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It’s a tradition that dates back to the 10th Alice in Dairyland- a visit with the legendary voice of agriculture, Orion Samuelson. Each holiday season, Alice makes the trip to Illinois to meet with Orion to share Something Special from Wisconsin™ holiday gift ideas with his national audience. Orion Samuelson is a Wisconsin native, born and raised on a small dairy farm in the small town of Ontario, near La Crosse. During the early years of his broadcasting career, he worked with WKLJ in Sparta, WHBY in Appleton, and WBAY in Green Bay before stepping into his role as Agri-Business Director at WGN radio in Chicago, a position he has now held for 54 years. During this time, he has become one of the most widely known agriculture broadcasters not only for his work in Chicago, but also for hosting the National Farm Report, his syndicated “Samuelson Sez” commentary programs, and This Week in Agribusiness as seen on RFD-TV. It was such an honor and a privilege to sit down with this agriculture icon and share stories both on and off air. We chatted about our upbringings on family farms in Wisconsin and I shared with him my future dreams to connect the gap between the food industry and the agriculture industry. Orion was eager to hear about my goals and encouraged me to take all the knowledge and experience I gain during my year as Alice and utilize it to promote our agriculture industry. He also left me with a signed copy of his book “You Can’t Dream Big Enough” that I can’t wait to read over the holidays. On air I shared products from Orion’s home state that are “Something Special from Wisconsin.™” From sharing our love for Wisconsin cheese to even sharing unique gifts like wine and bird seed, we spent a lot of time talking about our love for America’s Dairyland. Orion had so many interesting stories to share including meeting with U.S. Senator John F. Kennedy to discuss the dairy industry to even meeting Marshal Matt Dillion, Doc and Kitty from the hit television Western drama series. It was a unique opportunity to take the message of Wisconsin agriculture beyond our state borders and share its diversity and importance on a national level. Meeting with Orion has definitely been a highlight of my year as Alice in Dairyland and is a memory I will cherish far into the future. You can catch Orion Samuelson on "This Week in Agribusiness" and on-air during his Farm Report on WGN radio.

Oftentimes people ask me what my favorite part of my job as Alice in Dairyland is. My answer is always the same: meeting incredible people who love Wisconsin agriculture just as much as I do. After this year I know that I will be able to walk away with many new friends. Recently I visited Four T Acres and the Gruenert family. I met Jean and Richard Gruenert at the 2017 Farm Technology Days. Our friendship started when I asked to interview them about their Scottish Highlands. We shared a lot of laughs and stayed in touch throughout the last few months. Finally, I was able to visit them at their farm in Burlington, Wisconsin. I've always had a special place in my heart for these shaggy cows. In 2003, Four T Acres introduced nine animals to their land and fell in love with this gentle, docile and very manageable breed. Today they now own close to 80 purebred Scottish Highlands. They show at the local, state and national level. Touring their farm was an incredible experience. Their cattle live on beautiful pastureland on the edges of Racine, Kenosha and Walworth County. We stood outside for hours talking, laughing and interacting with their cattle. Their passion for the breed and their cattle is incredible. They love what they do and the cattle that they raise. They help feed their community as they also sell their beef in quarters, halves, or whole steers. Four T Acres and the Gruenert family are another example of Wisconsin farmers and agriculturists who care about feeding the world and human progress. #HumansofWIAG

1. Give back Giving to others gives you a feeling of satisfaction. It’s truly better to give rather than receive. There is also the benefit of living in the community that is strengthened by the work of quality non-profits. Whether it is as a gift or just for everyday use you can feel great about purchasing Porchlight Products. These products help staff at Porchlight learn new skills to combat difficult circumstances. Try their delectable dilly beans, rhubarb jam or even their multi-grain pancake mix. www.porchlightproducts.org 2. Don’t sweat the small stuff From stressing about the main course to worrying about which gift to give, remember to take time to enjoy this special time with loved ones. Need a quick and easy way to flavor meats? Look no further than K&L Foods, LLC Uncle Louie's BBQ sauce. For over 50 years Uncle Louie has made this secret family recipe in his home in Mayville, Wis. It’s delicious and Wisconsin made! www.unclelouiesbbq.com 3. Make your daily life as simple as possible Patrick Cudahy understand how crazy life can be. They