Neighbors Stories of interest from your community!
TO BEE OR NOT TO BEE Pollinating Central Wisconsin’s Fields and Gardens
May 2011 Vol. 1, Issue 3
THIS ISSUE Amherst FFA Day Trips-Houdini Market Small Animals
Neighbors Table of Contents APRIL 2011, Vol. 1, Issue 2
Shown: Tim Ostrowski, Amherst Chapter FFA, checks his traps, which is his FFA project.
FEATURE ARTICLES
COLUMNS
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4
To Bee or Not to Bee! Pollinating Central Wisconsin’s Fields and Gardens.
18
Market Small Animal Clinic Portage County 4-H members attend local training and demonstrations.
Together Thoughts from Jim Faivre, Neighbors’ publisher.
3
Grounded Ruth Johnson, Neighbors’ Editor, reflects on daily life.
20 Amherst Area FFA Banquet Seniors and other members of Amherst FFA, win awards.
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Day Trips-Houdini Examining the Master of Magic, Houdini, at the Houdini Museum in Appleton, WI.
Neighbors-May 2011
Neighbors Grounded Renewal. That is what each new spring season represents to me. Now is when people begin to plant crops, fruits, lawns, flowers or shrubs.
EDITOR, PHOTOGRAPHER, DESIGN & PRODUCTION CIRCULATION & WEB MANAGEMENT Ruth Johnson
journey@journeywi.com 715-347-3755
As a gardener, one of my favorite tasks is pruning. This weekend, as I was pruning a particularly unruly maple tree, it dawned on me how similar pruning is to editing. Words are similar to trees and shrubs and often do not flow as they should, just like an untrimmed tree. Now, when I am editing an article and feeling frustrated, I just imagine it is an overgrown shrub. Suddenly, I am relaxed, yet again. This month I wrote about a subject relatively new to me but one about which I am now passionate – pollination. Prior to writing the article, I did not realize that one-third of the world’s food depends on pollination and that in the U.S., honeybees count for almost all needed pollination. I am reviewing plant lists so I can develop my own favorite flowers and plants to attract and feed honeybees, birds, butterflies and other pollinators. As always, I welcome your comments and suggestions. Thank you for reading Neighbors. Warm regards,
Ruth Johnson Editor, Neighbors Magazine
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Neighbors-July 2011
Together Greetings! Everyone ages, including me, but I have always believed that you need to keep your mind actively engaged and constantly accumulating new information, ideas and techniques in order to age gracefully. That is one reason I so thoroughly enjoy being Publisher of Neighbors magazine. Not only am I taking a hands-on, crash course in the world of publishing, but also I am able to spend more time learning about my agricultural friends on a personal level rather than just a business level. Recently, Rick Muzzy did a live radio interview on 1010 WSPT with Ruth Johnson and me about Neighbors. The agreement was that I was there for background information, not to speak. However, Rick decided to ask me questions on air instead. Public speaking has never been my forte and always leaves me feeling a bit awkward, but I survived. A big thanks to both Rick Muzzy and Jeff Heinz, (who is interviewing us monthly) for providing us with the opportunity to discuss Neighbors on their broadcasts, which has garnered hundreds of new subscribers to our free magazine. I also am helping cover many events for Neighbors like the FFA Market Small Animal Clinic, several FFA banquets and several area home shows. Please continue to share your thoughts about Neighbors along with any ideas you have about future articles.
Above: Our To Bee or Not to Bee article this issue has inspired me to plant a field of white clover this spring (if weather permits) to create a natural refuge and food source for honeybees and other pollinators. Bottom: I attended an FFA Market Small Animal Clinic.
Happy trails and blue skies for all!
Jim Faivre Publisher, Neighbors
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Imagine having your own Gypsy Vanner! Enjoy their beauty and grace at home and in the ring! Derek & Denise Krause Ogdensburg, WI info@featheredgold.com www.featheredgold.com (715) 445-5345
TO BEE OR NOT TO BEE Pollinating Central Wisconsin’s Fields and Gardens By Ruth Johnson, Editor
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Silent Workers. Every year, semi-loads of workers journey
ACCORDING TO USDA STATISTICS:
to Central Wisconsin fruit farms, bogs and orchards. These particular laborers never take time off, go on breaks or vacations and do not speak unless you consider their constant buzzing a form of language.
One out of every three bites of food an average American eats is directly attributable to bee pollination.
Honeybees account for 80% of U.S. pollination and pollinate more than 100 crops including fruits, nuts, seeds, vegetables, ornamentals and 220,000 wild flowering species.
Honeybee pollination is directly responsible for $15 billion in U.S. agricultural crops each year.
Bees fly approximately 10 to 15 miles per hour and visit 50-100 flowers in each pollination trip.
To produce one pound of honey, honey bees must visit two million flowers and fly 55,000 miles, which equals 1½ times around the world quite a feat!
