Elyssa Robinson is a 2026 Dodge County Dairy princess. She is the youngest of four on her family’s sixth generation farm where they milk currently milk cows. She has grown up showing cattle since she was two-years old. Elyssa and her brother Josiah switch milkings morning and night and making sure all the animals have hay, grain, fresh water along with watching for any injuries.
Growing up her dad Shane gave chores to her and her brother to do taking care of the animals on the farm.
Elyssa states that the dairy industry is important to her because “I’ve seen the hard times and the good times in this industry along with working at a Livestock Auction I’ve seen the differences between the Beef Industry and Dairy Industry. Both work hard to produce and provide for the communities but many big and small don’t get rewarded or recognized, for their sacrifices and hard work to keep these farms thriving.”
Her future plans are still developing. Elyssa is currently working at a Livestock Auction along with on the farm and that’s where she wants be at this time.
Josie Sauder is a 2026 Dodge County Dairy princess. She lives and works on the family farm where they milk 600 registered Holsteins. She enjoys working on her family’s seventh generation dairy farm, where she grew up outside of Pine Island with her mom, dad and four sisters. She started milking cows when she was nine years old.
She has recently taken on the role of assistant Herdsman where her job requires keeping a close eye on all the cows, feeding calves, and bedding them. Josie also helps in the field as needed, and loves getting to work with family.
Outside the farm she is involved in 4-H and FFA and recently graduated from the UW River Falls Farm and industry Short Course. Her plans for the future are to stay on the farm.
“I’ve loved growing up on the farm and getting to help out wherever I could. I’ve been showing cattle since I was 3 and that’s what really grew my love for the dairy industry”, Josie says.
“My favorite part about being a dairy princess is getting to talk to people about the dairy industry and where their food comes some of the things we do as dairy princesses are being parades and class room visits. Between my cousins, my mom and sisters, we have had 11 dairy princesses in the family. I love that I get to carry on this family tradition in informing the public about dairy farming and what we do as farmers to take care of our cows and produce a nutritious product.”
