Wisconsin Life

Bronson Koenig

Bronson Koenig is a standout basketball player with the UW-Madison Men’s Basketball team. He is also a proud member of the Ho-Chunk Nation and takes pride in his Native American heritage. Bronson hopes his hard work and success—both on and off the court—inspires Native American kids in Wisconsin and across the country.

November is Native American Heritage Month, a chance to learn more about the rich history, cultures, and traditions of Native Americans. For more about Wisconsin’s Native Communities, visit The Ways.

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Cider Farmers

Deirdre Birmingham and her husband John already had successful careers when they decided to invest their life savings in an old dairy farm to grow apples that no-one would want to eat. They planted thousands of apple trees and are now making Apple Brandy and cider.

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Huey Crew

More than four decades ago, Lt. Thomas Shaw was killed when his Huey helicopter crashed in Vietnam. Two members of his crew survived the crash, and his roommate, Jim Crigler, escorted Lieutenant Shaw’s body back to Wisconsin. Forty-two years later, Jim and the two surviving crew members traveled to Sheboygan for a special tribute to Tom Shaw’s family.

For more stories, information, and resources available for returning veterans, please visit Veterans Coming Home.

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Anti-German Hysteria in Milwaukee

U.S. entry into WWI in 1917 fueled a wave of anti-German sentiment across Wisconsin and across the nation. The fervor was particularly acute in Milwaukee, the most German city in the country. Historian John Gurda tells us how German Americans bore the brunt of war.

This story is part of the Wisconsin Life series, “Wisconsin in the First World War.”

Photo: Anti-German protest, Wisconsin Historical Images

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Ice Caves

The Bond family likes to explore Wisconsin, so they braved a blizzard and freezing temps to travel from La Crosse to the National Apostle Islands Lakeshore for an adventure in the Ice Caves.

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Day of the Dead in Milwaukee

“All Hallows’ Eve,” or Halloween, was originally a religious celebration. In Mexico on Nov. 1^st and 2^nd, Day of the Dead is observed. Nancy Camden introduces us to artist Jose Chavez who helped organize Milwaukee’s annual Day of the Dead community celebration.

Photo: Nancy Camden

Music: Milwaukee’s Jason Behr playing Manuel Ponce’s Sonatina Meridional (1^st Movement)

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Barn Quilts in Shawano County

Photos: James Gill/WPT

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Barn Quilts

Drive almost anywhere in Shawano County, and you’ll encounter barn quilts: plywood squares painted like quilt blocks and hung on old barns. Retirees Jim and Irene Leuenberger brought the artful concept to the county after driving through Kentucky. With help from the community, they’ve painted and put up more than 200 of the colorful squares.

See more of the Luenberger’s barn quilts in this collection of photos.

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Dog Sledding

John and Mary Thiel bought their first sled dog 20 years ago. After experiencing the thrill of dog sledding, the couple bought another dog… and then another… until finally deciding to try to make a living at running dog sledding trips for others.

Andrea Thalasinos is another Wisconsin musher who fell in love with Siberian huskies and recreational dog sledding. Listen to her story here.

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Horse Powered Logging

Taylor Johnson’s family has harvested lumber in Northern Wisconsin for generations. While other loggers have embraced modern equipment, Taylor has found value in logging with a team of horses, in winter’s cold and summer’s heat.

Photo: Carl Corey

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Clockmaker

For the past 40+ years, Bill Galinsky has been involved in designing, making, and repairing clocks. From the harvesting, sawing and drying of his own lumber, to carving and assembling each clock by hand, he creates some of the most unique clocks in the world. Some whimsical, some extremely ornate. Bill’s clocks set the standard for care and attention to detail at The Duplainville Clock Company.

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Backroads Express

The oldest biker gang in the state stays young by seeing the countryside at 25mph. Find out why the only requirements to join are the right cycle and a red jacket.

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Dairy Testers

States like California may cultivate wine taste-testers; but here in Wisconsin, we develop dairy taste-testers. For 36 years, UW-Madison Emeritus Professor of Food Science Bob Bradley has been teaching a course in “sensory evaluation,” training students to be taste testers of dairy products. Students who have what Professor Bradley regards as “good buds” get to join in the team that competes nationally.

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Wisconsin’s Local Pop

Wisconsin has its craft beer, artisanal coffee roasters, and specialty waters. Today, Terry Bell introduces us to one of Wisconsin’s newest craft beverages.

Photo: WiscoPop

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Turtle Tracker

Carly Lapin is a Department of Natural Resources Conservation Biologist assigned to study wood turtles in northern Wisconsin. She will use radio transmitters to track approximately thirty wood turtles on the Tomahawk, Namekagon and Totogatic Rivers. Her research will be used to enhance the survival rates for this state-threatened species.

Did you know that several roads in Wisconsin are busy “turtle crossings”? Find out more about the wood turtle and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ turtle conservation program. Find a list here of turtles found in Wisconsin.

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