have delicious lunch packs in ham and turkey and also thick sliced snacks like pepperoni and hard salami. Make a simple ham pickle roll-up or add the salami to your cheeseboard. Either way – by making your daily life easier the holiday season will also seem easier too! www.patrickcudahy.com 4. Plan a vacation I get so much joy out of planning a vacation. Whether it’s perusing online for recommendations on the best place to eat or searching for unique things to do – it’s half the fun! I’m pretty biased – but I love to visit Door County. There are so many things to do…and eat! Start your weekend get-away off right with Wienke’s Market. They have delicious homemade goods including Door County cherry pie filling, pickled mushrooms and dill spears with onion and garlic. YUM! www.atasteofdoorcounty.com 5. Get plenty of rest During the holidays it can feel like a never ending marathon. It’s a lot of fun to visit friends and family, but it can also get to be quite exhausting. Keep up your energy during the next few weeks by taking time to relax and kick your feet up. Enjoy the little moments that make the holidays so special. Heil Ginseng Capsules may help if you need a little extra energy. www.heilharvest.com 6. Try something new Whether it’s a new hobby or a new food, don’t be afraid to try something new! One item from the Something Special from Wisconsin™ program that has a lot of people talking is Timber Hill Winery’s Jalapeno Wine. A great addition to a Bloody Mary or a Margarita… or sip it by itself for a unique bold flavor! www.timberhillwinery.com A new hobby that I started over Thanksgiving was feeding birds with a little help from The Bird Seeder. Based out of Madison, they have a monthly subscription that sends a different bird seed to you or your loved ones every month. My dad and I picked up a bird feeder from our local Fleet Farm in Plymouth, Wis. It’s been fun to receive different pictures with different birds enjoying this delicious treat! www.birdseedofthemonth.com 5% off with the code: ALICE 7. Take the time to celebrate Wisconsin agriculture Each and every day I am reminded how incredibly blessed I am to be able to live in this great state. The diversity of Wisconsin’s agriculture industry is our greatest strength. When you look around your dinner table or marvel at your real Christmas tree, take a little extra time to give thanks to our Wisconsin farmers, agriculturists and agribusiness. Their efforts 365 days a year are truly moving our state forward. Merry Christmas Wisconsin!

On May 13, 2017, a new chapter in my life began when I was selected as Wisconsin’s 70th Alice in Dairyland in Brown County. As I reflect back on that moment when my name was announced as the new “Alice," words cannot express the excitement and emotion that I was feeling to be selected so close to home surrounded by a multitude of family and friends. Just a few weeks later on June 5, 2017, I hit the ground running setting out to help share the story of Wisconsin agriculture to create a better understanding between producers and consumers. This job is unlike any other. From waking up at 2:30 am for a TV interview, calling many grocery stores in order to make sure they had the perfect type of cheese to use in a presentation, touring incredible farms and agribusinesses, to eating pizza in hotel rooms for three days in a row, I’ve had an incredible journey so far as Wisconsin’s Agriculture Ambassador. Along the way I have had endless opportunities to explore Wisconsin agriculture in an entirely new way. With 18,000 miles of windshield time under my belt at the six-month mark of serving as the 70th Alice in Dairyland, zero accidents, lots of car karaoke and many stops at Starbucks drive-through stops with a lot of laughs and thousands of meaningful conversations, I’m humbled to have this important job of promoting the agriculture industry that continues to move our state forward. Even though I grew up as sixth generation dairy girl, I’ve learned that there were many segments of Wisconsin agriculture I was unaware of that drive our state’s economy. Over these last few months, my eyes were opened up to the diversity of Wisconsin’s agriculture community. It has been an absolute joy to tell this story no matter where my travels take me and sharing the many ways that our daily lives are impacted by Wisconsin agriculture, from the food on our kitchen tables, fuel in our vehicles and clothes in our closets. When you’re passionate about something, it’s easy to be outgoing and enthusiastic. Talking about Wisconsin and especially Wisconsin agriculture is something that comes naturally. Alice in Dairyland has such a unique opportunity to incorporate the importance of agriculture into conversations each and every day. For me, that’s the perfect job description that fits my personality and passion. Thank you to each and every one of you who have made these last six months the best six months of my life. Looking forward to the next six months continuing to share the stories of Wisconsin agriculturists and farmers.

