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Wisconsin hosted the 2008 American Guernsey Association National Convention, which wrapped up with the National Sale on Monday, June 30th.  The sale was held at City Slickers Farm in Cross Plains, Wisconsin, and featured animals, embryos, and semen from around the United States and Canada. Prior to the sale, WisconsinEye visited with AGA Executive Secretary-Treasurer Seth Johnson, as well as newly crowned National Guernsey Princess Hannah Iverson and learned about the convention, as well as an outlook on the Guernsey breed.  The auctioneer was Stanley Chupp of Inola, OK, and pedigrees were read by Murray Reissner of Woodstock, Ontario, Canada.

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Wisconsin State Badger Games Chief Executive, Ron Vincent, discussed the impact the games have on the state of Wisconsin. He also discussed the future of the Badger State Games in the Fox Cities area. Hosted by Tyler Mickelson at the WSDC offices on Friday, June 27th, 2008.

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The Urban Economic Development Association of Wisconsin hosted its Seventh Annual Community Development Summit at the Italian Conference Center in Milwaukee Wisconsin. Titled, Transportation & Jobs” The Case for Regional Cooperation – Getting There from Here, the summit focused on the regional transportation landscape of Milwaukee, Waukesha, Racine and Kenosha counties. The summit began with Mayor Tom Barrett welcoming attendees and presenting his transportation plan. Following Mayor Barrett, Robert Liberty, a Metro Councilor from the City of Portland, Oregon, offered his experience as part of an elected council dealing with regional land use and transportation planning. Liberty’s Council has adopted and is implementing regional planning goals and a plan that addresses everything from an urban growth boundary and housing affordability to transportation and natural resources protection. After these presentations, a panel of community and business leaders responded to the presentations and discussed the issues from their perspective. Moderated by Eric Von, host of The Eric Von Show 1290 WMCS-AM, the panel consisted of Rob Henken, President of The Public Policy Forum, Bill Mitchell, Executive Director of Waukesha County Economic Development Corporation, Michael Mortell, WIRED Coordinator of the Regional Workforce Alliance, H. Carl Mueller, Communications Consultant of SE Wisconsin Regional Transit Authority Donald Sykes, President & CEO of Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board, Inc. and Kenneth R.Yunker, PE, Deputy Director of Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission. The afternoon session began with a moderated discussion among local officials and business leaders, each responding to issues and questions raised during the morning plenary. Moderated by Mike Gousha, Distinguished Fellow in Law and Public Policy at Marquette University Law School and Anchor of WISN TV's "Up Front with Mike Gousha", the panel consisted of Mayor Tom Barrett, City of Milwaukee, Michael J. Cudahy, President of the Endeavors Group, LLC, Mayor Larry Nelson, City of Waukesha, State Senator Lena Taylor, Daniel P. Vrakas ,County Executive of Waukesha County, State Assembly Representative Jeff Stone, Christine Nuernberg, Mayor of Mequon, William L. McReynolds, County Executive of Racine County, Michael J. Cudahy, President of the Endeavors Group, LLC, and a spokesperson for Milwaukee County Executive, Scott Walker.

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The Percussion Section of the Madison Scouts Drum & Bugle Corps warm-up next to Capitol Square before their performance. The warm-up consisted of many percussion instruments including Bass Drums, Snare Drums, Cymbols, and others. The session was held on Wednesday, June 25th, 2008.

The Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps performed on the Capitol Square on Wednesday, June 25th, 2008. The performance included selections from their 2008 Program, “La Noche de la Iguana.” They also performed songs from previous years.

Four Wisconsin communities are honored for being part of the annual “100 Best Communities for Young People” put on by America’s Promise Alliance. Lt. Governor Barbara Lawton spoke on behalf of the communities, along with representatives from each of the four winners.  

WisconsinEye attended the Wisconsin Nationals, part of the 2008 National Holstein Convention, June 24th.  Holstein breeders from around the United States and Canada gathered bid on calves, heifers, and cows with exceptional pedigrees.  The auctioneer was Tom Morris from Amery, WI, and pedigrees were read by Horace Backus of Mexico, NY. The sale was hosted by Heatherstone Enterprises in Baraboo, WI.

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On June 24, the Waukesha County Action Network (WCAN) hosted a panel discussion titled Alternative Funding for Transportation. The panel consisted of Pat Gross, Executive Director of Wisconsin Transportation Builders Association, John Antaramian, Former Mayor of Kenosha, Samuel Staley, Director of Urban Growth and Land Use of the Reason Foundation, Phil Evenson, Executive Director of SEWRPC and was moderated by Jeff Mayers, President of WisPolitics. WCAN was established in June of 2004 and is a private sector, nonprofit civic organization of community and business leaders who evaluate and recommend improvements to broad public policy issues in Waukesha County and the region. WCAN applies private energies in focus areas of broad public interest not currently being addressed by other groups, and identifies gaps where resources should be applied.

WisconsinEye joined in celebrating June Dairy Month at the Moo-Day Brunch, hosted by Endres Jazzy Jerseys in Lodi, on June 21st.  Amber Gonske visited with owners Dave & Patty Endres to learn about their dairy operation, as well as volunteers at the event.  

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To celebrate June Dairy Month WisconsinEye visited the Wisconsin Rapids Cranberry Blossom Festival June Dairy Berry Breakfast on June 20th.  The event took place at Lincoln High School in Wisconsin Rapids, and featured breakfast, as well as a petting zoo.  WisconsinEye talked with a number of volunteers, including FFA members, area legislators, the Wood County Sheriff, and one of the organizers.  

