Contact: Matt Glewen FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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WISCONSIN FARM TECHNOLOGY DAYS, INC. SELECTS KEWAUNEE COUNTY AS
THE 2017 HOST COUNTY
Kewaunee County has been selected to host the 2017 Wisconsin Farm Technology Days by the Board of Directors. Presenting the Kewaunee application were Aerica Bjurstom, UW-Extension agricultural agent, Claire Thompson, UW-Extension Department Head and David Mayer, Chair, County Extension Education and Zoning Committee.
During their presentation to the state WFTD Board, Bjurston, Thompson and Mayer described the importance of agriculture in the Kewaunee County economy and the support they received for the application from county leaders. Kewaunee County representatives described their objectives for hosting the show which were to encourage the adoption of new farm technologies that improve the livelihoods and sustainability of agricultural producers, showcase Kewaunee County’s progressive and diverse agriculture, develop regional and community leadership opportunities and increase awareness of UW-Extension and the Wisconsin Idea.
Ag-related sales are $488 million and ag-related employment accounts for 2,520. Agriculture contributes $148 million to county income. Kewaunee county’s top agricultural commodities are, milk, $143.3 million; cattle and calves, $15.8 million; vegetables, $2.2 million and grains and hay, 0.92 million. Kewaunee County has 890 farms covering 175, 449 acres.
With 42,000 cows, the dairy sales in the county are $167.2 million. These cows produced over 1 billion pounds of milk for the first time in 2011. The two dairy processing plants account for 536 jobs. Crop production in Kewaunee County includes 53,300 acres of corn for grain, 35,600 acres of corn for silage, 16,000 acres of alfalfa, 12,000 acres of winter wheat, and 10,000 acres of soybeans. Leading Kewaunee Agriculture employers are Agropur, Natural Beauty Greenhouse, Packerland Whey and dairy farms.
Sources of support for their application were County Extension staff, County Dairy Promotion, Algoma Chamber of Commerce, County Extension Education and Zoning Committee, County Economic Development Corporation and County Farm Bureau.
Kewaunee County has an excellent road system to manage the traffic coming from all directions during the 2017 show. Lodging capacity is very important to the show and Kewaunee County has more than 270 hotel rooms and more than 600 campsites and cabins. Many hotels will be available in cities nearby, Green Bay (15 miles), Sturgeon Bay (40 miles) and Manitowoc (25 miles).