Her head was in butter

By Lisa Kaczke | The Daily Journal

Published 12:00 p.m., April 24, 2009

Twenty years after being crowned Princess Kay of the Milky Way, Katie Scott Johnson continues to find the experience rewarding.

Johnson was able to share the message of the dairy industry with Fergus Falls High School students as they interviewed her for the play, My Head in Butter: A Celebration of 150 Years of Minnesota History. Johnson said she’s proud of the students and is excited to see the performance this weekend.

Johnson grew up on a dairy farm southwest of Battle Lake, 8 miles away from where her current residence stands in Underwood. The farm is now owned by her brother and his family.

Living on a dairy farm was hard work, but it taught her invaluable lessons, she said. As a small farming family, everyone had to pitch in and help.

“The cows just have to be milked,” she said. Her first job was a milk carrier, where she had to dump milk into a bucket, which then goes into a bulk tank and through a strainer, she said, adding that it dates her since the milk now goes into a pipeline.

She said she particularly liked working with the animals on the farm.

Her father paid her based on a percentage of the milk check he received. The milk check was based on market prices, which meant she learned what it meant to have a income that fluctuated, she said.

Becoming Princess Kay is a dream for many little girls growing up on a dairy farm, she said.

Princess Kay acts as a goodwill ambassador for the dairy industry, according to the Midwest Dairy Association (MDA). The requirements to become the princess include being the daughter of a dairy farmer, an employee on a diary farm or a daughter of a dairy farm employee, and being between the ages of 18 and 24.

“The program gives many young women the opportunity to represent the lifestyle in which they were raised,” according to the MDA.

Becoming Princess Kay in 1989 was Johnson’s second attempt at winning the crown. Those who don’t make it past the regional competition can compete again in following years.

On the night of the coronation, Johnson said excitement was in the air. Being crowned Princess Kay was an “amazing experience,” Johnson said, adding that she can’t put words to the experience.

The coronation was a “humbling honor,” she said. Growing up on the dairy farm, her family had built a camaraderie with other dairy farming families. As Princess Kay, she wasn’t only representing her father, but all dairy farmers, she said.

Before it had even sunk in that she had won, she was up at 5 a.m. for interviews with local media and the rest of the day was spent sitting in a cooler while her head was carved into a 90-pound block of butter.

Her butter likeness was kept in a storage cooler for several years until she donated it to a local church for a pancake feed, she said, adding that’s fun to hear what the princesses have done with their sculptures.

Sitting inside the cooler was cold and she was given breaks throughout the day when she could go outside to warm up, she said. Once the carving by artist Linda Christensen was complete, Johnson estimated her butter likeness weighed about 75 pounds, although she joked most of it was hair since it was the ‘80s.

That day kicked off a whirlwind year of making an impact for the dairy industry. She spent the year speaking to classes and organizations about the dairy industry, she said. She also spoke to groups within the dairy industry. She was in several parades and judged the milk carton boat race.

Being Princess Kay also taught the 19-year-old Johnson life lessons. It prepared her for real life situations because she had to work even when she was tired, she said. It also helped her as she was entering the job market.

The road to becoming Princess Kay began by competing at the county level. From there, she advanced to the regional competition.

Winning the regional competition, she went onto competing against 11 other girls in the “rigorous” state competition, she said. The competition was held a few days before the start of the state fair.

It included a mock interview with a Twin Cities media personality, giving a presentation on the nutrition and production of milk and being interviewed and speaking on a topic before the judges, she said. She also had to eat with the judges, which was nerve-racking.

She was mostly questioned on her knowledge of dairy nutrition and facts and how well she would be able to communicate that knowledge to dairy consumers, she said. She was also judged on her general poise, confidence and friendliness.

Retiring as Princess Kay was emotional for Johnson. While she was exhausted and ready to have her life back, she found it hard to give up the title because it was “a magical and special time,” she said.

Retiring meant she joined the group of past princesses, who reunite at the state fair on the night of the coronation to welcome the retiring Princess Kay to their ranks.

The princesses keep in touch through a newsletter and reunions. A larger reunion was held in 1994 for the 50th anniversary of Princess Kay, she said.

Although their reigns are over, they remain advocates for the dairy industry.

“Once a princess, always a princess,” Johnson said.

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