Port of Call | Page 3A
Summer is just within reach, which means lake life is at its finest.
Take the time to skip a stone, dip your toes in the water, breathe in the serenity of the lake and read the season’s first edition of the Laker.
Port of Call | Page 2C
DWIGHT/ROUND
Crew Members | Page 11A
Shore Leave | Page 4A
Shore Leave | Page 14C
Shore Leave | Page 14B
Galley | Page 2B
Fishery | Page 11C
SUNFISH
Riggings | Page 3C
AIRBNB/VRBO
Ropes | Page 11B
Fishers of Men | Page 14A CHURCHES
We shine the spotlight on three local lakes in this issue; Lake Wapogasset/Bear Trap Lake and Dwight (Round) Lake. You will be introduced to just a few of the longest residents of Wapo/Bear Trap, learn just what this Pickle Ball craze is all about, find out when to check out local Farmers Markets and how use these fresh ingredients in featured recipes. You will also get schooled on how to rent out your cabin to others.
You know what they say, “Just being at the lake fixes everything.”
The publication dates are as follows:
Laker #1 – Friday, May 19
Laker #2 – Friday, June 9
Laker #3 – Friday, June 23
Laker #4 – Friday, July 7
Laker #5 – Friday, July 21
Laker #6 – Friday, August 11
Laker #7 – Friday, August 25
Enjoy your Laker and your summer! April Ziemer, Editor editor@theameryfreepress.com
Lake Wapogasset has come a long way since it’s days as Sucker Lake. The beloved bodies of water now known as “Wapo” and Bear Trap bring thousands of people to the Amery area throughout the year.
Dr. James Wallace registered the name Wapogasset with the U.S. Geographic
Board in 1912. He led the effort to change the name of Sucker Lake, which surveyors had called Wahpuggaisee in 1852.
Supposedly Wapogasset is the Native American word for sucker, while others argue Native Americans used the word to mean “White Pelican.”
Lake Wapogasset encompasses 1189
acres and is home to over 600 residents, various local businesses and two summer camps. Lake Wapogasset is connected to Bear Trap Lake through a small narrow. Bear Trap Lake is 247 acres with a max depth of 25 feet.
Wapo has three public accesses with two being owned by the Town of Garfield and Bear
By April Ziemer editor@theameryfreepress.com
Pickleball is exploding in Amery, leaving two choices: Join them or just “Dill” with it.
Starting with two courts in 2014, Pickleball has turned into all the rage and now people from all around flocking to the six courts located across from South Twin Lake.
A handful of years ago, many in Amery had never heard of the sport. Local snowbirds Dennis John and Ron Skone had been playing while spending time in warmer climates over the winter and decided it should be played in Amery too.
They were able to get the city to agree to convert part of the South Twin tennis courts into Pickleball courts. Since then, it has
grown and grown, bringing in players from many surrounding communities.
The Pickleball story goes something like this: Three Seattle area dads in 1965, whose children were bored with their usual summertime activities, cut some paddles from plywood and sent their kids off to a local badminton court to hit a ball around. And as it caught on, a dog named Pickles
loved to chase the ball around too.
Pickleball combines several sports. It’s played with oversized ping-pong paddles, on a badminton-sized court, and players volley a plastic whiffle type ball back and forth like in tennis.
Today, pickleball enthusiasts can be found worldwide, and the stakes are high. There’s a USA Pickleball Association, high-performance pickleball racquets and equipment, corporate sponsorships, and even international-level competition.
Pickleball has had a 650 percent increase in numbers over the last six years, according to USA Pickleball Association (USAPA). The biggest subset of that growth is not in the
over-60 crowd, says Justin Maloof, executive director of USAPA, but the younger set.
“When the sport first caught on in the sunbelt states around 2009, it was at 55-plus centers and RV communities,” he says. “It snowballed from there. But these days, there are many municipalities and parks and rec departments that are setting up courts, making it accessible to a younger crowd.”
Amery’s players are a mix of over 70 locals and others flocking the area communities such as Turtle Lake, Balsam Lake, Osceola and Barron. While there are some other towns that have courts, none have the organized large group that Amery does. Some players stop in to play just while
vacationing in the area. The Pickleball courts have become quite the asset to the community. The sport is bringing people to town, who then frequent other businesses while they are here.
Amery’s group welcomes players of all ages and skill levels. One Friday the oldest player on the court was three days shy of 87-yearsold. The youngest was 14-years-old.
I guess you could say this is a group who plays (Pickleball) well with others. Player Bob Rassmussen said, “It is such a welcoming group here. Anyone who wants to come down and try it can, we’ll find you a paddle. We are a diverse group from of all different backgrounds. It is just a great group of people
who love to have fun.”
The six courts see players on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to Noon. This usually runs from May until the first part of October (weather permitting).
There is even a winter option in the Amery High School gymnasium on Wednesday evenings.
It is a sport anyone can play. They have participants of all different levels who play here in town.
The group is very thankful to the City of Amery and the City crew for all of their support over the years. They appreciate financial help and the assistance with maintaining the courts.
On July 31, 2021 the South Twin Park Pickleball Courts where respectfully dedicated in memory of Amery Businessman Dennis John. The courts are a reflection of Dennis John and his love and
compassion of bringing people together. His wife Lou said, “Years ago I used to play a lot of tennis. After a while Dennis said we should go play golf, so we did. After a while he said we should play Pickleball and I told him I didn’t want to, but here I am, and I love it.”
Lou said it meant a lot to Dennis to watch the sport grow in Amery. “He just really loved it and was very proud,” she said. The Amery courts are listed on the USAPA website and app “Places To Play”
Here are some of the funny pickleball sayings and pickleball slang you are likely to hear on the court.
Falafel: No not the middle eastern food! A falafel in pickleball is a shot that doesn’t reach its full potential, due to the player hitting the ball without any power.
• Flapjack: A shot that must bounce once before it can be hit.
• Kitchen: Slang term for the NonVolley Zone.
• Pickle!: A player shouts “Pickle!” to let the other players know they are about to serve.
• Pickled: If a team scores zero points by the end of the game, they have been pickled. This is what you want to avoid.
• Pickledome: The court where the championship match in a pickleball tournament is played.
• Pickler: Someone who is obsessed with Pickleball and cannot stop talking about the sport. Are you a pickleball addict?
Looking to give pickleball a try? Paddles and balls can be purchased at Outside Inn in Amery. But can also be purchased in many sporting goods stores and online. ■
Trap has one public boat landing owned by the town of Lincoln. Wapogasset and Beartrap are unique in the fact that they have a combined lake association, conservancy, and sanitary district.
