Wisconsin's Products

Minocqua's Little Brick House, and more. An argument can be made among people from Wisconsin that going to Minocqua in northern Oneida County is simply wading into mobs of tourists from Illinois and Indiana, and, of course, who wants to do that? I had been kind of like that. I had been there before, really only to drive in and out, through some very heavy traffic. But we had a beautiful day on September 6, 2009, and I decided, well, I'm going up there to see how "bad" it is. I have to tell you I had a wonderful time roaming around the town. January 24, 2010.

Schuster's Playtime Farm, and its Centennial Round Barn. A fellow named Craig "The Rooster" Roost introduced me to a project he undertook at Schuster's Playtime Farm at 1326 Hwy 12 & 18, in Deerfield, Dane County, east of Madison --- He rebuilt a cupola on an old round barn that was in a state of disrepair but has been undergoing preservation renovations since about 2001. I decided to drive over. It turns out, there's a lot of history behind round barns in general, and this one in particular. November 10, 2009.

Handcrafted Furniture Co. of Wausau. The Handcrafted Furniture Co. of Wausau, Marathon County, is one each marvelous place to buy top-quality furniture at reasonable prices. I have bought multiple pieces there, ordered to my specifications, and I will tell you that they are heirloom quality, period. The people here are great, but most important, they are professionals --- hard to find these days. When they say handcrafted, they mean it. By Ed Marek. September 6, 2009.

Plover River Land Co. - Family owned, family run.The Plover River Land Co., or PRLC for short, is a family-owned and family run land surveying, land development, and real estate consulting (brokerage and development consulting) business serving Marathon, Langlade and Shawano Counties in central Wisconsin. The company has been doing this since 1992, nearly 20 years. Its services include land surveying, Certified Survey Maps, Plats of Survey, boundary dispute resolution, elevation certificates, floodplain determinations and a host of real estate development services from local zoning meetings to laying out roadways and completing subdivision plats and marketing the land. The company is licensed for land surveying and real estate broker in the State of Wisconsin. August 2, 2009.

New Glarus, a "Little Switzerland" in southern Wisconsin. I am not usually a fan of "theme cities," but I am a fan of this one, New Glarus, Wisconsin. Settled in the mid-19th century by 108 Swiss immigrants from canton Glarus, Switzerland, these pioneers built their town to where it is a fun and relaxing place to visit, a town that brings back great memories of my many visits to Switzerland. Perhaps what I like the most are the many small businesses here hosted in old buildings that have retained their magnificent historic character. I'll give you a tour of the town and focus your attention on some of these businesses. October 3, 2008.

Cannon Valley Percherons and the Olson Century Farm. Most often while driving around Wisconsin we see machinery and men ploughing the fields of the state powered by combustion engines. While sliding down the Cannon Valley of southwest Monroe County, we spotted machinery and a man ploughing the fields with two horses and a puppy. We would learn the horses are Percherons, a special breed originally from France, a majestic and powerful breed able to take on tough jobs such as ploughing and memorable jobs such as drawing a marriage carriage. We met Jim Olson and Lady and Sandy and Jim was kind enough to put his team through a routine for us to watch, photograph and enjoy. June 23, 2008.

Justin Trails Resort. I've grown aggravated with hotels. For a recent trip, we stayed at a B&B, Justin Trails Resort, outside Sparta in Monroe County. As the owners say, this is a "healing refuge for recreation, relaxation and rejuvenation for our guests." When you stay at Justin Trails, you stay at a well-appointed working farm nestled in the hills of Monroe County with tons of trails and a with a vista that is simply remarkable, from any compass heading. By Ed Marek, editor. May 18, 2008.

Flambeau River Papers, Park Falls. Park Falls in northern Price County boasts that it blends nature with industry. This story will most certainly underscore the truth of that. This is a story about economic activity in progress, where a paper mill central to a town's economy was closed, a group of local investors and businesspeople took the bull by the horn to re-open it, and took the next step, reaching "one rung higher" to invest in and pursue new technologies that have the potential to make the plant energy self-sufficient and enable it to produce new kinds of ethanol fuels to sell. This company among the only ones embarking on this road. There are plenty of unknowns and risks, but their road is filled with excitement and great, perhaps even endless possibilities. This is an outfit worth watching, and a town and area worth visiting. By Ed Marek, editor. February 1, 2008.

