Journey-1401 Winter 2014

Journey Through Wisconsin!

WINTER 2014 $7.50

Elusive Gypsy Vanners Laura Ingalls Wilder ‘Beeting’ the Odds Winter Birds Lenco’s High Honors

Owens-Rock & Marsh Adams County, WI

Photo by Pete Sanderson (Uniquely Wisconsin, Pg. 28)

“We expect the best!”

Bob Berard, Paramount Farms

“When you grow crops on 14,000 acres, you need tons of trucks! We rely on Mid-State Truck Service Inc to supply us with our preferred brand, Internationals, at a fair price. We also count on them to provide prompt, reliable service. We can’t keep the produce moving without those trucks!”

Mid-State’s trucks are featured in Journey’s Winter 2014 issue.

VIEW MID-STATE’S COMPLETE INVENTORY ONLINE:

http://www.midstatetruck.com SEVEN LOCATIONS: Abbotsford Chippewa Falls Eau Claire Marshfield Plover Wausau Wisconsin Rapids

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800-236-2304 800-575-9195 800-236-6138 800-236-2591 800-236-1060 800-236-2044 800-236-5334

Serving the Agriculture Industry Since 1965  Sales  Service & Parts  Lease/Rental  Finance

Neighbors-February 2012

Focus Article 8 Elusive Spirits Feathered Gold Stables’ lovely Gypsy Vanner horses.

“We are all wanderers on this earth.

Our hearts are full of wonder and our souls are deep with dreams.” ~~ Gypsy proverb

Table of Contents Winter 2014

Features 22 Pepin, WI Day Trip’s writers travel to the birthplace of Laura Ingalls Wilder.

Regular Columns 6

Currents Ruth Faivre, Publisher, Journey through Wisconsin, expresses thoughts on life’s twists and turns.

36

Dark red veggies dominate Guth Farm Inc.

“The real voyage of discovery lies not in seeking new landscapes but in seeing with new eyes.”

— Marcel Proust

28

‘Beeting’ the Odds

Uniquely Wisconsin The glory of a cranberry harvest.

By Pete Sanderson, MD, MBA

42

Winter Birds Flying friends photographed against snowy backdrops.

46

Lenco’s High Honor Chosen as Farm Technology Days Collectible Model (Special article on Farm Technology Days, pages 18-20)

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Journey-Winter 2014

HAERTEL MONUMENTS www.haertelmonuments.com

Honor Commemorate Remember a life Since 1901, Haertel Monuments' considerate, caring staff has helped families just like yours, design and produce memorials that capture the essence of loved ones.

Honor, commemorate and remember a life.

STEVENS POINT 5361 Highway 10 East (715) 344-6577 (800) 472-4515 (Toll Free)

michele.jensen@haertelmonuments.com stevenspoint@haertelmonuments.com

WISCONSIN RAPIDS 1915 Baker Drive (715) 423-2370

wisconsinrapids@haertelmonuments.com

Currents

Journey SUBSCRIBE TODAY TO OUR LUXURIOUS PRINT/ONLINE MAGAZINE! Receive our stunning pictorial high-end magazine, delivered direct to your door or mailbox for $24.00/year (four issues).

Journey publishes quarterly: Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall in full color, 48 pages or more.

Reborn! My life has taken many paths but none as strange as finding myself in charge of an online/print magazine once again.

When another John Deere dealer bought Faivre Implement, publisher of Neighbors magazine, for whom I served as editor, I planned on retiring. However, Neighbors’ past readers and advertisers pleasantly derailed those plans.

Numerous people expressed sadness that I would no longer be creating Neighbors and urged me to consider starting my own magazine. Therefore, I decided to re-enter the world of words, only this time as publisher and editor of a new magazine, which I dubbed Journey through Wisconsin.

Print subscriptions for Journey make great gifts for loved ones and friends.

CLICK HERE to order via credit card on our secure server (or go to the subscription link at www.journeywi.com). You can also call Ruth Faivre (715-347-3755) or by check (see below).

SUBSCRIBE BY CHECK Print this page; fill out the information below and mail with your check for $24.00 to: Journey, 7374 Lepak Lane, Custer, WI 54432. (For more information, contact Ruth Faivre, journey@journeywi.com).

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Journey through Wisconsin celebrates Wisconsin’s interesting people doing unusual things in our strong agricultural and community-based regions. Our pictorial essay format depicts each story first through photos and then the written word.

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The bond Midwesterners share with Mother Nature reverberates throughout Journey through Wisconsin with our “good steward” focus on commercial and organic farmers nurturing crop, livestock or dairy operations.

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Journey through Wisconsin helps share the heritage and stories of friends, families and loved ones you may know or discover.

======================================================

Your favorite columnists are still with us: Heather Kizewski and Ann Marie Worzalla from Day Trips, Pete Sanderson of Uniquely Wisconsin and MD Leader blog and Feathered Gold Stables’ Denise Krause, who writes Flying Feather for Journey.

PUBLISHER, EDITOR, PHOTOGRAPHER, DESIGN, PRODUCTION, CIRCULATION/WEB/AD MANAGER Ruth Faivre journey@journeywi.com www.journeywi.com 715-347-3755 Facebook.com/JourneyWI

Please let me know what you think of this issue, story ideas or any other matter. Stay safe, enjoy life and have fun until next issue!

Ruth Faivre Publisher/Editor journey@journeywi.com www.journeywi.com

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(We keep your email private and use it only to notify you when each issue is live online so you know your mailed subscription copy will arrive shortly thereafter.)

COPY EDITOR Casey Schoettmer REGULAR COLUMNISTS Denise Krause, Pete Sanderson & Heather Kizewski

Journey-Winter 2014

ELUSIVE SPIRITS! Feathered Gold Stables Gypsy Vanner Horses

By Ruth Faivre, Editor Photos by Denise Krause

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Gaze deep into the eyes of a Gypsy Vanner Horse and behold the mysterious legacy of the wandering roots locked within their memories, drifting in their very souls.

Nomadic European Gypsy tribes developed these uniquely rare steeds over the centuries, under a veil of secrecy so extreme, they were not officially discovered, recognized and registered as their own unique and truly majestic breed until after 1996.

Persecuted in Europe for centuries, Gypsies are a secretive society of peoples never really assimilating with cultures they encounter.

They communicate family history and information verbally rather than in a written format to provide further protection.

Gypsy Vanners horse breeding originated from the Gypsies’ need for a smaller yet strong, hardy horse capable of pulling their richly ornate ‘Vardo’ caravan living wagons, which weighed up to 5,000 pounds (representing the family’s entire possessions).

(Continued on Page 10) Opposite Page: Denise Krause, owner of Feathered Gold Stables, develops Photoshopped representations of various seasons and holidays for her Gypsy Vanner horse fans. This Halloween version shows Janessa Lepak on Buck. Above: Denise Krause on her stallion, Diesel of Feathered Gold, at the 2013 Gypsy Vanner Horse Society Evaluations, Harriman, TN. Middle: Like all Gypsy Vanners, when Feathered Gold Lady Romance aka ‘Flirt’ runs, her showy foot feathers and full, rich mane and tails reveal their true glory. Bottom: Denise’s foals like Feathered Gold Promise, shown here, are exuberantly lively, even on a wintry day.

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HERITAGE These magnificent creatures were strictly developed not just for strength through greater bone density but also specific coloration, spectacular beauty, intelligence and friendly temperament.

An amazing mixture drawn from the bloodlines of Shires, Clydesdales, Dells and Fell Ponies (DNA proven), ethereal Gypsy Vanner horses are easily recognized by long, flowing manes and tails and signature lower leg feather.

When they run, they are pure poetry in motion, a spectacular delight, exhibiting beautifully fluid gait and movement.

They are also excellent at dressage, competitive jumping, English or Western riding and, of course, driving.

Their incredibly sturdy broad build and pronounced muscle tone derived from draft breed traits, produces incredible stamina and durability.

