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Alice in Dairyland Travel Journal Archive |
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Celebrate Consumer Protection Week!
Feb. 28, 2009
As Alice in Dairyland, I am a spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture, Trade & CONSUMER PROECTION. Today, I want to remind you to help federal, state, and local governments celebrate National Consumer Protection Week March 1 – 7.
This is the 11th annual event to educate consumers across the nation, and this year’s theme is: “Nuts and Bolts: Tools for Today’s Economy.” In the current economy, the Wisconsin Division of Trade and Consumer Protection reminds people to be cautious as consumers are a greater target for consumer fraud when times are tough. Look at the information to determine what is a real deal and what could be a fraudulent product or service.
Find more information about Consumer Protection this week at www.consumer.gov/ncpw to see tools to help you navigate in today’s economy.
Lunch with Harold and Norma Ranke
Feb. 27, 2009
Harold and Norma Ranke are very dedicated officers of the Racine County Dairy Leader’s Group. Each year, they work with just a few other people to run a successful food stand at the County Fair as well as plan other activities to promote the $20.6 billion dairy industry.
The Rankes and Jane Losee of the Wisconsin Dairy Council came to the Union Grove presentation. The Rankes had a special treat for the students – a cow-spotted pencil, a large eraser, and a coupon for an ice cream treat. The students were very excited about this treat and cheered to show their gratitude to Harold and Norma.
I enjoyed my time with Harold and Norma. After enjoying lunch with them, I made my way back to Madison to finish some office work. Thank you to Harold, Norma, and everyone who works at a county and community level to promote agriculture. Even though you aren’t wearing a tiara, you are certainly an ambassador and spokesperson for your industry!
Union Grove Elementary School
Feb. 27, 2009
After I removed the layer of ice from the Chevrolet Tahoe, I left my hotel for Union Grove Elementary School! There are four classes of fourth grade students at the school, and they were eager to learn more about Wisconsin agriculture.
The first two classes of students were full of energy and all wanted to participate in the game. Before we even started, they were asking questions about why Swiss Cheese had holes and if there was a cow with brown and black spots. When we started the Taste Wisconsin game, they were impressed with the fun facts.
The second group of students was much more quiet – very polite listeners! While they took awhile to get excited, once the game began, they were all trying to raise their hand the highest so that I would see them first! How about you try this Wisconsin Taste Wisconsin clue:
This fruit is high in Vitamin C to fight off infections and high in antioxidants to help keep your heart healthy.
We usually eat these with turkey at Thanksgiving and Christmas. We can buy them fresh, frozen, made into sauce and canned, or in a tart tasting juice.
This is our Official State Fruit from Wisconsin marshes.
Did you guess – Cranberries! Wisconsin ranks first in the nation for growing cranberries – more than 3.8 million barrels each year – over one-half (56%) of the United States supply. How many cranberries is that? The cranberries in Wisconsin weigh the same as 25,000 elephants!
Four Schools in Racine
Feb. 26, 2009
I am a huge fan of these school visits! Each school is so different and as an education major, it is fun to learn something at every visit. I had some great listeners today at John Paul’s School and some interesting questions at Janes Elementary School. The students really wanted to know the difference between an egg in their refrigerator and the egg a chick comes out of. I tried to explain that some eggs are for eating and some are for chicks since an egg needs to be fertilized. I thought that answer was pretty good, until a student asked what happens if you accidentally bought a fertilized egg, let it in your refrigerator for 21 days – would it hatch? I had to say that it would never hatch since an egg needs to be in an incubator or stay warm to hatch! Never a dull moment at the school visits – I love it!
I went to Prairie School in the afternoon where the students asked so many questions about Alice in Dairyland and Wisconsin agriculture that we hardly had time to play the Taste Wisconsin game! It was a lot of fun, and since Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board always leave a Taste Wisconsin board in the classroom, the teachers promised they could finish the game another day!
Finally, I stopped at Jefferson Lighthouse Elementary School. These students had just completed Math and were ready to have fun. This group was great at answering the game questions and listening to all the clues and information. It was bright inside the room even though the rain was falling outside!
Celebrate FFA Week!
Feb. 25, 2009
I was honored to be asked to part of the National FFA Organization’s FFA Week! This week is a time to celebrate the great leadership organization, participate in community service, and host fun activities. Tonight, Nicole Reese welcomed me back to Milton High School for their first Ag Olympics. The school was invited to a night of barnyard competitions. There were great prizes, live local music, and a very successful food drive bringing in thousands of items!
I spoke to the group about my involvement in FFA and how I thought it was an excellent organization! The theme of FFA this year is, “Stand Up, Stand Out.” This group has certainly embraced that standing out in their bright yellow t-shirts and giving back to their community. They definitely stand out from the school with their great teamwork and dedication to agriculture. I stayed for the night’s activities that included a Milk Chugging Contest, Pig Catching Contest, Hay Bale Toss Relays, and more. Although I have quite a competitive spirit, tonight I decided to help emcee the event instead of participate. It was fun to have a front row seat! Congratulations to the FFA for a successful week in Milton and across the state.
Want to learn more about FFA? Visit www.wisconsinffa.org! The State Officers have fun blogs to read just like this!
