Milk Queen
Milk Queen (often called Dairy Princess or Milk Princess) is the title awarded to the winner of regularly-organized competitions by Dairy Associations in many countries.
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Idea
The Milk Queen, from a marketing point of view, is a brand or product testimonial. Similar to Apple-, Asparagus-, Beer-, Corn-, Must-, Potato- or Wine Queens[1] she promotes a certain food group. Normally elected for a region, she represents dairy products from this region. The purpose of the Milk Queen is to inform the public of the many benefits of consuming dairy products on a daily basis. Promotion activities may include appearances at trade shows or consumer events, primary schools and press conferences.
As a condition, it is expected that Milk Queen candidates will be charming with strong self-esteem, and a basic knowledge about dairy production. Remuneration or financial award is not usually granted to the Queen, but expenses for business traveling and clothing are reimbursed. Some organizers give out prizes to winners, like travels.
United States
Norma Garrett of Harvard was elected the 1st Harvard Milk Day Queen in 1945.[2] In most other U.S. states elected representatives are called Dairy Princess. They normally are elected from all related County Dairy Princesses, as e.g. the 1954 established Princess Kay of the Milky Way is the winner of the statewide Minnesota Dairy Princess Program with around 100 participants.[3] Other State Dairy Princesses are the Indiana Dairy Princess,[4] the Maryland Dairy Princess,[5] the New York Dairy Princess,[6] the North Dakota Dairy Princess,[7] the Pennsylvania State Dairy Princess,[8] the Nebraska State Dairy Princess[9] (reigning Princess Marta Pulfer[10]), or the Virginia Dairy Princess.
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Europe
In Germany and Austria several Milk Queens (Milchkönigin) are elected by state dairy associations. Since 1985 the Bavarian Dairy Industry (Landesvereinigung der Bayerischen Milchwirtschaft) elects bi-yearly a Queen and a Princess. State Associations in Brandenburg,[11] Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate,[12] Saxony[13] and Thuringia[14] elect Milk Queens too.
Lower Austria's Katrin I. is the newest Milk Queen in German-speaking countries. She was elected in 2012.[15] In Poland in 2013 the election of a Polish Milk Queen (Polska Królowa Mleka) was initiated for the first time.[16]
South America
In Argentina at several events a Queen of Milk (La Reina de la Leche) gets elected. Different than in other countries, this election is a beauty contest only.
References
- Royal Germany – meet the Highnesses, 2011-01-22, German Academic Exchange Service - DAAD (Retrieved 2013-07-15)
- The History of Milk Days, milkdays.com (Retrieved 2013-07-15)
- Carla Baranauckas, Minnesota State Fair Journal; A Dairy Queen, Oops, Princess, in All Her Buttery Glory, 2005-08-27, The New York Times (Retrieved 2013-06-25)
- Report Archived 2013-11-18 at the Wayback Machine, American Dairy Association (Retrieved 2013-06-25)
- Wiles named Maryland Dairy Princess Archived 2013-03-19 at the Wayback Machine, Holsteinworld.com (Retrieved 2013-06-25)
- New York Dairy Princess is crowned in Salina 2009-02-18, Syracuse.com, The Post - Standard (Retrieved 2013-06-25)
- Bohnenkamp Named N.D. Dairy Princess vom 24. Juli 2008 bei wdexpo.org (Retrieved 2013-06-25)
- Kapanick Crowned 2008 Pa. State Dairy Princess, September 2008, wdexpo.org (Retrieved 2013-06-25)
- "Nebraska Dairy Princess - Midwest Dairy Association". Midwest Dairy Association. Retrieved 2018-01-18.
- "New Nebraska Dairy Princess Crowned in Columbus - Midwest Dairy Association". Midwest Dairy Association. 2017-02-21. Retrieved 2018-01-18.
- Website Archived 2013-07-10 at the Wayback Machine, Brandenburger Agrarministerium, in German (Retrieved 2013-07-16)
- Website, Milchwirtschaftliche Arbeitsgemeinschaft Rheinland-Pfalz e.V., in German (Retrieved 2013-07-16)
- Neue Landwirtschaft, Deutscher Landwirtschaftsverlag, 18th edition, Berlin-Pankow 2007, p 35, in German
- Website, Landesvereinigung Thüringer Milch e.V., in German (Retrieved 2013-07-16)
- The 12th World Milk Day, 1 June 2012 (Retrieved 2013-07-16)
- Website, Królowa Mleka, in Polish (Retrieved 2013-07-15)
External links
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- Film about the election of the Bavarian Milk Queen 2013, 2013-05-14, Deutsche Welle (Retrieved 2013-07-15)