Wisconsin Life

Drummer Viola Smith was a musical trailblazer and innovator. Known as “the fastest girl drummer in the world,” her career lasted almost 100 years. Author Dean Robbins took a trip to her hometown in Fond du Lac County to tell us more about this legend. He’s also written a children’s picture book about the musician, “The Fastest Drummer: Clap Your Hands for Viola Smith!”

Wisconsin is America’s Dairyland. It’s a title we take seriously. From milk to cheese to butter, the dairy industry is a cash cow for the state, generating $45.6 billion a year for the state’s economy. For Wisconsin’s state legislators, it’s an industry worth protecting. WPR’s Jenny Peek brought us this story, which was inspired by an audience question as part of the WHYsconsin project.

Dreaming can help some people get through incredibly difficult times. Tandalaya Taylor of Madison talks about how daydreaming helped her overcome a major health crisis and appreciate everyday life. Taylor’s story came to us from the UW Odyssey Project, where low-income adults find their voices and earn college credit in an English literature course. Taylor was a guest on the new podcast ‘Inside Stories.’

What’s one of the best ways to combat hate? For Jesús Gregorio Smith of Appleton, it’s to push back with love…something he did after a homophobic sign appeared in town.

He shares his story as part of the “Home Is Here” project, which amplifies the voices of the growing number of Black, Asian, Native American and Latino residents who call northeastern Wisconsin home. The project is part of the NEW News Lab – a local news collaboration in northeastern Wisconsin made up of six news organizations.

Stokely Carmichael called her a “gutsy little sister.” Gwen Gillon became the youngest staff member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, or SNCC, and participated in Freedom Summer. Now, the Civil Rights pioneer calls Madison, Wisconsin home.

There’s an old saying about the United States Postal Service: “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night … etc…etc…” But, if you’re a driver delivering a package to the Lake Hallie home of writer Patti See? Well, good luck with that…

While Joseph Rey Torres of Oneida was on his path of self-discovery, something finally clicked for him. He realized he was two-spirit, which for him, meant embracing masculine and feminine identities. Torres talked about this with his adopted nephew and mentee Cory Carline of Green Bay during a StoryCorps Mobile Tour Stop in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Buddy Holly is a rock ‘n’ roll legend. In the 1950s, he became a musical torchbearer, helping popularize the genre with his band, The Crickets. They had big hits with songs like “That’ll Be The Day” and “Peggy Sue.”

Hollys life was cut short following a plane crash on “The Day the Music Died.” Just two days before that, his second to last show was in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Author and Buddy Holly fan Dean Robbins reflects back on that fateful tour, which included a number of stops in Wisconsin.

When we cook, we’re able to keep our family’s dishes and memories alive for generation after generation. That’s the case for Anne Marie Herman in Madison, who was raised on the Caribbean island of St. Lucia. To the delight of her friends, she continues to cook her family’s salt fish cakes. L. Malik Anderson produced this story.

Cooking can help us stay connected with our roots, our family’s culture. That’s the case for Mara Rintamaki of Oshkosh, who grew up in Brazil. Maria Brunetta brings us the story of the restaurant owner and one of her favorite dishes, estrogonofe de carne. It’s part of the Wisconsin Life series, Food Traditions.