A 20-year-old college student from Wright County was crowned the 72nd Princess Kay of the Milky Way during a coronation ceremony Wednesday night, the eve of the 2025 Minnesota State Fair.
Malorie Thorson, a 20-year-old college student from Waverly, representing Wright County, was crowned the 72nd Princess Kay of the Milky Way on Aug. 20, 2025 at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. (Matt Addington / Midwest Dairy)
Malorie Thorson of Waverly, the daughter of Andrew and Colette Thorson, was crowned the 72nd Princess Kay of the Milky Way. She attends South Dakota State University in Brookings, South Dakota.
As the next Princess Kay of the Milky Way, Thorson will serve as the official goodwill ambassador for nearly 1,800 Minnesota dairy farm families. This includes helping connect consumers to dairy farm families through media interviews, classroom visits and public speaking events.
10 county dairy princesses from across Minnesota competed for the title at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. Princess Kay candidates are judged based on their knowledge of the dairy industry, communication skills, personality and enthusiasm.
Alexis Hoefs of New Prague, representing Le Sueur County, and April Klaphake of Sauk Centre, representing Stearns County, were selected as runners-up.
Hoefs, Natalie Clemenson of Zumbrota, representing Goodhue County, and Nicole Hauschildt of Zumbro Falls, representing Wabasha County, were named scholarship winners.
Lauren Steffl of Sleepy Eye, representing Brown County, was named Miss Congeniality.
Butter sculptures
Thorson’s first duty as Princess Kay will be to to sit in a rotating cooler in the Dairy Building and have her likeness carved in a 90-pound block of butter the first two days of the State Fair, which begins Thursday.
Minnesota artist and butter sculptor Gerry Kulzer will carve Princess Kay and the 2025 finalists.
The other finalists are scheduled to have their likenesses sculpted as follows:
Saturday, Aug. 23: Alexis Hoefs, New Prague, representing Le Sueur County
Sunday, Aug. 24: Lauren Steffl, Sleepy Eye, representing Brown County
Monday, Aug. 25: Paige Frenchick, Manannah, representing Meeker County
Tuesday, Aug. 26: Monica Evers, Kellogg, representing Wabasha County
Wednesday, Aug. 27: Natalie Clemenson, Zumbrota, representing Goodhue County
Thursday, Aug. 28: Heidi Montag, Sauk Rapids, representing Benton County
Friday, Aug. 29: Nicole Hauschildt, Zumbro Falls, representing Wabasha County
Saturday, Aug. 30: April Klaphake, Sauk Centre, representing Stearns County
Sunday, Aug. 31: Haylie Wielenberg, Long Prairie, representing Todd County
Princess Kay and the finalists will make appearances during the State Fair near the butter sculpture booth in the Dairy Building. Princess Kay’s Facebook page and Instagram will provide updates and photos of each completed butter sculpture.
The State Fair concludes on Labor Day, Sept. 1.
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