Hello, everyone! My name is Halei Heinzel, and I am excited and honored to begin my journey as the 77th Alice in Dairyland. I am looking forward to a great year ahead promoting Wisconsin agriculture and the hardworking people who make it all possible.

I am a native of Oconomowoc, Wis., and while I did not grow up in the agriculture industry, my passion for it runs deep. From a young age, I loved animals, often telling my parents that I was going to be a veterinarian, a zookeeper or a farmer when I grew up. This passion led me to join FFA in high school, where in 2018, I milked a cow for the first time. The next six years have been spent taking every opportunity I could find to get more involved in the agriculture industry.

My love for agriculture led me to the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, where I began pursuing a bachelor’s degree in dairy science and equine science with dreams of becoming a large-animal veterinarian.

However, when the pandemic shook up the world, I went to UW-Madison. After graduating from Farm and Industry Short Course in 2022, I decided to complete my bachelor’s degree in life sciences communication at UW-Madison. I graduated in May.

The summer before I started at UW-Madison, I had the incredible opportunity to work for the Wisconsin State Fair Dairy Promotion Board, caring for and milking the demonstration herd and educating fairgoers about our state’s impressive $45.6 billion dairy industry at Dairy Lane.

It was through this opportunity that I met Alice in Dairyland for the first time, witnessing how she connects with consumers and shares the impact of our agriculture industry. This experience is what inspired me to run for Alice in Dairyland.

Alongside my work for the Wisconsin State Fair, I continued my involvement in agriculture at UW-Madison, where I was involved in organizations like the Babcock House Student Cooperative, Science Communication Club and Polo Club. I served on the board of the Wisconsin Agricultural and Life Sciences Alumni Association. I also held internships with the FISC Program and Professional Dairy Producers, which helped me hone my skills in agriculture marketing and communications.

I am eager for the opportunity to continue exploring Wisconsin’s diverse and abundant agriculture industry as the 77th Alice in Dairyland.

From tours of farms and businesses to numerous county fairs and every event in between, I’m thrilled to have the chance to bridge the gap between producers and consumers, and to share more about the $104.8 billion agriculture industry here in our state. I look forward to seeing you all soon.

Heinzel is the 77th Alice in Dairyland.