(Continued on Page 11) Above: Gypsy Vanner mares are touchingly gentle, inspiring mothers. Castleknolls Bella Notte, shown here, is a typical example of how they continually strengthen motherhood’s bond while simultaneously providing superior parenting for foals like Spring Promise. Middle: Novel is a beautiful study in ‘yin-yang’ coloration. Gypsy Vanners exhibit a full range of ‘piebald’ colorations. Bottom: Seraphim watches her new foal Silver Angel’s innocently delightful fascination with an emerging snowfall.

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Fans love these extremely agile horses for what their traits embody - freedom, spirit, perseverance, adventure and mystical enchantment.

They are gentle, loyal and fierce friends, exuberant performers and the ultimate travel companions.

The Gypsy Vanner’s magnificent face and loving eyes convey its kind, gentle, alert and intelligent spirit. Prominently placed on the sides of the head, the eyes maximize peripheral and forward binocular vision, perfect for wagon pulling.

INSIGHT It was not until 1996 that the first Gypsy Vanner horse was imported into the United States. There are now 3,205 Gypsy Vanner Horses registered with the Gypsy Vanner Horse Society in the United States, a small number when you consider there are over 120,044 horses in Wisconsin alone*.

I first became aware of the Gypsy Vanner horses while serving previously as Editor for Neighbor’s magazine.

(Continued on Page 12) Above: A stirring, “posterized “version of winter features Kimberly Casey on Henry of Feathered Gold. Middle: Denise Krause, holds stallion Mickey Finn on a beautifully Photoshopped representation of Spring. Bottom: Kimberly Casey poses with Jackpot for a quick photo before a refreshing Fall ride. (*According to the National AG Statistics Service of the USDA, February 2008.)

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I wanted an article featuring animals and a friend told me some Feathered Gold Stables in Ogdensburg raised an unusual breed.

I contacted owner, Denise Krause, and arranged for a visit.

Nothing could have prepared me for these horses’ absolute beauty as well as their extremely docile disposition. They act more like affectionate pet dogs rather than horses.

Their smooth, powerful gait belied their unexpected playfulness and easy grace.

I marveled at their silky smooth skin with flowing manes, tails and leg feather flowing iridescently as they cantered in the warm, winter sun.

I felt I was glimpsing elusive forest creatures perhaps straight from some medieval fairytale.

Denise, a professional breeder and equestrian, caught her first glimpse of these gorgeous horses online, “Initially drawn to their magnificent attractiveness, I was quickly even more captivated with their incredibly compliant nature, intelligence and vigorous athleticism. I decided we needed one so we purchased our first Gypsy Vanner, Feathered Gold Moe.” (Continued on Page 13) Above (left to right): Beautifully clothed in Gypsy-style attire, Joy Price, Kimberly Casey, Tracy Wildenberg and Justin Krause parade down the entryway towards one of their 2013 Midwest Horse Fair appearances. Middle: Emily Hermes on Paddy's Dream displays the Gypsy Vanner’s full beauty at the 2013 Midwestern Rodeo Parade, Manawa, WI. Bottom: Kimberly Casey on Paddy's Dream, models her stunning gypsy costume at the 2013 Vilas County Fair.

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BUSINESS SENSE Denise owns and manages Feathered Gold Stables with her husband, Derek. Their son, Justin, assists with the operation, particularly in the area of foal training.

Following the first article on Feathered Gold Stables in Neighbors March 2011 premiere issue, Neighbors showcased Feathered Gold Stables in their March 2012 Anniversary issue.

Denise became one of Neighbors’ contributing writers and was published in several leading equine magazines.

At the time of the March 2011 Feathered Gold Stables article, Feathered Gold Stables had about 6,000 Facebook fans.

Due to Denise’s extensive marketing skills and stellar reputation as a breeder/trainer of the highest quality Gypsy Vanner foals, Denise’s Facebook page now has 57,558 fans, far more than most regional businesses.

Today, Denise has waiting lists for adopting her newborn foals.

(Continued on Page 14) Above (left to right): Jill Rodgers is riding Feathered Gold Tadgh aka Tiny, Justin Krause on Kree, Kimberly Casey on Paddy's Dream, Janessa Lepak on SR Just Bucking Around aka "Buck" as they present traditionally ornate gypsy style at the 2013 Vilas County Fair.

Middle: Nighthawk of Feathered Gold majestically demonstrates his full glory at the 2013 Gypsy Vanner Horse Society Evaluations, Harriman, TN. Bottom: Gypsy Vanners were bred for gentleness. They often helped ‘babysit’ the gypsy children at night while their parents gathered around the campfire. They are quite adaptable to young riders like Jenna Kukanich, riding Henry of Feathered Gold at the 2013 Vilas County Fair.

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Denise, Derek, Justin and their trainer team strive diligently to educate the public about Gypsy Vanners by participating in shows, parades, expos and educational seminars. Often, they are the first Gypsy Vanners to compete in equine events.

Over the years, 63 foals have been born at Feathered Gold Stables with 12 more foals due beginning Spring 2014. Their numbers range in size, depending on the time of the year, between 30 and 45 horses.

FOR LOVE OF FOAL The Krauses all love their foals, treating them almost as family pets and find it quite difficult to part with them as they journey to their new ‘forever’ homes.

Denise explains, “We want our horses to do well in their new homes. We do not sell in utero because we prefer to fit each horse with the right buyer.”

“Our buyers come from all lifestyles, age groups and rider types,” she continues. “77% of our clients purchase more than one Gypsy Vanner horse from us. Two clients each, purchased five horses from us over a three-year span.”

(Continued on Page 15) Above: Relatively new to the show circuit, Gypsy Vanners, bred for easy training and performing abilities, are a natural contender, even against established show breeds.

Courtney Casey readies Diesel of Feathered Gold for required judging paces. Middle: Denise Krause’s husband, Derek, co-owner of Feathered Gold Stables, is a very active show participant, as shown here with Mickey Finn. Bottom: Jill Rodgers on Feathered Gold Tadgh loves the breed’s mellow disposition, flowing beauty and steady gait

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2013 HIGHLIGHTS According to Denise, “We focused this past year on sharing the breed with the public as much as possible through public events like County fairs, demonstrations and parades, aimed at educating potential owners and fans regarding the benefits of the breed.”     

  

Wisconsin Natural Resources Magazine feature article.

Ten foals (seven fillies, 3 colts) born from March 20-June 6.

Midwest Horse Fair, April 19-21.

Midwestern Rodeo Parade, Manawa, WI, July 6.

The Sisters of Fraternite Notre Dame from Chicago visited Feathered Gold Stables on July 31 to create a Feathered Gold Gypsy horses’ film for a special TV event, presented on the Sisters’ Chicago Access Network Television cable channel and webcasted to the Order in France.

Wisconsin State Fair - first appearance ever. They were hired to appear in the Fair’s Agstravaganza Exhibit, August 3-5.

Vilas County Fair Breed Demo, Educational Seminar, Eagle River, WI, August 10.

Diesel of Feathered Gold and Nighthawk of Feathered Gold competed with Denise in GVHS Evaluations, Harriman, TN. (Continued on Page 16)

Above: Justin Krause personally cares and coaches for the new foals, grooming them for future ‘forever’ homes. Here he cuddles with Feathered Gold Silver Angel while Feathered Gold Turbo Charged nudges him from behind. Middle: The Sisters of Fraternite Notre Dame from Chicago filmed Feathered Gold Stables’ Gypsy Vanner horses this past July for a special TV event presented on Fraternite Notre Dame’s Chicago Access Network Television cable channel. Bottom: Picasso of Feathered Gold has distinctive markings and coloration that are quite popular with potential Gypsy Vanner owners.

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WORLD IN A WAGON No article about the Gypsy Vanner horses would be complete without a few words about the Gypsy Vardo wagons, for which they were bred to pull.

The Vardo is pulled by one horse yet houses a full family group. Each Vardo is ordered by a family or newly married couple and kept for their lifetime.

Upon their demise, the Vardo is traditionally burnt to ashes.

Prized for practicality merged with exquisite beauty, the Vardo's design includes large wheels set outside the body, with outwardly sloping sides and varying roof styles.

