer is a busy time for Alice in Dairyland, and I officially started my term as the 77th Alice on July 8 after being selected at the three-day finale event held in Door County at the beginning of May. While I did not grow up in the agriculture industry, my passion for it runs deep. From a young age, I loved animals.
This passion led me to joining FFA in high school, where in 2018, I milked a cow for the first time! I spent the next six years taking every opportunity I could find to get more involved in the agriculture industry.
I recently graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Life Sciences Communication. With the opportunity to serve as Alice in Dairyland, I am so excited to travel Wisconsin for a memorable and rewarding year, connecting communities with agriculture, and learning more about this diverse industry across our state.
The summer before I started at UW-Madison, I had the incredible opportunity to work for the Wisconsin State Fair Dairy Promotion Board, caring for and milking the demonstration herd and educating fairgoers about our state’s impressive dairy industry in Dairy Lane. It was through this opportunity that I met Alice in Dairyland for the first time, witnessing how she connects with consumers and shares the impact of our agriculture industry. This experience is what inspired me to run for Alice in Dairyland.
Alongside my work for the Wisconsin State Fair, I continued my involvement in agriculture at UW-Madison, where I was involved in organizations like the Babcock House Student
Cooperative, the board of the Wisconsin Agriculture and Life Sciences Alumni Association, Science Communication Club, and the Polo Club. I also held internships with the Farm and Industry Short Course Program and the Professional Dairy Producers, which helped me hone my skills in agriculture marketing and communications.
I am eager for the opportunity to continue exploring Wisconsin’s diverse and abundant agriculture industry as the 77th Alice in Dairyland. From tours of farms and businesses to numerous county fairs and every event in between, I’m thrilled to have the chance to bridge the gap between producers and consumers, and share more about our state’s vibrant agriculture industry. You can follow along on my adventures at aliceindairyland.com or on social media through Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or X. Along with my flex-fueled Ford Explorer, Tassie, powered by Wisconsin corn, I look forward to seeing you all soon, especially at your county fair or local creamery!
Comments