— Halei Heinzel is the 77th 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 halei.heinzel@wisconsin.gov.
Valentine’s Day has always been a fun holiday for me. I would meticulously plan which card each friend received in elementary school, making sure the saying was special to them. As I grew older, my list of cards to choose grew smaller without the big class parties, but I always enjoyed sharing a little something with those close to me, even the years I didn’t have a “traditional” valentine. As I started to come up with ideas for the special people in my life this year, I realized how special of a holiday I can make it with things grown and made right here in Wisconsin!
When most people think of Valentine’s Day gifts, they often think of flowers first, and for good reason! It is estimated that nearly 250 million flowers are sold globally for the holiday each year. While Valentine’s Day is a little too early for many of Wisconsin’s outdoor blooms, a little seasonal greenery or a house plant will let the green thumbs in your life know just how important they are to you.
Sweets are another popular gift for the holiday, and Wisconsin’s confectioners have just about anything you could want: hand-poured chocolates in endless shapes, chocolate-covered fruits or pretzels, handmade fudge, turtles, truffles, and so much more! Many confectioners here have combined creamy chocolate with iconic Wisconsin flavors like cherries, hazelnuts, cranberries, walnuts, and even cheese to add to the tastiness!
Quite a few jewelers call Wisconsin home, providing lots of options for Valentine’s Day gifts! The citrine or amethyst, different varieties of quartz found in the Alice in Dairyland tiara, would each make a beautiful stone in any piece, and can be found right here in Wisconsin! Citrine is a yellow or orange quartz while amethyst comes in different shades of purple. Both serve as wonderful reminders of Wisconsin’s strong mining history, and would certainly make a statement on Valentine’s Day!
A nice, home-cooked meal is a great way to spend some time with the people closest to you, and Valentine’s Day provides a great reason to step it up a notch! Our farmers work hard all year to provide delicious food options grown right here in this state; try combining several for a meal to remember! From the appetizer to the main course and all the way to dessert, every ingredient could come from your own community!
This Valentine’s Day, share some of Wisconsin’s best offerings with your special someone through the Something Special from Wisconsin program! Learn more at www.SomethingSpecialWI.com.
