Coudron is Princess Kay finalist

Milroy resident honored with butter portrait at State Fair

A Milroy native was in the spotlight at this year's Minnesota State Fair - as one of the dairy princesses who had their portraits carved from blocks of butter. Elizabeth Coudron, daughter of Ron and Jennifer Coudron of Milroy, was a finalist in the Princess Kay of the Milky Way program. She had her likeness carved in butter on Sunday.

A total of 10 finalists, all county dairy princesses from across Minnesota, competed for the title of Princess Kay of the Milky Way this year. Princess Kay candidates are judged on their general knowledge of the dairy industry, communication skills and enthusiasm for dairy, said Midwest Dairy, the association that sponsors the competition. Coudron represented Redwood County in this year's program.

The Princess Kay program is funded by dairy farmers through their promotion checkoff, Midwest Dairy said.

On Aug. 26, Jena Hanson of Owatonna was crowned as the 73rd Princess Kay of the Milky Way, in a ceremony at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. Isabella Schiffler, of Albany, and Jaiden Smith, of Melrose, were named runners-up. Hanson, Schiffler and Claudia Frenchick, of St. Martin, were named scholarship winners.

As a finalist in the Princess Kay competition, Coudron got to sit in a rotating cooler in the State Fair's dairy building, while Minnesota artist and butter sculptor Gerry Kulzer carved her portrait from a 90-pound block of butter. Each finalist's sculpture session was scheduled for a different day during the fair. Coudron's turn was on Sept. 6.

During the State Fair, Princess Kay finalists also made appearances near the butter sculpture booth in the dairy building.