Shihata's Orchard and Apple House. Shortly after pulling out of Prairie du Chien on Highway 27 N, we spotted a sign telling us to turn to the left to Shihata's Orchard. Having driven through Missouri and Illinois, we were eager to get a pumpkin, but we insisted on a Wisconsin pumpkin, so we took a hard left on Limery Road. It was morning, there was a pretty heavy overcast, but nonetheless a beautiful setting. This is what is so neat about Shihata's: it is situated in the beautiful setting of Crawford County's location in the heart of the Upper Mississippi bluff country, with landscape very remindful of the lower sections of the Appalachians, having a very rustic appearance and terrific vistas. We came in to get a pumpkin. By the time we headed out the door, we had a whole bunch of apples, Honey, vidalia onion relish, acorn squash, butternut squash, and, oh yes, a big pumpkin. And we had some moments to really enjoy life. October 23, 2007.

Blue Vista Farm, "a taste of heaven". Eric Carlson and Ellen Kwiatowski are the owners of the Blue Vista farm in Bayfield, Wisconsin. They say this: "This land is more than just fruit and flower plantings, a beautiful old barn and remarkable view. Something unexplainable comes together in this spot to create an unforgettable experience. Over and over again, customers tell us that they feel like they are in heaven and we feel that way as well. We consider ourselves privileged to be caretakers of this land and we want to share it with you." It can't be said any better. September 26, 2007.

Halvorson's Fisheries on Lake Superior. When you visit Cornucopia on the north side of Wisconsin's Bayfield peninsula, protruding out into Lake Superior, if it's painted green, it's part of Halvorson's Fisheries. Phil Moy, writing for the the April-May 2001 issue of Lake Superior Magazine, commented then, "We must not take the fisheries of Lake Superior for granted; they are a gift that must be nurtured and cherished." That certainly holds true for Halvorson's. August 11, 2007.

Marinette Marine, the Freedom combat ship and the lighterage cargo system. While traveling through Marinette, Wisconsin up in the northeast section of the state bordering with Michigan, we came across the Marinette Marine Corp., MMC, and were introduced to production of fascinating new classes of naval ships. This is a photo of Littoral Combat Ship One, LCS-1, the USS Freedom, in her final stages of construction, and outfitting on the Marinette River. Quite by accident, we would also come across what is known as the Improved Navy Lighterage System, INLS, which MMC is building for the Navy. The INLS will substantially improve the way in which the Navy can offload-onload heavy cargo at shore areas previously not available to sealift resources. MMC is at the forefront of a new Navy, and is also involved in all manner of commercial and military ships paving the way for the future. She is among the largest shipyards on the Great Lakes. August 1, 2007. Updated December 9, 2009.

Sunshine Country Store & Meat Market. We want to introduce you to a place in Wisconsin that makes among the very finest hot roast beef sandwiches in the world. Everything about the place is fresh, upbeat and happy, Susan VandenBrook and Ted Streit included. The store's name, "Sunshine Country Store," tells the whole story. It is located in the town of Suring, Oconto County, a proud community that has won awards for its initiatives to preserve and brag about its rural identity. June 23, 2007.

American Buffalo are actually Bisons, and Wisconsin farmers are raising them. If you are heading east out of Ladysmith on Route 8 toward Tony in Rusk County, and you are paying attention, you will see a bunch of bison grazing off on the right. It turns out that Wisconsin ranks 10th largest in the nation as a bison producing state and number three in the total number of bison producers. that said, the industry is small and done as an "extra duty." But it can be profitable. April 29, 2007.

Willow Wood Lodge, wilderness on the Tomahawk and the Willow Flowage. Our visits to the Willow Wood Lodge astride the massive and wild Willow Reservoir-Flowage and Tomahawk River introduced us to a neat geographic learning experience and plenty of fun recreational opportunities. We also saw first hand what a small dam can do to a low lying region and how it can harness the enormous power of regional watersheds. December 20, 2006.

Red Rock Granite Inc., the closest we'll get to Mars! Not far from Mosinee in Marathon County, we bumped into the Red Rock Granite Inc. quarry. Red granite is Wisconson's state stone, beautiful stuff. While walking around and taking photos, images of what Mars might look like came to the fore of our minds. Back at home, we dug out some landscape shots taken by unmanned American rovers that have driven around Mars in the recent past. We decided to have a bit of fun and show you both, the quarry and Mars. This is the closest to Mars most of us will get! December 2, 2006.