I’m going to get real with you guys, picking out gifts is not my forte. Shopping for loved ones in my life is hard. I’m always trying to make sure that my gifts are thoughtful and meaningful, while also not spending an arm and a leg for them. Even the best, most thoughtful gift-givers among us occasionally have trouble picking out gifts. Whether it’s that eclectic friend with too many interests to count, the grouchy uncle who doesn’t seem to like anything or the infamous Mother In-Law, some people are just tough to shop for! Fortunately, everyone loves to receive gifts that capture their personalities and cater to their interests. Here are a few of those tough situations where Something Special from Wisconsin™ products will save the day! The Frazzled Friend – We all have one friend who just needs a little help. “Adulting” is hard. Whether it’s remembering to fill up your car with gas or trying to eat healthier, the holidays can sometimes get the best of us. Simply Snackin’ meat snacks are the perfect answer for this type of friend. They have ten amazing flavors of all natural chicken, beef and venison meat snacks. From Orchard Venison with Apples to Teriyaki Beef with Pineapples, these are perfect for a handy snack that your frazzled friend can even leave in their vehicle too! www.simplysnackin.com Simply Snackin' "Chicken Snacks - 4 flavors, Beef Snacks - 4 flavors, Venison Snacks - 2 flavors, $1.89 average retail price" The Mother In-Law – Shopping for your mother in-law is rarely easy. You want her to like you and your gifts. Impress her with a fabulous gift-basket from Northleaf Winery. This gift basket has it all and is packed with unique Wisconsin products that will definitely impress her. www.northleafwinery.com Northleaf Winery, "Cranberry Shiraz - $15, Bright Spirits Cranberry - $14, Wine Jellies - $5.95, Slushie Mix - $9.95, Mulled Wine Spice $9.95 , Chocolate for wine pairings 6-8 $5.95" Friends Who Have it All - During most holidays and for most loved ones, gift-giving tends to be an exchange of equally valuable things. But what do you get for the friends who seems to already have it all? An experience! Plan a trip to go to Door County and attach a bottle of Door Peninsula Winery’s Mulled Christmas. It has hints of cinnamon and nutmeg in it and is best served at room temperature. www.store.dcwine.com Door Peninsula Winery - "Red Christmas Wine, White Christmas Wine and Mulled Christmas Wine $10 - $12" Grumpy Family Members – Every family has a grump or two, and it can seem all but impossible to shop for someone who hardly cracks a smile. The answer – Wisconsin Cheese. I don’t care how crabby you are or how many times the Packers lose this year. Wisconsin Cheese always gets people to smile. Give smiles this year with Widmer’s Cheese Cellars gift boxes. They have incredible cheeses that will cheer anyone up. Varieties include Pepper Cheddar, Mild Brick, Aged Crick, Colby, and delicious summer sausage. www.widmerscheese.com For the Grandma who only accepts homemade cards and gifts with love – Does anyone have a person in your life that gets super sappy on you when you present them with a homemade card and still has your 6th grade pictures on a wall? It’s okay if you’ve traded in your craft paper and scissors for KitchenAid blenders and Tupperware containers. Keep your sentimental people in your life happy with gifts from HANmade Milwaukee. They are all about two cousins creating playful artwork. These fun beverage trays, coaster six-packs and kitchen towels are beautiful and fun too! HANmade Milwaukee "Beverage Trays - $36, Coasters - $8, Towel - $14" hanmademilwaukee@wi.rr.com For the person that doesn’t purchase anything they can’t pronounce – Maple Hill Farm stands by their belief that what you put on your body is just as important as what you put in your body. They have various animals on their farm with a beautiful flock of sheep. They milk their sheep twice a day and some of that valuable milk is put into various products. All Maple Hill Farm products are made into small batches and use quality ingredients without artificial fragrances or dyes. Essential oils and botanicals make these products smell amazing. www.maplehillfarmwi.com Maple Hill Farm, "Sheep Milk Soap -$5, Sheep Milk Lotion - $10.50, Sheep Milk Lotion Travel - $5, Sheep Milk foaming hand soap - $6.50, Lip Balm with Lanolin - $3.25" Something Special from Wisconsin™ truly lives up to its name. Take a moment to peruse www.somethingspecialwi.com for exceptional companies and products for everyone on your Wisconsin Wish List.

