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Kaitlyn Riley Selected as Wisconsin’s Alice in Dairyland


(Photo: Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection)

Kaitlyn Riley, 24, of Gays Mills was named  the 2018 Alice in Dairyland at the Adams-Friendship Fine Arts Center in Adams on Saturday night.  Riley, who grew up on a Jersey dairy farm, was named this year’s Alice over five other finalists.

Riley grew up on her family’s registered Jersey dairy farm. She is the daughter of Paulette and Jody Ray Riley of Gays Mills and becomes the second Crawford County woman to win the state title — after Cheryl Ann O’Brien of Eastman in 2009. She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she studied strategic communications and broadcast journalism. In college, she held officer positions with the Association of Women in Agriculture and Badger Dairy Club. She also founded the university’s first agricultural radio talk show, AgChat. Riley served as the 48th Wisconsin Fairest of the Fairs in 2014. Professionally, she worked as the farm news director at WPRE-WQPC Radio in Prairie du Chien and as a multimedia journalist with WQOW News 18 in Eau Claire. Last year, she returned to the family farm where she manages calf and heifer care.

She will work as a communications professional for the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection and will focus on the importance of agriculture to the state’s economy.  It is estimated Riley will travel 40,000 miles over the next year for speaking events, media interviews and meetings with students in more than 100 classrooms. 

“I’m so excited to have the opportunity to travel the state and promote Wisconsin’s agricultural industry,” Riley said. “I look forward to touring the cranberry bogs, visiting the Wisconsin State Fair and speaking with elementary school students. And I look forward to meeting all of you as I embark on this exciting adventure.”

The remaining five Alice finalists from the two-day event were Kristen Broege, 23, of Janesville; Sydney Endres, 23, of Lodi; Alexus Grossbier, 23, of Elk Mound; Jacqueline Hilliard, 24, of Wisconsin Dells; and Megan Nicole Schulte, 22, of Hammond.

Serving as judges this year were Ashley Andre, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture; Beth Schaefer, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin; and Nodji VanWychen, Wetherby Cranberry Company. Eau Claire Farm Broadcaster Bob Bosold served as the master of ceremonies.

Meanwhile, this year’s Alice, Crystal Siemers-Peterman of Cleveland, said her reign during the past 12 months has been an experience like no other.

“For the past year I have traveled the state promoting our farmers, agriculturists, and agribusinesses. At each and every event, tour and interview, it has been my honor and an absolute joy to serve as Wisconsin’s agriculture ambassador,” she said. “I’ve laughed until I cried. I’ve cried until I’ve laughed and I’ve hugged hundreds of people too.”

And before giving up her title, Crystal presented the 2018 Friend of Alice Award to the Wisconsin State Fair Dairy Promotion Board.


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