Episode 25 of the Travel Calumet Original Podcast is now available

Mike Malewiski and Nathan Carlton, members of the Wisconsin Steam and Antique Engine Club, join host Rick Sense to discuss the 72nd Annual Steam Engine Show.

The event takes place August 10-11 at the Calumet County Fairgrounds in Chilton. The video is of a 1930's International Harvester Grain Binder that will be on display at the event.

To listen to this, and other episodes, click here.

Applications for Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin grants through September 9

By Kelly Mella, DATCP, July 29, 2024

The 2024 Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin (BLBW) grants are open to applicants until 11:59 p.m. on September 9, 2024. The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) will award a total of up to $200,000 in BLBW grant funding in 2024.

BLBW is a competitive grant program designed to strengthen Wisconsin’s agriculture and food industries by helping farms and businesses more efficiently process, market, and distribute locally grown food products. BLBW grants provide consumers with access to more Wisconsin-grown food products, including organic vegetables, hops varieties, hazelnut products, locally grown grain, and other value-added products.

Qualified applicants include individuals, groups, or businesses involved in Wisconsin production agriculture, food processing, food distribution, food warehousing, retail food establishments, or agricultural tourism operations. Funded projects must report on increased local food sales, created and retained jobs, and new investments.

Projects can receive grant funds for up to three years. Grant requests must be between $5,000 and $50,000. Eligible project expenses include compensation for personnel, consultant services, materials, and supplies. Projects must show a one-to-one match of cash or in-kind support accounting for at least 50% of the total project budget.

Click here for complete article.

First Calumet County Leader Lab class is set for August 14

By Jason Pausma and Rick Sense, Calumet County

The inaugural class of Calumet County's Leader Lab is slated to begin on August 14, with the first session scheduled to be held at the Calumet County Administration Building in Chilton.

In all there are 13 people participating in the premiere class of the program, including some of the largest employers from all over Calumet County like Endries International, Community First Credit Union, Land O' Lakes, ark data centers, and Ascension Calumet Hospital.

Calumet County Leader Lab is a leadership training resource designed to impact leaders at all levels and across all industries. It is comprised of a combination of seven in-person sessions and a series of short video modules. Videos will be watched in class as well as in between classes then discussed at the in-person sessions. Topics include: Mission, Culture and Excellence; Growth; High Standards; Dealing with Duds; Decision Making; Dealing with Conflict and Fun in the Workplace.

The program is facilitated by Amy Schanke, Director of Leadership Fox Cities, the Fox Cities’ premier leadership program since 1991.

Calumet County Leader Lab will be held from 9 – 10:30 a.m. on the following Wednesdays in 2024: August 14 & 28, September 11 & 25, October 9 & 23 and November 6. Look for more information in upcoming editions of the Focus on Calumet Newsletter on this and future sessions.

Wisconsin invests nearly $50 million in rural road projects to aid farmers and industries across state including Calumet County

The state is investing nearly $50 million in road projects to improve rural roads.

The investment will support 37 projects across 28 Wisconsin counties, including 11 in Northeast Wisconsin.

The projects are aimed at helping support Wisconsin’s farmers, producers, and agricultural industries by improving rural roads and bridges that are critical to moving and transporting products, crops, and livestock.

Calumet County project is:

• Village of Hilbert - Crosstown Road & Plappert Road

Click here for complete story.

Culvert work to close CTH A for 2 weeks

From iwantthenews.com, July 24, 2024

The Calumet County Highway Department will be replacing culvert pipes on CTH A between CTH H and CTH HH beginning Monday, July 29.

The project is anticipated to take approximately two weeks to complete, weather dependent. Motorists should take caution to avoid this area and use the designated detour route listed below during this project. All access to residential and business properties will be maintained as much as feasible.

The detour route will be as follows:

Southbound CTH A traffic will be detoured west on CTH H over to CTH G, CTH G south to CTH Q, then CTH Q east to CTH A.

Northbound CTH A traffic will be detoured west on CTH Q over to CTH G, CTH G north to CTH H, then CTH H east to CTH A.

Any questions or concerns about this project should be directed to the Calumet County Highway Department at 920-849-1434.

Click here to see original post.

Aerial view of the City of Appleton, Calumet County

Study finds Appleton is the fifth-most desirable city to live in America

By Tyler Job, NBC 26, July 25, 2024

A new study has found Appleton is the fifth-most desirable city to live in the United States.