That’s right. These workers are bees – honeybees! Central Wisconsin’s professional beekeepers truck tons of honeybees across the nation to pollinate fruit-bearing fields, groves, orchards and marshes. Traveling in their hives, these honeybees cover some pretty serious miles starting in early January pollinating California almonds and oranges, moving back north to Wisconsin’s blueberries, cranberries, apples, strawberries, melons, pumpkins and then acres of cucumbers. CUCUMBER EYE-OPENER Yes, cucumbers are classified as fruits, not vegetables and at least two area commercial cucumber growers, Paradise Farms Inc. and Guth Farm Inc., depend heavily on the services of professional Central Wisconsin beekeepers and thousands upon thousands of honeybees to handle the pollination of over three thousand combined acres of cucumber flowers. (Continued on Page 8) Top: Worker Honeybees return to the hive where their nectar is transferred into the honeycomb cells. Opposite Page: The honeybee has to touch pollen-bearing parts of this flower to reach its reward – the nectar. Pollen accumulates on its legs, which is then simultaneously transferred to the flower stamens, completing the pollinating process.
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COLLABORATION John and Dan Piechowski of Henry’s Honey Farm, Red Granite, Wisconsin have “partnered” with David & Mike Warzynski of Paradise Farms, Almond, WI for several years, to pollinate the Warzynski’s cucumbers. According to John, the second generation of the business (his father, Henry founded the beekeeping service and honey farm), “We call our customers, partners, because this is a mutually dependent relationship.” “Pollination is an extremely timely business. You have to locate honeybees on each field before the perfect blooming moment, not a minute too soon or too late.” “This requires a massive logistics strategy,” John continues. “David and Mike are masters at it. They constantly survey their fields so they know when they need bees on each field.” “They provide us with a map of the next two to three fields coming up next in rotation – before the plants bloom.” (Continued on Page 9) Top: Honeybee extracts nectar while its body attracts pollen like a magnet. Left: John Piechowski of Henry’s Honey Farm examines some hives.
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However, the process is even more complicated than just keeping track of the burgeoning blossoms. To avoid backtracking with all equipment and bees, the Warzynskis developed a planting plan that moves from field to field in a successive circular route around the home farm. David adds, “We grow two crops in a season, planting in sections so plants do not all develop simultaneously.” John and Dan Piechowski enthusiastically agree with the practice, “We consider the Warzynskis real professionals and great logistics masters!” Dan is John’s son and represents Henry’s Honey Farm’s third generation in the business. He explains another factor that compounds the situation, “Every time you move honeybees from one destination to another, you have to relocate them a minimum of two miles from the last destination or they get confused and fly back to the previous location rather than go to their new one.” (Continued on Page 10) Top: Dan Piechowski in front of his truck and trailer loaded with beehives. Below: David & Mike Warzynski, Paradise Farms, pore over field maps, deciding their pollination logistics.
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Dan explains further, “Timing is everything. You have to move the bees just as the fruit is coming into bloom. If you wait too long, the pollination does not work.” “The male flowers come out first and the pollen on them has to be transferred to the rest of the plant to pollinate it properly.” Mike Warzynski can tell you what happens if the plant is not pollinated properly, “Pull a pickle out of a jar and look at the end that is curved and a lot smaller in width. That stunted growth is the result of poor pollination (see small photos below).”
“We use Henry’s Honey Farm services because while we know we might get some pollination from natural sources, it would not be enough to insure the kind of yield and quality we expect.” MOVING GENIUS According to the Piechowskis, you should handle the bees as little as possible when you are moving them, primarily because stress can kill honeybees and cause hive collapse. In the past, John moved hives by hand – time-consuming and backbreaking work. Now, John and Dan load the hives via skid steers, which is much faster and safer. (Continued on Page 11) Top: The Warzynskis equipment stands ready to plant 2,500+ acres of cucumbers. Middle: A honeybee works in the hive. Left: John Piechowski of Henry’s Honey Farm checks the honeybees in cold storage conditions.
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The Piechowskis keep the hives on a trailer and simply move the trailer full of hives from field to field, rather than moving individual hives, saving time and stress. Dan explains, “It only takes an hour to net the bees and then close the doors, unlike when you had to load hives by hand.” HONEYBEE ZEN The Piechowskis bee handling practices help minimize direct contact with the honeybees, reducing the chances of the honeybees being riled up and attacking their handlers. While being stung is an integral part of being a beekeeper, naturally it is an aspect most beekeepers try to avoid. Keeping the honeybees calm is vital to achieving that goal. Dan says the most stings he ever received in one incident, was approximately 600, “It happened when some hives were accidentally damaged, which re-affirmed the need for exercising care when handling honeybees. Always treat any bee with the utmost respect. Normally, honeybees are not aggressive unless they think they are being threatened.” STINGING FACTS Yes, honeybees do sting but unless you have a dangerous allergy to honeybee stings, it takes ten stings per pound of body weight to administer a lethal dose to a normal individual. (Continued on Page 12) Top: Hank’s Honey Farm honeybees pollinate a number of fruits including blueberries, which leads to a more perfectly shaped fruit and increased volume. Right Top: Appropriate beekeeping protective clothing. Right Bottom: Honeybees do not attack unless threatened and prefer simply to gather nectar.
