New agritourism guide
Car license plates since 1940 describe Wisconsin as “America’s Dairyland,” and the dairy industry indeed is a huge part of the state’s character.
We are proud of our farming heritage, production levels and product quality. We routinely dominate national cheese awards and earn international recognition, too.
What we produce with animal milk counts, big time, but the work of Wisconsin agriculture surely is not a single-dimension endeavor.
Look at some of what else we raise, reap and relish at or near farms that welcome visitors.
Alpacas: Tours of the 12-acre Sabamba Alpaca Ranch, De Pere, can be self-guided, an all-day immersion (for prospective alpaca farmers) or something in between. In the farmhouse are two bedrooms for overnight stays, which means more time to watch the animals, learn their stories or simply see the sun set from a porch rocking chair. For sale online: alpaca socks, gloves, headwear, vests. sabambaalpaca.com
Apples: Apple festivals and orchards are abundant (get details from Wisconsin Apple Growers Association at waga.org). Picking peaks in late summer and early autumn, but apple-loving Whispering Orchards and Cafe, Cleveland, is a locals’ favorite throughout the year. On the breakfast menu: apple pancakes, apple bread French toast, various omelets (made with eggs fresh from the coop at the century-old farm). Shop the farm store, too. whisperingorchards.com
Cranberries: No state grows more of the scarlet berries than Wisconsin. Pay $25 for an autumn Splash of Red Cranberry Tour led by Pittsville High School alumni and students (who take the nation’s only cranberry science class). The seasonal, two-hour tours end with a cranberry-themed lunch. Others arrange berry bog tours during Warrens Cranberry Festival, Sept. 2426, an event deep with vendors (1,300) and fun food (cranberries jubilee is made in an enormous frying pan). bit.ly/splashofredtour, wiscran.org
Ginseng: Central Wisconsin produces some of the most coveted ginseng in the world. An annual Wausau festival devoted to the root plant won’t return until 2022, but nearby Hsu’s Ginseng arranges hourlong farm and production tours. Cost is $20 per group. The 1,000-acre company is the nation’s largest ginseng grower and retailer (selling tea, roots and powder as herbal supplements). hsuginsengnews.com/farm-tour
Grains: Love bourbon? Visit J. Henry and Sons, Dane, a longtime crop farm that grows the key ingredients for the booze, starting with heirloom corn developed at the University of Wisconsin in 1939. Hear the story about the red-kernel corn and other farm-grown crops while sipping bourbon and a craft cocktail in the converted farmhouse, 20 miles north of Madison. Then stroll to where barrels are stored for aging. Distilling and bottling happen elsewhere. jhenryandsons.com
Grapes: In Wisconsin there are at least 100 wineries that produce vintages made with several types of fermented fruits. At the 20-acre Campo di Bella, Mount Horeb, where the owners’ Italian roots run deep, wine is made with farm-grown grapes. Visit for a tasting or stay overnight in cushy accommodations above the winery. On a Saturday night, add dinner: Meals in multiple courses are made with farm ingredients. Reservations required. campodibella.com
Lavender: Ten varieties grow at the 21-acre Fragrant Isle Lavender Farm, Washington Island. The 20,000 plants are used in small-batch products such as scented candles and lotions, flavored honey and syrups. In the farm café are treats whose ingredients include lavender: chocolates, ice cream, macaroons and other bakery. Pay $5 to roam the acreage (color peaks in July and August), or order lavender-spiked cocktails at the onsite bar. Closed January through April. fragrantisle.com
Llamas: Cristo Rey Ranch, Mount Calvary, is home to many other species, too (pot-bellied pigs, donkeys, emu, horses, sheep, goats), but it’s not a stereotypical petting zoo. Also on the 120-acre, rural campus are a convent (whose nuns care for around 300 creatures, birds to four-legged mammals), housing for older adults (apartments to skilled nursing care) and a place of respite for at-risk families. Pet therapy is a vital part of programming; group tours and volunteer opportunities are arranged. Find the Fond du Lac County site
What other outlets for agritourism are ripe for exploring in Wisconsin? A newly published guidebook by a Milwaukee woman points the way.
“Wisconsin Farms and Farmers Markets: Tours, Trails and Attractions” (Globe Pequot) by Kristine Hansen is a resource that I didn’t hesitate to endorse with a book jacket testimonial when asked.
The author took on the formidable task of corralling the diverse world of Badger State agritourism. Such a comprehensive project may be the first in Wisconsin that is crafted for the average consumer.
Hansen presents her material in geographic quadrants. Subsets include cheese, creameries, county fairs, dairy centers, farm museums, farms and farm stands, farm stays, farmers markets, folk schools, food trails, pick-your-own sites, tree farms, woolen mills and wine/cider/beer tastings.
She will talk about her book during a free Zoom event at 7 p.m. Aug. 4. Register at https://www.boswellbooks.com/upcoming-events. in Wisconsin’s Holyland of little burgs with biblical names (Jericho, St. Peter, Marytown). facebook.com/cristoreyranch
Trout: Rainbow trout is the prized catch at the 80acre Rushing Waters Fisheries, Palmyra, and the spring-fed fish farm in the Kettle Moraine State Forest’s Southern Unit is open for fishing all year (pay by the pound for your catch, which farm staff clean and pack on ice). Buy fresh or smoked fish, seafood breading, spice blends, marinades and sauces at the farm store. Still closed, except for special events, is Trout House restaurant.
Vegetables: Feel like you’re lunching at a retro friend’s house during a visit to Gramma Miller’s Farm Market and Café, Hancock, next to a 2,500-acre vegetable farm in Waushara County. Out come the linens and fine china, side-dish surprises and from-scratch bakery. In the market: more bakery, gift items, canned jams and jellies, whatever farm-based bounty is freshly harvested. Open for breakfast, too, when eggs are paired with hash brown casserole. Open May through October. grammamillersmarket.com
For more about agritourism in Wisconsin, see wiagtourism.com.