Rebecca Sellner, 2008

2008 Brown County Dairy Princesses: Susan Hillesheim, Rebecca Sellner, and Melissa Lax.

Rebecca Sellner, 2008

Parents: Mike and Judy Sellner, Sleepy Eye
Currently: Sleepy Eye, MN
Rebecca’s favorite events were parades and classroom visits. “It was so much fun interacting with the children. They are so interested to learn!!” Rebecca is currently attending Minnesota State University, Mankato, pursuing a degree in Geography with a GIS certificate. To current princesses, she shares, “It is an honor to have the opportunity to promote the dairy industry. Make the most of your time as a dairy princess. It is definitely something you will miss!” When asked about still promoting dairy products, Rebecca shares, “Being at a large diverse college, I am often challenged by friends and classmates. Even teachers have misunderstandings about the dairy industry. I try to clear up these misunderstood topics and show them the dairy industry as the honest industry which I have come to know. This past semester at MNSU, I gave a PowerPoint presentation on the Dairy Industry, focusing on ethics. I thought that I would be highly challenged by my fellow classmates but they were actually really interested! They asked so many questions! Knowledge that I have come to know over the years I sometimes take for granted. It was a very good experience for the class as well as myself.”

Susan Hillesheim, 2008

2008 Brown County Dairy Princess Susan Hillesheim enjoyed working with children as a princess, especially on farm tours.

Susan, pictured with fellow Dairy Ambassadors at a farm tour for preschool children.

2008 Brown County Dairy Princesses: Rebecca Sellner, Susan Hillesheim, Valerie Mohr, and Melissa Lax.

Susan Hillesheim, 2008

Parents: Jim and Cindy Hillesheim, Springfield
Currently:  Rochester, MN
Susan’s favorite memory was “going on the farm visits with pre-schoolers. For many of them, it was the first time being on a farm and up close to cows and calves. It’s where we had the chance to first get them excited about cows and the dairy industry. It was also fun to see them touch their first cow and feed their first calf.” Susan is in the nursing program in Rochester, currently between her 2nd and 3rd semester. She still comes home for some weekends and winter and summer breaks. Susan works at St. John’s Lutheran Home in Springfield as a CNA when she’s available and also enjoy babysitting and helping on the family farm in her free time. To current princesses, Susan says, “Even though the dairy industry is struggling in the economy currently, stay positive and keep promoting our pure, wholesome product with pride. Show consumers we treat our animals with respect, like one of the family, despite what critics show the few, extreme situations are like. Most of all have fun and make the most of every encounter you have with consumers and fellow promoters!” When asked how she continues to promote the dairy industry, Susan shares, “Being around college students, I see many people who don’t get their 3-A-Day or would rather just take a calcium supplement. I try to convince them how important the true product is for their health and that it’s recommended they have 3 servings/day. I set an example by consuming dairy products myself. I also support the dairy industry in times of dispute over what some people see on TV or the internet. I explain to them that what they see on TV or the internet is not what is happening on every dairy farm. Critics seem to find one extreme place far and few between and blow it up into a huge story. “