Real estate experts at AgentAdvice researched 11 metrics that contribute to an area's desirability, including:

• Home size and prices
• Rent and living costs
• Average income
• Crime rates per 100,000 people
• Car crashes
• Number of schools that rank among top schools across the U.S.
• Things to do
• Number of people who live within a half mile of a park

Researchers used these metrics to rank each city out of 100 points.



The study found Appleton is the fifth-most desirable city with a 60.02/100. Researchers found Appleton has 161 attractions listed on Tripadvisor, 21 top-ranking schools and low crime rates (163 per 100,000 people), and 68% of the population lives within half a mile of a park (the highest in the top 10).

Click here for complete story.

Federal grant for new transit center in Appleton supports bus connection between Fox Cities

By Joe Schulz, Wisconsin Public Radio, July 22. 2024

The city of Appleton plans to replace its existing public transit center with a new building that includes space for future affordable housing.

The center is the hub for a bus service connecting nine municipalities in the Fox Cities.

Valley Transit, a bus and public transportation service operated by the city of Appleton, will receive the $25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity, or RAISE, program. The program is funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

The existing transit center will be torn down and replaced with a new building that includes public restrooms, covered outdoor waiting areas and first-floor indoor waiting areas, as well as a police dispatch security substation.

The new building will include space for affordable housing units to be built above the transit center in the future.

The Appleton project is one of 148 projects nationally to win RAISE funding in June. The only other project in Wisconsin to receive funding this round is a $1 million grant to the city of Waukesha funding the planning and design of two bicycle and pedestrian structures over U.S. Highway 18 and State Trunk Highway 59.

Click here for complete story.

Brillion's Woldt Farms to host virtual tour at World Dairy Expo

From Insight Publications Jul 17, 2024

World Dairy Expo Virtual Farm Tours have brought some of the best dairy operations from near and far to Madison for over 20 years.

This year, four dairies, including two from Northeast Wisconsin will be showcased. During the expo’s virtual farm tours, dairy owners and managers share a visual presentation, with time for questions and an open discussion afterward.

10 a.m., Oct. 4, Woldt Farms LLC – Brillion, Wisconsin

As a fourth-generation dairy farm, Woldt Farms LLC has grown since beginning in 1911. Daryl and Amy Woldt, the current owners, purchased the farm from Daryl’s parents in 1990 and currently milk 1,650 cows in a double-16 parallel parlor. Daryl and Amy have five daughters – Kelsey, Kayla, Kristen, Karly and Kortney – involved in the operation on various levels.

Woldt Farms LLC strives for sustainability as a part of the Lower Fox Demo Farms and Calumet County Ag Stewardship Alliance. As part of their efforts, 95% of their acreage is either no-till or uses cover crops to protect the land. Woldt Farms LLC also prioritizes its community involvement to connect with consumers of all ages, hosting their county’s Sundae on the Farm twice.

World Dairy Expo will return to Madison, Oct. 1-4. It is the world’s largest dairy-focused trade show and a world-class dairy cattle show, offering seminars, meetings and presentations highlighting the latest in the industry and connecting producers. Download the World Dairy Expo mobile app, visit worlddairyexpo.com or follow WDE on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Spotify, or YouTube for more information.

Click here for full article.

Zander Press celebration a success

On July 18, Brillion's Zander Press opened its facility to the community to celebrate 125 years as a family-owned business as well as commemorate the 130th anniversary of The Brillion News. Plant tours of Zander Press' commercial printing facility were offered to the public and were led by owners and staff.

Started in 1894, the local newspaper was purchased by Otto Zander in 1899 and has continued as a family tradition boasting a 5th generation workforce. 

The open house at the Zander Press production facility was followed by live music and refreshments at Carstens Mill in Downtown Brillion.

To learn more about Zander Press Inc. visit the website www.zanderpressinc.com.

The Brillion News celebrates 130 years of community coverage

By Tim Peterson, Wisconsin Public Radio, July 15, 2024

In a climate where newspapers are closing at a rate of about two a week, one Wisconsin paper is celebrating 130 years of community news coverage.

The Brillion News, based out of the city of Brillion, Wisconsin, just south of Green Bay, was founded 130 years ago in 1894.

In 1899, Otto Zander became the paper’s fifth owner in as many years.

“The reason he made it when the other ones didn’t was he was a German-speaking person in a German-speaking community, so they trusted him more,” Darcy Zander-Feinauer recently told WPR’s “Wisconsin Today.”

