Welcome to Marathon County!
As proud hosts of the 79th Alice in Dairyland Finals, we invite you to Marathon County—where agriculture is more than an industry; it’s a way of life. Located in the heart of central Wisconsin, our county showcases a diverse range of commodities, from ginseng and vodka to cheese and Christmas trees.
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Join us in celebrating Wisconsin’s agricultural heritage as we select the next Alice in Dairyland, who will serve as a statewide ambassador for our farmers and producers. Whether you’re a visitor or a local resident, we welcome you to discover all that Marathon County has to offer.
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We are excited to invite you to celebrate Marathon County at the showcase and for the finale, culminating with the crowning of the 79th Alice in Dairyland.
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Marathon County is home to 2,059 farms and over 477,000 acres of productive farmland. Thanks to rich soils, reliable rainfall, strong local ag support, and easy access to markets, our region is an ideal place to grow and flourish.
Marathon County’s landscape was first formed by volcanic activity and mountain-building over a billion years ago. Glaciers later shaped the land, carving rolling hills, rivers, and leaving behind fertile soil. These rich glacial deposits make the region ideal for farming and contribute to the agricultural success we see here today.
Farmers in Marathon County blend time-honored practices like crop rotation with modern techniques such as precision farming and robotic milking. The county is especially known for dairy farming, ginseng production, and sustainable methods including cover cropping, reduced tillage, composting, and responsible manure management.
Marathon County’s rich agricultural history was shaped by Native American land use, European settlement, logging, and the evolution of dairy farming and specialty crops like ginseng. Early settlers focused on logging the area’s dense forests, yet as it declined, dairy farming took center stage. By the early 1900s, cheese factories and creameries helped establish the region’s dairy legacy. By mid-century, Marathon County earned the title of “Ginseng Capital of the World” as the crop prospered in the county’s fertile soil and climate.