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A person weighing 150-pounds would have to receive 1500 stings to be in danger of death. Interestingly, only worker honeybees sting people. Normally docile, especially if returning to the hive full of nectar, they only sting if they feel threatened. Queen bees have a stinger but use it only to kill other challenging or emerging queens. They do not leave the hive to help defend it. When the honeybee’s barbed stinger lodges somewhere, the honeybee usually dies because the barb tears loose from its abdomen, leading to its death in minutes. NATURE’S BALANCE If a worker honeybee stings you, it is a female! Male honeybees, called drones do not have a stinger, and do not collect pollen or nectar. Their only purpose in their short, two-month lives is to mate with the queen! When the weather warms up, the queen bee leaves the hive for a mating flight. Airborne drones called comets follow, locating the queen by her scent. (Continued on Page 13) Top: Area growers should consider attracting more natural pollinators like the variety shown here. Left: Pollen sacs bulge out on the bee’s hind legs.
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Using their powerful wings, the drones chase the queen. When a drone catches the queen, they mate in flight. An audible "pop" signals a successful mating along with the demise of the drone, which plummets to the ground and dies in a few hours. Those who do not mate with the queen also have a limited life. When the colony prepares for winter, the remaining drones are expelled from the hive - one less mouth to feed in the lean days ahead. Soon thereafter, the drones die of dehydration or hunger. In winter, the honeybee colony does not hibernate but stays active, which requires 20-30 pounds of stored honey to survive. BURGEONING QUANTITIES The number of honeybees Henry’s Honey Farm handles upswings 25-40% throughout the year. When they load bees in semi-loads to California, the hives are smallest but increase from 15,000 to 100,000 during the pollinating season. Beekeeping is a constantly changing and fluid industry. Dan says, “I never thought I would send bees to California almond fields. I now send 650 hives, managed by a Montana beekeeper.” (Continued on Page 14) Top: A busy hive. Below: Bears are one the hive’s most dangerous enemies. Below: Wild flowers found along fields also attract natural pollinators. Many farmers are starting to plant plots of bee-friendly attractor plants alongside their fields.
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GUTH FARM INC. Cathy Guth, who lives and breathes farming, knows how vital it is to have a good, local beekeeper providing a steady supply of honeybees to pollinate her 600-750 acres of cucumbers. Cathy uses the services of L.B. Werks, Inc. in Bancroft, WI. Unfortunately, in April 2011, L.B. Werks Inc.’s owner, Larry Hillemeyer and his son, Jonathon (also a beekeeper with the firm), was involved in a collision at the intersection of J & HH. Larry died later of his injuries while Jonathon was treated and released. Jonathon assumed responsibility for the pollination of Cathy’s fields and other clients. IMPACTS ON POLLINATION “Weather plays a big part on how the bees work,” Cathy continues. “Too much rain or very hot weather makes for poor pollination.” “Last summer, the bees didn’t move far from the hive so the middle of the fields did not get very well-pollinated. We keep a close watch when this happens and develop new strategies to address it.” (Continued on Page 15) Top: Cathy Guth of Guth Farms Inc. examines some empty hives, checking for any damaged ones that need to be discarded. Below: Cathy comments on how bee pollination influences her cucumber yields, “Without good pollination, the yields are cut drastically and the fruit will be irregular.”
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VITAL PREPARATION Like the Warzynskis, Cathy spends hours planning the pollination of her fields, “I map all our cucumber fields for the beekeeper with the planting dates. I mark where I want the hives placed and he manages the placement.” “We meet and discuss when the first fields will be coming into bloom so we can get the bees placed and working on time. He keeps track the rest of the season.” GREAT RETURN According to Cathy, her beekeeper places one hive per acre and her costs run between $20-22/acre. She believes that pollination is one of the strongest, if not the strongest, determination factor in the outcome of her cucumbers. “I believe in the old adage that you have to spend money, to make money, as long as you don’t spend it foolishly.” Cathy states. “Honeybee pollination is one area where I have recouped, with a good return, every penny I have ever invested.” (Continued on Page 16) Top: This photo illustrates the ambiance of pollinators with two different kinds on the same plant. As farmers plant more bee-friendly plots, more native pollinators emerge. Right: A great depiction of pollen collection on the bee’s leg.
