Rebekka Paskewitz, of Todd County, named 2018 Princess Kay of the Milky Way

A 20-year-old student from Browerville, Minnesota became part of one of Minnesota’s great State Fair traditions Wednesday as Rebekka Paskewitz was named Princess Kay of the Milky Way.

Representing Todd County, Paskewitz became the 65th recipient of the award.

As is tradition, Paskewitz will be the official goodwill ambassador for nearly 3,000 Minnesota dairy farm families. Throughout her yearlong reign as Princess Kay, Paskewitz will make public appearances statewide.

Her first official duty will be to sit in a rotating cooler in the Dairy Building for nearly six hours to have her likeness sculpted in a 90-pound block of butter Thursday. Sculptor Linda Christensen will do the honors for the 47th year.

Paskewitz is the daughter of Alan and Vicki Paskewitz and she attends South Dakota State University where she is pursuing a degree in agricultural education.

Finishing as runners up were Blaize Dankers, of Plainview and Korissa Lindquist, of Kerkhoven.

Katherine Gathje, of Richmond; Ashley Maus, of Freeport; and Julia Mullenbach, of Rose Creek were awarded scholarships at the annual ceremony.