South Dakota's 57th State Dairy Princess will be crowned in Sioux Falls the evening of Wednesday, March 28. Six candidates are seeking the current title to replace Natalie Thyen, Waverly, who has served the dairy industry for the past year. A coronation banquet is scheduled at 6:30 p.m. at the Sioux Falls Convention Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, in conjunction with the Central Plains Dairy Expo and Convention. The six candidates are: Danielle Evers, Twin Brooks, daughter of Bryon and Jennifer Evers; Allison Gaikowski, Waubay, daughter of Bernie and Jill Gaikowski; Hiltien Landman, White, daughter of Rein and Boukje Landman; Christina Maher, Nunda, daughter of Philip and Rae Lynn Maher; Olivia Siglin, Webster, daughter of Kevin Siglin and Patty Siglin; and Melissa Zemlicka, Watertown, daughter of Daron and Valerie Zemlicka. The new princess receives a $1,000 scholarship from the Midwest Dairy Association. A $500 scholarship from the Central Plains Dairy Expo is awarded to the runner-up. Judging takes place just prior to the coronation, and takes into account the candidate's general dairy knowledge and enthusiasm for the industry, communications skills and ability to reach key consumer audiences. Candidates must come from a dairy farm, or be an employee or a daughter of an employee on a dairy farm. Throughout the year, the South Dakota Dairy Princess assists with promotion of dairy products, particularly with young children and on-farm events. The Dairy Princess program is sponsored by Midwest Dairy Association through the dairy checkoff. 3.21.2012