Meet Halei
77th Alice in Dairyland
As Wisconsin's 77th agriculture ambassador, Halei Heinzel’s goal is to educate audiences about the importance of Wisconsin’s diverse agriculture industry, how it impacts our daily lives, and the $104.8 billion economic impact it has on the state’s economy.
Heinzel is a recent graduate of the University of Wisconsin (UW) – Madison, where she earned her Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences Communication. Heinzel was active in her high school's FFA chapter. Before starting at UW-Madison, Heinzel graduated from the Farm and Industry Short Course program with certificates in Agribusiness Management and Dairy Farm Management.
Growing up in urban Oconomowoc, Heinzel felt disconnected from her food and the farmers who produced it. When she joined FFA, Heinzel got her first taste of Wisconsin agriculture, quite literally, when she milked a cow for the first time. Six years later, she has continued to seize opportunities to learn more about Wisconsin’s agriculture industry. While at UW-Madison, she was involved with student organizations such as Babcock House and Wisconsin Agriculture and Life Sciences Alumni Association, held internships with the Farm and Industry Short Course and Professional Dairy Producers, and worked with the Wisconsin State Fair Dairy Promotion Board.
“I am so excited and honored to be spending the next year serving as the 77th Alice in Dairyland, the official ambassador of Wisconsin's diverse and abundant agriculture industry," said Heinzel. “I am looking forward to connecting consumers with agriculture, sharing the impact of this vibrant industry, and sharing the stories of the hardworking individuals who dedicate their lives to agriculture every day."
Alice in Dairyland is a one-year, full-time public relations professional employed by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP). Each year, Alice in Dairyland travels more than 40,000 miles, promoting Wisconsin agriculture, as authorized by Wis. Stat. § § 93.07(3), 93.40(1)(e), and 93.44(1)). Alice in Dairyland conducts hundreds of media interviews, speeches, and school presentations in her position.