We often think about the abundance and diversity of Wisconsin’s $116.3 billion agriculture industry, but you may not know about the abundant opportunities to explore the world of agriculture through educational tours and talks.
Local county, district, and state fairs offer hands on exposure to agriculture. In addition to the livestock shows and 4-H or FFA projects, there are also a variety of speakers and educational tents available. During my very first fair visit as Alice in Dairyland at the Lafayette County Fair, I taught fair goers how to make their own butter and the importance of our $52.8 billion dairy industry. This presentation continued at the Wisconsin State Fair, where I also talked about Wisconsin’s potato industry.
Additionally, many fairs offer agriculture exploration tents or exhibits. I found one such area while at the Rock County 4-H Fair! From ducks, to pheasants, honeybees, and matching games, there were many unique aspects of agriculture for people of all ages to interact with.
Beyond county fairs, farms across the state of Wisconsin offer farm tours. These farms may have educational displays or viewing windows that they utilize during visits from nursing homes, schools, and various other organizations. As we head into the fall season, Wisconsin’s apple orchards, corn mazes, and pumpkin patches will shine even brighter. We are home to over 4,000 acres of apple orchards and over 3,000 acres of pumpkin patches, providing ample opportunities to explore agriculture this fall!
For those who love Wisconsin winters, we have over 800 Christmas tree farms all across our state! They harvest over 700,000 trees on approximately 23,000 acres for us to enjoy. Associations such as the Wisconsin Christmas Tree Producers Association, Wisconsin Apple Growers Association, Wisconsin Maple Syrup Producers Association, and others provide interactive maps or location searching tools on their websites to connect you with local farms.
In addition to these seasonal opportunities, some locations offer agriculture education opportunities year round! The Farm Wisconsin Discovery Center in Manitowoc and the Food + Farm Exploration Center in Plover are two locations with abundant hands-on activities for visitors of all ages. These bustling agriculture adventure centers explore multiple parts of agriculture in Wisconsin, including dairy, crops, technology, and more. Agriculture experiences can be found all across our great state! To find a variety of ag-ventures available near you, visit wiagtourism.com.
If you haven’t had the chance to travel to these incredible agriculture locations, you may find that Wisconsin Agriculture in the Classroom is an excellent opportunity to bring agriculture to your school. They have various presentations, teacher resources, and a network of agriculture advocates to connect students to Wisconsin agriculture.
As Alice in Dairyland, I will visit classrooms across the state presenting our top commodities and specialty crops with Expedition Agriculture, highlighting the beef industry in Wisconsin, and celebrating Wisconsin potatoes. If you’re interested in having Alice visit your school, more information is available at aliceindairyland.com.
All Wisconsin consumers utilize a variety of agriculture products. Agriculture education and literacy continue to be vital to the success of our communities. Find the opportunities available, explore Wisconsin, and follow industry organizations or leaders such as Alice in Dairyland online for regular updates about Wisconsin’s agriculture industry!
Alice in Dairyland is a one-year, full-time public relations professional employed by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP). Each year, Alice in Dairyland travels over 45,000 miles, promoting Wisconsin agriculture, as authorized by Wis. Stat. § § 93.07(3), 93.40(1)(e), and 93.44(1)). Alice in Dairyland conducts hundreds of media interviews, speeches, and school presentations in her position.
— Anastasia Poull is the 79th Alice in Dairyland, Wisconsin’s agriculture ambassador who works with media professionals to educate consumers about the importance of agriculture to Wisconsin’s economy and way of life. She can be reached at anastasia.poull@wisconsin.gov.