In the 1800s, Wapogasset was known as Sucker Lake, surrounded largely by dairy farms, and was home to plentiful pike, walleye and bass populations. Fertilizer in the runoff was mostly natural, and Wapo teemed with plant life. Five miles long from tip to tip and about a mile wide at maximum, the lake also encompassed a smaller body of water known as Bear Trap Cove.
By 1911, Wapogasset was lined with cottages and Wallace founded what is now known as the Lake Wapogasset Bear Trap Improvement Association, dedicated to preserving and protecting the lake for residents and recreational users alike. Wallace was not a medical doctor, but rather the president of Macalester College in St. Paul.
In little more than a century, the lake has gone from a rural farming staple to a popular visitor destination. Bear Trap was originally considered a bay of Wapo. It was established as a separate lake after Helen Beltman made a motion at the 1965 annual meeting to change the name to change Lake Wapogasset and
Bear Trap Association. The Article of Incorporation were refiled in 1971, with the name Lake WapogassetBear Trap Improvement Association, Inc.
Wapo/Bear Trap are Amery’s largest body of water, and about 30 percent those with properties on the lakes keep a full-time address there. Out of all these residents, 508 (over 75 percent) are voluntary members of the Improvement Association.
The association is always busy with lake preservation efforts, whether in the form of collaborations with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources or citizen-comprised committees. One such project, the Clean Boats Clean Waters effort, aims to curtail the arrival and spread of invasive species within Wapogasset and Bear Trap.
Polk County Water Quality Specialist Colton Sorensen said, “Multiple lakes in Polk County are doing Alum treatments to help address internal loading. Internal loading is the release of phosphorous from sediments in the bottom of the lake under anoxic conditions, which is contributing to the algae blooms on the lake. Wapogasset Lake has had studies completed and found that internal loading is an issue resulting in more significant algae bloom. In 1999 an alum treatment was applied to Wapogasset Lake
which was the first alum treatment in Polk County where 744,000 gallons of alum were applied to depths greater than 15 feet.”
The results in the fall had reductions as predicted as well as the concentration in the summer of 2000, however in spring of 2001 the dam blew out on the Balsam Branch and the phosphorous levels started increasing and have continued since.
“The Wapogasset alum treatment did not have as great of results as anticipated at the time however, alum applications have come a long way in fact that scientists have adjusted the dosing and timing of dose’s as a result of how the lake is responding. Alum treatments since have been much more effective with typically three lower quantity doses over a span of several years,” said Sorensen.
As far as invasive species, Bear trap has Chinses Mystery Snails, Curly Leaf Pondweed and Yellow Iris. Wapogasset has Chinses Mystery Snails, Curly Leaf Pondweed, Japanese Knotweed and Yellow Iris.
The DNR has stocked the lakes with native species like Walleye and Northern Pike in order to diminish invasive species’ impact, and five settlement plates are also used in order to keep taps on the lakes’ biodiversity and watch out for Zebra
Mussels, which are common pests in other area lakes but are not yet present in Wapogasset and Bear Trap.
The industrialization and development in earnest of Wapogasset’s surrounding land began shortly after World War II, when two summer camps, Lake Wapogasset Lutheran Bible camp and YMCA Camp Icaghowan, were built along it. Not long after, the building surge of the 1950s began,
when property owners built uninsulated two-season cabins, with no building code or inspector. In the 1970s, the association played an instrumental role, alongside the DNR, in developing the Lake Wapogasset and Bear Trap Lake Sanitary District, which instituted the lake’s first sewer system, only the second of its kind on a Wisconsin Lake.
After the sewer system was built, many buyers purchased the original two-season cabins from the 1950s, tore them down, and built year-round homes or insulated cabins.
From the Surface Water Resources of Polk County in 1961, “The lakes had four resorts and one bible camp, tow boat liveries (boat houses or dock where they are let out for hire) and 204 cottages. One hundred eight acres of marsh wetland adjoin the lake where mallards, bluewing teal, wood ducks and lesser scaup nest. Extensive use by migratory waterfowl, is made of the lake mainly coot and diving ducks (ringneck and canvasback ducks), some puddle ducks and occasionally Canada geese and whistling swans.”
Now water enthusiasts from both Wisconsin and Minnesota can be found out on the lake each weekend and the appeal of Wapo/Bear Trap always keeps them coming back for more.
For some residents of Lake Wapogasset and Bear Trap, the waters have actually remained the longest constant of their lives. In the blink of an eye, childhood years morphed into years spent with grandchildren. Some believe though, on a quiet morning, when the breeze blows just right, if you shut your eyes and listen to the waves-time doesn’t just stand still, it will actually transport you back to the days when your heart first fell for the waters of “Sucker Lake”
91-year-old Judy (Hawley) Ohm has spent every summer on Lake Wapogasset since 1932. Currently, she lives there all year long.
Judy was part of what was known as the “Little Baldwin” gang. In 1921, four families from Baldwin built cabins on Lake Wapo, the families were the Hawleys (of the Baldwin Bulletin newspaper) and other Baldwin business people, the VandeBergs, Knotts and Heebinks.
The men worked in Baldwin and would commute while the women and children would stay at Wapo and swim off Cecil Heebink’s dock.
“When I was growing up there were so few people on the lake that I thought this lake belonged to us,” said Judy.
One unique cabin featured a poker table built right into the floor with an electric outlet built in for Jack Knott’s electric card dealer. When Judy was young, she would peak across and watch the men play cards all night.
She feels what makes the lakes special are how well cared for they are by the Lakes Association. She really likes how the two camps, YMCA and Wapo Bible Camp leave a lot of undeveloped shoreline.
Judy has many memories from her childhood and beyond on the lakes. She can remember cutting ice right out of the lake for the “ice box.” During the summer, they went to Montgomery’s farm for ice. Before it was demolished in the tornado of 1942, Judy would go to
Garfield/Lake Wapogasset Park to visit DeLawyer’s concession stand for ice cream.
O.K. Hawley is a contender for catching one of the biggest Pickeral, 27 pounds, two ounces on Tuesday June 19, 1928. The article was published in the Baldwin Bulletin and the family still has the article framed to this day.
97-year-old Joyle Anderson has spent nearly his entire life near the lake. He was chairman of the Dam Committee and when notified by the state that the dam had to be rebuilt, he worked diligently to make sure this could be accomplished. He found other volunteers and began working to find a solution.
Joyle still lives on the shores of the waters he has loved to call home.
As Post Master for Deronda for many years, he has always had a passion for the area, which has led to his volunteer spirit and extreme knowledge of his surroundings.
For Jerry Tessman, 1948 was the year that brought him “home.”
