Pair of area young ladies vying for 2018 Allamakee County Dairy Princess crown at Saturday's banquet
The 2018 Allamakee County Dairy Banquet will be held this Saturday, March 24 at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds Pavilion in Waukon. The meal will be served from 7-8:30 p.m. with the program starting at 8 p.m.
The annual celebration recognizes the importance of the dairy industry in Allamakee County and the contributions dairy families make to this important industry. Every year, top producers from the county are recognized at the banquet. In addition, several other awards are presented that evening, some of which include the following:
• Outstanding Young Dairy Family Award
• Pioneer Dairyman Award
• Distinguished Dairy Family Award
• Service to Dairy Industry Award
• Golden Butter Knife Award.
Also a highlight of the evening's festivities, the 2018 Allamakee County Dairy Princess will be crowned. Two Allamakee County young ladies - Grace Howe and Cayla Nolting - are vying for this year’s Dairy Princess crown. Photos and biographies of the candidates follow:
Grace Howe -
Grace Howe is the 17-year-old daughter of Matt and Shelly Howe of Waukon and a junior at Waukon High School. She was introduced into the dairy industry as a young child, as her grandparents own a dairy operation. She currently owns around 15 head of Jersey, Guernsey and Ayrshire cattle of her own.
Grace is actively involved in 4-H, FFA, student leadership committee, the Iowa Jersey Cattle Club, her church youth group and basketball. Her hobbies include riding and showing horses, showing cattle, being around friends and spending time with her Grandpa Butch.
Her future plans include attending Iowa State University or University of Minnesota to earn a degree in Agricultural Communications with a minor in Dairy Science and later get a job working for a genetics company. Grace is sponsored by Lucky Brothers Farm.
Cayla Nolting -
Cayla Nolting, age 17, is the daughter of Chad and Cheryl Nolting of Waukon and currently a junior at Waukon High School. Upon graduation, she intends to pursue an education at Iowa State University to double major in Agricultural Education and Agricultural Business.
Cayla grew up on her family farm, where they milk 170 Holsteins in a double-ten parlor. Cayla’s responsibilities on the farm include milking, calf and heifer chores and record keeping.
Cayla participates in FFA, where she serves as Chapter President; Student Council, where she serves as Co-President; Large Group Speech, peer tutoring, the National Honor Society and 4-H. Cayla’s notable FFA achievements include First Place Individual for the Tri-State Dairy Judging Contest and representing Iowa in the North American International Dairy Judging Contest. She also exhibits dairy and swine at the Allamakee County Fair.
In her free time, Cayla enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading and watching movies. Cayla is sponsored by Calhoun Creamery.