Three Schools in Racine
Feb. 25, 2009
I made four presentations at three schools today in Racine. I couldn’t believe how excited the morning group was at S.C. Johnson Elementary School! During my presentations, I ask the students to shout out “Number One!” for the industries we rank first in the nation such as cranberries, sauerkraut, snapping beans, and cheese. This group was very proud of their state and was so excited every time we found another number one. If an industry was two or three or ten in rank, they would want to know who was first immediately! I had to check my references as they wanted to know all the details! It was a lot of fun to challenge myself and see their excitement. Not only was the group excited, but also polite – they clapped for each of their classmates that answered correctly. Awesome way to start the day!
I followed with two more interesting presentations. At Mitchell Elementary School, the group had a lot of questions about my job as Alice in Dairyland. The biggest question of the day – what is my salary? It was great to explain that Alice in Dairyland is a full-time job with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection, and not a princess or beauty queen. The Racine Christian group I stopped at last today was excited to share their connections with agriculture. I heard stories about apple picking and backyard gardens. It was so sweet!
Prairie Lane Elementary School
Feb. 24, 2009
I came to Prairie Lane Elementary School for two presentations this afternoon. These students had lots of energy as the end of the day became closer! The hardest clues for these students were:
This was first harvested or gathered in Wisconsin from low lying wetlands and dried for winter diets by Native Americans.
This is a good source of protein, a super source of manganese – a mineral we need for strong bones, and a source of fiber to keep us healthy.
It is the seed of a tall grass that grows in shallow lakes and streams.
It must be harvested or gathered using small boats or canoes – in the traditional Native American way.
Do you know? Wild rice! Twelve northern Wisconsin counties permit wild rice harvesting – it is one of the foods tied to our state’s history. Rice grows best in cold climates and is native to Wisconsin and the Upper Midwest.
Strange Elementary School
Feb. 24, 2009
This morning I gave two Taste Wisconsin presentations at Strange Elementary School – and yes – the name of the school is Strange! I presented in a large group area in the school so everyone could see and actively participate. I have found that my favorite part of the presentation is when students ask me questions about what is important to them.
This clue was easy for the fourth graders – how about for you?
Farmers around the world grow this crop – it is grown on every continent except Antarctica – in Wisconsin, it is the official state grain.
This yellow vegetable supplies carbohydrates for energy and potassium to help your muscles contract.
This is grown on more than four million acres of Wisconsin land. It is food for us to eat, food for our animals to eat, and fuel for our vehicles.
You must know – it is corn! Wisconsin ranks 12th in the nation for growing sweet corn for fresh market. We rank second in the nation for growing corn silage for animal food. I always enjoy telling the students about my Chevrolet Flex-fuel Tahoe. A great partnership with GM and the Corn Promotion Board makes this vehicle possible and keeps me on the road!
One Day and Three Schools in Kenosha
Feb. 23, 2009
Today I started my second elementary school blitz! I made my way early this morning towards Racine and Kenosha Counties to visit many fourth grade classes with the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board.
My first stop was at McKinley Elementary School in Kenosha. I was embarrassed to first walk into McKinley MIDDLE School. The office staff quickly told me to go down the block to the ELEMENTARY school – that was only slightly embarrassing! The students laughed at me when I arrived at the correct school with that story. All of the students were excited to participate in the presentation, Taste Wisconsin.
Try your hand at these clues:
This is one of the 600 varieties, types, and styles of cheese made in Wisconsin.
The first full scale cheese factory was founded in 1859 by Hiram Smith. He was successful by processing the milk from other dairy farmers for a percentage of the profit.
This type of cheese has eyes – but can’t see. These eyes look like holes! These eyes are caused by carbon dioxide gas released from enzymes used to age and flavor the cheese.
This cheese can be bought in a lacey version, baby type, sliced, or cubed. I enjoy this type of cheese in a grilled cheese at the World Dairy Expo!
Did you guess the cheese – Swiss! Wisconsin’s over 1,200 licensed cheesemakers in Wisconsin make over 2.4 billion pounds of cheese each year – and win more awards than any other state or country.
I also made stops at Roosevelt Elementary School and Jane Vernon. The Roosevelt students all joined in the library for one large presentation. Since they had already learned about Wisconsin agriculture in Social Studies, it was a great review! I made two presentations at Jane Vernon. That worked out well since one class had many questions about the dairy industry – even asking what a milking machine looked like. To demonstrate that, I actually drew a picture on the chalkboard. Let me tell you I am not an artist.
After a great day, I checked in the hotel to catch up on office work! I am gearing up for another full day tomorrow!
Racine County 4-H Ambassador Conference
Feb. 21, 2009
In the snowy conditions, I made my way to Lake Geneva to speak to a group of Racine County 4-H ambassadors. This group was filled with enthusiasm and leadership skills. Each year, the 4-H ambassadors host this weekend Conference to learn new information and have a lot of fun!
The theme of the weekend was working with the media to promote a positive image! The group was lucky to have many great speakers including a radio personality and a newspaper reporter. I came to share my perspective on promoting agriculture in schools, events, and media interviews.
Many of the youth were involved in agriculture. We started by playing a modified version of Taste Wisconsin. I wanted the students to think about diverse and how big of an impact agriculture has on our state. We then spoke about the many careers possible in agriculture that use communications. About one in every eight people works in an agricultural-related field. No matter what job you do, communication skills are needed!
I finally explained my tips and experiences for working with media. Television, radio, print, and internet media help to spread important messages. The students had fun doing various activities. Before I left Lake Geneva, I signed many posters for the 4-H students. I was honored to speak to this group since I think 4-H is such a great youth organization that supports agriculture.
