Episode 21 of The Travel Calumet Original Podcast now available.

June is Dairy Month! And to celebrate, let’s talk about Sunday June 23’s Sundae on a Dairy Farm, (actually to be held at the Calumet County Fairgrounds in Chilton, this year). Appearing in this episode is Sue Schultz, one of the organizers of the event.

Calumet County “Sundae” at the Fairgrounds to be held Sunday, June 23

The Calumet County Dairy Promotion Committee will host the 37th annual Calumet County "Sundae” at the Fairgrounds on Sunday, June 23, 2024, from 11 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. “Sundae” at the Fairgrounds is a family event with no admission being charged. Special attractions at “Sundae” will include music, an artisan cheese display, virtual farm tours, farm machinery displays, multiple booths and interactive educational displays.

Visitors to “Sundae” will be able to view milking demonstrations. Featured exhibits include memorabilia display of the thirty-six previous Sundae host farms and an introduction of the host families at 12 noon on the Main Stage under the Fairgrounds pavilion. Continuous How to Make a Charcuterie Board demonstrations is another feature of the 2024 “Sundae” event. A Kid’s Zone Area will include games and craft projects plus a Petting Zoo.

Burgers and grilled cheese sandwiches will be available for purchase throughout the day along with ice cream sundaes. Cheese and milk will be free all day.

Attendees should enter the Calumet County Fairgrounds at the south entrance on County Trunk G. Ample parking is available. A handicapped wagon that can transport wheelchairs and electric scooters will be available as needed to bring people to the main area of the fairgrounds where the “Sundae” activities are taking place.

For more information on “Sundae,” contact Calumet County Dairy Promotion Committee Sue Schultz via email.

Wisconsin Cattlemen’s Association Summer Tour comes to Riveredge Farms near Chilton, June 29

From the Wisconsin Cattlemen's Association, June 6, 2024



The Wisconsin Cattlemen’s Association will host its annual Summer Tour at four different stops in eastern Wisconsin on Saturday, June 29 to promote networking and education among beef producers.

The first stop will be at Riveredge Farms near Chilton. Established in 1921, Riveredge Farms was originally a dairy operation that transitioned in the late ‘90s to raising beef cattle and cash crops. Now operated by the 3rd and 4th generation of the Geiser family, the farm runs approximately 55 Registered Simmental and SimAngus cows, feeds out their own calves, and direct markets beef locally. Tour attendees will see all aspects of the diverse operation as well as tour the new bedded pack barn. 

Click here for complete story.

Calumet County Board vacancy - District 2

Calumet County is seeking citizens living in District 2 interested in serving on the Calumet County Board of Supervisors. Applications will be accepted to represent:

• District 2 – City of Appleton (Ward 25) click to see map

This appointment to the County Board is for the balance of a term which will expire 4-20-2026.

Applicants must live in Calumet County's District 2.

County Board members may be appointed to assorted committees, boards, and commissions with varying meeting schedules (anticipate 1 committee appointment). Ideally, candidates for the position have flexible schedules to accommodate these meetings. County Board meetings are held in Chilton on the 3^rd Tuesday of the month at 6:00 p.m. The Annual Budget Meeting is held at 9:00 a.m.      

The successful applicant must be a United States citizen, reside in District 2, be at least 18 years of age, and have no felony convictions.

Interested citizens meeting these requirements may submit their resume, along with a letter of interest by 4:00 p.m., Wed., July 10, 2024, to the County Administrator’s Office, 206 Court St., Chilton, 53014 or email county.admin@calumetcounty.org.

Resumes will be reviewed by the County Board Chair, who will make a recommendation for appointment, subject to the approval of the County Board. Equal consideration shall be given to all qualified applicants.

For more information call (833) 620-2730, ext. 2000. 

Endries unveil plan for downtown Brillion

By David Nordby, The Brillion News, June 6, 2024, photo from The Brillion News

Bob and Pat Endries revealed their vision for a revamped downtown to the Brillion Plan Commission on Monday night. 

“I think this could be the start of a renewal of downtown Brillion,” Bob Endries said.

The developments around the City Center building area would be fully funded by the Endries with no cost to the city. The list of things planned include: 

• Close Center Street from Main to Custer streets
• Extend Jackson Street to Center Street
• Purchase Holy Family Playground and create a dog park
• Ice skating and roller rink area
• Open Main Street from the torn down Sittman property to the Brillion Community Center for access and parking
• Possible home purchase on Main Street to create more space there
• Close parking east of the Brillion Community Center
• A memorial in the Brillion Community Center area
• A sports area that could include space for indoor and outdoor pickleball, bocce ball, shuffleboard, horseshoe, cornhole, basketball, volleyball and soccer.

“This would be totally funded. We’re not going to be asking the city or anybody else,” Endries emphasized. “It would be funded with a gift to the city.”

Click here for complete story.

To register to attend the event onsite and in-person, please click here.

To register to attend the event online, please click here.