WisconsinEye attended the Cranberry Blossom Bake-Off on June 20th; one of the many events at the Wisconsin Rapids Cranberry Blossom Festival.  We learn about the contest and categories, why cranberries are important to the area, and observe the judging process.  

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Milwaukee-based Public Policy Forum, a nonpartisan research organization focusing on regional issues, honored its 2008 “Salute to Local Government” award winners in an event they hosted at the Italian Community Center in Milwaukee WI. Established in 1913 as a local government watchdog, the Public Policy Forum is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the effectiveness of government and the development of southeastern Wisconsin through objective research of regional public policy issues

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The Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC) is a 147-year-old private, not-for-profit organization representing approximately 2,000 member businesses in Milwaukee, Waukesha, Washington and Ozaukee counties. As a continuation of MMAC’s Blueprint on Economic Prosperity Series, and in conjunction with Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce (WMC) and the Government of Canada, MMCA hosted the Honorable Mel Knight, Minister of Energy for Alberta, Canada, to discuss North American energy alternatives. Addressed were actions the U.S. and Canada could consider to ensure regional energy reliability in an increasingly unstable global marketplace.

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WisconsinEye visits Circus World Museum in Baraboo. Steve Freese, executive director of the museum, gives an extensive tour of the grounds and museum exhibits.

The Reedsburg High School was the site of a FEMA Recovery Center for surrounding communities devastated by the recent floods in Wisconsin. WisconsinEye talked with volunteers and community members about the flooding and their efforts to recoup their losses.  WisconsinEye travels on to survey damages in Soldiers Grove as well.  

The recently flooded village of Gays Mills held a community meeting on June 17th, 2008 to discuss options on how to avoid similar catastrophes in the future.  The village board invited all members of the community to voice their opinions on the matter.  The meeting also provided an opportunity for community members to ask questions to FEMA and state and national government officials.

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Glen Loyd, a former consumer protection journalist, and currently a public information officer for the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection discussed the scams and frauds people need to look out for as well as different programs that the state’s consumer protection office administers. Loyd was interviewed by Stacy Forster, a capitol reporter with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, in WisconsinEye’s Madison studio on June 17, 2008.

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Wisconsin State Executive Director for MADD, Kari Kinnard, discusses everything being done through the organization both nation-wide and state-wide. Hosted by Tyler Mickelson in WisconsinEye studios on June 12, 2008.

Wisconsin Eye toured the Pendarvis Historical Site in Mineral Point, Wisconsin, June 11, 2008.  Pendarvis features several homes of early Wisconsin immigrants.  Curator Tamara Funk led the tour and spoke about the lives of the people who once lived there.

WisconsinEye attended the Fifth Session of the 79th Annual Wisconsin FFA Convention in Madison on June 11th.  FFA members from around the state gathered to hear greetings from State Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection, Rod Nilsestuen, as well as Alice in Dairyland Ashley Huibregtse. Awards were presented in the following categories: Food For America, Cooperative Leadership, and Agri-Entrepreneurship.

Coverage of the Fifth Session of the 79th Annual Wisconsin FFA Convention continued with the presentation more awards including the Job Interview and Opening/Closing Ceremonies Contest awards, as well as the FFA Scholarship presentations.  The State FFA Officer team recognized superintendents, principals, and school board members from their school districts for their support of their local FFA chapter.  The Wisconsin FFA Degree Ceremony honored 472 FFA members receiving their State Degree.

Coverage of the Fifth Session of the 79th Annual Wisconsin FFA Convention continued with the Wisconsin FFA Degree Ceremony.

The 79th Annual Wisconsin FFA Convention was held in Madison, at the Alliant Energy Center Exhibition Hall.  The convention featured the LifeWork Expo, which showcased companies, schools, and organizations for FFA members to talk with and learn about.  WisconsinEye’s Amber Gonske visited at a number of booths to learn about their importance in the world of agriculture, and what they hoped to accomplish at the FFA convention.

WisconsinEye visited with FFA Chapters at the 79th Annual Wisconsin FFA Convention. We learned about the activities and involvement of the Lancaster and Osceola FFA Chapters. The convention was held at the Alliant Energy Center Exhibition Hall in Madison.

Wisconsin FFA members had the opportunity to learn about agricultural legislation at the State Capitol on June 10th, as part of the 79th Annual Wisconsin FFA Convention.  State Representative Alvin Ott lead the discussion, along with Joel Nilsestuen from State Senator Kathleen Vinehout’s office.  

Wisconsin Eye visited the 2008 Wisconsin Entrepreneur's Conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on June 6, 2008.  The conference began with a keynote presentation by Craig Culver, owner of the Culver’s chain of restaurants.  

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WisconsinEye’s Amber Gonske interviewed Ashley Huibregtse on June 6th. Huibregtse recently began a year long position serving as Wisconsin’s 61st Alice in Dairyland. Huibregtse will travel the state of Wisconsin to educate and promote the agriculture industry. WisconsinEye learned about the role of Alice in Dairyland, its history in the state, and the importance of the job.

WisconsinEye attended the Project Green Teen Open House at Malcolm Shabazz Alternative School in Madison on June 5th.  The Open House wrapped up the program for the students who chose the hands-on class which gave them a chance to learn about the outdoors, the environment, and more.  Students showcased projects they’d done to highlight the program activities, and what they enjoyed from the program.  The open house provided the chance for community members to learn about the program, as well as students to thank volunteers for the time they donated.

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