The 2013 Mower County Dairy royalty poses for a photo: front from left are Milkmaids Gloria Hansen and Rachel Heller; back from left are Ambassadors McKinzie Smith and Maetzen Cruz-Reyes; Princess Nicole Jax; Ambassadors Sarina Gronseth and Christine Vrieze. Photo provided

The torch has been passed to newest lineup of dairy royalty in Mower County.

Nicole Jax was crowned 2013 Mower County Dairy Princess at the 60th annual Dairy Princess Banquet Friday at the Sacred Heart Auditorium in Adams.

The newly crowned princess, Jax, is the daughter of Doug and Becky Jax of Waltham. She is majoring in dairy manufacturing at South Dakota State University and is employed on campus at the dairy manufacturing plant and also works part-time for her Uncle, John Jax, on his dairy farm near Austin.

About 230 people attended the annual banquet, which began with a dairy social hour allowing guests to meet the current dairy royalty as well as the 2013 candidates, and this year’s special guest, Princess Kay of the Milky Way Christine Reitsma of Sauk Centre.

Calli Smith, the 2012 Mower County Dairy Princess, spoke about her experiences as princess.

Four girls were named Mower County Dairy Ambassadors: Maetzen Cruz-Reyes, daughter of Rosario Cruz and Luisa Reyes of Taopi; Sarina Gronseth, daughter of Rande and Tami Gronseth of Sargeant; McKinzie Smith, daughter of Rick and Tracy Smith of Adams; and Christine Vrieze, daughter of Ron and Robin Vrieze of Racine.

Gloria Hansen and Rachel Heller were named 2013 Mower County Milkmaids. Hansen is the daughter of Corey and Kaye Hansen of Austin. Rachel Heller is the daughter of Steve and Becky Heller of Adams.

Jen Haugen, a registered dietician at Hy-Vee, received the Milk Pitcher award, which is presented someone who does an outstanding job of promoting dairy products. Along with Haugen promoting milk, cheese and yogurt as nutritional foods, Austin’s Hy-Vee won a national award for the Breakfast Blitz promotion that grew sales of milk by triple digits.

The Golden Butter Knife award, presented to a business that uses real dairy products, was given to Lake GEO Plaza and Pitstop Bar & Grill.

There are currently 33 dairy farms in Mower County and the county ranks 29th in Minnesota for milk production, according to the board.