Join us for free import/export educational session at FVTC Chilton on July 9th

By Rick Sense, Calumet County

Calumet County Economic Development and Fox Valley Technical College Chilton are partnering to offer an educational event at the FVTC Chilton facility on July 9 starting at 11am. The session is titled: Importing and Exporting Opportunities for Businesses of Any Size.

Ngosong Fonkem, the presenter, advises corporate leaders as they make strategic decisions, particularly in the context of dueling U.S. and China laws and regulations resulting from geo-political competition. He primarily focuses on day-to-day compliance with Customs laws and US Export Control and sanctions regulations, and with interventions - such as audits and investigations, and civil enforcement proceedings. With the trade lawyers and specialists at Harris Sliwoski, Ngosong also assists the deal teams (at Harris Sliwoski and at other firms) with due diligence on trade risk in M&A, private equity, and other transactions.

The session will be an excellent opportunity to learn more about the tools available to organizations looking to expand markets through trade. The event will be available at FVTC Chilton and streamed via Microsoft Teams. To register to attend onsite or online, please see the links above this story.

Reminder - EXPORTECH™ sessions start August 26th

ExporTech is a national, 12-week export assistance program helping executives grow revenue through optimal exporting strategies. Over 400 Wisconsin manufacturers averaged $1 million in new export sales in the first year after attending WMEP’s ExporTech. You will learn proven best practices for optimal exporting and develop your playbook to connect with global customers seeking your products.

Group Sessions Round 1 Start August 26th, 1-3:30 daily

Group Sessions Round 2: Week of September 23, 1-3:30 daily

Group Sessions Round 3: Week of November 4, 1-3:30 daily

COST: $10,000 - up to three participants. WEDC $5,000 scholarships are available. Scholarship applications are due July 19th.

Program Overview

• Small class sizes with individual attention
• Expert support outside class sessions
• Flexible virtual sessions for up to 3 executives
• Graduate with a go-to-market export plan
• Significant ROI potential in year 1 and beyond

To learn more, click here.

ark data centers celebrates entrance into Wisconsin market on the heels of esteemed Datacloud Global Award Recognition

From ark data centers

ark data centers, a national provider of data center and cloud infrastructure, celebrated the grand opening of its 20 MW campus in the Green Bay market on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. The event closely followed ark’s recent recognition as the winner of the 2024 Datacloud Global Award for Excellence in Data Centre Americas at the annual Datacloud Global Congress.

“The data center campus expansion and award recognition further position ark as a first-choice enterprise infrastructure provider,” said Brett Lindsey, Chief Executive Officer at ark data centers. “The surge of AI and rapid technological advancements has created unprecedented growth for data center space, power and compute. ark meets our customers at the edge to ensure they have scalable, adaptable infrastructure solutions in key markets across the country.”

The Wisconsin data center, strategically located just 30 minutes from Green Bay, is poised to serve the region’s vibrant technology and manufacturing sectors. The concurrently maintainable facility rests on a 24.5-acre campus with 24/7/365 critical monitoring and secure access. Through a multi-phased approach, ark plans to build 20 MW of capacity to meet the rising demands for reliable and available enterprise-ready infrastructure.

Click here for complete story.

UW-Oshkosh closing Fox Cities campus, future of planetarium and museum in question

By Scott Hurley & Andrew Mertins, FOX 11 News, June 13, 2024

The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh is discontinuing teaching and learning at its Fox Cities campus at the end of the next school year.

The university says enrollment at the two-year campus in Menasha has declined by about two-thirds over the past decade. Given high school graduation and regional population trends, UWO projects the enrollment at the Fox Cities campus to be less than 100 students by 2032.

"We've looked at the projected revenues that go along with this, from declining tuition rates and given the costs associated with operating facilities, delivering in-person instruction in a range of fields, it was simply no longer financially feasible," said UW-Oshkosh Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Ed Martini.

"UW-Oshkosh is working to ensure it has a bright future, which requires tough decisions now. Unfortunately, the analysis is that the market and enrollment cannot sustain the Fox Cities Campus moving forward," Universities of Wisconsin president Jay Rothman said in a statement.

Click here for complete story.

Appleton named one of the best cities for first-time homebuyers

By Jaclyn DeJohn, WBAY, June 8, 2024

First-time homebuyers who have just reached the threshold for a down payment can face steep competition from seasoned homeowners with established equity. And as the cost-of-living increases, some of these first-time hopefuls could be squeezed out of more expensive areas.

With this in mind, SmartAsset examined the current state of the housing market in 185 metro areas to determine the best places for first-time homebuyers to snag an affordable home. Places were ranked according to several metrics including affordability, competition and social characteristics of each housing market.

Click here for complete report.

Capital Credit Union announces 2024 Elevate Communities Recipients-Town of Buchanan Fire & Rescue

From New North Newsletter, June 13, 2024

Capital Credit Union is delighted to announce the recipients of its 2024 Elevate Communities Funding Program. This year, a total of $100,858 has been awarded to twelve fire and police departments across Northeast Wisconsin to provide additional support and opportunities for projects and equipment that will continue to serve our communities.

Click here for complete story.