The paper at the time had 200 delinquent subscriptions. Otto Zander canceled them, Zander-Feinauer said, “and focused on making a paper that people wanted to pay for.”

Zander-Feinauer is Otto Zander’s great-granddaughter. She worked at The Brillion News as a graphic designer beginning in the ’80s and took co-ownership of the paper and printing company Zander Press Inc. in 2005.

Zander-Feinauer retired in 2021, handing graphic design duties over to her daughter, Bailley Lindgren. That’s five generations of the Zander family working as part of the paper.

Click here for complete story.

Creative Crust Pizza welcomed to Chilton

From iwantthenews.com, July 18, 2024, Photo from iwantthenews.com

Healthier options when it comes to pizza crusts is the focus of a new business welcomed to the city.

On Wed. July 10, the Chilton Chamber of Commerce welcomed Creative Crust Pizza to Chilton. They are located at 42 West Main St. in Chilton.

To learn more, click here.

Pictured for the ribbon cutting are (from left) Candy Chaussee, Chamber Treasurer; Lizzie Brokaw, Alex Brokaw, Peggy Brokaw, Shawn Brokaw, Sue Kaphingst 2024 Chamber President; and Aimee Herrick. Back row Jerry Mallmann and Glen Calnin, Chamber Members.

Fox Cities Chamber brings home the gold, named best chamber of its size

By Taima Kern Appleton Post-Crescent, July 18, 2024

"To say we are excited and honored to be named Chamber of the Year ... is an understatement," Becky Bartoszek, president and CEO of Fox Cities Chamber, said in an announcement Thursday morning.

The chamber was named a 2024-2025 Chamber of the Year by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives at the association's annual conference on Wednesday and awards show in Dallas.

“This recognition affirms the strength of our Chamber and members, as we partner together to drive economic growth and prosperity for the region," she said. "To win this award, especially during our 150th anniversary year, is very special.”

The award is the association's most prestigious, and most competitive, according to the chamber. The association counts more than 1,600 chambers and similar organizations around the world among its members, and those competing for this award must participate in a "vigorous multi-state process." This includes a written application detailing the chamber's organization, operation and programming, which is scored by peers. Finalists are then interviewed by a panel of industry professionals.

Click here for original posting. A subscription may be required to view.

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. 

For more information click here

Reminder - Professional Plating to host open house to showcase latest expansion

Professional Plating Inc in Brillion, WI is wrapping up our latest expansion, with the installation of an additional Barrel Zinc Plating line and a new Epoxy E-coat line. To celebrate the growth, they are planning an Open House for Wednesday, August 21st, at their location at 705 Northway Drive (Hwy 10 West), in Brillion.

Professional Plating (PPI) started in 1979, by Bob and Pat Endries. The business is still owned locally by the Endries family. Over the course of the past 45 years, several building additions were constructed which now covers over 200,000 square feet. The company began with just one production line doing zinc plating in a barrel operation. Over the years, PPI has added the ability to do zinc rack plating, acrylic and epoxy e-coat and powder coating. Various value-added services are also offered, including shot blasting and sand blasting. PPI has four semi-trucks that provide logistic services to customers across the state of Wisconsin. They employ 170 full-time Team Members.

During the Open House, informational walking tours of their facility will be conducted. The production lines will be in full operation. Tours will run from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The public is welcome to attend.

Disaster loan deadline is July 31

The SBA is reminding small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations under the drought declarations in Wisconsin that July 31 is the filing deadline for federal working capital loans for losses due to drought that began on July 4, 2023, through July 31, 2024.

Under this declaration, the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to eligible farm-related and nonfarm-related entities that suffered financial losses as a direct result of the drought. Minnesota businesses engaged in hospitality, winter tourism, their suppliers, and those that provide support services to the hospitality and tourism industry may consider the impact of lack of snow, low snow or low precipitation on their revenues, and operations this past winter when applying for EIDLs for drought.

Last month, Mile of Music Festival organizers and Calumet County’s own Crystal Ballroom

joined forces to offer the successful, first-ever, “A Mile Down The Road” music experience

that took place at the Crystal Ballroom AKA “The Crystal” in St. John.

Here's how Appleton's Mile of Music came to be, and what keeps it in tune

By Kelli Arseneau, Appleton Post-Crescent, July 23, 2024

APPLETON – It started as an idea to bring collaboration to downtown Appleton businesses.

