Wisconsin mink: the fiber of a strong agriculture industry
Looking back on the past six months, I still cannot believe my year as Alice in Dairyland is about halfway complete. When I started in June, my summer days were spent traveling to dairy month celebrations followed by countless festivals through September. As the months flew past, warm weather quickly dropped into crisp days followed by freezing temperatures and snow. On the surface, agriculture seems to have slowed as farmers leave their fields and start planning for spring planting. However, another key industry for Wisconsin agriculture is more prominent than ever in winter weather.
Many people I meet are surprised to learn Wisconsin is the top producer of mink pelts in the
nation. Our state’s pelt production totaled 1,091,180 pelts in 2017, according to the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Agricultural Statistics Service. That is almost one-third of the nation’s total. Utah was the second largest producing state with 734,260 pelts.
The durable products designed from Wisconsin fur are ideal for blocking the freezing chills of Wisconsin’s winter winds. Most may picture a classic black garment when they think of mink, which is not surprising since black pelts represented 63 percent of Wisconsin’s total last year. White came in second at 14 percent, followed by blue iris at 8 percent, and mahogany at 4 percent. The other color classes, such as pastel, sapphire and violet, represent the final 11 percent. It is a vibrant part of Wisconsin’s diverse agriculture industry. The total value of pelts produced in Wisconsin was $39.6 million in 2017.
One of the greatest honors of being Alice in Dairyland is to represent our state’s mink breeders by wearing a garment donated by a rotating group of members in the Kettle Moraine Mink Breeders Association. This year, Zimbal Mink made me feel like part of their family as they surprised me with one of the most unique mink coats the Alice in Dairyland program has seen. The beautiful mahogany is paired with white mink dyed green on the plush hood and sleeve cuffs. No matter where I go, the beauty of the coat is admired by strangers I meet during my travels, and I am proud to say it is genuine Wisconsin mink. Unlike a coat made with plastics and other synthetic fibers, my mink will be a garment that will last a lifetime and can be passed down from generation to generation.
The green not only reflects a unique design but also reminds me of the environmental benefits of Wisconsin’s fur industry. Mink require a high-protein diet that is supplemented with calcium. Wisconsin’s many processing industries partner with our breeders to turn waste meat, fish, liver, eggs, cheese and other products into the perfect food staple that is mixed fresh and fed to the animals daily. As our state’s natural recyclers, mink keep these items from entering landfills. It is no wonder Wisconsin is known for producing the best quality of fur in the world as mink are fed Wisconsin cheese and meat!
While I am certain my remaining months as Alice will fly past as quickly as the first six have, I am excited and honored to have a real, Wisconsin fur garment to wear each winter to fill me with warm memories and a steaming sense of pride for our Wisconsin mink breeders.