Phone Interview with Bob Meyer
Feb. 20, 2009
On my lunch break today, I jumped on the phone with Bob Meyer. Bob is a great partner of the Alice in Dairyland program allowing us to have a monthly discussion.
We again promoted the grape and wine industry. We discussed how grapes are crushed and have their stems and leaves removed before making wine. Red wines are then fermented for 10 – 14 days with their skins – that allows the wine to have the deep color. White wines are also fermented, but without their skin.
After fermentation, the wine is aged in stainless steel and wooden barrels. Different barrels give the wine a different taste. A French wooden barrel may give a wine a smooth taste. An American wooden barrel may give a wine a robust taste. A barrel can age 60 gallons or 300 wine bottles. The barrels can be reused for four to six years as long as they are cleaned each year.
After the wine is aged properly, it is filtered and bottled. There are almost 40 wineries across Wisconsin to tour. Travel to a local winery today to support your local farmer, business, and economy. Pair a local wine with local foods for your weekend event! More information on grapes and wine can be found at: www.wigrapes.org and www.wiswine.com.
Waupaca High School
Feb. 20, 2009
What a beautiful school and beautiful group of students! This morning I drove to Waupaca to visit with five high school classes. I spoke to Jenifer Erb’s Introduction to Agriculture classes, an Adaptive Agriculture class, and a Vet Science class.
I was immediately impressed with the warm welcome (the Principal of this huge school showed me my way to the ag room – that doesn’t happen often!) and the knowledge of the students. The students had prepared questions so besides just giving my presentation, the high schoolers challenged me with questions. Some of my favorites:
What kind of gem is on your crown that you get to keep? Amethyst – it is indigenous to Wisconsin.
What classes or organizations helped you get this job? My education at UW-Madison, FFA, and 4-H made this job possible for me!
Do you know about the Danger Zone? The student stumped me. He was referring to the Danger Zone in Food Science between 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit!
Do you have the best job in the world? YES! If you could, would you be Alice again? YES! What are the pros and cons of the job? All pros – no cons! All days end up being a great experience and wonderful memories to keep!
Do you have a lot of paperwork? Yes, but it is fun – blogs, written articles, and speeches are fun to write!
Have you tried Limburger cheese? Yes – it is a cheese unique to Wisconsin. The Chalet Cheese Cooperative is the only place in the nation that makes this cheese!
What are you planning on doing after Alice? Find a job in agriculture communications or education.
Are guys allowed to be “Alice?” There has never been a male Alice, but there are over 300 careers in agriculture for you to choose from!
I really had a great day at this school and appreciate the time of the staff and students!
Wisconsin Grazing Conference
Feb. 20, 2009
Tonight I made my way from Waupaca to Stevens Point for the 17th Annual Wisconsin Grazing Conference. I was honored to not only be able to meet some wonderful people of the Wisconsin agriculture industry, but also introduce the Keynote Speaker, Joel McNair.
Joel McNair is the editor and publisher of Graze, a monthly magazine by grazers for grazers. Joel describes there is no magic formula for success as many management and operation sizes can work. He prides himself in presenting information and allowing the reader to choose the path. Joel was part of the original Wisconsin Grazing Conference, and the great tradition continues today. Joel himself is a grass farmer with his wife, Ruth, and his two children. The family has a flock of sheep and herd of dairy heifers. It was interesting to hear his perspective on the grazing industry and the future of agriculture. He emphasized that the group needed to be enthusiastic and positive about the future!
Grass-based farming in Wisconsin is growing. The future of agriculture continues to move to greener pastures as producers meet the demand of consumers. There are grass-fed cheeses, meats, and other products for people to choose in the grocery store or at the farmer’s market. The atmosphere today promoted the quality of the product! Thank you to this Conference for including me in this event!
Preliminary Interviews in Madison
Feb. 19, 2009
I had been looking forward to today for weeks – Preliminary Interview for the 62nd Alice in Dairyland! While I am not ready to be done with my job, I was excited to meet many qualified women who share my passion and experience!
From the interview today, which included a face-to-face interview and written exercise, the selection panel selected six finalists to be the next Alice. Since I am not involved in the decision, I was lucky to just meet these women and give encouragement.
Do you want to know the six finalists? So do I! Unfortunately, we have to wait to know the six Alice in Dairyland finalists until Friday, March 27. The finalists will be announced in Racine County on Friday, March 27 before the final selection in Burlington in May! Good luck to everyone who interviewed today!
Radio Interviews and Office Time
Feb. 18, 2009
Today was a day of office time and radio! I took time today to prepare some written articles, write many notes of thanks, and get ready for the second blitz next week in Racine and Kenosha.
I spoke with Rae Nell Halbur of the Wisconsin Farm Report for our monthly report. The monthly interview is possible because of support by Ottery Trucking Transportation. Ottery Trucking takes milk from 160 dairy farms in eight counties to six Wisconsin dairy plants. I also visited with Amber Gonske of Rice Lake. It was Amber’s birthday today so we had fun in our discussion.
In both interviews, we promoted the grape and wine industry. Wisconsin is a successful area for grape production because of the land and climate. To establish a new vineyard, producers need to begin in spring. The woody perennial vine can produce grapes for a century, but most plants peak at 25 years. It takes four years to establish a vineyard since you have to train the trunk and branches to grow strong for production.