Tessman’s older brother Roger Tessman and his wife Peggy visited her relatives summer place on Lake Wapogasset in 1946 and soon thereafter purchased a lot at the end of Hickory Point Lane on Bear Trap.
“During the summer of 1948, my parents Herman and Dorothy Tessman and I traveled to Amery for a visit. It was love at first site and after deliberations, and a loan from grandma, they partnered with my aunt, Elsie Tessman and purchased the lot between Roger’s place and the Bible Camp. I was 12-years-old at the time and my first job was to chop down 50 or more birch saplings in the area where the cabin was to be built,” said Jerry.
The saplings Jerry missed now tower over 60 feet high in their yard along with a couple of 150+ year old pine trees that escaped the 1880s log off.
In the spring of 1949 Lars Dybdahl, a Clear Lake Farmer/Carpenter built their family’s original cabin and outhouse. The total investment for the land and cabin was $3,300.00
and their family had a place at the lake!
When Jerry started dating his now wife of 64 years, Gail, it was the spring of 1955. One of the first places he took her to visit was Bear Trap Lake. He said, “That was 68 years ago and she is still here-it must be the charm of the lake!”
Other special memories for Jerry and Gail at the lake include bringing their “city kids” to the lake to enjoy swimming, fishing waterskiing, bonfires and the things lake life has to offer. Then seeing their grown children and grandchildren come year after year for “lake time.”
They especially loved seeing their two great grandchildren taking their first pontoon ride on Bear Trap.
They have annual July 4th family holiday gatherings and enjoy the fabulous fireworks display.
They were tickled when several family members selected the cabin at Bear Trap to be the place where they wanted to spend their honeymoon.
In 1983, Jerry and Gail purchased the lake property from Dorothy and Elsie. In 2000, they leveled the cabin and built their current home, becoming permanent residents.
For 35 years the couple served as trustees of the Lake Improvement Association. They treasure the many friends they made as volunteers working to protect and preserve their treasured lakes and surrounding areas.
They helped organize the 100year anniversary celebration for the Wapogasset-Bear trap Lake Improvement Association in 2011-the second oldest lake association in Wisconsin.
They were proud to host Senator Gaylord Nelson, Father of Earth Day, to celebrate the reconstruction of the lake dam and the reclamation of the Wapogasset Park after 50 years of neglect and abandonment.
This year the Tessman family celebrated 75 years at the lake.
“Soon ownership will transfer to our children and family ownership will hopefully continue for years to
come,” Jerry said.
He shared, years ago in a farewell message, retiring professor Lowell Klessig from UW Stevens Point stated, Lakes have tremendous emotional content for our ties to nature and for the place we spend the best times of our lives with family and friends. Times at the lake are dear to us and that is pure emotion and it should be celebrated.”
Jerry said he shares Klessig’s sentiments. He said, “I can sit on the shore and just watch the lake and it revitalizes me when I am down, and it nurtures my soul; it provides comfort and tranquility. Living at the lake provides a sense of peace in a chaotic world. The lake-always changing, but it remains constant.” ■
08.12.23
Price is Right Amery’ $
to you by the Amery Community Club with valued partnerships
BIG • WIN BIGGER
Shop Big in Amery! • 10am-4pm
For every $20 spent at an Amery Community Club (ACC) business, receive a special card for your chance to win a BRAND NEW CAR, a TRIP and other FABULOUS prizes
Services, goods, food and drink, ANYTHING (legally allowed per type of trade) from an ACC business-Spend $20 and get a card.
Food & Beer • 4 pm • Michael Park Grab your lawn chairs...food trucks and a beer stand will be waiting for those with cards collected throughout the day to register to play “Amery’s Price is Right”.
FOR FURTHER INFO ABOUT SPONSORING AMERY’S PRICE IS RIGHT, CONTACT APRIL ZIEMER editor@theameryfreepress.com 651-235-0515 or TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS EVENT, OTHER AMERY EVENTS or ABOUT AMERY COMMUNITY CLUB BUSINESSES, VISIT AMERYCC.ORG 08.12.23
Area
Max Depth
Wapo 32 feet
Bear Trap 25 feet
Mean Depth 17 feet
Boat Landings
Wapo 2 • Bear Trap 1 Fish
Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike and Walleye
Invasive Species
Chinese Mystery
Snail, Curly-Leaf
Pondweed, Japanese knotweed (Wapo), Yellow Iris (Wapo)
By April Ziemer editor@theameryfreepress.com
There is nothing quite like feeling the tug on the end of your fishing line and knowing you are catching tonight’s dinner.
Panfish are tasty, freshwater fish that are delicious to eat in any number of ways – grilled, baked, whole or air fried! There are more than 15 different types of fish that are considered panfish, but which Panfish recipes are best and easy to prepare?
From perch to crappie; sunfish to bluegill and so many more, there
are a variety of meals you can make with these delicious fish – and they always taste better if you’ve caught them yourself!
Let’s take a look at 3 simple and easy recipes that even the pickiest eaters are sure to enjoy.
Let’s say you caught yourself a mess of sunnies. Now, you’re ready to prepare your spoils from today’s fishing, and you want to fire up the grill. Here’s a very simple and delicious way that you can grill your panfish. If sunfish isn’t your fish of choice, keep in mind that this recipe will work with any type of panfish, including bass, crappie, perch, bluegills, and many more.
NOTE: This Grilled Panfish recipe will work on a charcoal grill, gas grill, or even a campfire!
Ingredients
Four boneless and skinless fillets (8 oz)
Half of a white onion, chopped
1 cup Water
1 tbsp Pepper
1 tbsp Salt
Two tablespoons of butter
Aluminum foil, torn in 14-18 inch sheets
Optional: Beer, lemon slices
Instructions
Pre-heat your grill to a medium-high temperature, 400-450 degrees Fahrenheit.
Make a small plate out of the aluminum foil and fold up the edges to keep the juices and ingredients from spilling out. Butter the aluminum foil sheet and place the fillets in the center.
Add salt and pepper to both sides of the fillets and sprinkle chopped onion over them.
Add just a splash of water (or beer!) to the fillets to help keep them moist during the grilling process.
Garnish with lemon slices if you’d like then seal up the packets.
Place them on the grill and cook for 7-10 minutes, flipping once. Meat should be white and flaky with a fork.
Optional- if you prefer more ‘char’ and smokey taste, try cooking on a Fish Grill
Rack instead of foil!
If you use beer instead of water, it will whatever flavor of beer you are using (for example, Honey Ale, or Barley Wheat), and the heat will cook off the alcohol, so you don’t have to worry about that.
Complimentary sides for Grilled Panfish:
Rice Pilaf
Grilled Zucchini, Squash or Asparagus
Cole Slaw
Texas Toast
It’s very common in western cultures to fillet off the meat from fish you catch, but in many other parts of the world, fish are cooked whole. The fins and skin add a whole new level of flavor and texture.