Painted in brilliant, jewel-tones, the intricately carved woodwork was often accented with gold leaf sheathing.

Living accommodations normally included cast-iron stoves built-in seats, cabinets, wardrobes, bunks, storage areas and a glass-fronted china cabinet.

In closing, Denise relates her commitment to the highest degrees of quality. “We handpick our mares and stallions for pedigree, conformation to breed standards and pleasant disposition, traits fully reflected in their offspring. That is why we have such a high percentage of referrals.”

Left: The Gordon Boswell Romany Museum in England exhibits the largest public display of Romani Gypsy history with emphasis on their elaborate Vardos lovingly restored to their full glory as shown here. Click here to go to the first Neighbors magazine and then turn to Page 11 for more photos of Vardos. Middle: Inside view of a Romani 1915 Gypsy Vardo. The parents’ bed stretches across the back end while the children slept in a box bed below their parents. Bottom Left: Appleby Horse Fair is held annually in England, which is where these Gypsy Vardo wagons are parked. Nearly 69,000 English, Welsh Scottish and Irish Gypsies/Travellers converge there to buy/sell horses, reconnect with friends and relations and celebrate their similar lifestyles.

Bottom Right: A lone Gypsy and her dog travel the roads in a traditional bow top Gypsy Vardo Wagon.

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Imagine owning your own Gypsy Vanner‌ Enjoy t he ir beaut y and gr ace at home and in t he r ing !

Derek & Denise Krause Ogdensburg, WI info@featheredgold.com www.featheredgold.com

(715) 445-5345

FARM TECHNOLOGY DAYS 2014 Portage County is Host County!

By Ruth Johnson, Editor

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Opposite Page: The two host families for Portage County Farm Technology Days, August 12-14, 2014.

This Page: Feltz Family Farms forages corn to feed to their dairy cattle. Photo by Ruth Johnson

Portage County’s vastly diversified agricultural base helped it earn the right to host the 2014 Farm Technology Days!

Wisconsin’s largest agricultural show, this three-day event yearly welcomes up to 80,000 attendees and more than 600 commercial and educational vendors, displaying the latest products, technologies and practices along with family living and youth exhibits.

According to Ken Schroeder, Portage County Agriculture Agent and Farm Technology Days’ Executive Committee Secretary, “Farms and other agri-businesses comprise about thirteen percent of Portage County’s workforce (5,600 jobs) and $1.11 billion in business sales, nearly eighteen percent of the county’s economic activity.”

Portage County leads Wisconsin in producing potatoes, sweet corn, processed snap beans and second in green pea production. Home to over 1000 farms with 280,000 acres of agricultural production, it produces $16.3 million worth of grain production and $8.8 million in cranberry output.

Dairy and livestock also have a huge impact with 12,900 cows producing 27 million gallons of milk annually, 3,700 head of beef cattle and 5,000 hogs.

EVENT HOSTS Blue Top Farms, 1,200-acre grain and vegetable operation and Feltz Family Farms, 550-cow dairy, will host the event.

Neighboring potato and vegetable growers Myron Soik and Sons, Inc. and Greg Kizewski and Sons, Inc. provide land for field demonstrations.

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Farm Technology Days’ commemorative toy this year is modeled after a Lenco potato harvester, reflecting Portage County’s strong potato production heritage. Manufactured

by Advanced Farm Equipment, LLC, Lenco has local ties through one of its owners, Bill Zelinski, who also owns Big Iron Equipment Inc., Plover.

The 2000 Lenco Self Propelled Potato Harvester was transformed into a 1:42 scale collector version, limited edition of 1,000, for the 2014 event.

YOU CAN PARTICIPATE! This event needs about 1,500 volunteers for committee service, tractor drivers, equipment operators, setup and takedown, parking, admissions, information booths, youth and family living exhibits attendants and more.

Great opportunities also exist for sponsorship and exhibitor space. Visit the website to participate in this exciting event, portagecountyfarmtech.com.

ONLINE GOODIES! You can order the collectible 2000 Lenco Self Propelled Potato Harvester collectible through their Online Store.

Order forms are also available at UW-Extension, 1462 Strongs Ave, Stevens Point and at Stevens Point Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, 340 Division St North, Stevens Point.

The Online Store also offers a stunningly beautiful commemorative 16-month calendar featuring photos of over 50 rural Wisconsin barns, including some from Pete Sanderson, creator/photographer for Journey’s Uniquely Wisconsin column!

Journey-Winter 2014

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Journey-Winter 2014

NO JOB TOO BIG OR TOO SMALL! SATISFYING PAVING NEEDS ACROSS CENTRAL WISCONSIN    

Residential Agricultural Commercial EVEN Railroads!

B&B Paving Co., owned by Jim & Marilyn Benjamin, earns many new customers via current customer referrals.

Our work stands the test of time and the heaviest loads, whether they are simply pedestrians or fully loaded semis and trains! “We get the job done right the first time, every time!”

EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCE, REASONABLE RATES & FREE ESTIMATES!  SITE PREPARATION  ASPHALT PAVING  PARKING LOT, DRIVEWAY, PATIO & WALKWAY PAVING  ON-SITE PULVERIZING  PAVEMENT REMOVAL & RECYCLING (We can even recycle your existing driveway in place.)  ASPHALT REPAIR

James & Marilyn Benjamin 6817 Johnnies Lane Stevens Point, WI 54482

(715) 592-4775 Page 21

Journey-Winter 2014

Laura Ingalls

Day Trips

By Heather Kizewski & Ann Marie Worzalla

PEPIN, WI The Birthplace of Laura Ingalls Wilder Since 1932, many children have been fully captivated and pulled into the Ingalls’ pioneer world.

When I was eight-years-old, my own personal interest may have veered slightly into a mild obsession.

I was first introduced to Laura Ingalls Wilders with the Little House book series in elementary school.

Later, my attention escalated when the TV series, Little House on the Prairie, debuted.

TRAUMA AND INSPIRATION The Ingalls’ loft bed and ‘night bonnets’ were especially enticing. I will never forget how thrilled I was to find a doll bonnet I could wear to bed! Much to my mother’s relief, my bonnet wearing was very short lived.

Welcome to Day Trips!

Inspired by an authentic passion for travel, each issue, we 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, (Left) Ann Marie Worzalla & (Right) Heather Kizewski.

Suddenly, I, too, wanted to learn Braille! Although I never learned how, I created my own raised Braille words with a needle and thick paper. I taught both my brothers to read it against their will at our kitchen table.

DISCLOSURE Decades later, an old childhood friend told me that Little House on the Prairie was based on true stories written

by Laura Ingalls Wilder. A connection lost or perhaps forgotten somewhere in my eight-year-old imagination.

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I swore my Little House days were over when the episode aired where Mary woke up blind.

I simply could not bear the tragedy.

About a year later, I happened to catch the episode where Mary was learning to read Braille.

She was no longer distraught. She was happy.

Top Left: The cabin on the Pepin property replicates one on the property where Laura was born. Lower Right: Little House in the Big Woods is Laura Ingalls Wilder’s most popular book.

SPECIAL NOTE: Click to go to Day Trips’ Facebook page 

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She also mentioned a Laura Ingalls Wilder museum in Walnut Grove, MN, which simmered on the back burner for years. The drive was roughly six hours.

Several months after our Fountain City Day Trip, I stumbled upon pamphlets and maps that we had collected from the area.

Randomly paging through, I noticed one of the travel maps said, ‘Birthplace of Laura Ingalls Wilder’ located in Pepin, WI, about 30 miles north of Fountain City.

I looked a little closer, blinking my eyes in disbelief.

COMMON GROUND When I mentioned this to Ann Marie over the phone, I could hear her face light up. I was unaware of her equally nostalgic love for both the books and show.

Soon, I learned that she and two of her brothers invested quality time together as kids watching Little House on the Prairie. They memorized sayings and even gave each other nicknames based on the characters!

PEPIN, WI Pepin is a small storybook village located on the Mississippi River. It was established in 1856 by the Pepin brothers, two early French trappers who were enchanted with the natural beauty of the area.