The entire grape crop can be determined by pruning in March. It takes skill to prune the plants. Eighty percent of the shoots are removed, leaving 30 to 50 buds per plant. Two or three clusters of grapes will come from each bud. While anyone can pick grapes, it takes experience to properly prune and train the vines. A producer can expect ten pounds of fruit from each vine or four tons of grapes per acre. A great fact to know is that small grapes do not mean a poor crop. Even if the grape is small, its sugar content may be stronger making it great for wine!
Grape acres in Wisconsin continue to grow. In 2002, Wisconsin had 121 grape bearing acres. In 2007, our state had 278 acres bearing grapes! This industry will continue to impact Wisconsin!
Middle and High School Visits in East Troy
Feb. 17, 2009
Back to middle and high school for me! While I had been touring elementary schools the last two weeks, I was glad to be back with the older students again.
I started at the middle school. I couldn’t believe how awesome this group of youth were! They were excited to learn new facts, willing to participate in activities, and were very attentive!
I started by explaining the nine essential vitamins and minerals in milk. To represent how Calcium and Phosphorus keep your bones and teeth strong, I showed the group a bone and toothbrush. To symbolize how Riboflavin gives you energy, I showed the group a battery. It was fun to see how many vitamins and minerals the group could remember.
At the high school, the students were more interested in seeing how much sugar was in soda, fruit punches, and sports drinks. In a 20-ounce cola, you have 17 teaspoons of sugar and in an artificially-flavored fruit punch, you will find 21 teaspoons of sugar. Choose your drinks wisely! You need three to four servings of dairy a day to stay healthy!
Elementary Visits in East Troy
Feb. 17, 2009
I visited Chester Byrnes Elementary School to speak to one of the Kindergarten classes. Mrs. Fitch and her class welcomed me warmly to the room. I answered questions about my tiara and my parent’s farm. Some of the students lived on a farm and shared what they knew about farm animals in Wisconsin!
I then shared a story called, Out and About on a Dairy Farm. The students had learned about the Food Pyramid and knew many dairy products like yogurt, milk, cheese, cottage cheese, butter, and ice cream. The students enjoyed learning about how milk goes from the cow to processing plant to your house.
Finally, I had to give the students the opportunity to taste a dairy product! As a class, we made yogurt parfaits! I was impressed with the patience of the students while we passed out materials. No one had ever tried a yogurt parfait so it was a special treat! Students enjoyed vanilla yogurt, fruit cocktail, and Cheerio’s cereal together. I gave the students the option to take one “No Thank You Bite” if they didn’t like it. Everyone had to try it, but they didn’t have to eat all of it.
I really enjoyed this visit! The young students understood three servings a day and promised to eat dairy products in exchange for an Alice in Dairyland “got milk?” poster!
On the Radio in East Troy and Racine
Feb. 17, 2009
This morning I spent some time on the phone with two radio stations. I started by speaking on WSLD 104.9 FM. I introduced myself and my role as Alice in Dairyland. We also discussed my upcoming day in East Troy. Katy Katzman of the local Dairy Promotion organized a full day of visits in the school and community. I was very excited to tell the station about the large number of students we would reach in one day.
I also spoke on the phone with Paul Kern of the Racine Radio Group. Paul was interested in hearing about my upcoming travels in Racine with Taste Wisconsin. Paul asked me what happens in a presentation. I discussed that I begin by explaining agriculture is a business that contributes to the state economy. Agriculture has a $51.5 billion economic impact in our state each year! The class then participates in the Taste Wisconsin activity following food from the farm to the grocery store. The Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection make this program possible!
Kiwanis Meeting in East Troy
Feb. 17, 2009
During the lunch hour, Katy Katzman and I stayed on the road going to the local Kiwanis meeting. I explained my role as Alice in Dairyland and the impact of agriculture on the state of Wisconsin. The audience was filled with fans of all ages so we discussed how the agriculture industry in Wisconsin continues to change. Agriculture modernizes and innovates to remain competitive.
It was interesting to answer the questions of the audience. Kiwanis members asked about the loss of the family farm and the use of hormones in milk. I was glad to report that in Wisconsin, 99% of dairy farms are still family-owned with an average herd size of about 90 cows. I also explained that by buying local products, consumers can make choices about what they drink and eat. Buying local connects the producer and the consumer.
Thank you to Katy Katzman for a successful and busy day! Thank you to the East Troy community for your support and enthusiasm for agriculture.
Time in Madison
Feb. 16, 2009
Today I was lucky to spend time in Madison with close friends! These friends have been loyal blog readers and great supporters of my year as Alice in Dairyland. We had dinner and even went bowling! I have to proudly announce I dominated the second bowling game with a huge score of 124! Sad, but true, that was the highest score! Days like this make me ready to take on the world as Alice tomorrow!
Happy Valentine's Day!
Feb. 14, 2009
Happy Valentine's Day from me to all the blog readers! At the schools, students have been excited to exchange candy hearts and personal cards. Since I will be spending part of my Valentine's Day at an ice fishing contest, I will share with you Wisconsin aquaculture facts!
Fishing in Wisconsin may be your favorite hobby or vacation, but it can also be your favorite agriculture industry. Aquaculture, or fish farming, is the raising of aquatic organisms in controlled environments and has been a part of Wisconsin agriculture since 1856.
Wisconsin ranks seventh in trout, producing 575,000 pounds in 2006. Our state’s aquaculture industry annually contributes over $7 million in sales to the state’s economy.
