Post Messenger Recorder -

For three days and with five unique components and involving more than twenty farms, the jam-packed Soil Sisters culinary event celebrates Wisconsin’s family farms and rural life in and around the farming communities of the Green County, Wisconsin area from August 4 - 6, 2017.  

This annual event, heading into its sixth year and now the largest women farmer led tour event in the country, falls during “Wisconsin Women in Sustainable and Organic Agriculture Week” from July 31 to August 6, an official proclamation by Governor Walker to showcase the growth and impact of this movement in Wisconsin.  Women represent approximately 11 percent of primary operators on all farms in Wisconsin, a higher number than neighboring Midwest states and Wisconsin has 1,180 organic farms, second in the country to California.

Soil Sisters offers a direct and engaging way to connect with an immersive farming and culinary experience, led by these Wisconsin women – the “soil sisters” – committed to a healthy, fresh product or farm-made, artisanal food products and other items.

“Come meet your farmers and learn about local, seasonal food and how we can all transform what’s on our plate,” explains Lisa Kivirist, Coordinator of the Soil Sisters weekend, a venture of the Wisconsin Farmers Union Foundation in partnership with the Midwest Organic & Sustainable Education Service (MOSES) and Renewing the Countryside. “Bring your coolers for fresh produce and meats, pull on your farm boots or overalls, wear your sun hat and kick back for a relaxing time on one, or all, of the farms.”

Over a dozen area women-owned farms will be leading this event, including:

Monroe:  Katy Dickson of Christensen Farm, Teresa Joranlien of Hawk’s Mill Winery, Lisa Kivirist of Inn Serendipity Farm and B&B. 

Brodhead: Dela Ends of Scotch Hill Farm, Jen Riemer of Riemer Family Farm, Lauren Rudersdorf of Raleigh’s Hillside Farm, Beth Wright of Winterfell Acres.

New Glarus and Monticello:  Linda Derrickson of Bluffwood Landing, Lori Stern and LeAnn Powers of Cow & Quince and Lucky Dog Farmstay.

Albany:  Anna Landmark and Anna Thomas Bates of Landmark Creamery.

Blanchardville:  April Prusia of Dorothy’s Range, Kriss Marion of Circle M Farm, Bethany Storm of The Little Red Homestead. 

From heirloom tomatoes to pickles, sheep to solar energy, farmstay bed & breakfasts to beef, the farmers and artisan food producers share a unique diversity of farm experiences showcasing the summer’s bounty. Choose from a variety of activities, including a Dinner on the Farm at the Dorothy’s Range, Taste of Place culinary event at Cow & Quince, plentiful on-farm workshops, plus area restaurants featuring “locavore” specials throughout the weekend.

“The opportunity to really take folks from ‘field to plate’ — from meeting my heritage hogs to sharing a meal together at the Dinner on the Farm event — is something I am definitely looking forward to,” adds April Prusia, owner of Dorothy’s Range and host of the Dinner on the Farm in Blanchardville. “The annual Soil Sisters weekend gives everyone multiple ways to connect with and get to know their farmer.  Preserve the harvest, spin some fiber, make cheese, or learn how to start your own farm operation. Come learn about fermentation during my on-farm workshop. There’s something for everyone.”

For more information, visit http://www.soilsisterswi.org or call Lisa Kivirist at (608) 329- 7056.

Soil Sisters is made possible by the Wisconsin Farmers Union Foundation, Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service and Renewing the Countryside.