In the fall of 2012, marketing executive Dave Willems left a meeting of local business owners, pondering an idea for a walkable event comparable to the city’s Octoberfest or weekly summertime farmers markets. As he walked down Appleton’s College Avenue, lined with storefronts of coffee shops, bars and restaurants, it struck him.

A music festival.

Partially inspired by Austin’s South by Southwest, which Willems had attended in its infancy years in the late ‘80s, the Appleton music festival would feature hundreds of acts across all sorts of venues.

“I thought, we can actually do this better in some ways,” Willems said.

In the more than 11 years since its inception, Mile of Music has become a staple of northeastern Wisconsin, and a unique destination many touring artists look forward to trips across the country. The four-day free festival annually brings between 80,000 and 100,000 attendees to a one-mile stretch of College Avenue.

“It's a crazy thing that they get Bonnaroo numbers in Appleton, Wisconsin,” said Jamie Kent, a Nashville-based musician who has performed at nearly every Mile of Music since the festival’s second year.

Click here for complete article. A subscription may be required to view.

Gasoline prices spike in last week

By Rashad Alexander, Green Bay Press-Gazette, July 22, 2024

The average gasoline prices in Green Bay and Appleton have increased more than 17 cents a gallon within the last week, according to GasBuddy.

In Green Bay, prices are up 17.4 cents per gallon, with an average of $3.38, according to the latest GasBuddy survey featuring 127 stations in the city. That is 13.4 cents higher than in June, and 2.2 cents more than last year.

Meanwhile in Appleton, the average price is currently $3.39 per gallon, up 20 cents from last week's $3.19. Last year at this time, gas was at $3.28 per gallon, according to AAA, an increase in 11 cents.

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

Sargento's Impact Report shows its key initiatives; Louie Gentine comments

By Anne Allen, Deli Market News, July 18, 2024

For 70 years, Sargento® has been committed to contributing and supporting its employees, suppliers, and customers. This latest Impact Report for achievements made in 2023 shows exactly how, the key pillars being people, our planet, and its product.

"To us, giving back to our community and thinking of others has been, and always will be, central to who we are, what we do, and why we're part of the Sargento Family," said third generation Louie Gentine, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "This core belief shows up in the work we do every day, how we treat each other and through the milestones we achieved in 2023 under our new Corporate Social Responsibility platform, Sargento Real Impact."

Click here for complete story.

The dairy industry is still a cash cow thanks to cheese

By Francisco Velasquez, Quartz, July 24, 2024

Consumers may be practicing healthier habits, like moving away from consuming animal-based products, but they still have a soft spot for dairy – and it’s boosting the sector by billions.

There’s one unit in particular that’s having a big effect on the diary industry: the cheese snack market. The cheese-snack business is projected to reach $75.1 billion in global sales this year, according to a new report from CoBank, a private firm that provides financial services to rural America, including agricultural businesses such as dairy farms.

“Bottom line, consumers’ tastes and purchasing patterns continue to evolve,” the firm said in its report.

Cheese may be anchoring the sector, but the dairy aisle is also gaining massive traffic from other coveted items, including yogurt, cream cheese, cream, and creamers.

It turns out that consumers also prefer buying store-branded items rather than splashy name brands. Private labels for butter, cheese, and yogurt are outpacing brand names in 10 of the 15 dairy categories, CoBank found in its report, citing data from market research firm Circana. Notably, dairy’s growth hasn’t been tied to pesky inflation.

To look back even further (say 25 years), the dairy business has the“big three” to thank for its big bump — that’s cheese, which has increased by 46%; butter, which has edged up by 43%; and more notably yogurt, which has soared by over 142% in the last two and half decades.

In the quest for snacks, dairy can address demands with cheese, yogurt, and drinks that are higher in protein. That’s Greek yogurt giant Chobani’s cue. The company, which is valued at about $1 billion, boasts that it offers nutrient-dense options that come in a variety of forms, such as yogurt, oat milk cartons, and smoothies.



Such has been the case for cheese giant Sargento Foods, which has also gotten a nibble from the snacking sector that’s pushed it to make over $2 billion in annual sales. That’s largely thanks to its snack offerings and new introductions like its “Fun! Balanced Breaks” pack, which it introduced earlier this year.

Click here for complete story.