The aquaculture industry in Wisconsin is diverse. There are over 150 commercial Wisconsin fish farms that raise fish for three reasons: food, stocking (both pond and lake), and fishing as bait or recreational.
There are certain species that are more popular for Wisconsin fish farms based on their preferred climate and growing ability. Fathead minnows and white suckers are common baitfish; however bluegills, hybrid bluegills, and yellow perch are popular pan fish. Game fish in Wisconsin are most often trout, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and northern pike.
When buying local foods, makes sure to remember your Wisconsin locally grown fish. There are many ways to find Wisconsin fish. Visit a restaurant and select one of Wisconsin’s popular species like trout or perch. At the grocery store, always look for the Wisconsin table. A fun activity for you, your family, and friends would be to visit a Wisconsin Fish Farm. You can take a tour and try your hand at fishing!
Buying local is important for you, your community, and our economy. By buying from a local farmer, you are allowing the money to stay in your community that will help businesses to thrive. Local foods are harvested and are available to you fresh when they taste the best and have the most nutrients.
Wisconsin fish are a good choice for not only great taste, but great nutrition. The American Heart Association encourages people to have two or more meals of fish per week as a part of a balanced diet. Fish is high in protein, potassium, and Omega-3 essential fatty acids. Low in fat, calories, and cholesterol, fish is linked to a reduced risk of stroke, heart disease, and depression.
In the United States, we most often think of fish on Friday evenings. On average, Americans eat almost 17 pounds of fish each year. Our fish supply is a renewable resource that continues to grow.
Happy Valentine's Day and consider fish when ordering your romantic dinner!
C.H. Bird Elementary School Ends the Week
Feb. 13, 2009
I ended the Dane County blitz at C.H. Bird Elementary. The group had finished their Valentine’s Day candy and came in the library armed with lots of questions. I enjoyed answering the student questions and then quizzing them on Wisconsin products. The group was excited to learn about how diverse Wisconsin agriculture is – from wild rice to pork to cherries! I thanked them for their enthusiasm with a delicious piece of Colby Cheese from Maple Leaf in Green County!
The Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board reached over 3,000 students in seven days with Taste Wisconsin! It was a great week, and I look forward to the next blitz in Racine and Kenosha Counties!
Westside Elementary School
Feb. 13, 2009
My afternoon included a stop at Westside Elementary School. This group had a busy day with Jump Rope for Heart and a Valentine’s Day party. They still had time, though, to learn more about Wisconsin agriculture. Try these clues:
This is a source of the highest quality protein of any food and is one of just a few foods that naturally contains Vitamin D.
White ones are produced with birds with white feathers, and brown ones are produced by birds with brown feathers.
It takes 24-26 hours to produce each one – each bird produces about 300 each year.
You guessed it! Eggs! Each year, Wisconsin farms produce 1.4 billion eggs – enough for every Wisconsinite to eat one every other day. About five million of these birds are part of Wisconsin agriculture!
Horizon Elementary School
Feb. 13, 2009
My visit to Horizon Elementary School will be one I remember for a long time. The three classes of students were patiently waiting in a large room when I arrived. They were all set with questions to ask and papers for me to autograph. We only finished part of the planned, Taste Wisconsin presentation, because I spent most of the time answering questions! The group was very knowledgeable about agriculture and Alice in Dairyland.
Some of the fun questions included:
Do you live in a palace? (No – I live in a small, Madison apartment!)
What stones are in the tiara? (Amethyst and Citrines – indigenous to Wisconsin!)
How lucky are you to be Alice in Dairyland? (Very, very, very lucky!)
Do you have a bodyguard? (No, Alice does all of her own driving and traveling – and I enjoy every drive across beautiful Wisconsin!)
I was very appreciate of their preparation and questions so I signed a poster for each of them – all 77 students!
Last Day in Dane County: Sacred Hearts
Feb. 13, 2009
For my last day of school visits in Dane County, I drove throughout Sun Prairie. I started at Sacred Heart. These two fourth grade classes joined to learn more about Wisconsin agriculture. We were joined by the Wisconsin State Journal, who wanted to showcase this brand new educational tool, Taste Wisconsin. The students really wanted to participate in the game adding clues to the board. We proudly shouted out that Wisconsin is first in the nation in cranberries, snapping beans, cheese, and sauerkraut production. The Wisconsin State Journal got fun shots of the students playing the game!
A Tour of Dane County
Feb. 12, 2009
Today I took a tour of the county! I started my morning at Eagle Point Elementary School in DeForest. The students started their day in the cafeteria with me discussing Wisconsin agriculture. Could you guess these clues early in the morning:
Wisconsin farms grow over 300 different kinds of this fruit on trees – you might go and pick them in an orchard in the fall.
A fruit that has no fat or cholesterol and contains lots of fiber to keep you healthy. Most of the nutrients are found right under the skin so it’s best to eat them with the peel on!
The average America eats 65 of these in one year, teachers probably eat more, and one a day keeps the doctor away!
Do know that its – apples? Wisconsin grows 59 million pounds of apples every year on threes in 46 of the 72 counties – giving us a rank of 9th in the nation for this fruit.
After I left DeForest, I was warmly welcomed by a sign at Northside Elementary School in Sun Prairie! One class of students had made me a welcome sign that read, “Welcome to Northside Alice!” The large group of students was excited to learn about agriculture and had lots of questions for me about my job. I enjoyed working with this group, and we took class pictures after the Taste Wisconsin activity.
