Celebrating 30 Years of Agritourism in Wisconsin with WATA

Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending Wisconsin Agricultural tourism Association (WATA)’s 30th birthday party. Our organization just joined WATA, so this was my first in-person introduction to their organization.

First, for those of you new to learning about WATA, here is a little information about them, from their website:

“The Wisconsin Agricultural Tourism Association is a non-profit organization open to ag-tourism related businesses in Wisconsin. We welcome growers, farmers, bakers, cheesemakers, farmers markets, wineries, breweries, distilleries, corn mazes, wedding venues, historic agriculture, petting farms, farm stay vacations and orchards. Our members also include fairs and festivals that celebrate Wisconsin as well as convention and visitor’s bureaus, chambers of commerce, grower associations and ag service businesses.

“The Wisconsin Agricultural Tourism Association promotes and preserves the rural lifestyle, fosters partnership opportunities within the ag-tourism community, and provides tools which encourage sustainable economic growth while creating awareness of Wisconsin agriculture.”

As you can see, there probably isn’t another group or organization with a mission more closely aligned to our own mission than this! Our organization is all about outdoor fun, barn weddings, iconic Wisconsin experiences, and celebrating our natural beauty, history, and heritage. WATA’s mission is a perfect complement to our own goals. I’m not sure why we didn’t join them years ago!

The day started at Badger Farms by Deerfield.

This locally owned and operated wedding barn opened in 2006. Along with beautiful country weddings, they also handle special events facility like banquets, reunions, proms, private dinners, and meetings.

The inside of the Badger Farms wedding barn

The inside of the Badger Farms wedding barn

Along with being a birthday celebration, the focus of our day was on social media marketing. It was very inspiring! Speakers from Kwik Trip, Waldvogel’s Farm in Juneau (Wisconsin’s Largest Pumpkin Farm!), Hidden Trails Corn Maze in West Salem, Wisconsin, and TC Social Consulting shared valuable advice on their own social media, marketing, and branding tactics. They talked about ways to stay consistent with messaging and shared examples of the posts their influencers have created on their behalf.

Hayden Knoll and McKenna Dirks, marketing professionals with Kwik Trip, share social media marketing tips with the group.

Wisconsin Agricultural Tourism Association banners: “Tour Agri-venture Starts Here!”

Kwik Trip catered our breakfast and lunch, with all the Kwik-Trippy fixings you’d expect: Chicken, salads, burgers, bananas, Glazer donuts, milk in a bag, and all the Urge potato chips you could eat.

WATA Executive Director, Sheila Everhart, offers up a Kwik Trip burger

WATA Executive Director, Sheila Everhart, and WATA President, Sylvia Burgos Toftness, hand out Kwik Trip salads to guests.

Bananas and cookies. Thanks, Kwik Trip!

Chicken, courtesy of Kwik Trip

Local author, Dannelle Gay, was also in attendance, signing her book about Wisconsin travel.

After the first part of our day wrapped up, we all headed over to Schuster’s Farm, also by Deerfield. Located on Highway 12 between Cambridge and Madison, this farm’s eye-catching round barn makes it a little bit famous around these parts!

We started our tour with a wagon ride, on what may be the largest wagon I’ve ever seen.

Getting ready for a wagon ride at Schuster’s Farm

Our wagon ride took us past Schuster’s Haunted Forest, as seen in the background. Don Schuster shares the story of the haunted forest’s history.

No tour of Schuster’s Farm would be complete without a trip to the round barn!

Schuster’s round barn

Inside the round barn hangs a painting commemorating the barn’s 100-year anniversary back in 2003.

An inside-view of the barn’s cool rafters and the beautiful cupola

The tour took us down to the lower level of the barn. If you enjoy exploring old buildings like I do, you’ll love it!

After the tour, we had the official WATA birthday celebration, complete with dessert! Several WATA members, including past and present board members, were recognized and thanked. Governor Evers’ Certificate of Commendation, honoring WATA’s 30th year anniversary, was also shared.

Past and present WATA board members

WATA’s official letter of commendation from Governor Tony Evers, recognizing all WATA does for tourism here in Wisconsin

Thank you to everyone with WATA for a beautiful day, filled with great marketing advice, fun-filled tours, friendly faces, yummy food, and inspiration. Those of us with Jefferson County Area Tourism Council and all the communities in Jefferson County are thrilled to connect with you and look forward to working together!

If this post has gotten you inspired to have an ag-venture of your own, you’re in luck! Along with these two venues, which are both just over the county line in Dane County, we have numerous agricultural tourism options here in Jefferson County. Check out our Jefferson County weddings page, Jefferson County barn quilt tour guide, recent trip to Busy Barns Adventure Farm, and Jefferson County agritourism resource page to learn more.