To cook your Panfish whole, you’ll want to remove the head, guts and scale the fish. While there are many recipes to cook Panfish whole, this is one of the easiest.
Ingredients
4-6 panfish gutted and scaled
Three tbsp of olive oil
Fresh parsley and dill
Sliced onion and lemon
Two tbsp salt
Two tsp pepper
Instructions
This is for whole baked panfish, but you can adapt for the grill if you’d like. Now that you have what you need, let’s get started.
Preheat the oven to 500 degrees.
Coat a medium-large roasting pan with 1 tbsp of olive oil, and place a layer of sliced lemon on the bottom.
Liberally apply olive oil onto fish, and season with parsley, dill, salt, and pepper. After seasoning, place whole fish on top of sliced lemons.
Cover roasting pan with foil and cook for 22 minutes.
Let the fish sit for 5 minutes, then garnish with parsley. Meat should be fork-tender.
NOTE: It is important to make sure that your fish isn’t touching the bottom of the pan
to make sure it is cooked evenly and will not be burned. By touching the ingredients while roasting, the fish will pick up more of the flavor.
Complimentary sides for Whole Baked Panfish:
Baked Potato or Potatoes Au Gratin
Chef Salad
Green Bean Casserole
Sauteed Mushrooms
Coating your panfish with cornmeal and dropping it into a skillet of peanut oil is traditional and delicious but have you ever tried Air Fried Panfish?
Air frying is incredible – you get all of the same texture as traditional frying with much fewer calories and less mess. For this recipe, we’ll use Crappie fillets, but much like the rest of the recipes listed, you can use just about any kind of panfish.
Ingredients
6-8 boneless and skinless crappie fillets
Two cups buttermilk
One cup breadcrumbs
Two teaspoons garlic salt
Half teaspoon paprika
Half teaspoon black pepper
Cooking spray
Instructions
Preheat your Air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Spray your air fryer pan/basket with cooking spray to prevent sticking. This is important to help the coating stay on your fish and not on the pan.
Thoroughly rinse fillets in water, pat dry, and then place them into a small bowl of buttermilk. Allow to sit for 10-15 minutes. Mix breadcrumbs, garlic salt, paprika, and pepper in a small mixing bowl.
Remove fillets from buttermilk and shake off excess. Then, dredge fillets in a mixing bowl of breadcrumbs and spices. Apply to both sides of the fillet and shake off the excess seasoning.
Arrange your fillets in a single layer and air fry them at 400 degrees for 10 minutes.
Breadcrumbs should be golden brown and crispy, and the meat should be white and flaky.
Complimentary sides for Air Fried Panfish:
Baked Beans
Whole Kernel Corn
Cornbread
Garlic Butter Grilled Steak & Shrimp
Grilled steak. Need we say more? Is there anything better on a summer day than the smell of a steak with drops of fat dripping into the grill, with a hiss-a shot of fire and blue smoke curling around the sizzling edges? What truly makes grilled foods taste better is the browning of proteins and sugars creating that beautiful coloration and extra flavor profile on the meat. Seasoned just right and topped with a seasoned garlic butter-VOILA!
Grilled steak & shrimp slathered in garlic butter makes for the best steak recipe and it’s surf and turf right at home!
An incredible easy to make gourmet steak dinner that tastes like something out of a restaurant. This recipe is ready on the table in less than 15 minutes. Easy to make and PERFECT for the barbecue, or grill inside using a grill pan!
Tips for perfect grilled steak
Set up the grill — at least 15 minutes before you start grilling. Start with clean grill plates to prevent steaks from sticking when flipping.
Preheat grill or barbecue — Your grill needs to be HOT! At least 450°F (230°C) to get a good sear and a crispy edges. Find the hottest areas by carefully and slowly waving your hand 6 inches above the grill plates.
Lightly oil — Using tongs, lightly grease grill plates with a folded paper towel dipped in oil.
Pat steaks dry — Let steaks sit out at room temperature for 15 minutes, then pat dry with paper towel to ensure the perfect sear. Season with salt and pepper, plus anything else you like: paprika, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, etc.
Flip with tongs — Use a pair of tongs instead of a barbecue fork to avoid piercing holes in the meat and releasing crucial juices. Flip only once during cook time to give them time to form that beautiful crust. You’ll know they are ready when they easily lift off the grill.
Slather with garlic butter the BEST part about this recipe. You can grill your steaks AND have delicious melted garlic butter running down them, infusing them with so much flavor. You’re going to use half here, saving the rest for your shrimp.
Rest — Allow steaks to rest for a good 5 minutes before slicing to let the juices settle before serving.
While steaks are resting, grill your shrimp, brushing them with the remaining butter. Get ready for a flavor explosion!
How can you tell if grilled steak is done?
Rare steaks. Soft textured steaks that maintain an indent when pressed will be rare — 140°F (60°C) internal temperature
Medium-rare steaks. Steaks with a soft and springy feel will be medium rare
145°F (63°) internal temperature
Medium steaks. Steaks with a springy feel will be medium (bounce back up fast)
160°F (70°) internal temperature
Well done steaks. Firm steaks are well done — 170°F (76°) internal temperature
It is recommended to remove steaks off the grill when they are around 5° below desired doneness as they continue cooking while resting.
How to grill shrimp?
Reduce heat to medium and grill your shrimp for 5-6 minutes, depending not the size and thickness of your shrimp.
Flip each one halfway through cook time, grilling until they turn nice and pink in color while white and opaque on the inside.
What wine goes well with this steak recipe?
Choose a white wine to go with this. A light Chardonnay or Pinot Gris pairs really well.
Garlic Butter Ingredients
½ cup butter (or spread of choice), softened at room temperature
2 garlic cloves , minced (or 1 teaspoon garlic powder)
2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley
Salt to taste (if using unsalted butter)
Add all ingredients into a small serving bowl and mix until combined.
Steak and Shrimp Ingredients
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided 4 cloves garlic, (or 1 tablespoon minced garlic)
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped 1 tablespoon olive oil
4 New York Steak strip steaks (Porterhouse steaks)
Salt and pepper
8 ounces (250 g) shrimp deveined, tails on or off
Instructions
Mix together butter, garlic and fresh chopped parsley. Refrigerate until ready to use.
Heat a large grill over high heat. Lightly grease grill plates with oil. Pat steaks dry with paper towel. Brush lightly with oil and generously season with salt and pepper. Grill steaks for 4-5 minutes each side until browned and cooked to desired doneness. Spread half of the butter all over of steaks. Transfer steaks to a warm plate and let rest
for 5 minutes.
