Things are starting to take shape inside the Food + Farm Exploration Center. This week, furniture was delivered and set up throughout the center.

Through our partnership with CREATE Portage County and Paint the County, we were able to get this incredible mural in our café created by Amy Zaremba of Zaremba Art.

The special ceremony for the installation of the World’s Largest Potato Masher at the nearly complete Food + Farm Exploration Center earlier today was a “mashing” success. The nearly 39-foot tall potato masher was erected during the program and will serve as a visible iconic attraction that will welcome visitors to the site. The potato masher represents the fun exploration that will happen inside and outside the new Center, honoring the agriculture industry, growers, innovators, and consumers. Plover is a perfect home for the Center because of the rich history Central Wisconsin has in the potato and vegetable industry.

Kathleen O’Leary is the Transition and Culture Strategist for the Food + Farm Exploration Center and Farming for the Future Foundation.

She looks forward to “being involved in the incredible project that is based on passion and the profound need to educate people of all ages on the importance of modern agriculture and how your food really gets to your table.”

Food + Farm Exploration Center Interim Executive Director Kathleen O’Leary today encouraged members of the Joint Finance Committee to add an additional $10 million in funding in the 2023-2025 Capital Budget to move the Exploration Center one step closer to completion and opening in 2023. 

More than 200 farmers traveled to Madison today for Ag Day at the Capitol to meet with Wisconsin legislators about issues of importance to the state’s agriculture industry, including asking for additional financial support for the Food + Farm Exploration Center currently under construction in Plover. 

Heidi Schleicher recently joined Farming for the Future Foundation as the Elementary Specialist for the Education Outreach Program.

Schleicher joins the Foundation with an extensive background in both education and agriculture.

Brittany Marquard joined the Food + Farm Exploration Center team as the Program and Visitor Experience Manager.

Marquard joins the team with more than 13 years experience in the agricultural education field.

Just three months after breaking ground, the Food + Farm Exploration Center set the final structural steel beam on Friday.

Adequate water is essential in food production. Smart irrigation systems allow growers to minimize water use while optimizing food production efforts. Smart irrigation utilizes technology to analyze weather and field data and provide individual irrigation plans.

“We’re part of a small group of people who are responsible for helping feed the world and that's invigorating,” said Dave Staroscik, a manufacturing engineer with Reinke Manufacturing Co., Inc. “You don’t normally think about that, but we really do have an impact on feeding the world.”

“Our philosophy is to go to the farmers,” Schommer said. “A big part of my job is being on the farm.” Schommer’s job is to help secure financial assistance. As an agricultural loan officer, she specifically helps people working within the agricultural industry.

“There's a lot of information out there that I'm constantly gathering, and it’s amazing how much I learn every single day,” said Joe Kertzman, an agricultural journalist and Managing Editor of the Badger Common’Tater.

“I'm the guy who has to make sure that we're following the rules,” said Zack Wysocki, Safety Compliance Manager with Lineage Logistics.

“Anytime a farmer has concerns about what they have going, we investigate, follow up and troubleshoot for them.”

With a mission of shortening the distance between the general public and the food they eat, Farming for the Future Foundation officially broke ground on the Food + Farm Exploration Center.   

From harvesting crops at their peak to accurately storing them post process, technology drives frozen vegetables at many levels.

Though not always destined for food science, Seneca Food Corporation Director of Tech Service Kimberly Challoner loves her career.

It is always something new and different. It's not just sitting in a spot for 8 hours doing the same thing.”

“Every meteorology person has a storm that they remember that got them into weather,” said Mark Holley, Chief Meteorologist at News Channel 7 WSAW-TV in Wausau, Wis.

Farmers and growers in Central Wisconsin rely on Holley’s forecasts to help guide scheduling decisions.