MANITOWOC, WI—Celebrate eight years of cultivating curiosity at Farm Wisconsin Discovery Center’s Anniversary Celebration, taking place Thursday, July 23 through Saturday, July 25. Families can experience agriculture up close through live animals, tractors and agricultural equipment, food science, mascots, and special guests. Youth (0–18) receive free admission when tickets are purchased online in advance.
This year’s anniversary introduces daily themes from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day:
Thursday, July 23: Big Wheels Day
- Agricultural Machinery Display: Explore impressive tractors, a feed mixer, a milk truck, and more from Riesterer & Schnell, Vanderloop Equipment, Right Way Applications, Country Visions Cooperative, Patz Corporation/Schmidt Building and Equipment, LLC, and Wisconsin Army National Guard.
- Special Guests: Meet 79th Alice in Dairyland Anastasia Poull, Miss Wisconsin USA Olivia Lulich, Manitowoc County Fairest of the Fair Elizabeth Dvorak, and Wisconsin Honey Queen Emily Skala—who will also be leading a honey tasting activity.
- Drone Demo: Taking place at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m., visitors can witness a live drone demonstration and explore hands-on field mapping technology with From Above Ag Services, an American Drone dealer.
- Live Animals: Befriend a Mini Hereford from Hideaway Ranch Mini Herefords and rabbits.
Friday, July 24: Mascot Day
- Mascot Encounters: From 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., take a selfie and join a dance-off with Captain Conrad from SS Badger, Sarge from Sargento, Scoopie from Culver’s, Pork Chop from Jones Dairy Farm, Udder Tuggers from Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, Captain Curd from Masters Gallery Foods, Beesly from the Wisconsin Science Festival, and a 4-H Clover from Manitowoc County 4-H.
- Live Animals & Guests: Interact with Stone Creek Meadow’s sheep, Crossfire Ranch’s horses, Black Frog Farm’s llamas, and Boer goats Bingo and Turbo. Plus, Sheboygan County Fairest of the Fair Haylie Habeck will also be on site.
Saturday, July 25: Food STEM Day
- Food Science: Try a blind milk taste test with Lamers Dairy, compare mild vs. sharp cheddar with Masters Gallery Foods, make butter with Gather Wisconsin, and explore the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association’s Spudmobile mobile classroom.
- Dairy Farm Bus Tours: Made possible by a generous donor, guests can purchase a $5 add-on ticket for a 45-minute driving tour of the Grotegut Dairy Farm. The tour includes a behind-the-scenes look at the operations of a working dairy farm and samples of BelGioioso Cheese crafted from the farm’s milk. Tours will depart from Farm Wisconsin at 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. with limited space available.
- Live Animals: Visit sheep from Stone Creek Meadow, a Mini Hereford from Hideaway Ranch Mini Herefords, dairy goats from FreeFall Nubians, and Boer goats Bingo and Turbo.
All-Weekend Activities
Daily attractions include an agriculture-themed mini golf course from Putter Around Lawn Game Rentals, outdoor yard games, rabbit encounters, cheese samples courtesy of Hoard’s Dairyman Farm Creamery, and hands-on activities led by Manitowoc County 4-H.
In addition, Farm Wisconsin’s popular Calf Connection program will be offered at select times every day of the Anniversary Celebration, giving guests the unique opportunity to snuggle a calf. Priced at $5 per youth (ages 0–18) and $10 per adult, tickets can be purchased at the front desk on a first-come, first-served basis.
Throughout the weekend, the Discovery Center will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the Wisconsin Café will be open from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. All anniversary activities, animals, and special vendors are included with the price of general admission. Free youth admission is available exclusively through online registration. Full-price admission tickets will be available for purchase at the front desk during the event.
Farm Wisconsin Discovery Center
The Farm Wisconsin Discovery Center is an interactive agricultural education center located along I-43 in northeastern Wisconsin. Farm Wisconsin connects visitors’ curiosity to the wonder of Wisconsin agriculture and provides guests with a better understanding of their food sources and their importance.
Regular Farm Wisconsin admission rates are $18 for adults, $14 for seniors 62 and older, and $10 for youth 3-18. Children 2 and younger are admitted free of charge. More information can be found at farmwisconsin.org.
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