Historically, the village was a steamboat boomtown familiar to Mark Twain and wealthy Chicago socialites who spent summers vacationing on Lake Pepin.

Yet, it is best known for the early childhood adventures that became the basis of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s first book, Little House in the Big Woods, published in 1871. The book takes place in a little log cabin on the edge of ‘The Big Woods’ in Wisconsin.

GOLDEN BACKROADS Our Day Trip occurred on a cooler than usual, partly cloudy Saturday in mid-October. We traveled west through rolling back roads that wrapped around valleys and coiled up to ear popping elevations.

Although the clouds were exceptionally low, the sun illuminated the golden farm fields and bright autumn foliage. We felt as though we were driving in a post card.

(Continued on Page 24) Top: A vintage photo of Laura, Mary and Carrie Ingalls. Left: The rolling hills westwards towards Pepin. Below: Laura Ingalls Wilder’s family lived in a sod house similar to this one, prior to moving into a log cabin.

Although Laura Ingalls Wilder’s birthplace is an attraction for thousands of visitors each year, the village does not have a touristy feel.

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T LITTLE HOUSE IN THE BIG WOODS Records in the Pepin County Courthouse show that Charles Ingalls acquired the land on which he built his cabin in 1863.

The original log house and barn are no longer there. ‘The Big Woods’ is also long gone and now serves as a modern farming community.

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We later found a peaceful overlook of the Mississippi.

Glowing sunbeams peeked from behind the clouds, outlining them in silver as they rolled above the river.

A highway winds through the land, which was once the Ingalls farm. It is probable that it closely follows the wagon track that Laura describes in her book.

PEPIN DEPOT MUSEUM

A replica of the original cabin was built at Laura's birthplace on County Road CC. It is alarmingly tiny but truly represents the size of average dwellings back then.

Prior to visiting the cabin, we stopped briefly to see the Pepin Depot Museum located in Laura Ingalls Wilder Park.

Housed in an authentic 1890s railroad depot, the museum offers a varying array of historical railroad and steamboat displays along with other vintage memorabilia.

An old-fashioned wood stove heated the inside of the museum. The owners were informative and friendly - definitely a worthwhile place to stop!

Standing on the property on which the Ingalls family lived, knowing this was where it all began, felt surreal.

We met families who were taking photos with their children. It was evident that people who visited Laura’s birth site also had a nostalgic bond with the Ingalls, whether through the books or television series.

Knowing how far some had traveled just to step foot on the land was a powerful reminder of how Laura’s simplistic tales were never forgotten.

SURPRISING DISCOVERIES Laura began her writing career at age sixty-five.

She never intended to create fame for herself or the places she had lived. She wrote simply to preserve the tales of a lost era in American history.

Top Left: A former railroad employee saved and restored the century-old Pepin Depot museum from destruction. Featuring railroad and steamboat memorabilia, it is a worthwhile stop.

Top Right: Many of you recall the TV series, Little House on the Prairie (1974–1983) about the Ingalls family’s life in the 1800s.

Below Left: The replica cabin’s interior is typical with a small great room at the front and walled back bedroom topped by a sleeping loft. There was no insulation to keep out the cold winters, simply fireplaces or stoves for heat.

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It was her \ daughter, Rose, who encouraged her to write the stories about the pioneer period she vividly recalled as a young girl growing up in the 1870s.

Rose suggested omitting Mary’s blindness from her writing, but Laura refused, saying everything the family did after Mary went blind, was in some way affected by her blindness.

The roles of younger and older sister reversed. Laura became Mary’s guide and guardian.

Her father asked her to be “Mary’s eyes.” The moment Mary asked, “See out loud for me please,” Laura kept up a running commentary.

Laura needed to put what she saw into words. The right words. The most precise and descriptive words so Mary could see with her mind’s eyes.

Several biographers suggested Laura’s skills as a writer developed because of Mary’s blindness.

REALITY VERSUS TELEVISION Perhaps most surprising was learning the family’s reality versus what the TV show presented. A few examples:

Fans still seek out the sites of her books. Many stopped to visit Laura at her Ozark Mountain home right up to her death in 1957, at the age of ninety.

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The real Mary, like most blind women of the time, never married nor had children contrary to Little House on the Prairie, where she marries Adam and loses her baby in a fire.

Top: An old-fashioned, one room schoolhouse, reminiscent of those found during Laura’s early years. Bottom: An antique shop located near the Stone Barn Eatery.

Rose Wilder was the Ingalls’ only biological grandchild. Mary lived with her parents until their deaths and then lived with her younger sister, Grace, and her husband.

LEGACY Printed in over forty languages, The Little House books are known throughout the world.

Readers of all ages connect with and accept the Ingalls as chosen friends. Thousands wrote to Laura at her home on Rocky Ridge Farm, Mansfield, MO. Page 25

Journey-Winter 2014

What a surprise it was, arriving to a grass parking lot full of cars!

The Stone Barn was built in 1896 as a part of the largest farm in what is now known as the ‘Norwegian Valley’. The barn collapsed in the 1980s, leaving only the rugged stonewall foundation.

Rather than demolish the walls, which stood for over a century, the owners completely restored the building.

Now an unusual, off the beaten path, ‘pizza barn,’ it offers authentic, extra thin crust Italian pizzas baked in a wood-fired brick oven.

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LAURA INGALLS-WILDER MUSEUM The Laura Ingalls-Wilder Museum, located in the heart of Pepin, includes unique exhibits such as an old-school classroom complete with vintage desks, newspaper clippings and other memorabilia.

Our favorite exhibit was an authentic letter Laura wrote to her cousin, Lettie, in 1948.

A delightful gift shop sells Little House books, aprons, dresses and other pioneer era items, including bonnets.

Reference s: aph.org; lauraingallswilder.com

THE STONE BARN Our ‘perfect place to eat’ was located so seemingly deep in the rolling back roads, we convinced ourselves that we would be the only patrons.

Set in a valley surrounded by rolling hills, you can enjoy your pizza in a terrace surrounded by the organically grown herbs that flavor the pizzas, or inside to watch them come out of the brick oven.

FINAL REFLECTIONS The weekend we chose could not have been any better.

The ambience of the entire day was golden. Even the sky exceeded our expectations.

If you decide to make this trip, keep in mind The Stone Barn is open seasonally and only on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 5-9 pm.

Laura Ingalls Wilder Days festival occurs the second full weekend of September. It centers on family-oriented art and educational entertainment based on the stories of Laura Ingalls Wilder.

If you prefer smaller crowds, late September is nice as fall colors are changing and the Stone Barn is still open.

Top: Set in a valley surrounded by rolling hills just minutes south of Pepin, the Stone Barn has wood-fired pizzas made with fresh, locally grown ingredients. Bottom Left: Laura Ingalls Wilder, presumably in her late teens. Bottom Right: The interior of the Stone barn fills with natural light from the glass roof insets.

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Keller Koerten’s Fine Framing & Gifts 35 Lee Ayers 7 Lenco 53 Mid-State Truck Service, Inc. 2 Pete Sanderson 34 Ski’s Meat Market 54

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UNIQUELY WISCONSIN Harvesting the Bogs

By Pete Sanderson, MD, MBA

Bright as a red ruby, the cranberry reigns supreme in Wisconsin where it is our chosen state fruit as well as our biggest fruit crop, a $300 million industry.

Additionally, the Badger State is the number one cranberry producer in the nation according to Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association. Last year, Wisconsin produced 4.5 million barrels, which represents about 60% of the nation's cranberries.

"Central Wisconsin area growers and processing facilities employ hundreds, if not thousands of workers,” states Melissa Reichert, Heart of Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce President.

DIVERSIFICATION Once simply known as a Thanksgiving dinner staple, cranberries have ‘mushroomed’ into a new realm of popularity. They are now popular snack foods, chocolate covered candies, salad garnishes, jams, fruit juices, ingredients in a myriad of recipes and more!

