The Hoard Historical Museum and National Dairy Shrine has announced that it will holding “Dairy Day at the MOOseum,” this month.
In its ninth year, the event will be held Saturday, June 17, between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., at the museum, 401 Whitewater Ave., Fort Atkinson. A parade, featuring seven breeds of dairy cows, is slated to begin at 1:30 p.m.
According to information released by the museum, a full roster of events is planned.
In advance of Saturday’s events, and new this year, on Friday, June 16, a general trivia contest will be held.
The contest will focus on such categories as dairy and agriculture, with teams of five to eight participants competing against one another.
The contest will be held between 6:30 and 9 p.m.
Teams must register to participate by Tuesday, June 13, by calling the museum: 920-397-9914, the release states.
A registration fee for each team is $80. Teams that include a museum member, museum business patron or employee may register at a reduced fee of $60.
There will be cash prizes for contest winners, the release stated.
Also on Friday, members of the public are encouraged to visit the museum and cast their vote for “popular choice” winner among entries in the three-dimensional cow cutout decorating contest.
Voters are asked to cast their vote by leaving pennies, coins or cash in the appropriate receptacle near their choice.
Voting opens on Tuesday, June 13. Voters are encouraged to view the art and cast their votes during the museum’s regular hours of operation: 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., the release noted.
Each penny offered is the equivalent of one vote, the release continued.
Decorated cow cutouts will be placed on display outside of the museum for viewing on Saturday. Voting will close Saturday at 1 p.m.
Among activities on Saturday, Peggy Prilaman Marxen, the author of “The Farm on Badger Creek,” will speak at 11:30 a.m. in the museum’s Jones Gallery.
During her presentation, Marxen will share stories from her childhood in Sawyer County, along with her reactions to technological changes in farming practices, her impressions as she walked to school in wintertime, and making ends meet financially on a farm, among others, Hoard Museum Director Merrilee Lee noted in the release.
Following her presentation, Marxen will remain available to sign copies of her book, which is published by the Wisconsin Historical Society Press and available for purchase in the museum’s gift shop, Lee stated.
As noted within the release, Saturday’s parade, which will be held on Foster Street, will feature cows of the following breeds: Holsteins, Red and Whites, Guernseys, Jerseys, Ayrshires, Milking Shorthorns and Brown Swiss.
As the cows parade, information, through announcement, will be shared with event-goers, offering characteristics about each breed, including “fun facts” about each animal, Lee said.
The event is complete with dairy-related games for both children and adults, educational exhibits and a calf-naming contest.
Children’s face painting, featuring cow motifs, also will be available, according to the release.
Some concessions will be available for sale, including ice cream floats, and grilled cheese sandwiches, as prepared by the Jefferson County Agribusiness Club.
The event is free and open to the public; area businesses and nonprofits have donated prizes, food, and supplies for the event, the release stated.
Offering some history, Lee noted within the release that the Hoard Historical Museum is named for the Hoard family, adding that William Dempster Hoard helped encourage Wisconsin farmers to focus their efforts more toward dairy and cows as opposed to field crops, such as wheat and corn.
“Hoard’s Dairyman” magazine is published in Fort Atkinson, Lee said, adding that, as a result of Hoard’s dairy-related, area contributions, the National Dairy Shrine Museum is connected to the Hoard Historical Museum.
Exhibits at the Hoard Historical Museum and the National Dairy Shrine will be available for viewing during Saturday’s event.
Additionally, event-goers are invited Saturday to tour the Dwight and Almira Foster House — which is located on the museum grounds and is one of the oldest homes in Fort Atkinson — between 11 a.m. and 1:15 p.m.
According to the release, event-goers will find parking on Whitewater Street at the First Baptist Church and the Fort Atkinson Middle School, 310 S. Fourth Street East.
Drivers also are invited to use a loading area on South Fourth Street next to the museum as a drop-off area for event guests.
Members of the “Dairy Day Committee” include: Cheryl Ehrke, Cierra Ehrke-Essock, Melissa Gross, Deb Lundy and Sue Marx.
For more information, about the museum and its programming, call: 920-397-9914 or viti its website: www.hoardmuseum.org.
Event-goers make friends with a cow during a previously held “Dairy Day at the MOOseum” event.
A young museum visitor decorates a three-dimensional cow cutout during a previously held “Dairy Day at the MOOseum” event.
Contributed photos.
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