There is still time to add the Badger Ag Tour to your Fall Conference registration! Get a unique perspective on some of the most enterprising ag operations in the great state of Wisconsin. The cost for this tour is $75 and includes breakfast and lunch. See below for a full schedule of the day’s activities.
Does this sound like a great way to start off your Fall Conference experience? Register Now!
Tuesday, September 19
7:30 a.m.: Depart the hotel.
Stop #1 – Theresa, WI:
Confections for Any Occasion | Chocolate is a specialty for this blind entrepreneur, Joel Bernhard. All of his delectable chocolates are made with real Wisconsin butter and his company proudly participates in Something Special from Wisconsin, Travel Wisconsin and Discover Dodge County. In addition to gourmet chocolates, the store features a variety of other Wisconsin-made products, including sausages, mustards, maple syrup, cheese spreads and honey. We’ll tour the store, learn a little bit about chocolate making and, of course, do some shopping.
Widmer’s Cheese Cellars | This cheese plant has been home to three generations of Widmer cheesemakers. Joe Widmer, current owner and master cheesemaker, still makes Brick cheese the old-fashioned way by using bricks to gently squeeze the whey from the curd. Widmer has won many awards for his handcrafted cheeses. We will learn about the company’s history, watch cheesemaking in action and sample cheese.
Stop #2 – Fond du Lac, WI:
Vir-Clar Farms | Katie (Boyke) and Grant Grinstead and JR Boyke are the third generation on this family farm and currently manage it with their parents, Gary and Rose Boyke. The family has 2,000 cows and farms 2,800 acres of land. Methane digesters produce enough renewable electric power for approximately 800 homes. Cows are milked three times a day in a double-30 parlor. All the calves are raised on the farm and the family counts on 32 full-time employees to help Vir-Clar run smoothly. Katie will lead us on a tour of the entire farm and explain how this modern dairy farm gives animals the best care possible to produce wholesome, nutritious milk.
En route to Milwaukee: Beer and Cheese Pairing | We’ll match three Wisconsin craft beers with specialty cheeses, explaining how the flavors complement each other. Participants will get a taste of so many award-winning products crafted in Wisconsin.
Stop #3 – Milwaukee, WI:
Miller Brewing Company | Miller Brewing Company has been brewing “confoundly good beers” for 160 years. This tour begins at the Visitor Center and includes a four-block walk, allowing for an inside look at the brew house. Learn how Miller-Coors products are made, packaged and distributed worldwide. We’ll conclude the tour with product sampling and sodas.
3:45 p.m.: Arrive back at the hotel.
