Sparks enjoys Guernsey Princess role

For Monticello native Ashlynn Sparks, the role of Iowa Guernsey Princess is more than just a title. It’s an opportunity for personal growth, as well as the chance to educate others about the dairy industry, something she has no shortage of passion for. 

Sparks learned she had been chosen as Guernsey Princess after undergoing multiple interviews and giving speeches to a panel of judges. The news that Ashlynn had won the competition was a huge excitement, as well as a major relief. 

“I was very excited, but I was also very nervous the entire time. You’re up there in front of around 200 people, so it’s very nerve-wracking. But then when I found out that I won, I was shocked,” she says of the process. 

Ashlynn was initially interested in being the Jones County Dairy Princess, something she’d wanted to do for several years. However, she changed her mind when she learned about the Iowa Guernsey Princess competition. She explained that since she raises Guernsey cows, she felt that the role might be a better fit for her, and that it would give her opportunities to represent and promote her breed. 

One of the things that Ashlynn says she enjoys most about being Guernsey Princess is the chance to meet and talk to new people. As Guernsey Princess, one of her duties is to help with the Iowa Guernsey tours in Epworth, Iowa, where tourists come from all over the world to see how an Iowa dairy farm operates. She has had the opportunity to meet people from Australia, Canada, and other countries as she’s been involved with the tours. This has also allowed her to work on improving her public speaking skills. 

“I’m not talkative, so that can be hard,” she says. 

In addition to the tours, Ashlynn also hands out ribbons to those showing animals at various fairs across Iowa. She also travels to dairy farms all over the state, where she is able to meet fellow dairy farmers and observe how their farms are run. 

As Guernsey Princess, one of Ashlynn’s biggest goals is to garner interest in the dairy industry from outsiders, particularly those in her own community who are not involved with or knowledgeable about raising cattle. She explains that she wants the public to be more aware of how much effort is put into producing the food that we eat, as well as how the consumption of products from local dairy farmers benefits the community as a whole. 

After her reign as Guernsey Princess has ended, Ashlynn plans to attend Kirkwood Community College, and eventually transfer to University of Northern Iowa.

She is interested in studying either social work or agriculture. However, no matter what she does, her background in the dairy industry will always remain a major influence in her life.