Kaitlyn Riley is serving as the 71st Alice in Dairyland. As Wisconsin's agriculture ambassador, her goal is to educate audiences across Wisconsin about the $88 billion economic impact and importance of our state's diverse agriculture industry in our daily lives.
Riley, from Gays Mills, learned first-hand the passion and work ethic of Wisconsin farmers while growing up on her family's registered Jersey dairy farm. Wanting to share agriculture's story, she studied strategic communications and broadcast journalism at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In college, she held officer positions with the Association of Women in Agriculture and Badger Dairy Club. She also founded the university's first agricultural radio talk show, AgChat. After graduating with honors in May, 2014 Riley served as the 48th Wisconsin Fairest of the Fairs. Professionally, she worked as the farm news director at WPRE-WQPC Radio in Prairie du Chien and as a multimedia journalist with WQOW News 18 in Eau Claire.
Alice in Dairyland is a one-year, full-time public relations professional employed by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (WI DATCP). Each year, Alice in Dairyland travels more than 40,000 miles throughout the state, promoting Wisconsin agriculture to various audiences. Additionally, she conducts hundreds of media interviews, speeches and school presentations.
During a single year, Alice develops and delivers at least:
- 60 TV Interviews
- 150 Radio Interviews
- 1,000 social media posts
- 60 print articles
- 100 tailored speeches
During her year of service, Alice also provides educational programming, in conjunction with the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, to 10,000 4th graders.
For additional information on the Alice in Dairyland program or to schedule a media interview or presentation from Alice, contact us at:
(608) 224-5115
DATCPAlice@wisconsin.gov