While steaks are resting, melt remaining butter. Season shrimp with salt and pepper.
Reduce heat to medium and grill your shrimp for 5-6 minutes, depending not the size and thickness of your shrimp. Flip each one halfway through cook time and continue cooking until they turn nice and pink in color while white and opaque on the
inside.
Toss remaining butter through shrimp and serve with steak!
NOTE: For steaks, you can use Strip, Sirloin, Rib eye, T-bone, Eye fillet, Scotch fillet or Porterhouse steaks. Tail on or off shrimp are fine. If grilling frozen shrimp, thaw first and pat dry with paper towel before grilling.
Nutrition
Calories: 543kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g
|
Protein: 64g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat:
12g | Cholesterol: 325mg | Sodium: 572mg
|
Potassium: 873mg | Vitamin A: 610IU |
Vitamin C: 4.6mg | Calcium: 145mg | Iron: 5mg ■
May 26, 8 pm
Sam & Shady
May 27, 8 pm
Dave Wagner
May 28, 8 pm
Wade Snake
June 2, 8 pm
North of 64
June 9, 8 pm
Web & Jay
June 10, 8 pm
DJ Geno
June 16, 8 pm
Rich Schroeder
June 23, 8 pm
Paul Henry
June 24, 11 am
Sign Ladi Paint & Sip
June 30, 8 pm
Groovin’ 60’s
July 1, 8 pm
Studebakers
July 2, 5 pm
DJ Bingo (Free)
July 7, 8 pm
Kar Jackers Entertainment Karaoke
July 14, 8 pm
Mike McAbee
July 15
Campfire Christmas, Xmas in July
July 15, 8 pm
DJ Geno
July 21, 8 pm
Pit Crew
July 28, 8 pm
Sam & Shady
July 29, 6 pm
Mark Stary & Rib Contest
August 4, 8 pm
Rex Cactus
August 11, 8 pm
Paul Henry
August 12, 8 pm
80’s Prom, Kar Jackers Entertainment
August 18, 8 pm
Larry Rysavy
August 25, 8 pm
Sam & Shady
Sept. 1, 8 pm
Rich Schroeder
Sept. 3, 3 pm
Elvis Show
By Katelin Anderson Information and Education Coordinator, Polk County Dept. of Land and Water Resources
With the recent discovery of invasive zebra mussels in Balsam Lake and Lake Wapogasset boaters, anglers, and property owners might be wondering what to expect. Zebra mussels are filter feeders that remove plankton from the water which can lead to changes in the lake ecosystem and water clarity. Increased light penetration could lead to increased plant growth and potential increases in blue-green algae since zebra mussels avoid their consumption. Zebra mussels may also cause decreases in native mussel populations and changes in aquatic life abundance and species composition.
In terms of recreational impacts, lake users may want to consider storing their boats on lifts that keep their boat fully out of water so they don’t become covered with zebra mussels. Lake users may also want to wear gloves when handling equipment like docks, lifts, and rafts that have been stored in waters where zebra mussels are present since their shells can be rather sharp. As zebra mussel populations increase, there may be a need for recreational users to wear footwear when walking in the lake or on the shoreline.
The presence of zebra mussels in two new lakes and one existing lake (Deer Lake) in Polk County might leave water lovers feeling discouraged. However, there are reasons to regroup and remain optimistic. Now is the time for boaters, anglers, and lake organizations to step up decontamination and prevention
efforts to stop the spread of zebra mussels and prevent the establishment of other emerging invasive species such as stary stonewort and spiny water fleas which are not currently present in Polk County water bodies.
The existing Polk County Illegal Transport of Aquatic Plants and Invasive Species
Ordinance was recently amended to aid boaters, anglers, and lake organizations in their decontamination efforts. The ordinance now requires the use of decontamination stations where they are available.
A decontamination station is designed to take prevention efforts one step further than
physically removing visible plants, animals, and sediments. Decontamination stations are specifically designed to neutralize the microscopic life stage of invasive animals such as zebra mussels or to remove small plant fragments that are hidden in hard-toreach locations. Typically, decontamination stations include high temperature water
(140 degrees or more) applied with a pressure washer, a mild bleach solution applied with a low-pressure sprayer, pressurized air, or other techniques.
In response to the ordinance amendment which requires the use of decontamination stations where they are available, Polk County took the lead on installing decontamination stations on all Polk County owned boat landings in fall of 2021. Additionally, the Bone Lake Management District and Half Moon Lake District installed the CD3 brand waterless cleaning systems in 2022 which are designed to empower boaters and anglers to help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive
species by providing the tools necessary to clean, drain, and dry their boats and trailers. This spring the Balsam Lake Protection and Rehabilitation District installed CD3 decontamination units at the seven boat landings on Balsam Lake. Both Balsam Lake and Lake Wapogasset are updating their signage at their boat landings to increase awareness of invasive species and highlight steps to prevent their spread.
In February 2023, fourteen organizations partnered to provide an online zebra mussel forum that covered a range of topics and case studies including zebra mussel establishment and growth, local decontamination efforts, zebra mussel
monitoring, zebra mussel control research, and zebra mussel management options for Wisconsin. If you missed the forum and would like more information, the full recording can be found on the Polk County Land and Water Resources Department’s “Reports and Presentations” webpage at: https://www.polkcountywi.gov/landwater
We all have a role in invasive species prevention and have the knowledge and tools to keep Polk County’s lakes healthy. For more information contact the Polk County Land and Water Resources Department at 715-485-8699. ■
Some of the recreational facilities available to the public include:
• 24 hr. boat Launch (fee or annual sticker required--please see Park Rules).
• Children's Playground
• Fishing Piers (Handicap accessible)
• Picnic Shelters (Shelters may be reserved. The larger Riverside shelter is $50 and the smaller Lakeside shelter is $40. Please call Clerk at (715) 268-4857 (Town Hall) or (715) 268-4414 (home) or email garfieldhall@amerytel.net if you have questions.
• Picnic Tables
• Restrooms
• Walking Trail
According to an article written by JoAnn Hallquist, the park was deeded to the Town of Garfield November 13, 1926 after a public subscription raised the necessary money to buy the property from the estate of Major J. Stannard Baker, the St. Croix Falls representative of the Cushing Land Agency. There were stipulations in the deed:
"The said property will be held, used and maintained exclusively for and only for a public playground and recreation subject to such rules and restrictions as to its use as may from time to time be ordered by the Town Board of Supervisors of said Town of Garfield; that it shall be known as Lake Wapogasset Park and that no public dancing, use of intoxicating liquors or disorderly conduct of any kind shall be permitted on said premises."
