Stephanie Schmiesing Kolbe 1965

Stephanie (Schmiesing) Kolbe 1965


Parents: Virgil & Arline Schmiesing, Hanska, MN

Currently: Owatonna, MN
Stephanie has never had her head carved in butter, however, she has been asked to carve other dairy princess’s heads in butter, since she became an artist and do sculptures in wood. Stephanie’s favorite memory of her rein was most certainly the actual event of being crowned in 1965, which was very special. Then in 1966, Stephanie crowned her sister, Linda, which was fun. She also remembers being judged as they were eating a fancy meal. They were judged on etiquette, conversation, etc. Stephanie also recalls a small, round potato flying off someone’s plate and across the room. It was a humorous tension breaker. Stephanie also recalls driving to lots of farms back then as dairy princess, and actually served milk in new barns that were being shown in open houses. They served milk at banks, at the fair and were in many parades. Currently Stephanie lives in Owatonna, MN, with her husband of 42 years, Doug Kolbe. Doug was actually there when Stephanie was crowned, as they were dating back in 1965. Their son, Justin, is a head research engineer with Bergquist and his wife, Amy, is in residency at the Mayo Clinic. They have two sons, Ryder & Rowan. Their daughter, Erin Krause, is an RN, and her husband, Mike, is a manager for Thompson Reuters. They have a son, Seth, and two daughters, Sadie & Sommer. Stephanie graduated from college with a BS in English and psychology, and taught high school English for three years, before becoming a full-time artist. Working as an artist gave her the opportunity to stay home with her children when they were young, and to paint and sculpt all day once they were in school. Stephanie was juried into the Minnesota Wildlife Heritage Art Show in 1987 and was the Featured Sculptor there in 1994, also earning Best of Show, People’s Choice Award, and Best Display awards there in other years. She has been the Featured Artist at the Owatonna Festival of the Arts, won Best of Show/Grand Champion at the Upper Midwest Woodcarver’s Exposition, and awards at the International Decoy Competition, and sold pieces around the world. For the last 31 years, Stephanie has been superintendent of the Steel County Fair Wood Carver’s Building. Last year she finally got her family heritage book completed and published. Stephanie and her husband are active in a dance group, love to travel and hike mountain trails, and to be with family and friends.  To current princesses, Stephanie advises: “Be self-confident, follow your dreams, enjoy the journey of life...and eat healthy dairy foods!” The main way Stephanie’s family promotes the dairy industry now is by enjoying dairy products and by encouraging our grand children to eat healthy dairy products and foods, as milk, cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt, and, of course, ICE CREAM!