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"If the bee disappears from the surface of the earth, man would have no more than four years to live." ~ Albert Einstein
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NEW GENERATION OF BEEKEEPERS What started as concern for poor pollination in his home’s flowers outdoors, turned into a small business for Tim Eddy, son of Tim and Jean Eddy, earning him the Star Agribusiness award from Amherst High School FFA. According to Tim, “I started researching pollination three years ago and it was so interesting, I decided to start beekeeping honeybees and producing honey for my FFA project. I’m now in my third business year and am expanding from 13 hives to 16 hives total.” Young people like Tim, help insure the future of the beekeeping industry. HONEYBEE CONCERNS Honeybee populations declined 90% in the past 50 years and managed honeybee colonies dropped by about two-thirds. Experts argue over the reasons for the dwindling numbers of honeybees ranging from environmental to manmade sources. Whatever the cause, the world needs pollinators. As the need for more crops continues, so does the need for more natural pollinators from all kinds of bees and other insects, birds (especially hummingbirds), butterflies and bats. (Continued on Page 17) Top: Tim Eddy Jr., left, tends to his bees while his father, Tim Eddy Sr., observes. Left: A close up of pollen ‘dust’ on flower petal.
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ONE SMALL STEP The good news is that each of us can help! By planting nectar-producing plants and cover crops attractive to pollinators, we can start to rebuild the ready refuge and food sources pollinators need to survive. Regina Hirsch, UW-Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems, is working with Xerces Society and NRCS on a Wisconsin project to create four native pollinator demonstration sites, one of which is Warzynski Paradise Farms. The group plans to develop a pollinator friendly plant list, which promotes a diversity of native pollinators that do not harbor pests and diseases. Regina suggests consulting the Xerces.org Upper Midwest Plants for Native Bees. Prairie Nursery in Westfield customizes pollinator mixes and has a wealth of information on Prairie Nursery’s Facebook page regarding choosing appropriate pollination plants. One such source is Pollinator.org, which has handy guides for nearly every climate. Top: Honeybee checks a bud for nectar. Middle: The daily march of the honeybees. Bottom: A honeybee sits atop a thimble – a great size comparison.
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MARKET SMALL ANIMAL CLINIC By Ruth Johnson, Editor
Tracy Glodowski of Rosholt, Portage County 4-H volunteer leader, recently coordinated the chapter’s first Market Small Animal Show Clinic on Saturday, April 9, 2011. General Farm Supply & Hubbard Feeds/Showrite helped sponsor the clinic and provided a professional trainer and judge to speak on topics such as animal selection, care, feeding and more before engaging the crowd in actual, hands-on demonstrations and training. The guinea pigs involved in this experiment in marketing were actual, real pigs and they really “hammed” it up! About 50 individuals of all age groups from very young children to teenagers and adults attended. Everyone seemed to have a very good time and several people inquired as to when another clinic would be held. Tracy suggested that volunteers were always welcome to help coordinate and manage events. Contact Tracy by calling (715) 677-6966. Page 18
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AMHERST FFA ANNUAL BANQUET Honoring Real Life Ag Achievements By Ruth Johnson, Editor
Melzy Peterson and Kristen Basinski at work in the Amherst Ag greenhouse. All photos in this article supplied by Amherst FFA.
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Celebrating another successful year, the Amherst FFA held their Annual Awards Banquet with dinner catered by Ambrosia Pub and Grill in the school cafeteria. Their Annual Program followed at the Jensen Center Auditorium. TOP FFA CHAPTER AWARD WINNERS STAR IN AGRICULTURE PLACEMENT Brian Hoffmann STAR FARMER Melzy Peterson STAR AGRIBUSINESS Tim Eddy Brian Hoffmann, STAR IN AGRICULTURE PLACEMENT and Melzy Peterson, STAR FARMER, rank in WI top ten and compete for top honor at State. OTHER AWARDS (All Received Plaques from Award Sponsors) FFA ALUMNI SCHOLARSHIP AWARD Brian Hoffmann ALLEN PETERSON MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP Brian Hoffmann, Jordan Lutz, Melzy Peterson and Christine Stuczynski OTTO/PATOKA MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP Brian Hoffmann, Jordan Lutz, Melzy Peterson, Kailey Brandenburg and Christine Stuczynski DEKALB AWARD Christine Stuczynski FFA LEADERSHIP AWARD (Sponsored by International Bank of Amherst) Melzy Peterson CHAPTER STAR GREENHAND (Sponsored By VFW Amherst Chapter – Received FFA Jackets) Cassi Plaski and Lindsay Rutz. (Continued on Page 22) Above: Students received Allen Peterson memorial scholarships with wife, Sunnie and son, Todd, presenting awards. (Left to right) Sunnie Peterson, Jordan Lutz, Christine Stuczynski, Brian Hoffman, Melzy Peterson and Todd Peterson. Below: Brian Hoffmann feeds his FFA calf.
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Above: Agri-Business Scholarship winner, Danielle Dykes, with her horse at the 2010 Fair.
