The clock is quickly ticking down to the announcement of the 73rd Alice in Dairyland. 

Alice in Dairyland Finals are typically held by a host county in mid-May with the newly selected agriculture ambassador ready to begin her position in June. Covid-19 postponed plans to June 19-20 and pushed the selection to a virtual format.

The Mid-West Farm Report sat down with the top candidates after they were announced in March and will feature each leading up to the finale.

One of Erica Helmer's first exposure's to the Alice in Dairyland program was when she won the fourth-grade essay contest, earning her classroom a visit from Alice. 

"I was honored to go on stage and be recognized by Alice," Helmer remembered. "As a fourth-grader, you don't really know what's going on. It's like you're 15 minutes of fame, but that kind of always stuck with me. Seeing her as a role model as I grew older, and it is kind of weird to be in the seat of being a top candidate."

Her involvement in agriculture first stared on her family's 75-cow registered Holstein farm. Helmer expressed pride at being the seventh generation to live and work on the dairy. 

"In 1853, they built the barn, and it is still standing," Helmer said. "We still milk in that same barn, so it is cool to hold that legacy, and I think that legacy mirrors the Alice legacy."

She studied dairy science at UW-River Falls. Although she admitted her educational background is more focused on science than marketing, opportunities with the intercollegiate dairy judging team as well as 4-H and FFA helped her public speaking skills evolve. Helmer was chosen as the 2016 National FFA Dairy Production Placement Proficiency Winner. In intercollegiate judging, she led her team to top honors at World Dairy Expo in 2018. 

Today, Helmer works with Genetic Visions-ST and returns home to coach the Sheboygan Count 4-H Dairy Judging Team as well as help with the Plymouth Youth Athletic Association softball program. 

"I just love sharing my passion for agriculture and being able to tell agriculture's story," Helmer said. "95 percent of our dairy farms in Wisconsin are family-owned. It is so important to have the small-scale that we can have our consumers come out and visit firsthand and not be overwhelming in a kid's eyes or even a parent's eyes who was never exposed to that."

As a top candidate, Helmer looked forward to learning more about the diversity of Wisconsin agriculture from vegetables to cranberries and ginseng. 

Keep an eye on the Midwest Farm Report as we continue to feature each of the 73rd Alice in Dairyland Top Candidates.

The clock is quickly ticking down to the announcement of the 73rd Alice in Dairyland.&nbsp;
Alice in Dairyland Finals are typically held by a host county in mid-May with the newly selected agriculture ambassador ready to begin her position in June. Covid-19&nbsp;<a href="https://www.midwestfarmreport.com/2020/04/10/new-update-on-alice-in-dairyland-finale-details/">postponed plans</a>&nbsp;to June 19-20 and pushed the selection to a virtual format.
The Mid-West Farm Report sat down with the top candidates after they were<a href="https://www.midwestfarmreport.com/2020/03/14/73rd-alice-in-dairyland-top-candidates-announced/">&nbsp;announced</a>&nbsp;in March and will feature each leading up to the finale.
One of Erica Helmer's first exposure's to the Alice in Dairyland program was when she won the fourth-grade essay contest, earning her classroom a visit from Alice.&nbsp;
"I was honored to go on stage and be recognized by Alice," Helmer remembered. "As a fourth-grader, you don't really know what's going on. It's like you're 15 minutes of fame, but that kind of always stuck with me. Seeing her as a role model as I grew older, and it is kind of weird to be in the seat of being a top candidate."
Her involvement in agriculture first stared on her family's 75-cow registered Holstein farm. Helmer expressed pride at being the seventh generation to live and work on the dairy.&nbsp;
"In 1853, they built the barn, and it is still standing," Helmer said. "We still milk in that same barn, so it is cool to hold that legacy, and I think that legacy mirrors the Alice legacy." She studied dairy science at UW-River Falls. Although she admitted her educational background is more focused on science than marketing, opportunities with the intercollegiate dairy judging team as well as 4-H and FFA helped her public speaking skills evolve. Helmer was chosen as the 2016 National FFA Dairy Production Placement Proficiency Winner. In intercollegiate judging, she led her team to top honors at World Dairy Expo in 2018.&nbsp;
Today, Helmer works with Genetic Visions-ST and returns home to coach the Sheboygan Count 4-H Dairy Judging Team as well as help with the Plymouth Youth Athletic Association softball program.&nbsp;
"I just love sharing my passion for agriculture and being able to tell agriculture's story," Helmer said. "95 percent of our dairy farms in Wisconsin are family-owned. It is so important to have the small-scale that we can have our consumers come out and visit firsthand and not be overwhelming in a kid's eyes or even a parent's eyes who was never exposed to that."
As a top candidate, Helmer looked forward to learning more about the diversity of Wisconsin agriculture from vegetables to cranberries and ginseng.&nbsp;
Keep an eye on the Midwest Farm Report as we continue to feature each of the 73rd Alice in Dairyland Top Candidates.

Join Pam Jahnke for the latest farm news. Heard daily on WOZN 96.7 FM and 1670 AM in Madison Wisconsin from 5-6am. Also heard on affiliate stations all over Wisconsin.

Join Pam Jahnke for the latest farm news. Heard daily on WOZN 96.7 FM and 1670 AM in Madison Wisconsin from 5-6am. Also heard on affiliate stations all over Wisconsin.

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