(Continued on Page 29) Above: Wind pushed the floating cranberries to one end of this flooded cranberry bed in Adams County, WI. Middle: Workers will harvest these berries in a few days. The top of the vine has already gone dormant; the green portion is still growing. Bottom: Millions of cranberries sparkle in dawn’s first light.

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Central Wisconsin’s wet and sandy soils, formerly the bed of glacial Lake Wisconsin, produce great growing conditions for crops like cranberries.

Most people think cranberries grow in water. However, they grow on vines in moist, mucky, rich soils. The fruit contains air pockets allowing it to float when the cranberry bed is flooded with water to allow easy harvesting.

I find cranberry beds quite visually interesting so I was very pleased when Jim Bielmeier, Manager for Owen Rock Cranberries, Adams County, invited me to visit their 105-acre operation, one of Wisconsin's newer cranberry marshes.

(Continued on Page 30) Front Cover: Owens Rock, supposedly named after an early settler, is a castellated mound once covered by glacial Lake Wisconsin, formed 15,000 years ago when a vast expanse of glacial melt water impounded behind a large ice dam located near Devils Lake. Once the dam failed, a great torrent of water drained the lake in a few days, carving out what is now Wisconsin Dells. The steepness of Owen’s Rock is likely due to wave erosion. Middle Right: Wind moved the berries in the flooded beds from left to right. The yellow line running down the side of the grassy access road is a floating boom used to corral the fruit. The two beds on either side of the access road are nearly three acres. Bottom Right: The irrigation system applies a thin coat of water to unharvested cranberry crop and remaining vines. It quickly freezes, providing a bit of insulation against much colder air. Jim Bielmeier monitors it personally to ensure nozzles are not frozen and the cranberries are safe.

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OWEN ROCK CRANBERRIES Named after Owens Rock, a huge sandstone outcropping located just north of the marsh, 25 year-old Owen Rock Cranberries produces roughly 30,000 barrels of cranberries that are processed by Ocean Spray’s Wisconsin locations in Tomah and Wisconsin Rapids.

The property was first converted from cornfields and a hedgerow in 1989, to some of the first upland marshes with cranberry beds ranging in size from 2.5 to four acres.

"A year later, we had 56 acres of cranberries in production," recalls Jim, who has been with Owen Rock since its initial construction and currently manages daily operations. Today, they grow Le Munyon, Stevens, Pilgrim and McFarlin cranberry varieties.

Jim also designed and built much of the operation’s specialized equipment, most of which, including the irrigation system, is now computerized. Jim says, “Cranberry production requires totally different techniques and equipment than row crops."

(Continued on Page 31) Above: Workers carefully positioned this boom reel to begin the cranberry roundup. The boom is slowly unwound from the reel across the cranberry bed. Middle Left: A John Deere tractor powers the boom, which gradually tightens, drawing berries into the loading area.

Bottom Left: Looks like cranberries, not a pot of gold, are at the end of the rainbow. A worker blows cranberries from the bed edge, getting ready for the roundup. PHOTOGRAPHIC TIP: When the sun is behind you, low in the sky and moisture hangs in the air ahead of you, look for a rainbow. Move around and even get low to the ground to find it. The upper color above the break in the rainbow is the one cast by the blower on the tractor.

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2 1 3

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(Continued from Page 31)

According to Jim, converting cropland to cranberry beds required weed control, raising the soil pH soils levels and addressing damp land issues.

TECHNOLOGY IN ACTION The modern cranberry marsh could easily be a candidate for the TV show, Modern Marvels. Today, profitability hinges on efficiency, strongly impacted by utilizing the latest technologies. Photo above pinpoints newer cranberry harvesting innovations.

1. TINES TO THE LEFT - Shallow ditches surround the cranberry marsh beds. Tines on viewer’s left are engaged when harvesting on the extreme edge of the bed stripping berries in the ditch.

2. GPS TECHNOLOGY – Satellites beam precise mapping and field information allowing computerized tractor operation. This lessens the number of passes and increases berry collection. The tractor operator fixes his location with GPS during the first pass on the edge of the bed. Subsequent passes are then precisely aligned.

3. RIGHT SIZED EQUIPMENT - The harvesting equipment is the perfect width so each pass covers without any overlap. One person can work an entire bed in about 30 minutes.

(Continued on Page 32) Above: Tractors outfitted with a series of “raking” tines traverse the flooded beds, stripping the vines of cranberries, which then float to the surface. Middle Left: The ‘straight as an arrow’ tractor tire paths in this bed are due to the GPS system.Bottom Left: Cranberry marshes are flooded at harvest time because cranberries have air pockets in their centers that allow them to float to the surface for easier retrieval.

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6

5

2 (Continued from Page 32)

4. VISUAL SIGNALS: A series of yellow flags mark the bed’s center.

The harvesting tractor starts at the outside edge and works towards the center, training vines to grow in one direction for easier harvest.

CRANBERRY UPLOADING PROCESS 1. ROUNDUP - The boom uptake reel gradually pulls in the boom, which draws the cranberries toward the intake basket.

2. HERDING - A ring of water jets help steer cranberries towards the basket.

3. Cranberries are ‘vacuumed’ out of the marsh via the orange tube into the washing and sorting unit. Sprayers wash and separate the cranberries from other organic matter.

4. Conveyed up and through trays and shafts, cranberries are blown into the waiting semi-trailer. When the trailer is full, it journeys on to a nearby processing plant.

5. Tractors power the uploading operation.

6. Organic waste is pumped into a dump truck to be reused as organic field fertilizer. The truck’s perforated bed acts like a large colander allowing water to drain back into the marsh beds. It takes about an hour to vacuum up enough berries to fill a semi. The semi moves forward a few feet every so often allowing an even distribution of the cargo.

(Continued on Page 33) Above: Uploading Station and prep area for transport. Top Left: Water jets direct cranberries into the uptake basket. Middle Left: The cranberry roundup is now in full swing. Bottom Left: The early morning sun lights up the ice crystals that insulate cranberries and vines from colder air temperatures.

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LOOKING FORWARD The Owen Rock management team is continually seeking new ways to increase efficiency. "We focus on better production through expansion and improved yields," says Jim. “Our goal is to be good stewards of our resources because then Owen Rock Cranberries will be good neighbors as well."

One area they continuously address is finding ways to supplement their leased honeybee hives, required to help pollinate the nearly 20 million cranberry blossoms per cultivated acre. Consistent pollination is a huge factor affecting uniformity and yields.

Like all agribusiness, success for cranberry growers requires time, talent, finances and just plain old dedicated work with long hours, day in and day out.

I salute Jim and his team, laboring so hard while enduring the fragility and fickleness of Mother Nature, who often delivers an early frost, throwing a real monkey wrench into the mix.

Peter A Sanderson pete.sanderson@ministryhealth.org For more images, visit my blog, http://mdleader.wordpress.com Above: Cranberry uploading Station (see pg. 28 for explanations of numbered areas).

Middle Right: Cranberries travel up and into the sorter. Bottom Right: Conveyor shafts transport harvested cranberries into a semi-trailer.

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Winter 2014 Featured Print

Harvesting the Bogs Owens-Rock & Marsh, Adams County, WI Imagine having your own Pete Sanderson Limited Edition print!

Each issue, renowned photographer, Pete Sanderson, will offer one print from his multi-faceted collections, which he believes epitomize the unique beauty of Wisconsin.

Each 11”x17” pigmented ink jet print on cotton paper is signed and personally printed by Pete Sanderson.

This print is offered at $40.00/each, (add $10.00 if you would like it shipped direct to you), until March 31, 2014.

Your prints will be available for pick up at Koerten's Fine Framing & Gifts or delivered by January 15, 2014. No program enrollment is required.

Pete Sanderson

To order your print, call or visit Koerten's Fine Framing & Gifts: (715) 341-7773, 2501 Church St, Stevens Point, WI 54481.

Additional Pete Sanderson Images Available at Koerten’s Fine Framing & Gifts

ANNUAL CUSTOM FRAMING SALE! January 2-February 15, 2014

Save up to 20% on Custom Framing*

& 20% off Framed Art in store!