The question “What are you most thankful for?” is one that is frequently asked during this time of the year. Many households across Wisconsin are beginning to plan for the holidays as the most wonderful time of the year is just around the corner. Homes are filled with love and laughter and delicious smells waft through the air. Today most of us will come to the Thanksgiving table as families, friends, communities and as a nation to celebrate our blessings. As we sit around the table and answer this question, I’m a little more thankful this year. As Alice I’ve had the honor of traveling across the state and meeting incredible farmers who work hard 365 days a year. From wading in a cranberry bog to walking in a field of Wisconsin potatoes to sharing stories of Wisconsin dairy farm families, it’s an honor to serve an industry that is continuing to drive our state forward. Wisconsin’s agriculture community knits communities together by providing healthy food and an economic foundation for rural communities. Thanksgiving is an important time to recognize these Wisconsin farmers and agriculturists. Thanksgiving is the perfect time for a family conversation about the folks who grow your food. I hope you’ll join me on Thanksgiving by saying a word or two of thanks — not just for the food on your table, but for the farmers who woke up early that day and every day to ensure that we have a food system that is good for us, our communities and our country.

It can be fun to make plans to visit with family and friends over the holiday season. But hosting an event can sometimes be stressful. With a little help from the Something Special from Wisconsin™ program you can relax knowing you are showcasing great Wisconsin products, and your dollar stays right here in Wisconsin. That’s because at least 50% of all Something Special from Wisconsin products ingredients, packaging, and processing are attributed to Wisconsin. Let’s talk hosting. If you’re like me, sometimes decorating for the holidays is a little overwhelming. Walking into a large retail store can be exciting, but deciding what goes best with your décor can be intimidating. One item that will never go out of style are beautiful REAL evergreens. The Wisconsin Christmas Tree Producers Association is your source to find local, farm grown Christmas trees, wholesale trees, cut your own tree farms and many more. I’m excited to showcase these beautiful decorations made with REAL Wisconsin Christmas Trees during the next few weeks on radio and TV interviews. Visit www.realtree4me.com for more information on this beautiful part of Wisconsin agriculture. Before you serve the main course, keep everyone happy with an easy appetizer. Palo Popcorn has perfect cheesy popcorn options. Cheddar Cheese, White Cheddar Cheese, and Bacon Cheddar Cheese are fun options for kids of all ages! Just don’t wipe your cheezy fingers on the couch! Add a little spark to your holidays with Spark Spices, LLC. They have a lot of great options like Zesty Snap, Lemon Pepper, and Original Brine. For an easy and festive dip, combine cream cheese, sour cream, dried cranberries and two tablespoons of Zesty Snap. Let’s talk cheeseboards. You know those that you actually stop and look at like a piece of artwork? Display your state pride with hand-crafted cutting boards, coasters and serving trays from Chosen Stones. These items are made from Wisconsin wood in Richland Center and are perfect for holiday platters or to give as gifts. Find more information online at www.chosenstones.com Wisconsin cheese boards are sure to delight and entertain your friends and family at holiday get-togethers. Saxon Creamery offers an astounding array of delicious spreads for crackers and delightful cheeses for slicing. As I proudly call Cleveland home, I’m lucky to have this business as neighbors! Here is a list to get your mouth watering: Big Ed's Gouda, Birdy’s Red Wine Spread, Snowfields Butterkase, Reisling Wine Cheese Spread, Snowfields Butterkase Spicy Lager Cheee Spread, Snowfields Aged Butterkase, Big Eds Gouda, and Asiago Fresca. www.saxoncreamery.com. Need some wine to serve with your cheese? Look no further than Vetro Winery; where Wisconsin grapes are always the star. Nun on the Run is a flavorful red dry wine is made with Leon Millot grapes from Wisconsin. It is the perfect complement for steak. Padre’s