The park was established because of the vision of some lake residents, notably
Dr. James Wallace, the local Garfield Town Board officials, and the residents of the town. Garfield added to the original area by buying two more parcels: a lakeshore lot bordering the park in 1926; a block of land
in 1937 that brought the size of the park to about seven (7) acres.
The land has always been a recreation area. William L. Sadler, the first permanent settler in the immediate area, established
a sawmill on the location in 1865 and improved the primitive dam. He wrote at the time of our nation's 1876 centennial that Sucker (later renamed Wapogasset) and Bear Trap Lakes have long been a favorite resort for fishermen and pleasure parties. Sadler built the first frame house in the Town of Lincoln at this site and later was authorized in 1878 by the legislature to build a dam. Sadler moved away in 1882 but the dam probably remained until 1910 when it was dynamited by the New Richmond logging interests, reportedly unhappy with the debris collecting at the dam site. Sadler's place was a stop on an early tote road from St. Croix County to St. Croix Falls; he served as postmaster (1874-80) and a town official in Lincoln (Garfield became a separate town in 1886).
In 1901, Dr. James Wallace, President of Macalster College in St. Paul, purchased Pine Island (now the site of the Minneapolis YMCA) as his summer retreat. Wallace pursued many efforts to make the lake a prime recreation area. In 1910 he hired Worthy Prentice to survey the lake preparatory to repairing the dam; in 1911 he took the lead in forming the Lake Wapogasset Improvement Association, the first lake association in Wisconsin; in 1912 he successfully proposed and later obtained the approval of the Geographic Board in Washington DC to change the name from Sucker Lake to Wapogasset, the later closely resembling various names such as Wahpuggaisee in the government survey notes; he requested government stocking of crappies to increase fishing variety; from 1911 onward he sought various schemes to obtain control of the park and the dam site from Major Baker, with whom he had real estate investments in various Polka County locations. Baker platted the land surrounding the park in 1914; he had already started selling lots for vacation-minded people who arrived via train at Derando.
It was Dr. Wallace who successfully sought the cooperation of the Garfield Town Board in helping in the public subscription which ultimately resulted in the purchase of the land. He also pushed for the acquisition of the dam to prevent it from falling to hands of power companies. In 1922 Dr. Wallace and six local farmers bought the dam site. In 1962 it was turned over to the Wapogasset and Bear Trap Lake Association. The dam was rebuilt by the association in 1999. Dr. Wallace was honored in 1941 with the monument that stands on the highest point in the park for his many activities on behalf of the local community.
During the pre-war years, the park was the site of speeches by gubernatorial and other political candidates, farm leaders and evangelists. They spoke from a wooden platform between two ridges framed by a canopy of trees. There was a concession stand with boats for rent, a swimming beach, and groups and families picnicked around open campfires. The DeLawyer family operated the concession stand from 1934 to 1942.
The tornado of May 13, 1942 changed everything. It uprooted all the finest trees,
destroyed the concession stand, and park life came to a halt. Over the ensuing years, efforts were made from time to time to restore the park, but it never came to life like it once had been.
In 2006, as restoration work on the park began, an archeologist hired by the town uncovered a spear tip, several pottery fragments, and other artifacts while inspecting the property. He concluded from his research that the site had been inhabited during various prehistoric periods, as long ago as 3,000 B.P. (years before present). Those artifacts are now in the custody of the Town of Garfield. More recently, prior to pioneer settlement, the Ojibwa and the Sioux used the lake and a bitter battle was fought o9n a small island in the northern section of the lake.
"We now have the best park on the best lake in the best county in the best state in the best country in the world."
B.S. Isacson, Chairman, Garfield Town Board, speaking at the June 16, 1925 picnic held on the grounds of the newly acquired public park at the outlet of Lake Wapogasset. ■
Acres: 77
Total Shoreline: 1.5 miles
Maximum Depth: 26 feet
Town of Osceola
Polk County, Wisconsin
While it is known by several different names, Dwight/ Round Lake is an oasis to those lucky enough to know the hidden gem sits east of Osceola.
Dwight/Round Lake is a 68-acre lake with a max depth of 26 feet. On the east side of the lake, there is a public
swimming beach as well as a boat launch owned by the town of Osceola. That, with the combination of the Stower Seven Lakes State Trail bordering the south side of the lake, makes for a mecca of recreation.
There has been continuous secchi data on the lake since 1996, the secchi has been steadily increasing
for the last 15 years (which is a good thing). Secchi depth (pronounced seckky) is a measure of water transparency, where transparency increases with increasing secchi depth. The secchi depth is the depth of water beyond which a high-contrast pattern on a submerged disk is no longer visible.
You crushed the numbers for revenue potential and decided you would be crazy not to make money off of letting others use your cabin on the lake. But take a deep breath because this is just starting as the dollar signs in your eyes are just the beginning of your journey.
Before you sits a seemingly endless to-do list. From cleaning supplies to the optimal pricing strategy, as with any other business, details abound. This can be
overwhelming, that’s why, sitting in your hands is a crash course with ten things you should know as a new cabin short-term landlord.
Let’s start with something unavoidable: costs. Startup costs are the expenses you’ll have when starting any business, and, naturally, they vary depending on the industry. Estimating them for your shortterm rental can be a little mind-boggling, but it’s not rocket science. You’ll have two
types of costs: Fixed costs and one-time costs.
Fixed are the ones you’ll have to pay regularly, such as utility bills, internet service and certain supplies. You’ll have to deal with them whether or not you’re already getting enough guests.
Some of these costs also vary with the demand. For instance, you won’t need too many cleaning supplies if your cabin is not getting too many bookings. Also, you’re already familiar with some of these costs because they are the same ones you
are dealing with when using your cabin yourself.
There are also the one-time costs. You might have necessary repairs to make before you can rent your cabin. You might need to invest in decor and furniture, including buying unique pieces that photograph well, outstanding amenities to make your cabin stand out, and possibly
high-quality photos to advertise your place. It’s important to estimate these costs, weigh them, and plan ahead.
When considering costs, many cabin owners think they can avoid investing in design and decor. Suppose you are going on a vacation-would you rather stay in a
place that looks just like a regular home or one with an intriguing design, exuding the essence of its surroundings?
In this market, guests look for uniqueness. This means a nicely decorated cabin with updated hardware and appliances. A smart design usually comes down to finding the right furniture mix and composition, lighting scheme (including balancing natural with artificial light) and mixing in house plants with open views of nature — all this goes for indoor and outdoor areas.
To create a unique environment, it’s always a good idea to seek inspiration from the surroundings. Aim to tell a story with your cabin that relates to local culture. This will undoubtedly evoke an emotional response in your guests and ultimately boost your rates.
