PIERZ — The Crow Wing County Dairy Princess Banquet will be March 31 at the Pierz Ballroom. Dinner will be served at 7 p.m. with a program, coronation and dance to follow. Advanced tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for children under 12 and are available from any candidate or by calling 828-1998 by Sunday. Tickets at the door will sell for $15.

Princess contestants include Shantel Koering, 18, daughter of Gerald and Melissa Koering of Fort Ripley is the candidate for Crow Wing County Senior Dairy Princess. Shantel attends Central Lakes College in Brainerd. She is currently the Region 2 FFA President and is emplyed on her grandparents’ dairy farm. She also raises pygmy goats. Her favorite dairy products are cheese and milk. Shantel’s sponsors are Culver’s of Baxter, Pioneer Lake Mutual insurance Company, NFO and Cow Mart.

Veronica Nelson, 15, daughter of Ron and Barb Nelson, Brainerd, is the candidate for Crow Wing County Junior Dairy Princess. Veronica is a sophomore at Brainerd South Campus and is involved with FFA and 4-H. She is employed at Sandy and Gerald Foust’s dairy farm. Veronica’s favorite dairy product is milk and her sponsors are AMPI (Associated Milk Producers Incorporated), Nelson-Shine Produce, Pierz Fab, and Evergreen Equipment.

Dairy ambassador candidates include Anna Young, 15, daughter of Randy and Delores Young, Pierz. She is in the 9th grade at Pierz Healy High and is a member of the FFA. Anna’s favorite dairy product is ice cream and her sponsors are Crow Wing County Farm Bureau, Sunrise Ag and Woitalla Service.

Alyson Koering, 15, daughter of Gerald and Melissa Koering, Fort Ripley. Alyson is in the 9th grade at Brainerd South Campus. She plays the clarinet and is a member of the FFA. Her favorite dairy products are yogurt and ice cream. Alyson’s sponsors are Athman Dairy, Little Caeser’s Pizza, Centrasota and Wally Thesing Casino Tours.

Raychel Raddatz, 15, daughter of Lindsey and Melissa Raddatz, Brainerd, is in the 9th grade at Brainerd South Campus. She is in the band, choir, high school bowling, FFA and 4-H. Raychel’s favorite dairy product is chocolate milk and her sponsors are Al Olson Express, Crow Wing Power, Farmers and Merchants State Bank and Northland Drilling.

Josh Studniski, 15, son of Rick and Gretchen Studniski, Fort Ripley, is in the 10th grade and is home schooled. Josh is in 4-H and FFA and his favorite dairy products are milk and ice cream. His sponsors are Bremer Bank, Long Prairie Packing, Ag Star, and the Pierz Coop.

The dairy princesses and ambassadors promote the dairy industry and agriculture by visiting schools and nursing homes, helping with farm tours, exhibiting at the county fair, participating in parades, and educating their friends about the benefits of dairy products. The senior princess will have the opportunity to compete for the title of Princess Kay of the Milky Way.