Bringing the Alice in Dairyland finals to Grant County is no small endeavor.  It takes a lot of volunteers and financial support.  Currently, Grant County is looking for businesses that would like to help sponsor the finals process. 

Sponsorships begin with Citrine level at $500 and increase to the Diamond level at $5,000.  More information is included here:

Alice in Dairyland Sponsorships

Or feel free to contact the committee at aliceindairyland2012@gmail.com.

This is an excellent opportunity to showcase your business to Grant County and agriculturalists throughout the state!

Don’t miss the chance be a part of history! The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) is accepting applications from individuals interested in becoming Wisconsin’s 65^th Alice in Dairyland until 4:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 13. 

Alice in Dairyland is the state’s agricultural ambassador.  During her year, Alice will travel nearly 40,000 miles throughout the state and surrounding areas to promote Wisconsin’s agriculture industry and its impact on the economy through media interviews, speeches and school presentations.   Alice in Dairyland is a one-year contractual position with DATCP, headquartered in Madison.

Applicants must demonstrate knowledge of Wisconsin’s agriculture industry; have public speaking experience; have completed education or training in communications, marketing or public relations; and be able to plan and execute public relations, marketing or media campaigns.

To apply, an application, cover letter, resume, three professional references and a summary of qualifications must be submitted to DATCP the deadline.  Click here for the Alice in Dairyland application.

The 65th Alice in Dairyland will be selected at the conclusion of the three-day Finals, May 17-19, 2012 in Grant County.

Last week, Alice in Dairyland, Katie Wirkus, was joined by Lancaster-area students to decorate the first Christmas Tree of the season.  Alice cut down the tree earlier in the month at Cooks Woods in Fennimore to signify the beginning of the Christmas Tree season here in Wisconsin. Ornaments for the tree were made by the Mt.

Alice in Dairyland, Katie Wirkus, decorating the tree with area students

Hope Cardinals 4-H Club. The tree will be on display in the Grant County Courthouse throughout the holiday season.

According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, Wisconsin ranks fifth in the nation for Christmas tree production, harvesting around one million trees annually on over one thousand tree farms.

Alice surrounded by Fennimore area fourth-graders

On Tuesday, November 15, joined by the fourth graders from Fennimore Elementary School, Katie Wirkus, Wisconsin’s 64^th Alice in Dairyland, cut down the state’s first official Christmas tree of the season at Cook’s Woods of Fennimore.   The Christmas tree will be decorated and on display at the Grant County Courthouse in Lancaster after Thanksgiving. 

Katie Wirkus, 64th Alice in Dairyland, cuts down the state’s first official Christmas tree.

“Support the local farmers while keeping money in your local communities and economies by Going Green this holiday season with a real Wisconsin Christmas tree,” said Wirkus. “Enjoy the great Christmas tree aroma while helping the environment since real trees are biodegradable and recyclable, whereas fake trees are not and, therefore, are a burden to the environment.”

Are you a follower on Facebook?  If not, check out Alice in Dairyland 2012, Grant County.  Like the page to stay up-to-date on Alice events and appearances throughout the county, as we prepare to host the selction of the 65th Alice in Dairyland May 17-19, 2012.

Tis the season to decorate the halls with boughs of holly and cut down the perfect tree to make your home more jolly! The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) invites media to join the 64th Alice in Dairyland Katie Wirkus in cutting down the first Christmas tree of the season.

This annual event is hosted at a different farm each year across the state. This year’s tree cutting will be on Tuesday, November 15, 2011 at 9:45 a.m. at Cooks’ Woods, 2176 Ebenezer Road, Fennimore.

Also at the tree cutting will be fourth grade students from Fennimore Elementary School. The morning will begin with a short presentation on the Wisconsin forest industry by Wirkus and Dave Cook of Cooks’ Woods. Wisconsin Christmas tree growers produce over 1.8 million trees each year on 36,000 acres. Students will then take a wagon ride through the tree fields with Wirkus to do the cutting.

To learn more about Cooks’ Woods, visit cookswoods.biz. For details about the Alice in Dairyland Program, visit aliceindairyland.com. For more on the Wisconsin Christmas Tree Producers Association, see www.christmastrees-wi.org/.

WHERE: Cooks’ Woods 2176 Ebenezer Road Fennimore
WHEN: Tuesday, November 15, 2011 9:45 a.m.

Years ago, Wisconsin was home more pigs than cows!  While today, the state is known as America’s Dairyland, the swine industry is still an important part of the state’s agricultural landscape.  In fact, Grant County leads the state in swine production.  

There are so many things to know about both pigs and pork.  Perhaps some of these little known facts will surprise you!

Did you know…

• Pork tenderloin is just as lean as a skinless chicken breast, and it contains slightly fewer calories than the same size serving of a skinless chicken breast.
• During colonial times, people living on Manhattan Island had to build a wall to keep out wild pigs. This area is known today as Wall Street.
• On average, the six most common cuts of pork are 16 percent leaner than 20 years ago, and saturated fat has dropped 27 percent.
• For juicy and tender pork, cook the meat until the internal temperature reaches 145ºF, let it rest for three minutes and it is ready to serve.
• When hot dogs were first introduced at the St. Louis World’s Fair in 1904, they were called “red hots.” These red hots were served with white gloves, instead of a bun, to keep fingers cool while eating.
• Pigs first came to the American mainland in 1539, brought by Spanish Explorer Hernando de Soto.
• China, not America, is the No. 1 producer and consumer of fresh pork in the world.
• The longest sausage in the world is recorded at 6,643-foot-long (or 2,025-meter).  Turija holds the Guinness Book World Record for longest sausage, and each year, the town breaks the record by a centimeter, according to Balkaninsight.com.
• The Pork® Be inspired^sm  brand campaign was launched this year to reach more than 82 million Americans who already cook, eat and love pork.

In May of 2012, the 65th Alice in Dairyland will be selected in Grant County.  However, throughout the months ahead, the current Alice, Katie Wirkus, will be visiting the county to learn about its agricultural heritage and contributions to the state’s economy.  Check out the article by Craig Reber highlighting Alice’s recent Grant County appearance to learn more about her role in educating people about Wisconsin’s $59 billion agricultural industry.

Ag ambassador learning her pay

The selection of the 65th Alice in Dairyland is coming back to Grant County. We are excited to host the process where Wisconsin’s next Agricultural Ambassador will be selected.  The selection of the next Alice is a six month process and culminates on May 19, 2012.  This will be the official website for more information on the final selection process as will as a showcase of the agricultural industry throughout the county.  Check back often for more information on the Alice program, sponsorship of the event, current Alice appearances, and details leading up to the selction of the 65th Alice in Dairyland.