Punch is a semi-sweet red table wine made with Wisconsin Steuben grapes that complements ham and smoked meats. White Mead Wine is a honey wine that compliments chicken and Thanksgiving turkey. Made with local bee’s local honey, White Mead Wine is a semi-sweet very mellow and smooth wine. Silver Creek Specialty Meats, Inc. has a lot of great Wisconsin flavors for that cheeseboard too! Their unique offerings include Silver Creek Cranberry Cherry Summer Sausage, Silver Creek Pepper Summer Sausage and Silver Creek Hukki Summer Sausage. Add a real treat to you holiday cheese tray or appetizer selection with Silver Creek Specialty Meats. Family operated for three generations, Silver Creek has an amazing selection of beautiful and tasty traditional meats! No holiday celebration is complete without dessert. If you are looking for an easy treat, Porubcans, LLC makes a delicious ready to order Bourbon Fruitcake. Serve up a treat with a warmed fruitcake with a rich bourbon cream sauce made with real Wisconsin cream. On the other hand if you are looking to “shake things up!” try serving up a Malted twist on a holiday classic. CTL Foods, Inc. has a one-of-a-kind Malted Milk Powder. You can bake with this product or make a classic shake. When I’m home for Thanksgiving, I’ll be making Pumpkin Pie Malts with my family. Watch the Facebook page for a video! Alice in Dairyland’s Leftover Thanksgiving Pumpkin Pie Malt 1 large slice of pumpkin pie (roughly 3 inches) 2 large scoops of vanilla ice cream 1/3 cup milk 1 scoop of CTL Foods, Inc. Malted Milk Powder Whipped cream, for garnish Blend all ingredients together… doesn’t get much easier than that! Take time to enjoy the holiday season while enjoying Something Special from Wisconsin™ products too!

Ranked third in the nation for potato production, and number one east of the Mississippi, Wisconsin potato growers produce a colorful rainbow of these tasty spuds. In addition to Russets, you’ll find varieties in red, white, yellow and even purple potatoes to add variety to your favorite meal recipes. Wisconsin’s Central Sands region is prime land for growing potatoes. Recently I headed over to Wysocki Produce Farm to tour their facility. Founded in the late 1950s by three brothers, Louis, Francis and Greg Wysocki, WFC began as a potato farm, which still exists as Wysocki Produce Farm. The farm is still owned and operated by the family, with the second generation currently running the company. The second-generation owners of WFC are Russell, Jim, Gary and Bill Wysocki, Kirk Wille and Jeff Sommers. The beginning of our tour started at Paragon Potato Farm with tour guide Nate Knutson (RPE Account Manager). Nate walked me through the various steps of how potatoes are cleaned and packaged. Potatoes need a lot of care as bruising can cause serious loss to potato growers. To prevent bruising, staff inspect and adjust harvesting equipment frequently. Potatoes are either stored in refrigerated warehouses or in non-refrigerated bulk bins up to 20 feet deep. In bulk bins, air is forced from the floor through corrugated metal ducts up throughout the pile. This process ensures good distribution of cool yet humid air, which decreases shrinkage, sprouting and decay. Nate showed us how potatoes are graded into different categories based on quality and appearance. Potatoes even go through “x-rays” to ensure that the potato is perfect on the inside without hollow spaces. Potatoes are separated by size, variety, and quality. AJ Bussan, Ph.D. is the Agronomy Director at Wysocki Produce Farm. AJ arranged a tour in a potato harvester. These machines work by lifting soil and potatoes up onto a series of chain webs where loose soil and small rocks are sieved out. The potatoes are moved to the back of the harvester and separated from large rocks, clods and vines. The potatoes then go on to a side elevator and into a trailer/potato box. Care is taken to never drop the potato more than 6 inches to avoid bruising. Potato trucks have special folding sides to ensure minimal drop! Wysocki Family of Companies (WFC) is a vertically integrated, Midwest-based farm specializing in potatoes and onions. WFC is comprised of RPE, Inc.; Wysocki Produce Farm; Paragon Potato Farms, Inc.; and Paragon Specialties. Wysocki Family of Companies is also a partner in Central Sands Dairy and Tasteful Selections, LLC.

