SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Ytsje Andringa, an 18-year-old Great Plains Lutheran High School senior from Clear Lake, was crowned South Dakota Dairy Princess during the opening of the Central Plains Dairy Expo March 26 in Sioux Falls. Andringa is the 64th woman to hold the title representing South Dakota’s dairy farm families.
Andringa is the daughter of Sietse and Aafke Andringa. She has lived on her family’s dairy farm her entire life. She lived in Canada until her family moved to Clear Lake when she was two. They started milking with 90 cows and were up to 150 cows when they moved to South Dakota. They currently milk 1,800 cows at two different facilities. Andringa is active in public speaking through speech class, FFA and other youth groups. Andringa plans to attend Lake Area Technical Institute majoring in nursing.
The new princess will spend the next year helping to share the story of dairy farming and dairy’s role in healthy diets with people across the state.
Named runner-up was Kendra Schweer,18, daughter of Richard and Michelle Schweer of Milbank. Schweer is a senior at Milbank High School and plans to attend Lake Area Technical Institute majoring in agriculture precision technology.
Andringa receives a $1,000 scholarship from Midwest Dairy’s South Dakota Division, which sponsors the dairy princess program, while Schweer receives a $500 award from Central Plains Dairy Expo.
The South Dakota Dairy Princess is selected based on her general dairy knowledge and enthusiasm for the industry, communications skills and ability to reach consumer audiences.
Editor’s Note: Ystje Andringa will be available for interviews in the Midwest Dairy-sponsored Media Center March 27, 10:30 a.m -12:00 p.m. The Media Center is located in room 11 across from Ballroom A in the convention center. For this and other interview opportunities, please contact Stephanie Cundith at scundith@midwestdairy.com or 913-904-8328.