MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

It is the eve of the Wisconsin State Fair.  Shari Black is ready.  She's the Executive Director and CEO of the WI State Fair.  This is Black's fifth year managing the event, and she points to her history showing at county fairs as her base.  Black explains to Pam Jahnke how she's trying to make sure all fair goers get a slice of that experience when they attend.  One addition she implemented is a simple (but large) sign that simply says "Agriculture".  Her goal is to make sure people remember that element is critical to the fairs mission and success.

Weather is going to be wet today!  Stu Muck says about a quarter to a half inch of rain is on the way.  We'll start off with a little fog this morning.

Wisconsin is getting ready to host the National Christmas Tree Growers Summer Meeting!  What do tree growers talk about in the summer?  Well a lot!  Teri Barr finds out what's keeping those tree growers going from Sarah Glitto, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Christmas Tree Producers Association (WCTPA).  Robotics and speed are two key components they're focused in on!

The Mid-West Farm Report is a proud partner with the WI State Fair highlighting all of the century and sesquicentennial farms that have made that milestone this year.  Kiley Allan kicks off the story sharing by visiting with a Dodge County family celebrating their 100-year anniversary.  Meet Alan and Mark Strohschein (brothers), Strohschein's Pine Grove Farm.

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For Daniel Hanke, the land he farms has a deep meaning. It represents grit, determination and tradition that has kept their Century Farm strong.

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Nestled in Dodge County is a farm originally purchased by the Strohschein family in October of 1925. Brothers Alan and Mark take us back in time to the beginnings of the operation.

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Wisconsin is ranked as one of the nation's top-five in maple syrup production. Theresa Baroun, executive director of the Wisconsin Maple Syrup Producers Association, joins Teri Barr to share why using survey results to better understand producers' needs will help strengthen one of the state's fastest-growing agricultural industries

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The Wisconsin State Fair stands as one of the premier agricultural events in the Midwest, offering a unique opportunity to connect families directly with local food producers. In this episode, we sit down with Stephanie Hughes, dairy farmer from the Pittsville area and board member of Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin (DFW).  She explains the unique combinations that are being brought together for this years state fair, exploring how the organization brings dairy farming to life for hundreds of thousands of fairgoers. 

Interactive Education at Dairy Lane

Dairy Lane remains a top destination for families visiting the fairgrounds. Through a partnership with the Wisconsin State Fair Dairy Promotion Board, DFW supplies educational materials, industry messaging, and trained ambassadors.

Accessible Milking Demonstrations

• Daily English Demonstrations: Conducted every day of the fair to showcase modern milking practices.

• Weekend Spanish Demonstrations: Offered each weekend to make agricultural education accessible to bilingual communities.

• Trained Ambassadors: On-site experts answer visitor questions about cow care, nutrition, and milk production.

In 2025 alone, Dairy Lane reached more than 800,000 fairgoers, fostering direct dialogue between consumers and local producers.

Celebrating Award-Winning Wisconsin Cheese & Butter

Wisconsin is world-renowned for its craftsmanship in cheesemaking and dairy production. DFW highlights these achievements through key fair traditions:

• Blue Ribbon Dairy Products Auction: Supporting top dairy producers and youth scholarships.

• Official Champion Cheeseboard: Showcasing award-winning cheeses for fairgoers and industry leaders to celebrate.

Special Activation: Born To Dairy™ Day

Mark your calendars for an exclusive event celebrating America's Dairyland:

• Date: August 14

• Time: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

• Location: Outside the Cream Puff Pavilion & Dairy Building

• Event: Piggly Wiggly presents the Born To Dairy™ Activation, featuring farmer meet-and-greets, interactive learning activities, and family fun.

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The Wisconsin State Fair is about 48 hours away.  Each moment this year will be precious for John Yingling.  Not only is is the 175th anniversary of the fair, it's also the last fair John will enjoy as chair of the WI State Fair Park Board.  Pam Jahnke visits with the neighborhood boy who found his way to the fair.  Yingling admits, when he was first presented the opportunity to be on the board - he was not prepared.

Rain is already showing up on the margins of Wisconsin.  Stu Muck says it'll warm up today with the best chances of rain building into the afternoon.

The diversity of items on the Steffes auction site is pretty amazing.  Ashly Huhn joins Pam Jahnke to highlight a few unique items/groups that you won't often see, including professional nutrient handling equipment.  Paid for by Steffes Group.

