Dear readers of Wisconsin News Paper Association,

Thank you so much for responding to my letter to the people of Wisconsin. I received an incredibly large number of packages (about 170!). Because of this, I hope you accept this collective thank you note.

I really appreciate all the time and effort you put in to mailing these packages to me, which is proof that Wisconsinites are extremely kind and friendly. I want to sincerely thank you for all the wonderful and thoughtful packages that you sent me. They included letters, magazines, newspapers, tour guides, postcards, brochures, maps, and countless items including t-shirts, jerseys, pens, keychains, magnets, stickers, baseball caps, chocolate, pictures, and cheese.

In May, we are going to have a big “State Fair” where we get to display all the information and items we received. The items that you sent will certainly show all the amazing and unique aspects of the state of Wisconsin! I learned about resources; Wisconsin is America’s dairy land and the top-producing state of cranberries; history; about the Great Peshtigo fire of 1871, many people are descendants from farmers in Europe or from native American tribes such as the Kickapoo; culture; Wisconsin’s main sports teams are: The Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Bucks, And Milwaukee Brewers, the state bird is the American robin, the state flower is the Common Blue Wood Violet, the state tree is the Sugar Maple, a common dance is the polka, and popular activities include: fishing, boating, canoeing, bird watching, camping, hiking, hunting, and snowmobiling (in the winter).

Some traditional foods are fried fish dinners (perch, cod, or walleye), a nice snack is cheese curds, and more than 350 other varieties of cheese. Other geography and facts are Wisconsin’s capital is Madison, Wisconsin’s population is 5.9 million. There are 3.5 million cows, and 15,000 freshwater lakes in the state. Wisconsin is surrounded by lakes and rivers except for in the South. There are many state forests and state parks in the North.

Wisconsin has 21 islands in the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.

Wisconsin’s fauna consists of deer, rabbits, turkey, fox, coyote, moose, elk, wolf, bald eagle, racoon, black bear, owls, all kinds of fish and birds, cows, and other farm animals.

Once again, I am extremely grateful for all of your help, and I hope that I can visit the wonderful state of Wisconsin sometime soon.

Sincerely, Milena