I ended my day presenting to the Waubesa Intermediate School fourth graders. I student taught at this school so it was great to come back to see teachers and students. Since there are so many students, I did Taste Wisconsin two different times. The students were interested in knowing my favorite animal, fruit, cheese, and how I became Alice. Student questions make each visit interesting. You have to knowledgeable, because they will ask about many details!
I finally made my way back to the office to finish some desk work!
Two Schools, One Scrabblefest, and TV
Feb. 11, 2009
I started this morning at Cesar Chavez Elementary School in Madison. There are seven classes of students so I did the Taste Wisconsin presentation three times to reach all of them! This group is learning about agriculture and enjoyed trying to stump me with their Wisconsin knowledge. The group understood the different breeds of dairy cattle and that an adult Holstein weighs about 1,400 – 1,500 pounds! One student even was familiar with the honey bee industry! It was interesting to learn from the classes!
I took a short break from my Taste Wisconsin mania to go to Scrabblefest. Each year, First Lady Jessica Doyle welcomes middle school students to the Executive Residence to participate in a Scrabblefest that promotes literacy. It is a fun activity that allows students to meet and participate in an educational activity. I came to the event to greet the group and meet many wonderful students. I told the students that agriculture is a large economic factor in the state, and I travel to promote it. I congratulated the students for participating and wished them luck! Although I only stayed a short time, I had a great time seeing friends!
I traveled to Lindbergh Elementary School for an afternoon visit. The three teachers were very kind and excited to see their students to succeed at the game. Even on the hard questions, the group was very attentive and helpful to encourage other classmates.
I ended my day at the NBC-15 studio. Leigh Mills is very familiar with agriculture as her father-in-law has a farm with crops and livestock. She is very supportive of my programs and was glad to feature Wisconsin agriculture in her Top 5 at 5 interview segment. We discussed how agriculture is important to Wisconsin since it is a $51.5 billion agriculture industry. I then quizzed Leigh on five top agricultural industries that I picked out: Muenster Cheese, Cranberries, Green Beans, Cabbage Sauerkraut, and Corn. I really enjoyed this interview and stressing the importance of agriculture and this presentation, Taste Wisconsin!
School Visits in Madison Schools
Feb. 10, 2009
I am really enjoying my tour of Dane County schools. Each one has a very different atmosphere, and it is fun to meet the students and staff. I started my morning at Kennedy Elementary. The students at Kennedy really wanted to participate and were sad I had only 20 products to guess – I think they would have kept going! Each class I visit receives many handouts from the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board and a piece of Colby Cheese from Maple Leaf Cheese Factory in Green County.
I spent my afternoon at Van Hise Elementary School in Madison. The students at Van Hise had a lot of energy with the warm, beautiful weather, but they sat down long enough to help me define agriculture as food, fuel, and fiber!
Since the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board is reaching over 3,000 students with this new program, Taste Wisconsin, the media are excited to learn more. Today I spoke on the phone with Brock Havens of Q106.3. I explained that this program is possible with the support of the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection. This interactive presentation challenges students to think about how agriculture impacts them in an economic and nutritional way!
Starting the Second Blitz Week in Madison
Feb. 09, 2009
Today three schools were on my schedule in the city of Madison. I started my morning at Emerson Elementary School. When I was a college student at UW-Madison, I had worked at an after school program at Emerson Elementary so it was fun to see some familiar staff and places. The students were very excited for so early in the morning.
I then traveled only a short distance to meet students from Eastside Lutheran School. This group of students had awesome questions for ME! They had learned about Wisconsin agriculture in their fall semester so they were knowledgeable about the basic Wisconsin industries. They asked many questions about Alice in Dairyland and my home farm.
Finally, I ended the day at John Muir. I spoke to the group of 70 students. The teachers were very welcoming and gave me a lot of time to quiz the students on the twenty mystery products. Try this trivia:
About 440,000 of these animals live on Wisconsin farms.
It is a Wisconsin-raised meat that is an excellent source of thiamin, a B-vitamin needed to help our bodies use energy from food.
This meat is used to make pepperoni, ham, bacon, sausage, or chops.
If you guessed PORK, you are right! Wisconsin produced 218 million pounds of pork in 2007 – that is 14 of every 100 pounds in the United States! Our favorite football team is named after this industry – the Green Bay Packers!
National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans
Feb. 08, 2009
Many people know that I am a huge fan and supporter of our state’s veterans. Today, I had the opportunity and honor to meet veterans at the Memorial Veteran’s Hospital in Madison.
Each year, the hospital has guests come the week before Valentine’s Day to celebrate Hospitalized Veterans Day! This event is intended to lift the spirits of our hospitalized veterans. Many of these people have grown up in the Midwest and have a connection to agriculture. I visited many rooms today to meet these veterans and share my background. I also heard many interesting stories. One man received a Purple Heart from the Battle of the Bulge. Another man told me that 65 years ago – to the day – he began his Death March after being captured as a POW when his plane was shot down. These people have incredible stories and deserve much more than the thanks I could give them!
I signed many posters for the veterans and guests at the hospital. In my mind, I was not the celebrity – they were! Richard, a volunteer at the hospital, spent the day showing me around and sharing his stories on the farm as a boy, as a soldier in Vietnam, and as a seed expert in the agriculture industry.
Remember your Wisconsin veterans everyday! They come from our state’s farms and agricultural communities! This was a day I definitely felt lucky to be ‘Alice!’