Throughout the month of October I've had a blast promoting Wisconsin cranberries. From wading in a bog to traveling to various TV stations, I've enjoyed promoting our official state fruit. With eight(!!!) bags of fresh Wisconsin cranberries in my cooler and knowing that my mini-fridge didn't have a lot of room left...I knew that it was time to visit Grandma Siemers. She was recently in the spotlight for her Creamy Mac and Cheese recipe featured on Wisconsin Cheese. After a TV interview in Green Bay I traveled back home to make these muffins. Grandma was quite excited to have all of these cranberries because "they freeze so well!" Enjoy! Wisconsin Cranberry Muffins Ingredients: I cup Wisconsin cranberries, quartered 8 tablespoons sugar, divided 1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour 2-1/2 teaspoons baking powder ¼ teaspoon salt 1 egg ¾ cup milk 1/3 cup cooking oil 1 teaspoon grated lemon peel, optional Cinnamon sugar Directions: Sprinkle cranberries with 2 tablespoons of sugar; set aside. Sift remaining sugar, flour, baking powder and salt into large mixing bowl. In separate bowl, beat eff, milk and oil. Make a hole in the center of dry ingredients; pour in liquid ingredients. Stir only until mixed –Don’t overmix! Add berries and lemon peel. Fill greased standard or extra-large muffin cups with mixture. Sprinkle tops of muffins with cinnamon-sugar. Bake at 400° for about 18 minutes for standard-size muffins or about 22 minutes for extra-large muffins. Yield: 12 standard-size or 6 extra-large muffins.

Without a doubt, fall is a beautiful time of year in Wisconsin. Driving around the countryside, vibrant colors are everywhere, from the trees donning beautiful shades of red, orange and yellow, to the crimson apples growing in orchards all around, to the bright orange pumpkins sprinkled around in pumpkin patches and roadside stands. Those pumpkins can bring families together at the kitchen table, as they work to scoop out the insides and carve a masterpiece to display for all to see. With Halloween upon us, and Thanksgiving just around the corner, thousands of pumpkins have made their way into homes and onto front steps and porches all across Wisconsin. But have you ever stopped to think just how special this piece of Wisconsin agriculture really is? The growing season for this orange fruit begins in May when nearly 1,000 pumpkin growers throughout Wisconsin plant the seeds in hopes for a bountiful harvest in fall. A lot of the growers don’t use machines, but rather plant by hand, spreading seeds about a foot apart. When the blossoms begin to develop, typically in late June, growers rely on bees for pollination to help with a bigger and better crop. Just like so many other sectors of agriculture, the goal of each pumpkin grower is a bit different, based on their operation. Some may want small pumpkins to be sold for decoration; others might strive to grow that perfect carving pumpkin; still, others might have hopes of growing the biggest pumpkin Wisconsin has ever seen for a giant pumpkin weigh off. These orange gourds are very nutritious and a healthy choice. Their bright orange color signifies that they are high in beta-carotene, which, along with Vitamin A, aids in vision. Pumpkins are also a good source of fiber, potassium, vitamins C and E and iron. The options are really endless when it comes to cooking with pumpkins. They can be used to make pies, breads and other baked goods, soups and more. Just one large pumpkin has enough meat to bake up to forty pies. Even the seeds can be used! For an easy and delicious snack, clean the seeds, add a few drops of cooking oil and spread them on a cookie sheet baking at 375° for 45 minutes, and you’ve created a tasty and healthy fall treat. The next time you’re driving around Wisconsin’s beautiful fall countryside, take some time to stop at a pumpkin farm. While you are there, you may even be able to enjoy a hayride, navigate a corn maze or sip some hot apple cider at one of Wisconsin’s many agri-tourism sites. Buying pumpkins from local farms, roadside stands and farmers markets is important as it supports our farmers and food processors, while keeping money in our communities and local economy. Today and every day, our state’s pumpkin growers work hard to grow that perfect pumpkin for us to enjoy.

