MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

Cows, kids and calves - it's a magical combination.  Just ask Clark County Dairy Producer, Pam Selz-Pralle.  She's one of Wisconsin's participants in the annual Adopt-A-Cow campaign that pairs school children nationwide with a newborn dairy calf on an actual farm. Listen in as Selz-Pralle explains the lessons the program offers to school teachers free of charge.  The passion kids have to "see thei...

Alan Kohn tells the story of his family’s century farm in Green Lake County.  In 1899, his great grandfather bought the farm. They raised dairy cattle and horses. As Alan became involved on the farm growing up they added sheep, pigs, and chickens. There is still a horse bit hanging in the barn over a hundred years later. Today Alan milks cows at his sister's farm. He lives on the original farmstea...

At the Wisconsin State Fair, you can experience all that Wisconsin wine has to offer without driving across the entire state. Jessica Bell is the executive director of the Wisconsin Winery Association, a position she took on at the start of the year. And for the first two weeks of August, Jessica is dedicated to the Wisconsin Wine Garden at State Fair Park in West Allis. She welcomes you to talk t...

We are sharing family farm stories from across Wisconsin that are celebrating 100 or 150 years of farming on the same land. These farms are recognized during the Wisconsin State Fair. One family is coming from Price County. For Joe Van De Voort’s family farm, the cows left in the 1980s, but he brought them back in the 2000s. Joe is the fourth generation on the 80-acre Centennial farm. And in order...

Bernard Wellnitz tells the story of his family’s century farm in Rock County.  In 1923, the original farmstead of 168 acres was purchased. They raised dairy cattle, crossbred pigs, chickens, and grew tobacco. Over the years the farm was impacted heavily by ice storms and lost power for 6 days and they were also snowed in for 5 days. Bernard now owns the farm and rents it out. The family will be ho...

The cream puff is a staple at the Wisconsin State Fair. It has been served at the State Fair for 99 years. Colton Grebe and his family run the Cream Puff Pavilion at the State Fair. He shares what goes into making a cream puff, the history of this delicious snack, and how many cream puffs are sold every year at the Fair.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Wisconsin State Fair is just around the corner and attendees can expect some exciting new attractions, as well as traditional favorites. The fairgrounds are set to welcome visitors from all over and there are plenty of ways to save on admission. Jen Puente, Chief Marketing Officer for the Wisconsin State Fair Park, is excited to announce that the fair will feature 105 new food items this year....

When you walk through the gates of Wisconsin State Fair, you have countless options to eat and drink around the park. You also have the chance to make your dollar go a little further by supporting the Wisconsin State Fair Park Foundation. Executive Director Anna Zeck says there are a couple new elements this year to what the foundation has to offer for both kids and adults. It starts at the Milk H...

Mustard plays well with Wisconsin bratwursts, but it's also going to pair with ice cream and grilled cheese at the National Mustard Day Celebration. The festivities will be at the National Mustard Museum in Middleton on Aug. 5. Founder and curator Barry Levenson says the museum boasts more than 6,600 types, styles and flavors of mustard from different continents and time periods. While Wisconsin i...

Imagine agriculture being so popular that classrooms have to turn kids away because there’s just not enough space. Well that happened at Bay Port High School which has been expanding its ag programs and still sees incredible demand from an almost entirely nonfarm population.  Quick hits in Wisconsin news today: Thanks to a DBIA grant, Landmark Creamery is moving into its own plant this year after...

Cranes are one of the largest species of birds in the world. In Wisconsin, it is hard to miss the unmistakable sounds of a Sandhill or Whopping crane call and their large shape gliding overhead when in flight. The International Crane Foundation was founded in Baraboo 50 years ago to conserve cranes and protect the habitats they call home. Anne Lacy, the Director of Eastern Flyway Programs in North...

Sherry Nelson's family farm in Richland County has been in dairy production for more than 100 years. And it's seen a lot of changes from milking by hand to a pipeline system. The family is working on a succession plan to continue the dairy farming in the fifth generation. The sixth generation is already showing great interest and is a big help in the farm's operations. Sherry says that a positive...