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OTHER AWARDS ELLIOT MICHAEL HORTICULTURAL AWARD (Amherst FFA Alumni) Jordan Lutz STATE FFA DEGREE WINNERS (Degree presented at State FFA Conv.) Brian Hoffmann, Melzy Peterson, Jordan Lutz, Kailey Brandenburg and Christine Stuczynski 2011 FFA PROFICIENCY RATINGS VETERINARY MEDICINE nd Morgan Lepak, Gold 2 and Sectional Winner BEEF PRODUCTION Jenna Dombrowski, Silver; DIVERSIFIED LIVESTOCK th Phillip Rutz, Gold 5 and Sectional Winner SMALL ANIMAL PLACEMENT th Becca Neuenfeldt, Gold 15 and Sectional Winner WILDLIFE th Joey Rose, 5 and Sectional Winner; EQUINE ENTREPRENEURSHIP th Paul Peterson, Gold 9 th Melzy Peterson Gold 7 th Camber Sannes, Gold 8 Megan Dombrowski, Silver Jessica “Fred” Peterson, Silver (Continued on Page 22) Above Left to Right: Tim Pederson, Amherst High School Ag Department Instructor and FFA Advisor, covers some field demonstrations with Joey Rose, Brian Hoffmann and Mike Sankey. Left: Christine Stuczynski bonds with her FFA project.
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DIVERSIFIED AG PLACEMENT th Tim Ostrowski, Gold 5 DAIRY PLACEMENT th Tim Ostrowski, Gold 9 th Ann Hoffmann, Gold 15 rd Brian Hoffmann, Gold 3 Sadie Glodowski, Silver Jared Glodowski, Silver SWINE PRODUCTION th Katy Rutz, Gold 9 SPECIALTY ANIMALS nd Tim Eddy, Gold 2 and Sectional Winner STAR GREENHANDS (Sponsored By VFW Amherst Chapter, Received FFA Jackets) Cassi Plaski Lindsay Rutz Todd Peterson and Scott Doyle served as auctioneers for the Amherst FFA Workers’ Auction, successfully auctioning off twelve workers, which earned $1,215 for Amherst FFA. Melzy Peterson brought the top bid of the evening with $135/hour for her services. PROFILES OF SENIOR FFA members and additional photos follow on the next pages. (Continued on Page 24) Above: Melzy Peterson shows off the extreme horsemanship skills for the competitions in which she enters. Middle: The Portage County area FFA heads off to State FFA Convention. Bottom: Kailey Brandenburg with her horse FFA project.
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MELZY PETERSON Daughter of Todd Peterson and Sherri Getschman and President of the Amherst FFA Chapter, Melzy is an active participant in leadership workshops, State and National FFA Conventions and district and state level judging events. This summer, Melzy receives her State FFA Degree at the State FFA Convention. Melzy’s SEA proficiency is Equine. A rodeo participant since she was seven, Melzy was queen of Amherst Rodeo and active in the Little Britches Rodeo. Last year, she advanced to Nationals in Barrels, held in Gillett, Wyoming. BRIAN HOFFMANN Son of John and Arlene Hoffmann and Treasurer of Amherst FFA Chapter, Brian is active in sectional and state Career Development events judging Agronomy. At sectional judging, he took first as an individual and was on a team that took first as well. He attended National FFA Convention, Washington Leadership Conference and other sectional leadership workshops. Following graduation, Brian will be attending UWSP pursuing a degree in Natural Resources. CHRISTINE STUCZYNSKI Daughter of David and Germaine Stuczynski, Christine is Amherst FFA Chapter Chaplain and recipient of the DeKalb award. She is active in leadership workshops and National FFA Convention. (Continued on Page 25) Above Left: Mike Sankey. Above Right: Megan Dombrowski & Camber Sannes. Left 2nd from Top: Katelyn & Becca Neuenfeldt. Left 2nd from Bottom: Jessica Peterson, her horse, Stinger & Harley Packer. Left Bottom: Lindsay Rutz.
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Christine was also involved in creed speaking and district and state dairy judging. Christine plans to attend Mid-State Technical College for cosmetology to become a cosmetology instructor. KAILEY BRANDENBURG Daughter of Phyllis Brandenburg, Kailey participated in National FFA Convention and horse judging at the district level. She showed horses for FFA and 4-H at the local fairs and received Grand Champion and Reserve Champion. She won national awards for Ponies of America and Lake Shore Appaloosa. After high school, Kailey plans to attend Mid-State Technical College for farm operations and wants to start her own commercial horse training business. JORDAN LUTZ Son of Wayne and Becky Lutz, Jordan is Amherst FFA chapter Vice President. He was active in National Convention, District Wildlife Judging and placed third at the State FFA Convention. He is very active in organization and management of the FFA greenhouse, from ordering the seeds to making the plants ready to sell. Jordan will attend UWSP playing basketball and pursuing a degree in natural resources, majoring in Wildlife Ecology. INSTRUCTOR, TIM PEDERSON Behind every successful FFA program is a very hard-working sponsor or instructor, which in Amherst’s case, would be Tim Pederson. According to Tim, “My wife, Sue, our two daughters and I moved to Amherst in 1987. I have served as the Amherst High School Agriculture teacher ever since.” “I was born and raised on a dairy farm in Shell Lake, Wisconsin. After graduating from high school, I attended the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and earned a degree in Agriculture Education. I taught eight years at Taylor High School before moving to Amherst,” continues Tim. “I enjoy teaching and being the FFA Advisor. I have been very fortunate to work with some outstanding students.” Tim shares. “While at Amherst our program has launched numerous State and National winners.” Tim strongly believes that, “the community and school’s support, dedication and willingness to lend a helping hand, has been a driving factor in this FFA program’s success.” Right Top: Jordan Lutz. Right Middle: Emily Turner. Right Bottom: Katy Rutz.