Luxury framing materials at reasonable prices and now you save even more! Plus, our framing is guaranteed for life.

Framing your special art, like these lovely Jerry Gadamus prints, helps showcase their beauty while preserving them in pristine condition for years to come.

Often, custom framing can help bridge the gap between different styles of art and your existing home décor. The right frame can seamlessly transition all components into an eclectic blend.

Our experienced professionals help you consider the piece being framed, where it will hang and other elements in play.

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Visit us and delight in all our uniquely original gifts: art glass, turned wood, pottery, scarves, purses, jewelry and more! *Sale is on custom framing and excludes readymade frames and shadowbox framing. Framed art excludes consignment pieces.

2501 Church St, Stevens Point (800) 873-0056  (715) 341-7773 sales@koertens.com  www.koertens.com www.facebook.com/koertens

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‘BEETING’ THE ODDS! Guth Farm Inc. Bancroft, WI

By Ruth Faivre, Editor (This article’s photos by Ruth Faivre)

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Intensely colored, ruby red beets are a crop you would not normally consider being commercially produced on a large scale in Central Wisconsin.

However, in the midst of potato country, Guth Farms Inc. has continuously stood out as an innovative grower specializing in commercial vegetable crops unusual to the region.

Throughout the years, Cathy Guth, owner of Guth Farm Inc., diversified the operation from typical grain and potato crops that dominate the region to cucumbers.

NEW HORIZONS Never afraid to take on a challenge, Guth Farms Inc. ventured into beet production fifteen years ago while still in cucumbers, originally harvesting them with a rock picker.

Cathy says, “We knew when we started in beets, we had a lot to learn and that while we could use some of our current equipment, we still needed to invest in specialized planting drills, harvesters and graders.”

(Continued on Page 38) Opposite Page: Harvest is in full swing on one of the Guth Farm Inc.’s fields of beets.

Above: John Ruzicka, Manager of Guth Farm Inc. and owner Cathy Guth's son, drives the tractor/hopper alongside the beet harvester. The harvest tractor’s highly technical GPS satellite computerized system helps ensure precision farming methods. It also lets the driver make adjustments without stopping or leaving the harvester. Bottom: Cathy Guth is a native of Bancroft, WI and a strong community supporter. An Almond-Bancroft High School graduate, she now serves as a school board member. Actively involved in the family farm since she was a young girl, she purchased it in 2007.

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“We spent a lot of time analyzing the pros and cons but felt it would be a good mix for our land, soil and climate. Beets grow well on sandy loam with uniform soil moisture, which we have.”

PROCESSOR RELATIONSHIPS Cathy realized, “Delving into a new market like red beets meant lining up processors to purchase our beets and then adapting to their requirements.”

Like potatoes and other root vegetables, processors require beets to be graded by size, which helps determine the quality being delivered by the grower and the basis for compensation.

They usually contract for a predetermined quantity of desired grades, delivered on demand to the plant.

Some processors simply rent the land from the farmer and produce the crop from start to finish. Since Guth Farms Inc. already had plenty of planting essentials and labor, they opted to perform all the planting, cultivation, harvesting, grading and delivery duties, helping provide greater profits.

(Continued on Page 39) Above: Red beets hang underneath harvester channels. Growing beets push out of the ground, developing a leafy top. Bulbous beet tubers’ lighter shades show where they were above ground and darker, below ground. Middle: Evan Helmerick stands by the oversizer, which separates and discards beets too big for existing contracts, on the ground for fertilizer. Bottom: Initially graded beets, minus leafy tops, travel up the conveyor to the hopper. Full hoppers are transported to the final grading operation.

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This decision necessitated immersing management in beet growing culture, cultivar selection, soil and nutrient needs, field preparation, planting (drilling beet seed into the soil), irrigation needs, disease and weed/insect control, harvesting, handling, grading and shipment.

PLANTING Today, Guth Farm Inc. farms 2,100 acres and commits 400 acres to beets with the remainder in sweet and field corn, snap beans, peas, carrots, rye and alfalfa.

Guth Farm Inc. grows ruby red beet varieties with round, dusty red exteriors and meaty, deep red flesh interiors.

Beet seed is usually double-drilled into rows two inches apart, 3/4-inch deep, to obtain high yields. Planting occurs in May and harvesting is 85-90 days later.

According to Cathy, “We deliver ruby red beets to our processors in three different sizes. Our yield usually ranges from 18-20 tons per acre.�

(Continued on Page 40) Above: As the harvester moves down the field rows, the lifters glide under beets and their leafy tops slide into conveyor channels. Beets are lifted, not pulled from the ground since their bulbous taproot is too heavy and their leafy tops will simply tear off. Middle: Looking down at the field, the harvester prepares to lift beets out of the ground and into channel conveyors, which then travel upwards to the foliage topping cutting wheels. Bottom: A beet harvester is a large farm machine specifically designed to gather ripened beets from a field. This harvester, pulled behind a tractor, is quite complex with numerous functioning parts: engine, lifters, toppers, beet collector mechanism, conveyor belts, holding crate, boom arm, hydraulics, computerized functions and much more.

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(Continued from Page 39)

END GAME Processors prepare cooked ruby red beets for resale to grocers and restaurants in canned, glass jar or frozen formats.

Commercial firms often use beet dehydrated powder, dyes or purĂŠes, which are source of intense natural red colorants, to intensify the color of tomato paste, sauces, jams/jellies, desserts, ice cream, sweets and breakfast cereals.

New markets have developed for beet juice like frozen novelties and fruit fillings along with more unique products like beet juice-derivative deicers and beetroot-based wines.

Beet pulp is often fed to horses involved in vigorous training or conditioning and those allergic to dust from hay.

RISK FACTORS Beets planted in Central Wisconsin’s cool weather take longer to reach marketable size yet high temperatures can adversely affect early stands.

(Continued on Page 41)

Above: John Ruzicka surveys the pearl millet Guth Farm Inc. grows as a cover crop to set nitrogen and avoid soil erosion. Middle: During harvest, trimming mechanisms called toppers slice the leafy green foliage off the beet. The foliage falls to the ground for fertilizer. Toppers adjust to remove the correct amount of foliage. Too little, and leaves and stem parts stay attached to the beets. Too much, and the topper will remove part of the beet, reducing the yield. Bottom: Freshly harvested beets are transferred to the grading operation, where they are sorted into three grading sizes for shipment to processors.

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Rotating crops every 3-4 years, helps control traditional leaf blight, insect infestations and weeds.

Growers must irrigate carefully, especially early in the season so as not to overwater beets. Water logging can turn beet leaves red and temporarily halt plant growth.

Like most fresh vegetables, beets are extremely perishable with relatively short shelf life. Harvested beets can be stored at 32° in 90 to 95% relative humidity for up to three months.

CULINARY DELIGHTS Beets can be peeled, steamed and eaten warm with butter as a delicacy; cooked, pickled and served cold as a condiment or shredded raw after peeling and used in slaws and salads.

Hard-boiled eggs are often refrigerated in left over pickling beets’ liquid and marinated until the eggs turn deep pink-red.

Borscht (beet soup) is a traditional Eastern Europe/Russian dish while in Poland, Ćwikła z chrzanem, beet/horseradish mixture forms popular relish for roasted, grilled or smoked meats. Check out our collection of great beet recipes: Facebook.com/JourneyWI. Above: Cathy and her son John stand beside the grading equipment arranged in a nearby field. Harvested beets are sorted into three sizes for delivery to fulfill processor contracts. Middle: Beets travel along conveyors and sorters to waiting transport semis. Bottom: Guth Farm Inc. gives back to surrounding communities in many ways, one of which is to provide area food banks with semi-loads of beets that do not meet processors’ requested sizes.

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WINTER BIRDS Braving the Weather!

By Ruth Johnson, Editor Photos by Leslie Pavlak

Midwestern chills drive most of us indoors, seeking the warmth of a roaring fireplace. However, that limits the enjoyment of what is often the region’s longest season.

Not so with Leslie Pavlak, who was raised in a typical rural American farming family with her mom, dad, brother and sister.