Fox Run Equestrian Center. We happened across this equestrian center in early August 2006, and spotted a young woman training with a darn good lookin' horse and a trainer out in the paddock. As luck would have it, we bumped into a great story, an uplifting one that will make your pitter-patter go heart-heart. October 19, 2006, updated with some new photos April 14, 2007.

Kraemer Co.'s Householder Quarry, it looked like the US Southwest to us! While bombing around in the Richland County area, we happened across one of the darndest places this editor has seen while in Wisconsin. Indeed, one almost wondered whether he were in the southwest USA instead of Wisconsin! The place was the Kraemer Co. LLC "Householder" Quarry located just to the east of Richland Center. Limestone is a major resource in Wisconsin's southwest. When walking inside the Householder Quarry, you're waiting for John Wayne to come riding through with the cavalry. It's neat, and a big business for Wisconsin. October 9, 2006.

Robbins Sports Surfaces, White Lake. This is an amazing world. You all probably know that. But while "bumming around" Langlade County on a typical "get-lost" ride, we came into the very small and quiet town of White Lake. Quiet, maybe, but packed with great logging industry history that led the town to manufacture the very finest in contemporary sports flooring. October 3, 2006, updated with great old-time photography, October 19. 2006.

Bear Valley Perennials. Anytime you drive west on Hwy 60 out of Sauk City in southwestern Wisconsin you are in for a treat. Anytime you take this route and turn north on any road you are in for great treats. Do that in the summer, and you come across the wondrous sight of Bear Valley Perennials on the corner of Durst Rd. and Hwy 130. The natural beauty of this place is a magnetic attraction. Enjoy our photo gallery. August 7, 2008. Updated September 28, 2008.

High Point Village. High Point Village Resort is a Minocqua resort located at the edge of Bass Lake which is part of an extensive state and county woodland recreational system. It includes Timm's Hill, the picturesque highest point in Wisconsin. It is a wonderful place to enjoy the natural beauty of the Wisconsin northwoods. You might be a bit surprised when you step into Price County, pleasantly so with its numerous hills and ridges. Don't let the snow fool you, this is a year round spectacular. July 26, 2006, updated Apr 28, 2006 with fall photography, and again April 7, 2007 with photography from the 11th Annual Timm's Hill Trudge Race. And yet again on August 1, 2007 with some summer additions.

Oak Ridge Vineyard and Weggy's Winery. Richland County in southwest Wisconsin has landscape that knocks your socks off. Last winter, we came across Oakridge Vineyard, the creation and home of Weggy Winery, up in the hills. Having always thought of Wisconsin as beer country, it never occurred to us one could develop a vineyard well enough here to bottle wine. Well, they're doing it here. We went back in the summer. In our winter photos, you'll get a great feel for the expanse and beauty of the country. In the summer photos, you'll fall in love with the vines and grapes. August 4, 2006.

Iron Corral Exotic Animal Farm in Viola, a fun learning experience: Breeding of exotic animals is a fascinating and rapidly growing business in the US, especially as agriculture is becoming tougher and tougher and small farmers especially are looking for alternative pursuits that would employ their land and their equipment and enable them to maintain their homes. It is also a good pursuit if a farmer has marginal land for traditional livestock and agriculture. Sandy and Joe Cano run one in Viola in Vernon County, and are pioneers in the field. April 19, 2006.

Dupont Cheese, Marion. Seemingly in the middle of no-where pops up Dupont Cheese, virtually on the "corner" of County C and highway 102, in a very rural area we later found out belongs to the town of Marion, in the northeast sector of Waupaca County. It had a retail outlet in front, so in we went. April 4, 2006

Adamski's Sugar Bush. This is the time to think "maple syrup." Pancakes. Waffles. On the veggies. The barbecue. Or how about on your coffee cake or cereal. Now we're cookin'. So meet the Adamski's Sugar Bush of Antigo, Wisconsin. We bumped into the family at work in the field and at the sugarhouse. They made our visit a lot of fun. We arrived unexpectedly, they did know us at all, but their hospitality, grace, and eagerness to teach made for a great afternoon. March 29, 2006

Oshkosh TerraMax robotic vehicle completes DARPA Grand Challenge. Oshkosh Truck Corp.'s TerraMax robotic vehicle was one of only five robotic vehicles to complete a grueling Defense Department Nevada course that extended 132 desert miles. A total of 23 vehicles started the course, but most were unable to finish. November 2, 2005

We highlight the great things about Wisconsin, which are also things that reflect so well on America --- its people, land, and culture.

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