The marketplace is starting to get overcrowded, so you must make sure you stand out from the competition. Having an updated and nicely decorated cabin helps, but it’s not enough. You need to go that extra mile to provide your guests with the unique experience mentioned above.
Investing in good amenities is an excellent way of getting more bookings and increasing your revenues. A good view is no longer enough to stand out. Instead, go beyond the expected to add that “wow” factor, break the pattern, and hold your viewer’s attention as they browse online looking for cabins.
Common items put in searches on Airbnb and VRBO include hot tubs, pool table, air hockey, fire pits, pontoons and a Roku player.
Cleanliness is among the top two factors influencing your quality score. It also affects your rates and reviews. It should be a top priority if you want to boost your nightly rates. Most cabin owners opt for a reliable cleaning service to take care of the job. As much as you want things to be spotless, you don’t need a deep clean every time a guest leaves. That would cost much money and time, probably exceeding your revenues.
It’s all a balancing act. Routine cleaning is lighter, and it takes care of the most noticeable issues, like replacing linens and sanitizing hard surfaces, floors, and hot tubs. Still, there comes a time when you need to take care of everything, it means deep cleaning. It’s when the heavy lifting happens: you’ll clean under heavy appliances and furniture, take care of dusting all the blinds and fans, check all walls and ceilings for cobwebs, treat the wood, and flush and clean the jacuzzi, for instance.
Just like cleaning, caring and maintaining your cabin is a way to keep your quality score high and get more positive reviews. It’s also something you should do regularly. Your cleaning staff will be your best ally. Most of the time, they are the ones who report damages and maintenance needs.
Business
In many ways, your cabin is like your home. It needs care. Still, a short-term rental property sees more people coming and going, requiring more maintenance.
Occasionally, check the property yourself or have someone you trust putting their eyes on everything, from checking the number of supplies (always replace broken or old ones) and inspecting the sinks, showers, and baths. Also, don’t neglect the big stuff, such as repainting walls, fixing flooring, and replacing carpets. If you fail on ongoing maintenance, it can cause high costs later on.
Speaking of costs, when budgeting, think of allocating at least 5% of your gross income for care and maintenance. It’s a way of preparing yourself and avoiding unpleasant financial affects when the need comes.
Is your decor on point? Have you got your unique amenities? Is everything clean and fixed? Good. Now, let’s shoot.
Clearly, you’re investing not just love and care in your short-term rental business but also quite a lot of money. Sometimes, owners think they can save a bit and photograph the property themselves with their smartphones. These cameras are getting better, but you need a technical eye to shoot your cabin optimally.
Things like the right light, focus, and angle play as much a role as staging your cabin and knowing what to photograph. That’s why it is recommended that you allow some extra hundred bucks to hire a professional photographer. Also, let’s face it, professional lenses can do wonders.
In this marketing-driven business, having
high-quality photos is essential. The right set of images can directly affect your nightly rates by over 50%.
When you have those beautiful professional photos ready, you need to put them somewhere, but where?
Many websites specialize in short-term rentals; other booking websites are great for marketing. Many list cabins on several sites, including Expedia, Orbitz, Airbnb and VRBO. The latter two, however, get much more bookings.
When selecting where to promote your listing, there are some essential factors to consider:
Does the platform charge based on subscription or per booking?
Does it offer insurance?
Is it popular with your target audience?
What are the booking fees? Check on their policies for host fees, guest fees, credit card fees, etc. Check them all to avoid surprises.
Does the platform have reliable customer support? Remember, sometimes tech can bring some issues.
Does the platform allow for software integrations? When your business grows, you’ll need to add some extra platforms to make your life easier.
With listing platforms, the good thing is that you don’t have to choose just one. Go for the optimal mix that works best for you and your audience.
Like any other business, price is a crucial decision-making aspect of having a short-
term rental. Everything discussed above plays a role in finding the base for a nightly fee. You need to estimate your expenses, consider both high and minor costs, and add your profit percentage on top of it.
Once you reach a final figure, take a step back and evaluate your property, what it offers, its location, and how it compares with similar cabins in the market. Ask yourself if the price is fair. How would you feel about it if you weren’t an owner?
Good, you’ve reached that optimal nightly fee.
You’re getting bookings. Now, how do you deal with your guests?
The relationship you establish with your guest is meaningful in this business. They rely on your performance as an excellent host to have an enjoyable experience in your rental. Keep in mind that you’re not running a hotel, standards are different, and it’s okay to make it more personal.
First, always try to meet their expectations with reality. You do that by working on the foundations of your listing: images and descriptions. Be specific and realistic. Take accurate and high-quality photos of your cabin and include everything they need to know in the description copy. Communicate well with your guests. Provide them with all the information they need once they arrive at your cabin with well-written guidebooks and manuals. Timely communication is crucial for guest satisfaction and will bring you those muchwanted five-star reviews. Still, it’s always good to stretch that you should be available to answer questions or resolve any issues that might pop up.
Whether you are looking to relax or take part in a wide variety of activities, both on and off shore, the Village of Balsam Lake is the place for you! The Village is nestled on the largest lake in the area, (2,054 acres), which is teeming with fish to satisfy the most avid of anglers. The unique shoreline stretches 65 miles and the lake is dotted with picturesque islands and bays. Fine Dining and casual eateries abound and over 50 businesses provide a vast array of services.
Some guests will inevitably break the rules. There are always ways you can try to avoid problems, such as politely declining large groups, pets, and one-night stays. The latter can be an indicator of guests wanting to party.
Some guests will inevitably leave the house messy or break some wine glasses. Choosing how to handle it is one of the key aspects of hosting. The good news is that, your cabin will generally be left in acceptable shape.
We invest so much time, money, and care into them that it can be hard to think of a rental more as a product and not your family cabin.
Try not to take guests misbehaving or things breaking personally. Occasionally you’ll have unpleasant surprises. When that happens, try to detach yourself emotionally and realize that you are making a profit, after all. It will make things easier. ■
With the trophic state index indicating Dwight/Round is moderately clear but increasing chance of dissolved oxygen in the deep water during the summer. There has not been a lot of phosphorous and chloraphyll a sampling conducted but the phosphorous samples appear to be on the edge of moving towards a eutrophic system. Which makes sense, the natural aging process of lakes is to gradually fill in with sediment and obtain more nutrients having more plants and experiencing more severe algae blooms.
The lake does have a few invasive species, Yellow Iris, Curly Leaf Pondweed, and Common Carp. Dwight/Round Lake is connected to Horse Lake, Cedar Lake, and Lotus Lake, so carp management would be very difficult since all of these lakes contain carp and would have to be a system wide management strategy.
