SARONA – The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection has announced the top-six candidates to become the 76th Alice in Dairyland and Leader Land local Jackie Rosenbush of Sarona has made it this far.
Rosenbush started her own flock of sheep in 2012 alongside her sister and parents. Today, her flock has grown to 100 head of purebred sheep. Rosenbush is a student at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture education and will graduate this May with honors. She has been very involved in both 4-H and FFA, serving as a Wisconsin FFA state officer in 2020-2021. Recently, Rosenbush served as the 2022 Wisconsin Fairest of the Fairs, traveling around the state to promote the opportunities fairs provide and connect consumers with producers through agricultural education.
Over the next several weeks, the top-six candidates will prepare for the three-day Alice in Dairyland finals, scheduled for May 11-13, in Walworth County. The contestants will participate in agribusiness tours, media interviews, question-and-answer sessions and individual interviews with candidate presentations. The new Alice in Dairyland will be announced on May 13 with the new term beginning July 5. Taylor Schaefer, 75th Alice in Dairyland, had this to add, “One of these finalists will carry on the tradition of traveling the state to teach audiences of both urban and rural backgrounds about the importance of Wisconsin agriculture.”
The Inter-County Leader reached out to Rosenbush and she was very excited to be selected to the top-six contestants, saying, “Being involved in both 4-H and FFA throughout my childhood have instilled the ability to publicly speak and to advocate for the agricultural industry. Wisconsin’s rich history in production agriculture allows opportunities for youth to get involved in creating the products that make our state so unique. While involved in Washburn County 4-H, I attended a variety of different events that allowed me to speak on behalf of my experience in agriculture. As a positive advocate for Wisconsin agriculture, I was able to bridge the gap between rural and urban communities. Serving as a Wisconsin FFA state officer from 2020-2021 allowed me the opportunity to collaborate with others in order to elevate the next generation of agriculturalists. Both 4-H and FFA have positively impacted my ability to advocate for Wisconsin agriculture, and continue to do so for today’s youth. Wisconsin farmers produce nutritious food for consumers across the globe every day. Wisconsin ranks first in the nation in the production of ginseng, cranberries, cheese, snap beans and much more! As a top candidate for the position of the 76th Alice of Dairyland, I am excited to tell the inspiring story of Wisconsin’s hardworking producers and the diverse products that support America’s Dairyland.”
