MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

Volunteers at the Wisconsin State Fair's Milk House are serving up flavored milk! Teri Barr talks with Tami Garrison, the lead volunteer for a group of co-workers from Generac. She explains why sharing glasses of milk is a fair tradition, and how it also helps support Wisconsin agriculture.  

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This farm's legacy traces all the way back to Norway, where an ancestor emigrated from before arriving in Wisconsin in 1861. He officially purchased the farmland a few years later, in 1864, and built the operation from scratch on sandy and clay soil, eventually constructing nine outbuildings on the property. One of those original structures, a tobacco shed, is still standing today. The family also has a proud history of supporting the country's war efforts, from raising donkeys for the World War I effort to Pete's father serving in the Pacific for two years during World War II. Today, the farm is represented by siblings Susan and Pete Redinger. Their family moved to Wisconsin from New York in 1953, and officially purchased the farm in 1957 from Oscar Ryerson, their mother's uncle. Susan even took on the daunting task of filling out the 87-page deed and paperwork required to get the farm officially recognized. Now, Susan lives in Arkansas and Pete lives in Texas, but despite living out of state, the siblings return each spring, summer, or fall to keep up with maintenance, including painting the buildings and updating an old chicken coop. While visiting, they stay in the original farmhouse, which they humorously describe as "two steps up from camping." Now retired, Pete is heavily focused on maintaining the buildings and keeping the farm entirely out of debt, and both siblings have already made plans to ensure the farm is safely passed down to the next generation. You can catch more Century and Sesquicentennial farm stories by visiting MidwestFarmReport.com, brought to you courtesy of Compeer Financial.

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Five generations. One farm. Over 150 years of history. The Vogt family's story starts in 1862, when they left Bickenried, Germany, for a new life in America. The Civil War delayed their journey up the Mississippi, but by 1870 they'd built the farmhouse that still stands today in the tri-state corner of Southwest Wisconsin, where Al Vogt still resides. The farm has weathered a lot over the years, from losing 60 acres to the construction of Lock and Dam 11, to shifting from dairy to beef and hogs in 1955. Today, Al's son Louis runs the operation with about 40 head of beef cattle, plus hogs, chickens, turkeys, and ducks. And the next generation is already pitching in. Louis's kids, Colin, Eleanor, and Eric, are out cleaning pens and hauling hay, carrying forward a legacy that started with one family's leap of faith across an ocean. You can catch more Century and Sesquicentennial farm stories by visiting MidwestFarmReport.com, brought to you courtesy of Compeer Financial.

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The original 80-acre dairy farm was purchased by Jane's maternal grandparents after they relocated from another farm just a mile down the road. Jane's father moved to the farm when he was only four years old, and he eventually took over, growing the property to its current 120 acres and milking a herd of about 30 cows. The family even came together to rebuild the main farmhouse after a devastating fire the year before Jane was born. Today, the farm remains proudly in the family, with a solid plan in place for Jane's children, and eventually her grandchildren, to take the reins next. If you're a neighbor in Fond du Lac County, be sure to give the Schied family a huge congratulations on this milestone! You can catch more Century and Sesquicentennial farm stories by visiting MidwestFarmReport.com, brought to you courtesy of Compeer Financial.

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Farmer and custom operator John Eron joins Midwest Farm Report's Larry Lee to discuss what he's doing differently when fertilizing corn, how the corn is doing so far, and how well-tuned older equipment is helping him succeed.

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Wisconsin is America's Dairyland, so it's only fitting that it's showcased in a big way at the Wisconsin State Fair. Ann Schulz, Coordinator for the Wisconsin State Fair Dairy Promotion Board, tells us about the many ways you can experience dairy at the fair!

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Carrie Goss, Steak Trailer Manager for the Cattlemen’s, says they have the best ribeye steak sandwich on the Wisconsin State Fairgrounds. While she is proud of the product they produce, Carrie also proud of the role each person in her family plays to make it happen.

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Education takes center-stage at the Wisconsin Goat Products booth. Amanda Fischer is the main organizer of the booth. She explains that there's more to goats than what people traditionally see on the internet. She invites everyone to come experience the many products produced by the Wisconsin goat industry.

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Curt Kluth, one of the partners at Saz’s Hospitality Group, describes the new Leinenkugel's Cream Puff Ale as "Wisconsin in a glass." In celebration of the Wisconsin State Fair's 175th Anniversary, fairgoers can taste this treat for themselves while supplies last.

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Pork is a great place to get your protein, and the flavor profile is unlimited! Keri Retallick, Executive Vice President with Wisconsin Pork Association, says they'll serve at least 30,000 sandwiches at this year's Wisconsin State Fair. 

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