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According to an old farming adage, the Fourth of July isn't just our nation's birthday; it's also a benchmark for corn. If all is going well, it should be "knee-high by the Fourth of July." However, with the amount of rain that we have had lately, many corn fields in Wisconsin look like they won't be meeting that benchmark. Wisconsin is proud to be one of the top corn producing states in the nation. As “Maizey” and I travel thousands of miles this summer, the vast majority of corn that I see is not meant for human consumption. A funny memory that I have of corn is during the second grade. One of my peers forgot to bring his assignment for show and tell. He decided to improvise during recess. On the far end of the playground was a cornfield. He picked the corn right off the stalk and brought it into class. Our teacher caught on right away and made him write an apology letter to the neighboring farmer. My classmate found out the difference between field corn and sweet corn the hard way. Although they might look similar, there is a big difference between the two. Grain corn is used to feed poultry, pigs, and cows. Grain corn is also used for ethanol, corn oil, cornstarch, and other non-food uses. From spark plugs to tennis shoes, grain corn is in over 4,000 different products. Another product that grain corn can be turned into is corn silage. Corn silage is chopped and fed to cows. Corn silage is an important source of forage in Wisconsin. Corn silage is a consistent feed with high yields and provides high energy to livestock. Wisconsin even leads the nation in corn for silage. Sweet corn is what you buy at the stores and can be canned, frozen, or fresh off the cob. Less than one percent of the U.S. corn crop is sweet corn for human consumption. Other countries enjoy Wisconsin sweet corn as our state leads the nation in the export of this summertime staple. Sweet corn is harvested when the kernels are soft and sweet, which makes it an incredibly tasty treat to enjoy at home or even a county fair! The way that farmers measure corn is through bushels. A bushel of corn weighs 56 pounds. A single bushel is capable of producing 18 pounds of livestock feed, 2.8 gallons of ethanol fuel, 14 pounds of corn gluten pellets, 1.8 pounds of corn oil, and 17 pounds of carbon dioxide (used in ice, the beverage industry and water treatment facilities). I can hardly wait any longer for fresh corn on the cob from the farmers market. In a couple of weeks you’ll be able to find plenty of sweet corn in the grocery stores, farmers markets, road stands, or maybe even in your next CSA box! Although you might not be able to eat a cob of field corn tonight, remember that corn still makes a positive impact on our lives in many different ways and for Wisconsin’s diverse agriculture industry.

The fact that National Ice Cream Month is right after June Dairy Month makes Wisconsin summers that much more enjoyable. I had so much fun last month celebrating Wisconsin’s $43.4 billion dairy industry at many Breakfast on the Farms and other dairy related events. I especially enjoyed sharing many Wisconsin dairy facts! One fact that continues to amaze me is that it takes 12 gallons of milk to make 1 gallon of ice cream. Milk is packed with Calcium, Protein, Vitamin D, Phosphorus, Riboflavin, Vitamin B12, Potassium, Vitamin A, and Niacin. With all of that nutritious milk packed into ice cream, those nutrients don’t disappear. Many people asked me last month what my favorite ice cream flavor is. Deciding my favorite Wisconsin ice cream flavor is comparable to Wisconsin seasons. They both change so fast that I can’t make up my mind! However, if I had to pick my favorite flavor it would be Vanilla. The option to add Wisconsin berries like strawberries, raspberries, cherries and even cranberries sounds like a perfect way to cool down and enjoy another great Wisconsin treat. America’s favorite ice cream flavor is still Vanilla. This ice cream’s popularity is likely due to the sweet, fragrant flavor infused by the vanilla bean. Vanilla allows family members to add their unique toppings to their own creations. Ice cream is universal with vanilla being also is the most popular flavor around the globe. But each culture adapts this ice cream flavor to its own culinary traditions. As an example, the Japanese like to add flavors like kurogoma (black sesame seeds) and kinako (powdered, roasted soy beans) into their vanilla ice cream. Another fun dairy related fact is that in 1984, President Ronald Reagan designated July as National Ice Cream Month and the third Sunday of the month as National Ice Cream Day. He recognized ice cream as a food that is enjoyed by over 90 percent of the nation's population. President Reagan called for all people of the United States to observe these events with "appropriate ceremonies and activities." As you celebrate July with fireworks, family reunions, barbecues, picnics and parades; the addition of ice cream is sure to please all. Have a great July, Wisconsin!

Hello, Friends! I'm Crystal Siemers-Peterman, and I am excited to start this blog to share my adventures as the 70th Alice in Dairyland. If you’re not familiar with my background, I started my adventure in agriculture on my family’s dairy and crop farm in Cleveland, WI. My cousins and I are the sixth generation on the farm and together we hope to carry on the tradition of a lifestyle that we absolutely love. Growing up on a farm, I have a lot of great memories that will stick with me for a lifetime. Whether it was leading heifers to prepare for the county fair, catching crawfish in the Pigeon River, or even enjoying an ice cream treat after picking rocks, my experiences as a farm kid are irreplaceable. Through my involvement in 4-H, FFA, and the Wisconsin Junior Holstein Association I was able to meet many kids who shared my excitement about agriculture. Even today, some of kids that I practiced dairy bowl facts with are my closest friends. This May I graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and Food Business Management and a minor in Marketing. During college I was involved with other leadership opportunities including Gopher Dairy Club, National Agri-Marketing Association, and the National Grocers Association. Additionally, I knew that jumping into internships to learn more about other industries and explore my interests was important. Working with FLM+ Advertising Agency on writing copy for a new client, to helping design a planogram for a grocer’s butter section with Land O’Lakes Inc., I met incredible people who pushed me into becoming the best person I could be. When I reflect on my experiences over the last few years, I am so thankful that I grew up in the agriculture community. As I embark on my journey as Alice, I can’t wait to learn more about Wisconsin agriculture and meet more people who will impact my life forever.