A photographer for as long as she can remember, Leslie began her career with a Kodak 110 and saved money until she could purchase her first ‘real’ camera, a Cannon AE1.

The bulk of Leslie’s photos reflect her love of the outdoors and nature with special interest on her major fascination – birds.

When the weather outside is frightful, birding can be delightful.

Leslie says, “Winter birding affords a fabulous opportunity for you to view unique northern species out in the open since there is little foliage coverage. Once it snows, birds leave tracks as they forage, indicating popular feeding areas.”

(Continued on Page 43) Above: This male Northern Cardinal’s spectacularly brilliant red plumage is a startling contrast against the winter sky and snow. Middle: Canadian Geese and Mallard ducks mingle near the water’s edge. Bottom: Canadian Geese often stand on one leg in cold water or snow with the other leg tucked up snug and warm against their bellies.

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FINDING WINTER BIRDS “The best place to look for winter birds is near open water,” shares Leslie. “Lakes, streams or rivers attract a wide variety, especially those that rely on aquatic plants/animals for food.”

Other excellent areas to find winter birds include:  Brushy spaces, orchards and shrubs areas with berries, fruit or other food for songbirds and finches.  Coniferous forests with pine nuts, which are a favorite treat for many Northern birds.  Open fields attract raptors like hawks and eagles.

Winter’s full force dries up many regular food sources and birds will range further than normal during adverse conditions.

“If you keep your eyes open, you can spot several species not native to your area along with flocks larger than what you would regularly see,” explains Leslie.

(Continued on Page 44) Above: A group of Mallards on the ground, like these, is called a ‘sord’ but in flight, they are called a ‘flock’. A regal Trumpeter Swan appears right at home in the middle of the Mallards. Middle: Birds like this finch in its winter ‘coat’ look fatter as they fluff up their feathers to conserve body heat or relax for sleep. Bottom: Bereft of leaves, trees in winter offer these flocks little protection against the elements.

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SAFETY FIRST Winter is unpredictable though, so you need to prepare carefully and follow these safety tips:  Keep abreast of the weather; watch for abrupt changes.  Dress in warmly layered, water-resistant fabrics and footwear.  Keep your gas tank full and maintain vehicle tires and safety equipment including first aid kit and blankets.  Avoid hypothermia with water and snacks to help you stay hydrated and energetic.  Apply sunscreen to any exposed skin to avoid severe burns.

Sunlight reflecting off the snow can burn even worse than other seasons.  Most photographers wear neutral colors but bring a bright cloth along to use for signaling in an emergency.

Moisture-proof your cameras, binoculars and other equipment and attach to sturdy straps for protection against accidental dropping in snowy or icy conditions.

Most of the birds Leslie Pavlak photographed for this article can be easily spotted throughout the Midwest.

Above: Long-legged Great Blue Herons are the most common and largest herons in North America. Expert fishers, they glide at 20-30 mph, spotting prey. Middle: Bald Eagles are not bald. The name comes from an ancient meaning for white-headed.

Females are larger than males and both have identical plumage Bottom: Ospreys, a large fish eating raptor, nests near any water providing an adequate supply of fish.

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COLOR YOUR YARD WITH BIRDS THIS WINTER! Attract them with Jay-Mar Birdseed! www.Jay-Mar.com Nature’s creatures love Jay-Mar’s birdseed mixes, which we freshly blend ourselves, right here in Plover:     

Wild Bird Mixes Wild Finch Mixes No-Mess Mix Woodpecker, Jays & Cardinals Mix Critter Mix

We offer all the usual favorites, too:  Black Oil Sunflower Seeds  Safflower  Nyjer Seed  Sunflower Chips Our experienced staff will help you select the right mix to attract the birds you want!

Depend on us for pet foods, small animal & backyard flock foods, giftware, horse feeds & equine supplies and lawn & garden supplies.

PLOVER RETAIL STORE HEADQUARTERS Hwy B, Plover Info@jay-mar.com 715-341-3445 or 800-236-2436 Located ½ mile west of Hwy 51/I-39 on Hwy B M-F: 8-7, Sat: 8-5, Sun: 10-4

WAUPACA WAREHOUSE 905 Ware St., Waupaca 715-258-3234 Cleverly hidden near the railroad tracks & Waupaca Country Club on Ware St. Hard to find - easy on the wallet.

M-F: 8:30-5, Sat: 8:30-Noon, Closed Sunday

HIGH HONORS FOR LENCO’S POTATO HARVESTER Chosen as Farm Technology Days 2014 Collectible Die Cast Model

By Ruth Faivre, Editor

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Potatoes reign in Portage County, WI, which is the top potato-producing county in Wisconsin. The state of Wisconsin ranks third in the nation for potato production.

Potatoes are the second most popular food in the U.S. and the third most important food crop in the world.

Therefore, when Portage County was chosen to host 2014 Farm Technology Days, it was natural for the event’s organizers to turn to the Lenco Self-Propelled potato harvester to serve as the model for their commemorative farm equipment replica collectible.

According to Ken Schroeder, Farm Technology Days Executive Committee Secretary and Portage County Agriculture Agent, “We felt the Lenco represented state of the art industry technology today.”

“It is also equipment unique to the show, more than just a typical toy tractor and specifically suited to Portage County‘s agricultural terrain.”

(Continued on Page 48) Opposite Page Top: Shad Cummings, Paramount Farms’ Lenco harvester operator, studies monitors, watches the field and checks potato input while simultaneously synchronizing with the truck beside him. Opposite Page Bottom: Portage County 2014 Farm Technology Days offers the 2000 Lenco Self-Propelled Potato Harvester into a 1:42 scale commemorative collectible version. This Page Top: Tony Kizewski, Kizewski Farms, has operated the family farm’s 2000 Lenco Self-Propelled potato harvester for thirteen years. This Page Bottom: Greg Merrihew, Owner/Manager, Advanced Farm Equipment, LLC (manufacturer of Lenco harvesters) poses next to the Lenco’s gigantic tires. (Photos this page by Ruth Faivre.)

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Advanced Farm Equipment, LLC lenco-harvesters.com Vestaburg, MI 989-268-5711 Toll Free: 877-287-5711 advancedfarmequipment@lenco-harvesters.com (Continued from Page 47)

AREA CONNECTIONS While Lenco’s manufacturer, Advanced Farm Equipment, LLC (AFE), is in Vestaburg , MI, it has local Portage County ties through Owner/Dealer Bill Zelinski, who also owns and operates Big Iron Equipment Inc., Plover, WI, specializing in equipment for Midwestern potato farmers.

Greg Merrihew, Owner/Manager, runs overall operations in Michigan while Bill Zelinski focuses on sales. Alan Sackett, Owner/President, a large commercial potato grower operation brings real-life field equipment experience to the equation.

HARVEST PROCESS Potatoes grow underground and farmers must dig up the tubers and separate them from rocks and soil.

Since most commercial buyers prefer unbruised potatoes, this process can be a considerable challenge, which is where Lenco’s complicated machinery helps simplify matters.

(Continued on Page 49) Top: Greg Merrihew stands in the plant’s main construction area. All Lenco potato harvesters are “scratch built” to each customer’s specific needs, a long and complicated process with capacity to build up to ten Lenco harvesters per year. Middle: One of the workers welds parts.

Bottom: Kim Bollinger, Advanced Farm Equipment’s secretary, keeps everything running smoothly. (Photos this page by Ruth Faivre.)

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Big Iron Equipment, Inc. bigironequipment.com Plover, WI 715-344-3401 bie@bigironequipment.com

(Continued from Page 48)

DETAILS AFE’s signature Lenco Self-Propelled Airhead potato harvester, a sophisticated, diesel-driven machine collects the potatoes with minimum bruising.

Delivering about three tons of clean potatoes per minute, the harvester is customized to harvest three, four or six rows of potatoes planted 32, 34 or 36 inches apart.

Powered by a 350 horsepower John Deere or Cummins engine, the Lenco travels about four miles per hour in the field and harvests about 5.41 acres per hour.

