Kristin OlsonMedia Relations ManagerWorld Dairy ExpoMadison, Wisconsin
Agricultural background
Agriculture has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I grew up with my family’s small show herd, Crestbrooke Holsteins and Jerseys, in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and spent a lot of time in the show ring – exhibiting cattle at local, state and even international levels, including World Dairy Expo.
Growing up, I was very involved in 4-H, FFA and Junior Holstein activities; those experiences led me to continue my education at UW – Madison’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, where I was very involved in organizations such as the Association of Women in Agriculture, Badger Dairy Club, National Agri-Marketing Association and a member of the collegiate dairy judging team.
Education
I graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Madison in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in life sciences communication, dairy emphasis.
What are your new responsibilities?
As media relations manager for World Dairy Expo, some of my responsibilities include managing media and public relationships for World Dairy Expo and the Dane County Fair, coordinating advertising placement and design, managing official event and show ring photographer relationships, and coordinating sponsorship procurement and relationships for the Dane County Fair.
Who has made the biggest impact on your career?
Although I’ve had a lot of key influencers in my short career – from co-workers to friends and industry people – I know I wouldn’t be where I’m at today without the strong guidance and support of my parents, Tim and Barb Natzke.
They instilled in me the importance of hard work, teamwork, humility and that – with perseverance – you can accomplish anything, no matter what obstacles life throws your way.
How will you be of most help to producers?
I hope I can help to share the message of World Dairy Expo with audiences of all ages and backgrounds and lead them to perceive World Dairy Expo as the must-attend event for everyone in the dairy industry.
Why did you choose this company?
World Dairy Expo has always been one of my favorite events of the year. My passion for the event and the dairy community, combined with my professional experiences working in public relations, is what led me to the position.
What goals would you like to achieve in the new position?
I’m excited to be part of such a dynamic team, and I hope to utilize my previous World Dairy Expo experiences to positively contribute to future shows, creating a happy experience for attendees and exhibitors alike.
I also would love to continue growing and developing outstanding relationships with our media friends in order to greater amplify World Dairy Expo’s message around the world.
What previous positions have you held?
After graduating from college, I worked as the dairy advertising coordinator for Accelerated Genetics and went on to serve the state of Wisconsin as the 66th Alice in Dairyland. Most recently, I worked as an independent consultant for my own business, KnockOut Communications. PD