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Day Trips By Heather Kizewski & Ann Marie Worzalla
DO YOU BELIEVE IN MAGIC? I blinked my eyes in disbelief when it was first brought to my attention that Houdini was from Appleton, WI. I thought, “How have I lived here my whole life not knowing this?” Then I figured it was probably because I never took much interest in magic and/or magicians. Little did I know that my lack of interest in magic was about to change.
Welcome to Day Trips! Inspired by an authentic passion for travel, each month we will share a unique adventure accomplished in one day; no overnight bags required. We are sisters-in-law from Stevens Point and Amherst whose families are involved in potato farming, so we are firmly entrenched in Central Wisconsin. For more than six years, we have ventured forth in search of unique destinations – it is amazing how far you do not have to go to experience the moments we often seek in faraway lands. We hope to spark your wheels into motion. You are only a day trip away!
Above: Sisters-in-law, Heather Kizewski (left) & Ann Marie Worzalla (right).
Heather’s husband
Below: The Houdini Museum is appropriately housed in a stately building that resembles a medieval castle. SPECIAL NOTE: Click here to go to Day Trips’ Facebook page.
Especially when I learned that not only is there a Houdini museum that exists, but that it is in a beautiful castle-like building located on College Avenue, downtown Appleton, less than an hour from home. I did not delay. I visited it within days of learning about the museum; I took my two daughters, who were only seven years-old. It was difficult to keep them focused on the story of Houdini’s life, because there were several ‘hands-on’ magic activities that captured their attention, serving as the focal point for us that afternoon. Although I did not mind, I knew it was not enough. As the years flew by, I knew I needed to return. RETURN TRIP Appleton seemed too close to be considered an actual Day Trip since it is less than an hour away, but I also know how fast time flies when carefully and thoroughly examining and reading exhibits when visiting museums. (Continued on Page 27)
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On Saturday, April 2, Ann Marie and I made it official. As we hit the road that morning, it still felt a little funny thinking of it as a Day Trip considering our usual travel time is two to four hours one way. Once we were driving through downtown Appleton, it was reiterated once again in our minds how easy it is to overlook the places closest to home. Neither of us noticed the charm or historical buildings in the past. Normally, trips to Appleton consisted of the shopping mall, car dealerships, Red Lobster or Barnes & Noble. We never mindfully noticed the detailed architecture on College Avenue or purposely viewed it as a city we had never been to before. PERSONAL IMPACT Only now it is different. It is not the same place my brain overlooked for the past thirty years. Had I stumbled upon it in another country, it would be on my list of favorites. I would write about it and send my family post cards explaining how beautiful and historic it is. Then I would mention Houdini. STUNNING DECOR
The ceilings are high and the stained glass is simply breathtaking. Ascending the first few steps, it seemed as though even quiet whispers echoed. The lobby area is grand with two royal-looking, red chairs in front of an alluring fireplace. In addition, there is a unique statue of a lion and a helpful person working at the front counter. UPSTAIRS The second level of the museum has interesting artifacts and detailed historical information regarding the city of Appleton; however, we spent most of our time on the third level learning about the life of Ehrich Weiss (aka Harry Houdini). (Continued on Page 28) Top Left: An old Houdini poster. Top Right: Houdini swims the river in scene from the movie, “The Man from Beyond.” Bottom Right: Ann Marie poses in front of the Houdini Museum in Appleton, WI.
The museum itself is majestic – it was originally a Masonic Temple built in 1923 and features Egyptian and medieval motifs throughout. The exterior has a castle-like appearance and it took only seconds to fall in love with the antique wooden doors with their elaborate hardware and wonderful color. ENTRÉ VOUS The first thing we noticed upon opening them was the strong scent of history. Ann Marie said it smelled like her old Catholic school while it reminded me of very important books. Page 27
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Left: An old photo of Houdini. Below: Houdini prepares to execute one of his many chained water escape tricks.
