BROOKINGS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) - A South Dakota State University junior is returning to Brookings with a new title to her name.

Malorie Thorson has been crowned the 72nd Princess Kay of the Milky Way at the 2025 Minnesota State Fair.

She will act as the official goodwill ambassador for the Minnesota dairy community for the next year.

Thorson, a dairy production student at SDSU, won the competition based on enthusiasm, communication skills and knowledge of the dairy industry.

Her first act as Princess was to sit in a rotating cooler in the fair’s dairy building and have her likeness sculpted in a 90-pound block of butter.

“We are proud to include Princess Kay of the Milky Way winner and finalist Lauren Steffl among our wonderful, hardworking students,” Londa Nwadike, David S. Thomps

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