The 67th Alice in Dairyland Finalists, Part 3
Wednesday, April 2nd, 2014 -- 10:35 AM
-The 67th Alice in Dairyland Finalists were announced at Grassland Dairy Products Friday afternoon.Melissa Ploeckelman has connections with Clark County. She is the Colby Middle and High School Ag Teacher and FFA Advisor.
Melissa said, "I was born and raised on my parents dairy and hobby farm where I first started to learn about the diversity of this $59 billion agricultural industry. I went to school in River Falls, majoring in agricultural education and I came back to the area where I now teacher 7th-12th grade agriculture. It's been a passion of mine to be able to teach and share this message of agriculture. Even though I work in Colby, I am learning so much more about Clark County then I ever knew."
Whitney Rathke, of Fredonia, graduated from UW-Platteville with an agribusiness degree and animal science minor.
Whitney said, "I am from Fredonia, Wisconsin which is in Ozaukee County. I was born and raised on my family's beef farm. Very active in Ozaukee County 4-H and the Random Lake FFA. I knew from a young age that I wanted to have an active role in Wisconsin's $59 billion agricultural industry. I attended UW-Platteville and I was in Sigma Alpha, the sisters in agriculture sorority, as well as a teaching assistant at the School of Agriculture. I graduate in 2011 with my degree in agribusiness and animal science minor."
The finals are being held right here in Clark County May 15th-17th and the candidates will now prepare for the longest and most thorough job interview they may ever experience to become the next Alice. Kristen Olson, the current Alice in Diaryland, will share her experiences with the finalists as May draws near.
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