Dairy pageant March 24

The Crow Wing County Dairy Banquet is scheduled March 24 at the Pierz Ballroom.

The event will include a dinner from 7-8 p.m., followed by a program, coronation and a dance. Tickets are available from the candidates or by calling Rosanne Caughey at 828-1998 or Sandy Foust at (320) 277-3897. Cost is $12 for adults and $8 for children ages 12 and under if purchased before March 18, $15 if purchased after.

Two candidates are vying for the position of Junior Dairy Princess and five are competing for Dairy Ambassadors.

Dairy princess candidates are:

Chelsey Hettver, 15, daughter of Tony and Cheryl Hettver, Brainerd. Chelsey is a ninth-grader at Brainerd High School, south campus, where she participates in band and basketball. Chelsey's favorite dairy product is milk. Her sponsors are Woitalla Service, Richard Carlson, DDS, Crow Wing County Farm Bureau and Athman Dairy.

Molli Koering, 15, is the daughter of Steve and Michelle Koering, Fort Ripley. She is a ninth-grader at Brainerd High School, south campus. Molli is a member of the FFA and 4-H. Her favorite dairy products are yogurt and cheese. Molli's sponsors are Pierz Coop, NFO, Form-A-Feed and Deerwood Bank.

Dairy ambassador candidates include:

Chad Edelman, 15, is the son of Loren and Kathy Edelman, Fort Ripley. He is a ninth-grader at Brainerd High School, south campus. Chad enjoys playing football and is a member of the FFA and 4-H. His favorite dairy products are milk, cheese and ice cream. Chad's sponsors are Senator Paul Koering, Pierz Fab, Northland Drilling and Associated Milk Producers, Inc.

Ashley Moe, 15, is the daughter of Vincent and Debbie Moe, Fort Ripley. She is a 10th-grader at Brainerd Senior High. Ashley is a member of the Brainerd FFA and Daggett Brook 4-H Club. Her favorite dairy product is milk. Ashley's sponsors are Pioneer Lake Mutual Insurance Company, Jerry Hayes, Evergreen Equipment and Al Olson Express.

Jennifer Koering, 13, is the daughter of Gerald and Melissa Koering, Fort Ripley. She is an eighth-grader at Forestview Middle School and a 4-H member. Jennifer's favorite dairy product is yogurt. Her sponsors are Centrasota, Central Minnesota Ethanol Coop, Brim Ag Consulting and CTC.

Greg Koering, 14, is the son of Steve and Micky Koering, Fort Ripley. He is an eighth-grader at Forestview Middle School. Greg's favorite dairy product is yogurt. His sponsors are Long Prairie Packing, Farm and Merchant State Bank, Crow Wing Power and Jerome Marshik.

Shantel Koering, 13, is the daughter of Gerald and Melissa Koering, Fort Ripley. She is an eighth-grader at Forestview Middle School. Shantel is involved in 4-H, band and choir. Her favorite dairy product is cheese. Shantel's sponsors are Wally Thesing Tours, Sunrise Ag, Steinbronn Dairy Equipment and Ag Star Financial Services.

The dairy princess and ambassadors will be judged on their communication skills, personality, enthusiasm for dairy promotion and general knowledge of the dairy industry. They will be called upon to promote the dairy industry throughout the year at different events, including June Dairy Month activities, nursing home and classroom visits, Fourth of July parades, farm tours and county fair events.