Photo submitted to Times Observer Pictured is Madison Sleeman, the 2020-21 Warren County Dairy Princess.

Madison Sleeman’s time as Warren County Dairy Princess is coming to an end.

Sleeman’s turn at royalty came in an unprecedented time, with many bumps along the way, but she is glad she was there for it.

“We try our hardest to get out and promote the dairy industry and show people how much it means to us and how important it is,” she said.

Typically, that would mean visiting classrooms and other places where she could have the attention of young people. The challenges and restrictions posed by COVID-19 got in the way, but the value of the dairy industry was undiminished by the pandemic.

She had to carry on.

Sleeman wasn’t able to get out to her target audience as much as she would have liked, but she had plenty of work to do in finding ways to spread the message without being able to do so in person.

“I was very restricted on what I could do,” Sleeman said. “I got a lot of thinking outside of the box. I had to come up with a lot of new things.”

“We did a lot of social media and some Zooms with elementary class kids,” she said. “We went to day cares, we did some chicken barbecues and handed out goodies… ‘Powered by Milk.'”

“I tried to do something at least once a week,” she said.

Even her limited ability to do public engagements has contributed to her growth.

“I’ve gone from not being able to speak in front of more than 10 people to being able to speak in front of a lot,” Sleeman said. “There is a lot of public speaking.”

Her term comes to an end at the end of the month and, in the short term, Sleeman plans to pursue certification and licensing as an EMT, then a paramedic.

Some day, she plans to take over the family business.

“I am the fifth generation on my dad’s farm,” she said.

That’s a kind of prerequisite for being Dairy Princess.

“You have to come from a dairy background or have dairy knowledge,” Sleeman said. “You have to be related to someone in the dairy industry.”

The year was a long one, but her term went by quickly.

“If I had the chance, I would do it again,” Sleeman said.

She feels like she could have accomplished more and reached more people without the pandemic restrictions.

But, it is time for someone else to take over.

Veronica Ludwick of Lander was chosen to be the 2021-2022 Warren County Dairy Princess and will begin her term on June 1.

For those who would think about setting their sights on being a future Dairy Princess – or the honors for younger candidates: Dairy Maid, Dairy Miss, and Little Dairy Miss – Sleeman would encourage them.

“I would suggest it a lot,” she said. “It does open a lot of doors to a future.”