Chippewa Falls Wine and Food Tasting
Feb. 07, 2009
I drove south to Chippewa Falls for the Kiwanis Wine and Cheese Tasting. I was invited by the Chippewa County Milk Promoters, Inc. The group wanted me to attend to encourage people to try some Wisconsin cheese!
Yellowstone Cheese, Inc. of Cadott is a farmstead operation that offers over 40 varieties of Wisconsin cheese. Yellowstone is known for fresh cheese curds, and tonight, I encouraged people to try the plain and garlic cheese curds!
Cheese was a big hit with the crowd of over 500 people. The guests had the opportunity to try food from local businesses with local beers and wines! Remember that when you are buying local, you are supporting local businesses, communities, and economies.
At the event, I stood by the Milk Promoters booth and met many great people. I also gave a short address to the large crowd thanking them for supporting the Kiwanis group of Chippewa. Finally, I walked throughout the crowd and sampled the delicious food! Many communities have events like this, and I think it is a great way to try new foods and drinks from your own backyard!
Indianhead Sheep Breeders 15th Annual Event
Feb. 07, 2009
This morning I made the drive to Rice Lake to attend the Indianhead Sheep Breeders Association’s 15th Annual Shepherd’s Clinic and Trade Show. This group works to promote the sheep and lamb industry and educate people across Wisconsin about its importance. At this clinic, producers join together to share information and learn from great speakers.
Now I was invited to this event as a speaker. Unfortunately, due to a cold, I was barely doing any speaking at all. I did take the microphone, but after a few minutes of squeaking out words, they just laughed with me, and I had to sit down.
I wasn’t totally useless though! I helped with this event’s live auction. The group does a lot of work in the state to not only give scholarships to future sheep producers but also to promote the sheep business! I carried around auction items to encourage bidding. They auctioned off everything from sheep’s milk cheese to lamb milk replacer to Wisconsin sports items. It was a huge success!
After the auction, I managed to lead a youth activity for the young producers in the crowd! I explained my role as Alice in Dairyland and how I was involved in farming. I helped the group understand the definition of agriculture by playing Taste Wisconsin! I emphasized that Wisconsin’s $51.5 billion agriculture industry is diverse!
Finally, I wanted to share with the youth how important the sheep industry is in Wisconsin from food to fuel to fiber! As a group, we thought about the many careers needed to go from a sheep farm to a wool sweater or a delicious lamb chop or piece of cheese. There are over 300 careers in agriculture, and I hope these students will choose one of them!
Before leaving, I signed posters for this bunch. Just how big is the sheep industry in Wisconsin? There are 2,816 farms in Wisconsin with sheep making us rank 8th nationally. Our state has about 85,000 sheep on these farms. The value of wool production in Wisconsin is almost $200,000! That is a lot of wool from the 62,000 sheep shorn last year – about 440,000 pounds of wool to be exact! Think how many wool coats or sweaters we wear in this cold weather – remember your hard working sheep producers!
School Visits in Verona and Mount Horeb
Feb. 06, 2009
Today I stayed in the area for Day Two of the Dane County Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board Blitz! I first visited Country View School in Verona where I met with two fourth grade classes. These students were really excited to participate in the activity. Everyone wanted to come to the Taste Wisconsin board to add a picture.
I then traveled to Mount Horeb to meet with seven classes of fourth graders! Together we completed the Taste Wisconsin activity three times! It was a great afternoon. We even had a video camera on hand to tape the presentation and do interviews for a Dairy Impact video. I was very impressed with the kindness and enthusiasm of the students. They asked many great questions. It is always interesting to hear what is important to the fourth grade students!
Star Country Interview
Feb. 06, 2009
John and Tammy welcomed me back on 96.3 FM Star Country this morning to promote the brand new Taste Wisconsin activity. These two lucky morning personalities were getting ready for a trip to Mexico, but found time to discuss the importance of agriculture, my upcoming visits to area schools, and try some of the trivia questions.
Here is one of the questions I asked Madison morning listeners. Do you think you could guess the answer to this clue?
This Wisconsin-made dairy product is full of calcium to help bones grow and stay strong. If you eat one piece of this, you are getting one of the three to four servings of dairy foods you should have each day.
It is recognized by a bright orange color on the outside edges and the creamy white inside.
The name of this cheese may remind you of some scary tings that go bump in the night or hide under your bed.
The answer is…Muenster! Wisconsin makes two out of every three pounds of Muenster cheese, making us the leader in the nation!
Park Elementary in Cross Plains
Feb. 05, 2009
To complete my day in Dane County, I visited Park Elementary in Cross Plains. Karen Jones, the Principal gave me a kind introduction and stayed to enjoy the presentation with the 60 energetic students. This was a bright bunch and quickly answered my clues. They had a lot of great questions about my experiences as Alice including wondering how you can walk in a cranberry marsh! I had to share my hip wader story from September!
Thank you to the teachers and guests who helped snap many great pictures today!
Elm Lawn in Middleton
Feb. 05, 2009
Taste Wisconsin is interactive, and the students at Elm Lawn were ready to go! We discussed the huge impact of agriculture on our state’s economy and our daily lives. I always ask the students why agriculture is a business and why agriculture is like a grocery store. The best part of Taste Wisconsin is to share with students where their food, fuel, and fiber can come from – right here in Wisconsin!