In Montreal, Canada, at McGill University, he invited several students to his dressing room. A student asked if it was true that he could withstand any blow to the stomach. He agreed to let the student hit him as proof of his physical stamina. The student punched him before he was able to stand and tighten his abdominal muscles. He had also been suffering fever, fatigue and chills for days prior.
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BEGINS WITH HIS DEATH A black and white mural, a photograph of pallbearers carrying his body to a hearse in Manhattan, November 4, 1926, consumes the entire Houdini exhibit entrance wall.
According to eyewitnesses, the blow severely injured Houdini, yet he continued his tour, traveling from Montreal to Detroit. In Detroit on October 24, after performing at the Garrick Theatre, he collapsed. A week later, on Halloween, he died of peritonitis – an infection resulting from a ruptured appendix.
There is a replica of the casket in which he was buried, along with a short video you can watch. I found it wildly interesting that he died on Halloween, but the various myths/facts regarding his death are the most intriguing.
It is impossible to know the exact impact of the blows, as Houdini had refused medical treatment until collapsing.
FACT OR FICTION?
It is very likely that he was suffering from chronic appendicitis at the time of the student’s punch.
The most common myth, and one of which I had always believed, was that he died during an escape stunt. The myth derived from a movie starring Tony Curtis in 1957, which portrayed him dying during an underwater escape. Another myth is that he died from a blow to the stomach. Houdini claimed he could withstand any punch above the waist, excluding his face.
His family buried him in a stage prop Buried Alive casket. Houdini introduced Buried Alive in 1926, escaping the staged burial in less than two minutes. He is buried next to his mother in Machpelah Cemetery, Queens, NY. EARLY YEARS Houdini was born as Erik Weisz on March 24, 1874, in Budapest, Hungary. It is believed that his family, like many other Jewish immigrants, fled to escape prejudice and economic depression. On the way to Wisconsin, immigration officials changed four year-old Erik Weisz’s name to Ehrich Weiss, and his birthday to April 6, 1874. In 1878, Appleton’s Zion Congregation hired his father, Samuel Weiss, as the community’s first rabbi. In 1882, they dismissed him, preferring a reform leader who could offer services in English. Samuel spoke only fluent Hebrew, Hungarian and German. (Continued on Page 29)
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Shown: Heather and Ann Marie relaxing in front of the Museum lobby area’s grand fireplace.
(Continued from Page 28)
In 1883, the Weiss family moved to Milwaukee, joining B’ne Jeshurun, a conservative, Germanic synagogue. Samuel worked sporadically as a shochet, a rabbi who performed ceremonial slaughter of animals for kosher meat. The family lived in poverty, moving frequently to avoid rent collectors. Houdini was the middle child with three older brothers (Herman, Nathan and William) and two younger brothers (Theodore and Leopold) and a baby sister (Gladys). As children, he and his brothers worked to help support the family. At nine years-old, Houdini shined shoes, made neckties and sold Milwaukee Journal newspapers. His earnings helped his parents pay rent and buy food. THE JOURNEY BEGINS His love of magic blossomed in Milwaukee. He joined a five-cent circus as a contortionist named, “The Prince of the Air” and performed for neighborhood children. He claimed he could pick up pins with his eyelids while hanging upside down from a trapeze. At twelve, wanderlust took over and Ehrich ran away from home, hopping on a freight car. He traveled to Delavan, the center of Wisconsin circus activity.
The Museum displays a post card he sent to his mother. He wrote, “Dear Ma, I am going to Galveston, TX and will be home in about a year. My best regard to all. Your truant son, Ehrich.” However, he got on the wrong freight car and ended up in Kansas City. He stayed for a few months, then returned to his family, who now lived in New York City. BROTHERS HOUDINI While a struggling magician, Ehrich met Jacob Hyman and the two began to perform together, calling themselves, The Brothers Houdini, after their idol, French magician, Jean Eugene Robert-Houdin. In 1891, they became full-time magic entertainers in the Midwest, upstate New York, and 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago. Within three years, their partnership ended when Ehrich (now renamed Harry) met Wilhelmina Beatrice Rahner (Bess), a singer/dancer at a Coney Island amusement park. After a short romance of three weeks, they married and Bess became his new assistant. They played up to twenty shows/day in the entertainment industry’s lowest rungs - beer halls, circuses, medicine shows and dime museums. (Continued on Page 30)
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MAGIC HAPPENS Martin Beck, a vaudeville tycoon, was impressed with escape magic at Palmgarden beer hall in St Paul, MN. He offered to book Houdini at his Orpheum halls that extended from Chicago to the Pacific Coast if he focused on his escape act. Houdini made it big for the first time in his career, opening in posh theaters like Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston and Philadelphia.
Shown: Heather and Ann Marie on the Museum stairs.
(Continued from Page 29)
Houdini and Bess performed under various names: The Rahners, The King of Cards, America’s Greatest Comedy Act, Cardo and Professor Murat. In 1897, they returned to Wisconsin as part of Rogers Orpheum Stars Company.
