Three area young ladies vying for 2015 Allamakee County Dairy Princess crown at Saturday's banquet

Katie Kerndt is the 18-year-old daughter of Brad and Mary Kerndt of rural Waukon. She will be graduating in the spring of 2015 from Waukon High School.
Katie currently works at Kerndt Farms, owned by her grandmother, milking 60 head of registered Holsteins. Her main responsibilities on the farm include milking in a stanchion barn, doing miscellaneous chores around the farm, helping with field work, and, on occasion, feeding the calves. Although Katie has kept busy around the farm, she also managed to serve as a Junior Dairy Ambassador in Allamakee County for several years. Aside from working on the farm, Katie babysits, loads chickens for Welsh Organics and helps her local cow tester.
While currently in high school, Katie is active in Future Farmers of America (FFA), Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), 4-H, Allamakee Scholarship Fund, Student Council, Cross Age Teaching, volleyball and softball. Outside of school, Katie is involved in the Iowa Junior Holstein Association, where she received the District 1 Holstein Distinguished Junior Member award this past year.
Katie was inducted into the National Honor Society last year. She has received a varsity letter in both volleyball and softball, as well as an academic letter each of her semesters in high school maintaining the “A” Honor Roll.
In her free time, Katie enjoys spending time with family and friends. She enjoys listening to music, showing cattle at the Allamakee County Fair, tubing down the Upper Iowa River, water skiing, milking and altogether being outdoors. Katie also enjoys spending time on her family farm learning more about the operation and the cows.
Her plans after high school include attending Iowa State University in the fall of 2015 majoring in Animal Science, with hopes of attending the College of Veterinary Medicine. Her sponsor is Calhoun Creamery.

Seventeen-year-old Emily Miller is the daughter of Joel and Shawna Miller of rural Waukon. She will graduate in the spring of 2015 from Waukon High School.
Emily currently works on her family farm, where they milk 60 holsteins. She has been involved in dairy farming since she was able to walk. From milking cows to feeding calves, scraping out the barn, and even doing field work, it has always been something she’s enjoyed. Although Emily is busy helping on the farm, she also manages to work part-time at Hartig Drug in Waukon as well.
While in school, Emily is an active member of the Future Farmers of America (FFA). She has previously participated in events such as Dairy Cattle Judging and the Greenhand Quiz, where she placed ninth. When she isn’t working or in school, Emily loves to spend time with her family and friends. She loves to be outdoors, practice photography and play softball. She has also been involved in her church’s activities, such as Bible Camp, the cookie walk, reading during services, annual lock-in, and a variety of other activities.
Her plans after high school include attending Upper Iowa University in Fayette to study Human Services. Her sponsor is Foremost Farms.

Anna Weighner, age 18, is the daughter of Tom and Angela Weighner of rural Dorchester. She currently works at Weighner Brothers, the family farm where she milks cows, feeds calves and does other various chores around the farm. Weighner Brothers milks about 120 Holsteins. Anna also works at WW Homestead Dairy, a two-family owned creamery.
Anna is a senior at Waukon High School, where she participates in Future Farmers of America (FFA) and has earned her greenhand and chapter degrees in addition to being involved in the horse evaluation, food science and chapter display contests. She also has attended the National FFA Convention two years and the State FFA Convention three years. Anna has also participated in basketball and cross country during her high school career.
Outside of school, Anna participated in 4-H until she joined FFA. Anna has shown dairy cattle, horses and dogs at the Allamakee County Fair since the fourth grade and has also completed exhibits for photography, artwork and things to cook and bake. Other activities she enjoys outside of school include hunting, archery league at the Allamakee County Sportsman’s Club, fishing, camping and horseback riding whenever she gets the chance. Anna enjoys spending time and helping her sister with her two children. She also enjoys getting together with friends.
After graduating high school, Anna will be attending Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC), where she plans on studying Agronomy and Ag Finance. Her sponsor is WW Homestead Dairy.