My passion for the agriculture industry runs deep, and I am excited to bring that love for the industry to all that I do as Alice! Photo Credit: Halei Heinzel
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. You may have first seen me through blogs and videos as an Alice in Dairyland Top Candidate earlier this year, which were all part of an extensive interview process that concluded with a three-day finale event in Door County in early May.
I am originally from Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, 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 joining 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 and Equine Science with dreams of becoming a large animal veterinarian.
However, when the pandemic shook up the world, I had to rethink my plans, and I enrolled in the Farm and Industry Short Course (FISC) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Upon graduation from FISC in March 2022, I decided to complete my bachelor’s degree at UW-Madison, where I graduated in May 2024 with a degree in Life Sciences Communication.
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 in 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, serving on the board of the Wisconsin Agriculture and Life Sciences Alumni Association, Science Communication Club, and the Polo Club. I also held internships with the FISC Program and the 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 share more about the $104.8 agriculture industry here in our state. I look forward to seeing you all soon!
Alice in Dairyland can connect with consumers and share the impact of our agriculture industry! Photo Credit: Halei Heinzel
My Go-To Ice Cream Flavors (in no particular order!)
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
Blue Moon
Butter Pecan
But I’ll eat basically any flavor, so long as it’s served in a fresh, homemade waffle cone!
Comments