Wisconsin Agriculture & Farms
Pay a visit to a local farmers market or farm and discover more than fresh cheese and a herd of cows.
Although dairy is a big business here, our lush lands also produce fruits, like cranberries, and popular vegetables, including snap beans, carrots, corn and potatoes.
Centuries ago, the first Wisconsinites survived off the land by raising livestock and crops, a tradition that continues today. Agriculture is in our blood, which is why we devote much of our time tending to our farms, selling fresh items at farmers markets and hosting annual events like the Wisconsin State Fair. Every year, we put our livestock and horticulture on display at the fair to educate and celebrate one of our big economic drivers — agriculture.
We also love any chance to share the fruits of our labor with new friends. So, during your visit, be sure to tour a local farm or shop at a market to taste a piece of Wisconsin.
Shop for Fresh Produce
Follow the scent of kettle corn and the sight of white tents to an outdoor farmers market; there are hundreds of them in Wisconsin.
A visit to the market is not only a feast for the senses. It’s also a great way to spend quality time with the family. Peruse the booths set up by local farmers and vendors and buy fresh ingredients for a home-cooked family meal to make at home or in your hotel kitchen. Typically, our farmers markets run between May and October.
Every Saturday, Milwaukee hosts the Cathedral Square Market, which features fresh produce, handmade crafts, live entertainment and free cooking classes for kids. Over in Madison, the Dane County Farmers’ Market, held on Wednesdays and Saturdays, sells fresh berries, baked goods and more.
While shopping, be sure to connect with the local families who dedicate their lives to feeding Wisconsin and the world. We bet you’ll remember their stories long after you’ve eaten all your purchases.
Visit a Local Farm
Many of our working farms welcome guests for interactive tours and more. Taste farm-to-table goods and maybe pet a few adorable animals on your visit.
On a tour of the LaClare Family Creamery, founded in 1978 near Lake Winnebago, you and your family will learn all about the cheesemaking process. Afterward, enjoy a delicious lunch or cheeseboard at the cafe. Cheeses, including specialty goods and wine, are available for purchase at the shop. If you’re visiting on a Saturday, you can meet some of the farm animals during a goat yoga class.
If you’d like to stay a little longer, book a room for a night or more at Rainbow Ridge Farms Bed & Breakfast situated on a working farm in the Driftless Region. Here, B&B guests enjoy farm-to-table meals, afternoon hikes and interactions with the farm's animals, including miniature donkeys, llamas and chickens.
For a fun family outing that's educational as well, spend the day at the Farm Wisconsin Discovery Center in Manitowoc. Kids will love this attraction, which features hands-on exhibits, a local farm tour and a birthing barn where you can see a cow give birth.
So come to the table and enjoy everything our land has to offer.
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