Wisconsin workers' average pay jumps 5.3% from last year

By David Clarey, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, June 10, 2024

Wisconsin workers' pay rose over 5% from a year ago at this time, slightly outpacing the national average, according to a new report.



The June 5 report from payroll company ADP shows that the median annual pay in Wisconsin in May reached $59,000, up 5.3% from a year ago. That slightly beat out the nationwide median pay of $58,300 and 5% increases.

Click here for complete story. A subscription might be required to view.

Wisconsin's economy ranks toward the bottom among states. Here's why.

By Alex Groth, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, June 12, 2024

The economy in Wisconsin has varied this year, with high labor force participation rate and new jobs across multiple industries. But hundreds of workers have also lost their jobs and some experts even say the economy in the Milwaukee area is "stagnant."

A new study from personal finance company WalletHub ranked all U.S. states with the best and worst economies. Metrics included changes in gross domestic product, unemployment rates and growth of businesses and startups.

Researchers also included Washington D.C. in the list of states because it's comparable with the rest of the states, said spokesperson Diana Polk.

Get daily updates on the Packers during the season.

California, Texas, New York and Florida all have economies large enough that, if they were countries, would rank in the top 20 in the world, according to the report.

Here's which states made it to the top of WalletHub's list and where Wisconsin landed among them:

Click here to see full story. A subscription might be required.

The 5 best zero-turn mowers of 2024: Ariens Ikon 52-in 23-HP V-twin Zero-turn Lawn Mower

By Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, June 3, 2024

Ariens mowers and snow blowers have earned high marks in our tests for decades. We attribute that to sound engineering and better-than-average build quality. This mower combines the reliability and high-torque characteristics of a 23-hp Kawasaki engine with a rugged 52-inch fabricated (11-gauge) steel deck, plus a smooth-running Hydrogear EZT transmission at each rear wheel.

The Hydrogear is a popular residential-grade transaxle with a 1-inch-diameter axle and a 900-pound weight rating. You need that much capacity with a machine like this. The mower by itself weighs 635 pounds before you add a driver and 2.8 gallons of fuel. The Hydrogear provides a top speed of 7 mph.

You also get very robust construction in other critical areas: a four-point deck mount- similar to one on many commercial mowers. The deck mount hangs off a tube steel frame. And Ariens frames are stiff, models of neat welding and well-applied paint.

This Ariens zero-turn mower features lap bar grips that minimize vibrations into the hands, a boon to long mows. Pair that with its premium, comfortable seat, and you should be able to log long cutting sessions that don't tire you out.

Click here for complete story.

Time to make your cheeseburger smash & sizzle with Sargento

By Will Dawson, 21 Ninety, June 11, 2024, photo from 21Ninety

Ah, summertime! The birds chirp a little louder, the sun shines a little brighter, and our taste buds tend to want something savory to go along with the warmer temps. While the burger has been an American tradition that goes back over 150 years, the country has recently fallen in love with the smash burger, or a burger pressed thin onto the grill before cooking. So as we gear up for the season of cookouts, family reunions and the celebration of Juneteenth, it’s time to smash our way into spring by taking our burger game to the next level with Sargento® Cheese.

At the heart of any great burger lies the perfect blend of flavors, and the smash burger is no exception. Picture this: a tender, juicy patty nestled between two buttery brioche buns, adorned with crispy bacon and crowned with the star of the show – Sargento® Colby-Jack Natural Cheese Slices, a mix of Colby and Monterey jack cheese flavors that melts to perfection. 

Click here for full story and recipe.

2023's best new dairy products in grocery stores

By Sabrina Weiss and Sonal Dutt, People Magazine, June 5, 2024

Make room in your fridge for these creamy and dreamy products.

Our discerning team of testers tasted countless yogurts, dips, cheeses and creamers in honor of the People Food Awards. Ultimately, these grocery items were the dairy best.

Sargento Fiesta Pepper String Cheese

The “spicy but not too spicy” chunks of jalapeño and habanero peppers give the mozzarella lunchbox staple a grown-up twist.

Click here for complete article.

License approved for new broadcast TV station in Northeastern Wisconsin

By Kaytie Kelly, WHBY, Jun 3, 2024

Another TV station may be coming to the area and possibly offer a popular subchannel.

According to FCC.gov records, the call letters WMEI were approved to a potential television signal with Shawano as the city of license, although the origination of the signal appears to be a tower northeast of Morrison in Brown County. The station’s licensee is listed as TV-49, Inc. but rabbitears.info reports the operator as Weigel Broadcasting, a company out of Chicago that owns a number of networks including MeTV, which features classic television shows.

Although no public announcement has been made, it could mean that MeTV will return to northeast Wisconsin television. MeTV had been a digital subchannel for NBC26 until 2022.

Click here for full story.

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Episodes 21 of the Travel Calumet Original Podcast is now available!   

Episode 21 of The Travel Calumet Original Podcast now available.

June is Dairy Month! And to celebrate, let’s talk about Sunday June 23’s Sundae on a Dairy Farm, (actually to be held at the Calumet County Fairgrounds in Chilton, this year). Appearing in this episode is Sue Schultz, one of the organizers of the event.