"On the Road with Alice" in December

December is always one of my favorite months of the year. Between holiday music, being together with family, festive movies, beautiful decorative displays, and delicious food made possible by agriculture, the spirit of the season makes me incredibly cheery and hopeful. Being able to experience this December through the lens of Alice in Dairyland was a special treat and allowed me to enjoy special time spent with my extended family – Wisconsin’s agricultural community!

I started the month with all engines firing in the holiday spirit by continuing the Something Special from Wisconsin™ Savor the Season media campaign. I had a wonderful experience learning about all the 36 participating members and even meeting a few of them along my travels! As that promotion “wrapped” up, I turned my attention to a beloved ingredient that makes everything better – Wisconsin butter! There is nothing that evokes the warmth, comfort, and togetherness of the holiday season quite like real Wisconsin butter. Not only does it bind together our meals, but it brings friends and families together over shared tradition. It’s simple ingredients – cream and salt - are a testament to the purity and wholesomeness of Wisconsin-made dairy that contributes to Wisconsin’s $52.8 billion dairy industry, a cornerstone of the state’s economy! To learn more about Wisconsin butter facts and uses, visit Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

My monthly trip up to Marathon County brought even more holiday cheer with ornament decorating and parade waving! I visited the Children’s Imaginarium in Wausau for the first time, where I had the chance to see interactive STEM exhibits for young visitors that included the unique aspects of Marathon County agriculture. I then joined the Partnership for Progressive Agriculture (PPA) for the annual Wausau Holiday Parade! I helped PPA members promote Marathon County dairy by handing out mozzarella cheese sticks to parade goers, which was a cheesy hit! Marathon County has certainly become a home away from home as we prepare for the 79th Alice in Dairyland Finals in May, so it was meaningful to celebrate a special time of year with these special friends.  

The holiday season of course brings a busy and exciting time for our nearly 600 Christmas tree growers across the state of Wisconsin, and this year was no different! Wisconsin is proud to rank 5th in the nation for Christmas tree production, harvesting approximately 700,000 fresh trees to enjoy in our homes each year. Whether it’s a family business on the wholesale side or a local farm that invites you to pick your tree from their lots, each grower helps provide a real, fresh, and fragrant tree that brings the spirit into your home. My own family has a tradition of getting a real tree to decorate in our home every year while we drink hot chocolate and watch “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” The holidays wouldn’t be the same without our real tree, and the best part is supporting local family farms while choosing a sustainable and renewable tradition.

I had the chance to visit several Christmas tree farming families this year, both for promotion and for a personal trip to secure our own family wreath and Christmas tree. One such farm was Vines Christmas Trees in Granton, who graciously welcomed me to experience their farm and spread the wonderful holiday cheer. Between hot chocolate, a horse-drawn wagon ride, a cozy fire in the warming shed, and more, the Vine family surely provides a winter-time experience that is rich with Wisconsin welcome. Paul and Kelly, along with their daughter Jenna and other family members, run the tree farm today, and like every Christmas tree grower in Wisconsin, they help visitors create timeless holiday memories year after year.

In agriculture, countless celebrations and gatherings happen around the holidays as the year wraps and farmers are able to rest after the harvest season. It is a wonderful time to come together and look back upon the hard work of each growing year while celebrating with friends. I was lucky to join both the World Dairy Expo community and the Wisconsin Farmers Union membership for the Friends of Expo celebration and Annual Convention, respectively. I loved hearing about updates from each organization and reflecting on the year that passed while meeting new friends and sharing about my love of agriculture! Both World Dairy Expo and the Wisconsin Farmers Union have provided me with unforgettable memories while serving as the 78th Alice in Dairyland, and I couldn’t be more grateful for their role in elevating Wisconsin agriculture.

These past six months have provided me with infinite opportunities for growth, education, and connection, none of which would be possible without our partners, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, Kettle Moraine Mink Breeders Association, Wisconsin Corn Promotion Board, Midwest Jewelers Association, Wisconsin Potato Industry Board, Ginseng Board of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Beef Council, and the Dairy Innovation Hub. I am so appreciative of their continued support. Some memories with each program partner were shared on the Alice in Dairyland social media accounts recently, if you would like to learn more about how Alice partners with each of these organizations.

While it’s hard for me to imagine, in six more short months, I’ll be handing over the sash and tiara to a lucky new Alice. If you would like to serve as Wisconsin's 79th Alice in Dairyland, applications are being accepted through January 30, 2026. Visit aliceindairyland.com/becoming-alice-in-dairyland for more information.