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East Troy's Sheri Nelson prepares for next week's Alice in Dairyland finals

Photo

Photo by Terry Mayer

Sheri Nelson of East Troy, founder of WaterDrops of Hope.

JANESVILLE — East Troy's Shari Nelson is one of six women who hope to be crowned Alice in Dairyland during the 63rd annual Alice in Dairyland competition next week in Janesville.

It will be the first time Rock County has hosted the annual event since 1993.

“The entire process has changed so much since then,” said Nicole Reese, a former Alice in Dairyland winner and co-chair for this year’s events being held May 20 through May 22. The winner will be picked May 22 at a finale event at the Pontiac Convention Center in Janesville.

Before the winner is crowned, an impromptu question-and-answer session and dinner will be held May 21 at the Beloit Ironworks building.

“It’s the first time the general public can really meet the finalists,” Reese said. “They’re really off-the-wall questions sometimes, so we really get to see how they answer without preparing for them.”

In the past, winners would often do baking and food demonstrations, but the position has changed with time and technology, Reese said.

“It’s really changed a lot to focus on her communication ability,” said Reese, an agriculture instructor and FFA adviser at Milton High School. “... Alice today is integrating more of our social media into what she does.”

2010 finalists

• Christa Behnke, Clintonville.

• Andrea Bloom, Loyal.

• Christine (Lepple) Lindner, Fall River.

• Sheri Nelson, East Troy.

• Katie Reichling, Darlington.

• Rochelle Ripp, Lodi.

Read the full story in the May 12, 2010 e-edition of The Janesville Messenger, HERE.