Yesterday I toured Wetherby Cranberry Company and jumped right in (literally!) Located in Warrens, Wis., (Cranberry Capital of the World!) Nodji Van Wychen and her family boast big red berries that are in high demand. Wetherby Cranberry Co. was founded in 1903 and began to pack cranberries at the location in 1905. Today, the marsh has approximately 200 acres of cranberry vines. Head over to www.freshcranberries.com! The cranberry is a staple of Wisconsin agriculture and has earned the spot as our state’s official fruit. Our state ranks #1 in the nation for the production of this tart red fruit as it is our number one fruit crop, both in acres planted and in economic contribution. Here in Wisconsin, we produce 64% percent of the nation’s cranberries and on a global scale, produce over half the world’s cranberries. These berries were first discovered in this country by early settlers, who initially called them “crane-berries” because the blossoms resembled the head and beak of a sand hill crane. Cranberries were first harvested around 1860 in Berlin, Wisconsin and are now grown in 20 counties on 21,100 acres throughout Central and Northern Wisconsin. Contrary to popular belief, cranberries don’t grow in water. They are grown on low-lying vines in well-drained, sandy soils with a low pH. However, these cranberry marshes are established near an adequate water supply, both for irrigation and for harvesting purposes. This water supply can also be used to protect the berries from harsh Wisconsin weather as the water freezes, producing a thin protective layer of ice over the vines. Harvest can be broken down into two separate categories: wet and dry. Berries destined to be sold fresh fall into the dry harvest method. The bed will be flooded with a minimal amount of water to float the berries upward, while a picking machine combs through the vines to gently remove the berries, which then flow freely to the surface and are collected. This method ensures that the berries are handled gently and stay intact to be sold fresh. Wet harvest is used for cranberries that are set to be processed into juice, sauces, or sweetened dried cranberries. Beds are flooded with eight to ten inches of water and a machine with a circular beater is driven through the beds to release the berries from the vines. They are then corralled into a corner and conveyed onto a transport truck. 95 percent of the cranberries harvested in Wisconsin are destined for processing, while the remaining 5 percent are marketed fresh. Of all the cranberries we produce in a year, 20 percent are consumed during the few short weeks of Thanksgiving and the holiday season, but cranberries are great any time of the year. For baking, cranberries are the ideal fruit due to their natural tart flavor. This tartness helps to round out the sweetness of baked goods for a tasty dessert. The bright red color of cranberries also adds to breads, muffins, and cookies. On the savory end of the spectrum, cranberries help to add an extra tang to pork, venison, or beef in the form of chutney and relishes. Make sure to stock up on fresh cranberries when they hit store shelves in the fall. These berries can be frozen for up to a year and pulled out of the freezer to use all year long. In addition to its deliciousness, a cranberry is also packed with nutrition. Cranberries are a low calorie, high vitamin and high mineral fruit with great fiber content. These traits are important in todays health conscious society. Take pride in Wisconsin’s cranberry industry by purchasing berries grown right here in Wisconsin for your next recipe. Check the packaging and search for the “Wisconsin Cranberry” logo. Chances are, the majority of products on shelves here in the state will contain Wisconsin cranberries, as we continue to lead the world in production of this nutritious, and delicious, fruit.

Traveling to Adams County is something that I look forward to every month. From visiting the Adams County Fair, to devouring corn and taters, I know that I will always be greeted by smiles and familiar faces. I recently met Megan Wallendal when she gave me a tour of the Grand Marsh Corn N’ Tater Festival. Her magnetic personality and knowledge about Wisconsin agriculture is inspiring. Recently the Adams-Friendship FFA and I visited Megan and the team at Wallendal Farms. They farm 3200 acres of conventional and organic irrigated farmland. They are a 3rd generation farm who recently (and successfully) transitioned to the next generation. 2017 marks the 50th year of the farm and in those 50 years they have grown over 35 different vegetable crops! Their core values are: Innovators, Practicing Integrity, Adaptability, Uphold Family, and Partner of Choice. The Wallendal’s farm 211 acres of pumpkins. From decorative squash to Jack-o-lanterns, they provide thousands of pumpkins to Walmart, Costco, Aldi, Menards and many other retailers. Picking pumpkins is no easy task. It takes a lot of attention to detail and a lot of planning. It also takes a lot of hand-eye coordination and some muscles too! After we worked up a sweat, we went into the processing plant where they wash and sort the pumpkins into different bins. We learned that different retailers have various expectations and requirements for pumpkins. I found my perfect pumpkin (pink!) and was amazed at how fast and efficient the entire team is in sorting and packaging. Thank you Megan and the entire team at Wallendal Farms for your hospitality. I had a blast learning about this special crop and continue to be amazed at the diversity of Wisconsin agriculture.