Fort Atkinson teen named 2017 Winneshiek County Dairy Princess

Dairy Princess Jessica Schmitt is shown with Little Miss Squirts Elora Schnitzler of Decorah and Hanna Vagts of Calmar and Little Mr. Herdsman Kade Meyer of Postivlle

Winneshiek County's 2017 Dairy Princess is Jessica Schmitt of Fort Atkinson.  Jessica, the daughter of Carl and Terry Schmitt of Fort Atkinson, was named over the weekend at the annual dairy banquet.

The Schmitts milk 50 Holstein dairy cows at their 300 acre farm near Ft. Atkinson.  Jessica also has her own herd of Guernseys, Ayrshires and Brown Swiss.  Jessica, a junior at Turkey Valley High School, plans to attend Iowa State University after graduation.
 
Elora Schnitzler of Decorah and Hanna Vagts of Calmar were named Little Miss Squirts, while Kade Meyer of Postivlle was named Little Mr. Herdsman.

The Winneshiek County Dairy Promoters also recognized Randy Buddenberg of Ossian as Pioneer dairy person; the Keith Forde family of Decorah for most improved dairy herd; Eric Rediske of Decorah as the Young Dairyman; Manuel Thomas of Calmar as Dairy Employee of the Year; Bob Timp of Timp Hooftrimming and Dan Timp of Timp Hoofcare for Distinguished Service; Decorah Fareway for Dairy Promoter of the Year and the Carl and Terry Schmitt family of Fort Atkinson as the Dairy Family of the Year.

The Dairy Promoters also awarded five scholarships--to Ashley Budde, Josie Buddenberg, Christopher Knutson, Shane Sexton and Elizabeth Smith.