Wisconsin - Udderly Exciting Farm Country!

Team Breitmann headed due east out of Lino Lakes, MN, towards the mighty Mississippi  river valley.  We followed the river which had beautiful views from rocky bluffs.  It was difficult to capture on camera as we drove due to the many trees.  We crossed over to Wisconsin at La Crosse and took Wisconsin Hwy 33 into the heart of mid-western, Wisconsin farm country. 

We stayed in an area exemplified by rolling farmland dotted with small communities like; Wonewoc, Hillsboro, LaValle, Reedsburg and others.

Here we are setup just outside Wonewoc, WI at the Chapparal Campground.  What a gem of a find!  We had full hookups, plenty of space and access to the pool.  Also, they have an on site restaurant.  The girls enjoyed the pool nearly every evening.  The owners, Dennis and Diane, are great mid-westerners and made us feel like family!  If you are ever in this neck of the woods, we highly recommend you come visit and slow down and stay awhile!  Check them out at this link: Chapparal Campground

Dennis invited us to explore his adjacent 350 acres of farm, woods, several ponds and wetland restoration project.  Here Heidi takes a look at a field of soybeans.  The girls stated; "Look at that!  It's a whole field of edemame!"   

Talk about being treated like family!  Dennis dishes up a big helping of midwestern hospitality and gives me the use of his Ranger four-runner to take the gals around the 350 acres.  We saw a large flock of wild turkey in the woods and about 40 Canadian geese.  Hailey shows off a wild turkey feather she picked up along the way.

The gals are eager to get up close and personal with cows in Mr. Dennis' feed lot!  None of the girls, including Stacey, had ever been to a cattle feed lot.

After some antique shopping in the tiny town of Lavalle, we wander out on County Rd G to the Carr Valley Cheese Factory!  It is easy being cheesy!  This company is very small and only has two locations that they make cheese.  They have several retail outlets throughout Wisconsin.  Unlike the big cheese makers, they have decided to focus on specialty cheese at low volume, ensuring uniqueness and quality.  You can special order and have cheese shipped to you.  Check out their website and try a slice of Wisconsin "heaven"!  Carr Valley Cheese 

Hailey seems to agree that Wisconsin Cheese is awesome!  She loves the cheese curds, also known as "squeaky cheese" due to the sound it makes against your teeth.  We tried goats milk cheese, sheep milk cheese, a blend of goat and cow's milk cheese and my all time absolute favorite....10 year aged cheddar!  Unbelievable! A pound will run you around $25!  I could not resist and bought around $12 worth.  

"Hey, Dad!  Look!  It's a cheese named after me...Heidi"!  Sure, enough!  Heidi's full name is: Heidi Anna Breitmann!  Even the picture looks like her.  And, yes, we had to buy some of this swiss cheese!  The ladies behind the counter got a real kick out of Heidi and gave her a whole sheet of the label stickers that had the logo of the cheese on it!  

A first for the gals of Team Breitmann...seeing Amish folks!  I grew up near Amish country, so this was not new to me but, it sure was an education for Stacey and the girls. We stopped at an Amish family farm that was selling baked goods, jams, preserves, pies and hand made pasta.  Yep, we bought an awesome apple pie and some pasta.  Here Heidi poses with the family "car"!  

The girls in the Amish barn, visiting the family source of milk!  Hailey really is interested in the Amish way of life and what they wear.  She says, "...it would be fun to wear the dresses and bonnets!" Even though we tell her,  I don't think she's totally aware of the amount of work these Amish ladies do!  

On our way towards Baraboo, WI, (the original home of  Ringling Brothers Circus) we stop by a re-created 1880's farm village, complete with school house and church.  Stacey says, "Hey, Todd, if you build one of these log houses, we could afford it!" Me: "Uh, yeah, sure Stacey.  Good luck with your illusions!"

Only in Wisconsin can you go to the grocery store and your kids can compete against each other in a cow milking contest, while you shop!  Love it!  Did you know that Wisconsin is second in the nation in milk and butter production and leads the nation in cheese production?  It ranks first in production of corn for silage, cranberries, ginseng, oats, potatoes, carrots, tart cherries, maple syrup and sweet corn.  These numbers reflect crops for processing.  The Wisconsin state quarter design is a depiction of a Holstein cow, an ear of corn and a wheel of cheese, signifying the importance of agriculture in Wisconsin.

After we attended Sunday worship at Cornerstone Missionary Baptist Church in Reedsburg, we stopped by a Wisconsin "must-do"....Culver's.  It is much like Braum's is to Oklahoma.  We had cheddar butter cheeseburgers, fried cheese curds and frozen custard.  My body is not going to be able to stand more than a year of this traveling!   After lunch, we decided to do a trail ride at "The Ranch" stables. I think I kinda look good on a white horse, don't ya think....well, okay...whatever!  It was worth a try!

The Trail Queen of Wisconsin (T.Q.O.W) saddles up for the ride on the 500 acres of woods and meadows. 

Heidi says; "Horses know I love them!  I have a way with them."  Okay, Ms. Horse Whisperer!

Hailey demonstrates the art of at least looking like you know what your doing....even when you have no clue!

A view of the meadow, along the trail ride, as we pop out of the woods.  We love this area!

Afer a hot, dusty trail ride, the girls decide it's time to take a dip in the campground pool.  

Remember what our motor home "sticker map" looked like on the 17th of February 2012?  Well, here's a reminder! 

Here is what it looks like as we start our 7th month of travel!  Holy sticker mania, batman! We've certainly seen a lot and there is sooo much more to see.  It really is unbelievable!  God Bless, America!  It's off to Madison, WI for Team Breitmann!