Seems like many neighborhood porches have bags and boxes of fresh produce waiting to be shared.  That's one way to use the overflow from gardens and farm markets.  That fresh produce only lasts so long though.  What about the baked goods we make, or the preserves generated.  That's where people have to be careful.  Teri Barr joins us with an update from the WI Farmers Union on efforts to update the "Cottage Food" guidelines in the state.  Michelle Rameriz-White says some of these rules need to be revisited to allow small scale food processors market access.

The harvest has begun in some areas of the U.S.  John Heinberg, market advisor with Total Farm Marketing in West Bend joins Pam Jahnke to discuss.  Did the rain come in time to save much of the corn crop?  Good question and one that the market's weighing this morning.  Heinberg also points to early anxiety about China's purchases of soybeans, but also interest in corn and wheat!

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Bob Bosold and David Kohl talk about some of the many factors affecting the global economy.
Stu Muck recaps weekend storms and tells us we can expect some sunny days to kick off the beginning of the Wisconsin State Fair.
State Fair Foundation is selling Cabin Strength Bourbon to commemorate the 175th Anniversary! Pam Jahnke has the story. 
Insect Eavesdropper has recently received a patent! Emily Bick, UW Extension Specialist of Insects For Field and Forage Crops shares more.
Executive Director Theresa Baroun of Wisconsin Maple Syrup Producers Association sits down with Teri Barr to recount the affect weather has on syrup production. The deadline for their producers' survey is September 1.

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Dr. David Kohl,  Professor Emeritus, Virginia Tech is keeping an eye on the global economy and input costs of today's farm.  Kohl speaks with Bob Bosold about how outside forces can make some big ripples in Wisconsin's farming operations today, that will likely last into 2027.  He starts by discussing the energy complex and its impact on operating costs.  Kohls says he would expect that farms might be forced to make some difficult decisons about overall direction before the end of the year.

Rain is finally on the way for a majority of Wisconsin.  Stu Muck breaks down the path of precipitation and volume we can expect.

To date there's more than 18,000 cases of cyclospora that the Centers for Disease Control is tracking in 45 different states.  The argument over whether it was food borne in lettuce continues. Do stories like this change the way consumers approach buying produce?  Teri Barr finds out from Kathy Bures of Bures Berry Patch in Barneveld. Despite the fact that their name has "berry" the farm is involved in fresh market sales year round.  Bures says her customers know their protocol and are comfortable that their food source is safe.

It's probably one of the most under appreciated crops we have.  Alfalfa.  Now, alfalfa and forage producers have a new risk management tool available after a lot of education.  Beth Nelson, president of the National Alfalfa and Forage Alliance has a great "elevator pitch" to quickly educate staff members that might keep her from getting policy makers moving on program needs.  Pam Jahnke makes some notes on the high value of alfalfa.

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The Wisconsin State Fair offers 10 days of memory making experiences and the state's dairy industry wants to be front and center

Through unique partnerships at WI State Fair, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin works to connect directly with consumers.  One partnership accomplishing that is with the Wisconsin State Fair Dairy Promotion Board and Dairy Lane.  Stephanie Hughes, a dairy farmer that sits on DFW board representing district 12 says the fair’s milking demonstrations draw plenty of attention.  Hughes says that with branded educational materials, industry messaging and talking points, DFW is helping prepare Dairy Lane ambassadors to answer questions and share accurate, engaging information about dairy farming.

English-language milking demonstrations are held every day of the fair, and Spanish-language demonstrations are offered each weekend. That helps make dairy education more accessible to even more families.

It doesn't end there.  New this year is the partnership with Piggly Wiggly on August 14th. This special event will feature a Born To Dairy™ activation outside the Cream Puff Pavilion and Dairy Building from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It will be another fun opportunity for consumers to meet dairy farmers, learn more about Wisconsin dairy and celebrate what makes our state Born To Dairy™.

Hughes is also looking forward to the return of the always popular Blue Ribbon Dairy Products Auction.  Did you know that DFW creates the cheeseboard featuring the champion cheeses. It’s a beautiful—and delicious—way to highlight the quality, craftsmanship and variety of Wisconsin’s award-winning dairy products while celebrating the cheesemakers and dairy farmers who make them possible.

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From the field to the farmers market, Kathy Bures says buying local gives consumers confidence in where their food comes from -- and a stronger connection to the people who grow it. Teri Barr travels to the Bures Berry Patch to talk with Kathy about her Barneveld area farm.

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