Recently, the Town of Osceola has authorized paying for design work to replace the boat landing at Dwight Lake. Actual work will be done in 2023. At their December meeting the Board discussed consideration of improvements needed for Dwight/Round Lake Boat Landing.
Supervisor Neil Gustafson has been actively working with Eric Wojchik, a Conservation Planner II with Polk County Land and Water Resource, on an advisory basis to assist the Town of Osceola with the process of reconstructing landing.
Because the reconstruction permitting is required to go through the DNR permit process, Wojchik will also assist the Town with a road map for the permitting process and the grant application process. ■
By April Ziemer editor@theameryfreepress.com
Throughout the state of Wisconsin, including the lakes of Polk County, you can find waters with populations of Pumpkinseed sunfish.
This is a fun fish to catch right from the shore. They are small (smaller than eight inches long) and taste good when pan friedthat's why they are also called "panfish."
Although it is sometimes called the common sunfish, there is nothing common about the ornate Pumpkinseed. With a bright and
intriguing appearance, this member of the sunfish family has a rainbow of colorful stripes and spots. Look for a purplish-red half-moon shape on the black spot located on the gill flap - this red marking tells this fish apart from the bluegill with similar markings. The pumpkinseed's breast and belly are orange to red-orange, and its back and sides are brown to olive. The sides and back are speckled with orange, yellow, blue and emerald spots, also found on the rear, bottom and tail fins on some fish. Look for seven to eight dark vertical
bands on its sides, alternating orangebrown and emerald or light blue, radiating back from the snout along the head and over the gill cover (operculum). The most colorful of the pumpkinseeds are the males who are breeding. The spiny-ray dorsal fins are joined and look like one big fin on their backs - but watch out for the sharp spines on the top and bottom if you hold oneouch!
Pumpkinseeds are found throughout Wisconsin, though they are less common the southwest part of the state because it lacks the glacial lakes that provide prime habitat for the species. Pumpkinseeds
prefer cool to moderately-warm water. Pumpkinseeds can be found in ponds, small lakes, bays of Lake Superior, streams and in the backwaters of the Mississippi River.
The Pumpkinseed's native range was originally limited to eastern North America, from Manitoba, Canada, east to the Atlantic seaboard, south as far as Georgia, and west through the Ohio Valley. Stocking has extended its range west of the Mississippi Valley as far as the West Coast.
Look for them in small groups. While young Pumpkinseeds will form fairly large schools that stay close to shore, adults prefer to travel in pairs or groups of three
or four in areas with plants or submerged brush and are not often found in open water.
These “Sunnies” cut through the water by swimming at right angles in search of insect larvae (especially mosquito larvae), mollusks, snails, other crustaceans, and small fish. Their mouths have blunt teeth on brush like pads along the jaw, and a few teeth like molars. Gill rakers (comb-like structures on gills) help filter small food particles from the water for feeding time in the afternoons.
Small Pumpkinseeds are eaten by all predatory fish like yellow perch, bass,
walleye, northern pike, muskellunge and other sunfish.
Like other sunfish, the Pumpkinseed builds a nest where they spawn when the water reaches between 55-63 degrees Fahrenheit. Males sweep out a saucershaped hole in the lake or streambed with their tail and move rocks with their mouth to form a four to 15-inch diameter nest in late spring. Nests are built in colonies, which may have as many as 10-15 nests. Females may produce from 1,500-7,000 eggs, which are fertilized by the male as they swim together in circles. Females leave the nest after spawning but males stay and are highly protective of the eggs. Male pumpkinseeds will even nip at hands or feet that come close to their nests. This protective behavior may continue after
the eggs hatch and in some cases, if a fry strays from the nest, a male may capture it in his mouth and return it to the nest. Pumpkinseeds live an average of nine years. The world record for a Pumpkinseed sunfish is 2lbs. 4 oz., but in the State of Wisconsin the biggest reeled in was so far, has been 1 lb. 3.4 oz. ■
In an essay entitled “How to stay happy” the following advice was given: drink good tea each morning, sit in the fresh air, swim in lakes and wade in streams, work hard at both what you love and what you hate and lastly; eat food from farmers markets.
Great cooking is about being inspired by the simple things around you available at fresh markets. It doesn't necessarily have to look fancy to be delicious.
Polk County offers several Farmers Markets that offer local, fresh ingredients perfect for lakeside meals. Local markets include:
• Amery’s Farmer Market: Mondays 3p.m.-6p.m. and Saturdays 9a.m.Noon at Soo Line Park in downtown
Amery
The Amery’s Farmers Market offers local, fresh ingredients perfect for summer meals. Available products include produce, local meats, fish, charcuterie, canned goods, baked goods, candles and a wide variety of local crafts.
• Balsam Lake Farmers Market: Fridays 3p.m.-5p.m. at Lady of the Lake Catholic Church, 507 West Main. Street
The Balsam Lake Farmers Market is open from mid May to mid October. The market is located in Balsam Lake in the parking lot of Our Lady of the Lakes Church on Fridays from 3pm to 5pm. Local vendors have vegetables, honey, maple syrup, fresh eggs, canned salsa, jams and jellies and sometimes even flowering plants and herbs
• Osceola Farmers Market: Fridays 2p.m.-6p.m. Located at 306 River Street in Osceola
Local fresh produce, artisan bread and baked goods, hand crafts.
• St. Croix Falls Farmers Market: Saturdays 10a.m.-1p.m. in downtown St. Croix Falls at 203 Washington Street
Opening May 20, 2023. Your favorite vendors are returning - and some new ones, too! This will be the first time that Johnson Family Pastures will be joining, bringing their humanely raised 100% grass-fed beef & lamb, and pasture-raised pork.
You know what they say, “Keep your friends close and your farmers closer.” Farmers' markets are one of the oldest forms of direct marketing by small farmers. From the traditional "mercados" in the Peruvian Andes to the unique street markets in Asia, growers all over the world
gather weekly to sell their produce directly to the public. In the last few decades, they have become a favorite marketing method for many farmers throughout the United States and a weekly ritual for many shoppers.
Shopping at a farmers' market is a great way to meet local farmers and get fresh, flavorful, locally produced foods.
World renowned Chef Jose Andres has said, “Look at our farmers markets today, bursting with heritage breeds and heirloom varieties, foods that were once abundant when we were an agricultural nation, but that we have lost touch with. Bringing all these back helps us connect to our roots, our communities and helps us feed America the proper way.”
Organizers of local Farmers Markets have been working hard to ensure a variety of vendors piques the interest of all those who frequent the markets. The summer of 2022 sees expanded local Farmers markets featuring many new vendors as well as returning favorites.
Offerings of proteins, produce, specialty products and smiles are bound to keep you coming back.