Funnel cakes, mini donuts, and deep fried oreos. These are just a few of the popular fair food items eaten by many throughout the summer months. While they may be delicious to enjoy, they do take a lot of work to prepare. James Malmquist, owner and operator of Keys Koncessions says they prepare thousands of these food items for each event they go to. However the pandemic put a wrench in this busin...

A 5-course meal, drink pairings, ingredients that come from farms down the road… all in the beautiful setting of a Wisconsin dairy farm… if that sounds like a perfect evening for you, then mark your calendar for Aug. 18! Hinchley’s Dairy Farm in Cambridge is hosting the ninth annual Wisconsin Farm to Table Dinner. Tickets are on sale now at wifarmtotable.com . Proceeds go to the host family's char...

Ron Jakubisin is the Washington County 4-H Educator. He is new to the role since February of this year- but working with youth is nothing new to him. He says 4-H is a great learning opportunity for youth to grow personally and professionally and he’s excited to help give youth that opportunity. He explains how Washington county 4-H membership is doing and his goals for the future.  See omnystudio....

The Washington County Fair is happening now through Sunday July 30 at the Washington County Fair Park and Conference Center in West Bend. They have a schedule jam packed with fun from concerts to animal shows and everything in between. While these are all exciting they don’t just come together over night. Kellie Boone,  Washington County Fair Executive Director explains how she began being involve...

In the past year, more than a dozen new meat processors have opened in Wisconsin. One of these processors is Paulie’s Chop Shoppe in Luxemburg. Owner Paul Wery says the state meat processing grants helped him get off the ground. Despite some of the challenges regarding labor and keeping up with regulations, he's is excited to continue moving forward and expanding the business.  See omnystudio.com/...

The effects of the current drought are widespread, being felt across the state of Wisconsin. In early June, the UW Extension held a drought seminar to share resources with concerned farmers. Now that the impacts of the drought are more severe, they will be holding another virtual seminar Friday July 28th from 10-11:30. Natasha Paris with the UW Extension shares what she has been hearing from farme...

Foreign buyers are seeking out Wisconsin lumber. And the state is helping connect the dots between overseas markets and local manufacturers. The Department of Ag, Trade and Consumer Protection recently hosted international buyers on a trade tour. Krueger Lumber Company near Chilton was one of the stops along the way. Vice President Larry Krueger says the trade mission was successful in getting the...

International visitors from India, Mexico, Taiwan and Thailand came to Wisconsin looking for timber and lumber.  The trade mission was hosted by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection using some available funding from the state ag export grant program. MacDonald & Owen Lumber based in Luck, was one of their hosts.  Stephanie Hoff visits with their CEO,  Clint We...

The carnival industry took a hit just like many others during the pandemic but things are on the uphill. That’s according to Ronald Kedrowicz, owner of Rainbow Valley Rides.  “The pandemic was very stressful and challenging as we weren’t sure if we were going to have a season or not,” says Kedrowicz. “Initially, we were told that some safety changes would be made, but as time passed, a number of e...

The Washington County Fair is happening now through Sunday July 30 at the Washington County Fair Park and Conference Center in West Bend. From exciting rides and entertainment acts to the food and the animals there is something for everyone. One stop to put on your list to visit with your kids is the Ag-Adventureland. Beth Remmel, coordinator of Ag-Adventureland says this is an educational awarene...

The Farm Bill is slowly coming together in Washington, D.C.  Bob Bosold visits with Joe Bragger from Independence about his recent visit to the nation's capitol to make sure elected officials are connected with the real issues farmers need help with. We may still be a few weeks away from the beginning of school, but programs are still being evaluated and updated.  Stephanie Hoff visits with WI Sec...

For most of us, bugs are considered pests.  For one farm in Wisconsin, they're considered profits!  Meet Kevin Bachhuber of Deforest.  He's a professional cricket farmer, and actually consults with other insect providers across the country.  While most of his "crop" goes to feeding reptiles and birds, he's finding an increasing audience of human consumers that are interested in bugs.  Stephanie Ho...

Proper handling techniques are crucial when it comes to working with cattle. Yelling and screaming at the animals is not an effective way to get the job done. Instead, it's important to learn how to work with the cattle and understand how they react to different situations. This is where experience comes in handy. Dick Hauser of Neptune Enterprises is one expert when it comes to cattle handling. ...