Two Central Minnesota Women Compete for Princess Kay of the Milky Way Wednesday Night

(KNSI) — Two central Minnesota dairy princesses are preparing to compete for the title of 70th Princess Kay of the Milky Way Wednesday night.

Megan Ratka (above left) of Cold Spring represents Stearns County, and Katherine Hills of Monticello (above right) will represent Wright County as they go up against eight other dairy princesses around the state for the crown. The titleholder serves as the goodwill ambassador for Minnesota’s dairy industry.

Ratka told KNSI News she was watching the announcement with her family and heard a candidate being announced that she thought was her. “It sounded like me. But you know, you don’t want to assume that it’s just sitting there and just like waiting, like, ‘okay, well, I’ll just wait until they say my name and make sure it’s me,’ because I was a little bit in disbelief. But it was very exciting hearing my name be called.”

Ratka grew up showing dairy cattle through the 4H lease program and got very involved in the dairy project through 4H and Future Farmers of America. “Working with the cattle, my love for cows has grown since my first 4H show calf Coco, up until the cows I’ve shown as recently as last year, which was my last year in 4H. They all just have their own personalities, and they’re unique to work with. And the bonds I’ve made with my show cows are just really special.”

She worked on a farm in the summer milking cows, the same farm from which she leased cows. Ratka and her siblings own nine dairy animals for show. Her favorite dairy food is yogurt.

Hills has been a three-time dairy princess in Wright County and says she has wanted to be a finalist for years. “I had been hoping that I would be named a finalist. But I didn’t know if I would actually get to be a finalist or not. And when I sat down and heard my name, for a second, it was disbelief. And I jumped up, and I hugged my mom. And I’m like, ‘oh, my gosh! Mom! I did it! I did it.’”

She says her confidence has grown thanks to those close to her.

“When I first started off as a dairy princess, I didn’t think that I had what it took to be a Princess Kay finalist. And several people really close to me said, ‘you could do this, and I think you would do really, really well.’ So that kind of planted the seed in my head.”

Hills’ grandpa owned a dairy farm; her mother and uncles grew up there. Her family still has the land where her love of cows grew. Her favorite dairy foods are cheese and ice cream.

Hills, Ratka and the eight others will have their likeness carved in butter during the State Fair.

The winner will be announced Wednesday night. Candidates are judged on their general dairy knowledge, communication skills and enthusiasm for promoting dairy. Finalists applied and then had to be interviewed, deliver a speech, and participate in a mock media interview.

Watch a live stream by clicking here.

___