An extremely intricate, complex series of chains, dirt and rock removal stations all work as a synchronized team to deliver a quality crop.

The “Airhead” name derives from how the equipment separates potatoes from rocks.

As the harvester moves down a row, it lifts potatoes, rocks, dirt and other field debris out of the ground and gently carries them up a conveyor.

(Continued on Page 50) Top: This photo shows Bill Zelinski in his shop where Tony Kizewski’s Lenco is being serviced. Bottom: Bill’s son, Luke, prides himself on working his way “up through the ranks,” learning all aspects of the company, currently fulfilling equipment-servicing needs. (Photos this page by Ruth Faivre.)

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The conveyer passes under a vacuum and the denser, heavier rocks fall back to the ground. The potatoes transfer to another conveyor and travel across a boom arm that empties into a hopper truck following alongside in a tag-team fashion.

According to AFE’s Greg Merrihew, “Harvesting potatoes is a temperamental operation requiring continuous adjustments for factors like humidity, wind direction, size and quantity of rocks in the field and many other constantly changing conditions.”

Bill Zelinski says there are about 300 Lencos operating in the field today. “Nearly all of them are owned by individual farmers. Some have six or seven because the potato harvest is very time-sensitive, often with less than 30 days to harvest thousands of acres.”

Many commercial growers maximize harvesting capacity by having tractor-drawn windrowers travel ahead of the harvester lifting rows of potatoes into an unharvested center pass, which the Lenco will then retrieve.

(Continued on Page 51) Top: A view from Tony Kizewski’s Lenco cab shows the tandem relationship between hopper truck and harvester. Middle: Looking down on the Lenco’s front where the potatoes begin their journey from the ground up the conveyor.

Bottom: This shows the boom arm extended out over the hopper truck along with the intricate network of chains. Tony Kizewski is on the Lenco, Stacey Kizewski stands next to the hopper truck and William Kizewski is in the cab.

(Photos this page by Ruth Faivre.)

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LONGEVITY A brand new Lenco can run over $750,000 so this is not an investment for the hobby farmer.

However, Bill Zelinski says the great thing about Lencos is not just the increased production capacity that you experience but also the incredible love of these machines, leading to an unheard of resale value.

“I have never heard of a retired Lenco,” says Bill. “Farmers always sell their older Lencos to other farmers and there is usually a ready waiting list. Just like the Energizer Bunny, Lencos just keep on ticking!”

Tony Kizewski is a willing advocate for his 2000 Lenco Self-Propelled Harvester, “With tractor-drawn harvesters, you have to sit sideways and look backwards. With the Lenco, you look right at the boom, controls and other driver. A Lenco is tough, going through mud spots without churning up the rows. It digs cleaner and processes more volume, primarily due to the long chain and handles rocks really good, just like a rock picker.”

(Continued on Page 52) Top: Jim Ebben, Paramount Farms’ Operations Manager, shot this photo of their four Lencos and other potato harvest equipment. Middle: Paramount Farm’s equipment illustrates the synchronized teamwork that exists between Lenco and hopper truck drivers. Photo by Ruth Faivre. Bottom: One of Paramount Farm’s potato harvesting teams: two tractor-drawn windrowers, Lenco and hopper truck.

Photo by Jim Ebben.

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Lencos will be on display at Portage County 2014 Farm Technology Days (website: portagecountyfarmtech.com) to be held August 14-16, 2014 at Blue Top Farms and Feltz Family Farms, hosts for the event. Neighboring farmers Myron Soik and Sons, Inc. and Greg Kizewski and Sons, Inc. provide land for field demonstrations.

Wisconsin’s largest agricultural show, this three-day event welcomes up to 80,000 attendees and over 600 commercial and educational vendors yearly, displaying the latest products, technologies and practices along with family living and youth exhibits.

COLLECTIBLE AVAILABLE ONLINE You can order the 1:42 scale, collectible 2000 Lenco Self Propelled Potato Harvester collectible, (limited edition of 1,000 for Portage County 2014 Farm Technology Days), through Farm Technology Days 2014 Online Store. Order forms are also available at UW-Extension, 1462 Strongs Ave, Stevens Point and Stevens Point Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, 340 Division St North, Stevens Point.

The Online Store also offers a stunningly beautiful commemorative 16-month calendar featuring photos of over 50 rural Wisconsin barns, including some from Pete Sanderson, creator/photographer for Journey’s Uniquely Wisconsin column!

Top: Scott Worzella, Worzella & Sons, Inc., Worzella & Sons, Inc. who surveys part of this year’s harvest, owns two Lencos (but would love to get two new ones), which he says help ensure a timely and bountiful harvest, ready for shipment or processing. Climate-controlled, modern storage facilities allow potatoes to be stored from approximately September harvest to the next June. Bottom: AFE maintains an extensive parts inventory to keep Lencos running during the short harvest window. (Photos by Ruth Faivre.)

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CUSTOMERS ARE KING! All our Lenco Potato Harvesters are hand built from scratch to exact client specifications.

Advanced Farm Equipment, manufacturer of Lenco potato and pickle harvesting equipment, provides the personal interaction you wish you could get from every supplier!

You choose the options you want and we make it happen, fabricating all aspects to your exact needs!

Centrally located in Michigan, Advanced Farm Equipment fabricates 3, 4 & 6 Row Self Propelled Potato Harvesters; 6 Row Self Propelled Pickle Harvesters; 4 & 6 Row Pull Type Potato Windrowers; 4, 6 & 8 Row Self Propelled Potato Windrowers and 4 Row Pull Type Air Head Harvesters.

All our custom built harvesters and windrowers are hydraulically driven, controlled from the comfort of the cab, maneuver readily in adverse harvesting conditions, have unmatched longevity spans and are custom built to meet customer specifications.

Now is the time to plan your new equipment construction, arrange onsite service and stock up on our large selection of ready-to-ship wear parts and tools like these handy items from our warehouses: RIVET CUTTER Makes cutting rivets a snap!

TUBE GATOR (12”-18” & 18”-24”) Removes dents in air tunnels.

Call us or visit our website today, www.lenco-harvesters.com!

Old World Charm Taste beyond compare!

Ski’s is an experience, not just shopping. The minute you walk into Ski’s, you know you are somewhere very special.

At family owned and operated Ski’s, quality knows no bounds and you receive only the freshest, finest meats, seafood, 100+ Wisconsin cheeses, Boar’s Head deli products and other treats.

Savor Ski’s famously delicious homemade brats and sausages and the most tender beef, pork and chicken, cut by our expert butchers.

New in-season seafood refreshed daily – from salmon, halibut and cod to crab legs and lobster!

We offer Wisconsin’s finest artisan and master cheese makers with ‘squeaky fresh’ cheese curds on Friday and Saturday. Visit us soon for your good, old-fashioned, neighborly meat market experience!

5370 US Highway 10 E Stevens Point, WI 54482

(715) 344-8484 www.skismeatmarket.com Mon-Fri: 10am–6pm Sat: 9am–6pm Sun: 10am–4pm

Four Season Beauty!

Photos by Leslie Pavlak

Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall, photographer Leslie Pavlak captures nature’s magnificence.

Born and raised in the Midwest, her entire life has been heavily influenced by the constantly changing seasons.

In the coming months, we will see even more variety in the subject matter of her photos as she shares with us her view of the insect world, fireworks, stunning sunsets, spectacular skies and more.

Email us, journey @journeywi.com, and let us know your favorites: Page 55

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(Continued from Page 55) Above: Leslie Pavlak loves fog in any season. She captures wintry river beauty silhouetted by the steam off the foggy river. Bottom: A late fall haze rises to contrast with the shrouded yet brilliant sun. Photos by Leslie Pavlak.

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Journey 7374 Lepak Lane Custer, WI 54423

PRSRT STD AUTO U.S. POSTAGE PAID STEVENS POINT, WI PERMIT NO. 272

STARK BEAUTY Leslie Pavlak, one of Journey’s featured photographers, took this winter photo while driving down rural roads in search of subjects for her Winter Birds article.

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