Chippewa Falls Woman Selected at 73rd Alice in Dairyland
Monday, June 22nd, 2020 -- 8:58 AM
(Wisconsin Ag Connection) -A Chippewa County woman has been crowned as Wisconsin's 73rd Alice in Dairyland.Julia Nunes, 23, from Tilden was selected for the title Saturday night during a Facebook Live event from Walworth County. Nunes grew up on her family's registered Holstein dairy farm, where she was involved in the Junior Holstein Association and 4-H. She is a graduate of the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, where she earned a bachelor's degrees in Agricultural Communication & Marketing, and Animal Science, with minors in Agricultural & Food Business Management, and Horticulture. For the past year, Julia has been employed at Kinni Hemp Company in River Falls. Other finalists in the running during the competition were Rachel Gerbitz, Milton; Erica Helmer, Plymouth; Stephanie Hoff, Thorp; Kaitlin Konder, Glenwood City; and Grace Schroeder, Cashton. Serving as judges this year were Beth Schaefer, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin; Jackie Fett, Ginseng Board of Wisconsin; and Mark Rhoda-Reis, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture. Walworth County Fair Board President Bill Thompson served as the master of ceremonies. Meanwhile, this year's Alice, Abigail Martin, said the COVID-19 pandemic may have changed the way she did her job during the latter part of her year, but it didn't change her objective.
And before giving up her title, Abigail presented the 2020 Friend of Alice Award to Nodji Van Wychen of Wetherby Cranberry Company in Warrens. Julia officially begins her duties as Alice on July 6. Until then, Martin will continue to handle the program's responsibilities as her successor goes through a brief training process. Alice in Dairyland is a full-time public relations professional employed by the state's division of agricultural development. Each year, she travels more than 40,000 miles throughout the state, promoting Wisconsin products to audiences of all ages and types. Next year, the Alice in Dairyland finals returns to Walworth County for traditional in-person activities in May 2021. Dane County will hold the 75th annual competition in the Madison area a year later. And Dunn County is already in line as the 2023 host.
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