When his first Orpheum tour ended in May 1900, he left for the British Isles, calling himself The Elusive American, challenging Scotland Yard with private showings of his escape skills. Houdini successfully secured bookings across Europe. He returned to perform in the U.S. in 1905 and then ventured the Atlantic, heading to Australia in 1910. In 1912, he returned to Milwaukee, at the height of his career, to play at the eastside Majestic Theatre. In 1913, Harry Houdini became his legal name.
CHAINED ESCAPES After six years on stage, Houdini realized his niche was the art of the escape. A born marketer, he “conjured” free advertising for his acts by challenging local police chiefs to lock him in their most secure restraints. Racine’s Chief of Police, J.W. Johnson, said Houdini “dumbfounded” him with a twelve minute, fifty-second release from handcuffs and leg shackles. It took only five minutes to free himself from Appleton Chief Hoefer’s cuffs and two minutes from Beloit Justice Booth’s. He opened most restraints with a combination of physical dexterity and hidden lock picks. In the spring of 1899, things changed drastically. Houdini with his mother (L) and wife, Bess (R).
In 1916, he captured attention when the Milwaukee Journal challenged him to publicly escape a straitjacket. BIG SCREEN ADVENTURES In 1919, he left live performances, to pursue a movie career, appearing in The Master Mystery, The Grim Game, Terror Island, The Man from Beyond and Haldane of the Secret Service. Houdini wrote a number of books including Handcuff Secrets (1910), The Unmasking of Robert-Houdini (1908) and A Magician among the Spirits (1924). In 1922, he performed live again, now as a legend, his name having been added to the Funk and Wagnall’s dictionary as a synonym for ‘escape’, two years before. In 1924, he played in Madison at the Orpheum Theater. He performed his outdoor straitjacket escape from the Wisconsin State Journal’s fourth story window before a crowd of 15,000 - half the city’s population, which was featured on the paper’s front page The hours we spent in the museum zipped by like seconds. Before we knew it, it was time to head out to find the perfect place for dinner. (Continued on Page 31)
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SAI RAM INDIAN CUISINE
Shown: Houdini exposed fraudulent séances like this one involving a fake Lincoln’s ghost.
One evening a few months back, my husband and I had our neighbors, Terry and Diane, over for dinner. We started talking about our favorite restaurants and they told us about Sai Ram, an authentic Indian restaurant they love in Appleton. I asked more questions than one person probably should, but they were patient and happy to tell me every little thing my inquiring mind wanted to know. For months this place lingered in my daydreams. I thought about it often and envisioned myself tasting this incredible cuisine they so eloquently described. Sai Ram was a huge contributing factor in making the Houdini museum an official Day Trip. Sai Ram is not a place with enormous flashing signs out front – it is subtle, slightly hidden. The ambience is mystical and makes me think of jewels. Enchanting the background was classical folk music of South India, which heightened the experience truly making me feel like I was somewhere beyond ordinary.
Upon entering, we were greeted with genuine warmth by owners Rama Krishna and his wife, Poornakumari. The warmth continued throughout our entire meal. ENTRÉES In my planner, I had jotted down the entrée Terry and Diane both strongly suggested: Chicken Tikka Masala, which I chose. Ann Marie selected the Chicken Koorma. (Continued on Page 32)
Shown: Sai Ram Owners, Rama Krishna and wife, Poornakumari.
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(Continued from Page 31)
The Chicken Tikka Masala is a dish of boneless grilled chicken in a creamy spicy tomato sauce served over rice with Nan bread, described in the menu as “cream baked oven bread.” You decide if you want it prepared mild, medium or spicy. Ann Marie’s entrée, Chicken Koorma, is described in the menu as “boneless chicken prepared with a mild cream sauce with coconut and cashews.” We both paired our meals with the house Merlot. I look forward to someday trying their lunch buffet. FINAL REFLECTIONS It seemed too good to be true how everything magically fell into place – how a city around the corner that we never would have considered for a Day Trip, became one of our absolute favorites. It is interesting how we could go from not knowing or caring about the life of Houdini to becoming completely enthralled once learning that he was from Wisconsin, our home state.
Ann Marie and I both agreed that while Appleton will not be another full-blown Day Trip destination, it sure has potential for many “side trips.” Many thanks to our lovely neighbors who recommended one of the most unique restaurants I’ve ever visited, thereby unknowingly inspiring this story.
References: The information and facts included in this story were obtained from the museum and/or referenced from an article written by Kimberly Louagie, whose material first appeared in the Wisconsin Magazine of History, Spring 2002. Left Column and Lower Right: Several of Houdini’s publicized escapes are shown on this page such as the famous water torture stunt, right. The milk can at left, was sealed and filled with water. In the middle left photo, Houdini prepares for his escape from chains trick. The upper left photo shows another escape from chains.
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