Local woman named 'Alice' finalist-Next month, Plymouth's Ashley Huibregtse will take her place among five other young women who hope to wear the Alice in Dairyland tiara and spread the good word of agriculture in all corners of the state.
For Huibregtse, 23, it will be the culmination of her interests, experiences, skills and even a little-girl wish.
"Ever since I was little, I've always seen Alice in Dairyland as a role model," said Huibregtse, who will graduate from University of Wisconsin-Madison in May with a degree in communications and elementary education. "I saw her as somebody very excited about agriculture, out in the public talking to people, very interactive. She was always so knowledgeable, somebody I wanted to be to future generations. I just wanted to be active in agriculture, and internships and jobs just led me in to be picked as a finalist."
It's not the first time the Huibregtse family has been through the grueling run-up to the Alice in Dairyland finals; older sister Abby was a finalist three years ago.
Tina Coleman, the dairy and livestock agent for 4-H, was the adviser for the dairy project Huibregtse participated in while in high school. She still keeps in touch with her former student and wasn't a bit surprised to see her throw her hat in the Alice in Dairyland ring.
"I think the world of Ashley," Coleman said. "She's an excellent public speaker and she knows how to market and promote agriculture and dairy."
During her years with 4-H, Huibregtse acted as a mentor to younger students, showing them the ropes at the state fair and encouraging them, Coleman said.
She also, along with three other members, organized educational workshops for younger members of the dairy project, handling up to 50 kids at a time.
"I've seen her go from a quiet individual when I first met her to a very energetic, outgoing, articulate individual," Coleman said. "I think she's be a great asset to Wisconsin as Alice in Dairyland."
Huibregtse said she is busy preparing for the three-day finals, which will be held May 14-16 in Sheboygan, as well as completing her student teaching and getting ready to graduate.
"It's a very busy semester," she said.
The three-day process includes interviews with media, interviews with judges, an impromptu question-and-answer session on stage in front of the audience and a speech promoting Wisconsin.
"From now till then, I'm learning more about Wisconsin agriculture so I'm knowledgeable," she said.
Huibregtse's mother, Debby Huibregtse, said she is already nervous for her daughter because she knows what's ahead.
"I'm obviously very tense and nervous," she said. "Waiting and hoping for the best. I know (Ashley) kind of had it in her mind ever since Abby did it, maybe even before."
She has no doubt, however, that her daughter will land on her feet regardless of what happens with Alice in Dairyland.
"She's always been a very go-getter," she said. "She's very ambitious, she helped at home and she did extra things at school and she managed to fit it all in, get it all done and do everything really, really well."
Alice in Dairyland is a salaried position with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. It's a yearlong commitment from June to June, during which Alice gets the use of a donated flex-fuel vehicle. She also receives a mink coat, which she will wear at appearances to highlight Wisconsin's mink industry, and an amethyst pendant. Amethyst, a stone native to Wisconsin, is also part of the tiara Alice in Dairyland wears.
Huibregtse, a former Sheboygan County Fairest of the Fair in 2005 and runner-up at the Wisconsin Fairest of the Fair, works on the staff of Wisconsin First Lady Jessica Doyle as an event planner, working on her educational initiatives and helping coordinate Doyle's travels around the state. Huibregtse also organized the annual Governor's Egg Hunt and served as a "Cowstodian" with the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board Cow Parade. She has participated in the Association of Women in Agriculture and in the Badger Dairy Club.
Huibregtse said she wants to be Alice in Dairyland because she believes in what Alice stands for.
"Alice in Dairyland is a spokesperson for farmers and people in the agriculture," she said. "She gives agriculture a positive face. (She tells) urban audiences, rural audiences, why our agriculture industry is Wisconsin is important. (I want to) tell as many people as I could who maybe don't understand where the food comes from, who don't understand ethanol and biodiesel. I want to use my background and education to teach people as much as I could."
No comments:
Post a Comment