Cheesemaking is a complex science 

By John A. Lucey, Morning AgClips, July 25, 2024

Cheese is a relatively simple food. It’s made with milk, enzymes – these are proteins that can chop up other proteins – bacterial cultures and salt. Lots of complex chemistry goes into the cheesemaking process, which can determine whether the cheese turns out soft and gooey like mozzarella or hard and fragrant like Parmesan.

In fact, humans have been making cheese for about 10,000 years. Roman soldiers were given cheese as part of their rations. It is a nutritious food that provides protein, calcium and other minerals. Its long shelf life allows it to be transported, traded and shipped long distances.

I am a food scientist at the University of Wisconsin who has studied cheese chemistry for the past 35 years.

In the U.S., cheese is predominantly made with cow’s milk. But you can also find cheese made with milk from other animals like sheep, goats and even water buffalo and yak.

Unlike with yogurt, another fermented dairy product, cheesemakers remove whey – which is water – to make cheese. Milk is about 90% water, whereas a cheese like cheddar is less than about 38% water.

Removing water from milk to make cheese results in a harder, firmer product with a longer shelf life, since milk is very perishable and spoils quickly. Before the invention of refrigeration, milk would quickly sour. Making cheese was a way to preserve the nutrients in milk so you could eat it weeks or months in the future.

Click here for full article.

Coming full circle: New community closet in New Holstein will help parents, kids

By Mark Sherry, iwantthenews.com, July 26, 2024

Just in time for parents to do their back-to-school shopping, a new store featuring new and gently used children’s clothing is opening as of Thursday, Aug. 1 in New Holstein.

Full Circle Community Closet is located at 2114 Wisconsin Ave. (STH 32/57) in the building formerly occupied by Blue Daisy Creative Workshop.

Becca Mosier, a substitute teacher in the New Holstein School District as well as a city alderperson, is running Full Circle Community Closet as a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation.

Mosier said she first thought about opening a store about three years ago when she started substitute teaching. “I wanted to do my own thing in general,” she said. “I guess it’s changed shape a few times.”

Click here for the complete story. Photo from iwantthenews.com.

Local man reinvents family farm to offer unique services to others

By Cheryl Hentz, The Business News, July 29, 2024

Growing up on a 50-head dairy farm, William “Bill” Nate said agriculture has always been a part of his life.

And, in some way or another, it is something he’s always been interested in.

Nate said though he didn’t care so much about the dairy aspect of the farm, give him a tractor, and he could ride it all day.

“My dad was the ‘cow guy,’ but the cows never interested me,” he said. “I always liked being on a tractor, out in the fields, working the land.”

Nate said his dad, Jerry, eventually decided to lighten the workload on the farm by selling most of the cows.

At that time, Nate said his dad went to work for another local dairy farmer but kept 20 or so steer around his own farm as a hobby when he wasn’t working.

While in high school, in addition to working on his parents’ farm, Nate said he worked for a few different dairy farms – for a short while, even working on the same farm as his dad.

Nate said he wasn’t quite sure what he wanted to do after graduating high school, however, a tragic farm accident that killed his father decided his path for him.

Click here for the complete story.

Reading a forwarded copy of the Focus on Calumet Newsletter?

Why not get your own subscription?

A great value at no cost, click here to get your free subscription!

Check out the latest issue of the

Travel Calumet Newsletter here!

Episodes 24 and 25 of the Travel Calumet Original Podcast are now available! To listen, click here, select, and download episodes #24 AND #25!

Business start-up and expansion assistance

Ray York of the Small Business Development Center serves Calumet County with business assistance to existing and start-up businesses throughout the county. Small Business Development Center services are available at no cost to businesses. Ray’s goal is to provide opportunities to clients by guiding them to make informed decisions to start, expand, or transition their business. He can be reached by phone at (920) 946-9379 or york@sheboygancountyedc.org.

Fox Valley Technical College training opportunities

E-seed Express: Entrepreneurship training at FVTC

Thinking of starting a business? Need help? E-seed™ Express assists start-up, early-stage entrepreneurs and experienced small business owners in developing management and planning tools for their businesses. Participants develop a business plan through completion of weekly activities and business planning templates. Experts provide insight into legal, management, marketing, technology, accounting and financing aspects of operating a successful small business. >>Additional Information and Registration

Business & industry complimentary training

Fox Valley Technical College offers a variety of small business-oriented free training and seminars monthly. Please visit their website to view their calendar of classes.

>>View Schedule and Register