Sugar Creek in Verona
Feb. 05, 2009
At each school, I was warmly welcomed! At Sugar Creek in Verona, we filled a classroom with 66 eager students. I think we had some future Alice in Dairyland’s in the crowd. There were great questions!
Do you want to try your hand at guessing a product?
This was Wisconsin’s first major crop – many farms grew this in the early 1800’s – before switching over to dairy farming.
For fiber in your diet, include whole grain versions of this crop. Whole grain means that the entire grain is ground up to eat.
Most of this crop grown in Wisconsin is used for feeding cows and other farm animals – although it can be made into bread or cereal for people to enjoy.
Did you guess it – Wheat! Wisconsin grows almost 20 million bushels of wheat every year. How big is a bushel? About the size of a small round laundry basket!
Glacier Edge in Verona
Feb. 05, 2009
Today was the day! I had two radio interviews today to promote the first day of school visits. I spoke with WEKZ of Monroe about the purpose of the fourth grade school blitzes and America’s Dairyland. Taste Wisconsin, the fourth grade program, is possible because of a partnership between the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board and the Wisconsin Department of Ag, Trade & Consumer Protection.
I also spoke with Stephanie Klett of Discover Wisconsin radio. I told Stephanie that during the presentations, I give students Wisconsin-related clues about a Wisconsin-grown food. The students guess what I am referring to and have the chance to put the piece on the beautiful picture of the farm. I also explained to Stephanie the selection of Alice in Dairyland and shared my best and most challenging experiences!
School visits will definitely go down as one of my most enjoyable experiences as Alice in Dairyland. Look at these pictures of today! It was a fun day to debut the brand new program!
Get Ready, Get Set, BLITZ!
Feb. 04, 2009
The Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board has been planning for months, and tomorrow is the big day: the debut of the Taste Wisconsin fourth grade activity! I can’t believe it!
Nicole Breunig and I loaded the Chevrolet Flex-Fuel Tahoe last week – look at the picture to see it – WOW! At each visit, the teacher receives a copy of this interactive activity and other educational activities. The students receive a fun activity to keep as well as an Alice in Dairyland poster and postcard. Everyone also gets a delicious snack from Maple Leaf Cheese Factory in Green County! There has been a lot of counting to get everything ready! Since I am visiting schools in Dane County for seven days, there have been thousands of papers and cheese sticks to count!
I am nervous and excited for this big Thursday. Do you want a sneak peak at the activity? Try one of the trivia questions:
These berries are high in Vitamin C and low in calories – to make a tasty, healthy snack. One of these berries will have 400 seeds – on the outside. These berries cannot be picked by a machine. They must be harvested by hand each summer – you might pick them with your family.
Can you guess what I am talking about – strawberries! Wisconsin ranks eighth in the nation for strawberry production. Wisconsin farms grow over 1,000 acres of strawberries each year – enough to fill over 8 million jars of strawberry jam.
Do you know how big an acre is? About the size of a football field!
Wisconsin Ranks Second in Vegetables!
Feb. 03, 2009
This summer, I had a chance to tour a Wisconsin vegetable farm in Two Rivers. This week when reading the news, I saw the headline that Wisconsin is the second highest state in overall vegetable production!
Wisconsin remains number one in processing snap beans. In 2008, Wisconsin produced 40 percent of the nation’s crop with 326,870 tons of production on 80,500 acres. That is an acre increase of 10,600 from 2007! Wisconsin has a great climate to produce this high quality crop.
Wisconsin is second place in processing sweet corn producing 651,570 tons in 2008 on 87,600 acres. There are about 600 kernels on every ear of corn with 15 rows. Do you want some more trivia? There is also about one strand of silk on each ear of corn for each kernel. Can you believe it? Wisconsin needs different varieties of corn for food for us, our animals, and fuel for our vehicles. Corn is used as an ingredient in 3,500 different food products.
When I was younger, I used to really enjoy when green peas were ready to pick from the garden. In 2008, Wisconsin ranked third in green pea production with 76,060 tons on 40,100 acres. Another summer treat is cucumbers from the garden. Wisconsin ranks fourth in the nation for cucumbers for pickles, producing 39,480 tons on 7,100 acres in 2008.
Wisconsin is a vegetable garden with many options for buying local. Plan your garden for the spring now, and include some Wisconsin snap beans, sweet corn, green peas, cucumbers, carrots, onions – the list goes on! Before we know it, it will be warm again, and you will be able to buy local to support local farmers, businesses, and economies. Sign up for CSA (Community-Supported Agriculture) or pick a farmer’s market to attend!
A Day of Rest
Feb. 02, 2009
After driving across Wisconsin, everyone needs a day to rest! Here is a picture of my kitten, Kayley, relaxing with me! It was an exciting two weeks promoting America’s Dairyland and now I am reenergized for school visits!
Thank you WMMB and Dairy Companies!
Feb. 01, 2009
With the end of the Specialty Dairy Media Campaign, a huge thank you goes out to Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board for all of their information and great website, www.eatwisconsincheese.com.
I also would like to thank the 13 Wisconsin dairy companies that have donated time and product to spread the word about America’s Dairyland! It has been a fun run across the state promoting these products, and I am looking forward to the next challenge: fourth grade school visit blitzes for seven weeks this spring as well as other events, interviews, and the 62nd Alice in Dairyland Finals!
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Contact the Alice In Dairyland Program at:
2811 Agriculture Dr. PO Box 8911
Madison WI 53708-8911
Phone (608) 224-5127
