The wait is over for Oconomowoc’s Halei Heinzel, who was officially named the next Alice in Dairyland in front of a packed ballroom at Stone Harbor Resort in Sturgeon Bay Saturday night.

Henizel beat out Fox Lake’s Cierra Essock, Denmark’s Katrina Hoesley, Kewaunee’s Kiley Pagel, Kiel’s Lauren Siemers, and Big Bend’s Michaela King for the title after the three-day finals event that included stops at individual agricultural businesses Thursday and Friday, the Wisconsin Products Showcase on Friday night, and the last competition on Saturday night. The last few days have been a whirlwind, but the ending was a dream come true for Heinzel.

Saturday night marked the beginning of the end of the road for Ashley Hagenow’s term as the Alice in Dairyland. She says the experience has only deepened her appreciation for Wisconsin’s agriculture, including what she discovered during her multiple trips to Door County over the last year.

Hagenow will serve as Alice in Dairyland through the end of June, which is Dairy Month. Alice in Dairyland is a one-year, full-time public relations position with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) supported by several agriculturally minded organizations from around the state.

The finals also brought to Door County more than two dozen Alices to participate in some of the events around the 2024 Door County Alice in Dairyland Finals. Next year, Crawford County will host the annual event.

Picture courtesy of Kevin C. Ress