For the first time in two years, Wisconsin will soon crown its next agricultural ambassador. But the one woman who got the opportunity to fulfill that role for a double term says she’s still having the time of her life. In an exclusive interview with Wisconsin Ag Connection, Julia Nunes, who served as the 73rd and 74th Alice in Dairyland since mid-2020, said her experience has been filled with excitement, challenges, uncertainty, but most importantly, opportunity.
“My first year was very difficult, just as it was for everyone. It began at the height of COVID, so travel was restricted and that made this job difficult because Alice is supposed to be all about public relations,” Nunes recalled. “However, that circumstance allowed me to do new things with social media, video production and other new ways to communicate our message. So in a way, it was a good way to expand the Alice in Dairyland program into new directions.”
Many of the Alices of the past had a personal message and a list of goals they hoped to accomplish. But for Julia, that wasn’t necessarily easy because she didn’t always know what she was allowed to do.
“On those rare occasions when I could travel, I’d stop at local shops and cheese stores, usually unannounced, just to show the public that Alice is still around and here to spread the message about Wisconsin agriculture.”
When Julia was given the opportunity to extend her contract for a second year, she said there was no moment of hesitation.
“I just wanted to make as many connections as I could, whether it was virtual or in person,” she said.
One of her favorite memories happened during the second year of her stint when she challenged comedian Charlie Berens of the Manitowoc Minute to a milk chugging competition at the Wisconsin State Fair.
“What I didn’t tell Charlie until later is that we had to do this contest using calf bottles,” she chuckled. “I actually beat him in the milk chugging contest, and in return, he profiled me in his show featuring ‘The Four People You Meet at the State Fair.'”
Though much of her time was spent working remotely from home, Nunes was able to put more than 40,000 miles on the Alice in Dairyland Tahoe and conducted hundreds of TV, radio and other media interviews. She’s also looking forward to the 75th Alice in Dairyland finals celebration, in which many of the Alices of the past will attend to commemorate the milestone–including Margaret McGuire, the very first Alice who served in 1948-49 during Wisconsin’s centennial year.
A native of Tilden in Chippewa County, Nunes graduated from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, majoring in agricultural communications and marketing. She grew up on her family’s Registered Holstein farm near Chippewa Falls, where she was involved in the Wisconsin Junior Holstein Association and 4-H.
So what’s next for Julia after her reign is complete?
“I’m looking forward to having a small block on my calendar where there is nothing planned,” she said. “In fact, my sisters and I are planning a little road trip to see family on the east coast later this summer.”
After that, she plans to look for opportunities to work in agriculture and has plans to stay in the Upper Midwest.
“Despite the challenges of the past two years, I am so happy to have had this opportunity. I will never forget the people I met along the way.”
Wisconsin’s 75th Alice in Dairyland will be chosen on May 21 during the annual finale ceremony at the Monona Terrace in Madison, being hosted this year by Dane County.
