Jennie Brand

08/07/2025

FROM CREAM PUFFS TO CANVAS 🎨🎡🐷
Watch Wisconsin artists transform the magic of the Wisconsin State Fair into one-of-a-kind masterpieces during the Plein Air at the Fair Competition!

Watching all of them in action on the fairgrounds earlier this week and seeing their submissions showcased in the Expo Center was such a sweet summer treat!

See the finished art (and maybe take one home!) in the Expo Center lobby now through the end of the festivities on August 10. Recognize artists you may know?

08/05/2025

JAPANESE TRADITIONS INSPIRE
WISCONSIN BAKER 🍞 🍞 🍞 TO BUILD BRIDGES

Calling all Wisconsin foodies! I recently had the chance to chat with Peter Chiconas, the passionate baker and owner behind Day Bread Bakers. Peter's journey to becoming a baker is just as compelling as his bread. After years in engineering, he found himself "baking for fulfillment while working 40 hours a week" in a career that was draining his spirit. He realized he wanted something different from life: “If I can pay my mortgage and make bread, I'm happy."

The result? A Japanese milk bread that makes the BEST French toast and grilled cheese you'll ever taste! Peter also makes unique treats like "cookie buns" (a.k.a. Melon Pan) and is planning to expand his offerings of authentic Japanese bakery items.

So why Japanese milk bread in Wisconsin? As Peter explained to me, it all started with his travels to Japan with his wife. On their honeymoon and subsequent trips, he fell in love with the incredible bakeries in Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto—particularly their Shokupan (食パン), which translates to "Daily Bread."

Fun fact: Japanese milk bread has a fascinating origin story! After World War II, American soldiers occupying Japan missed their familiar sandwich bread from back home. Japanese bakers worked with them to create this uniquely soft, fluffy loaf that combines elements of both cultures. As Peter puts it, "it's a beautiful mashup" of American and Japanese baking traditions.

With his background in fine arts, blacksmithing, and engineering, Peter brings incredible attention to detail to his craft. Day Bread is seriously local! He uses organic Wisconsin wheat from Meadowlark Farm and Mill in Iowa County, European-style butter from Pine River Dairy in Manitowoc County, and honey from his family friend over at Viola's Honey in Milwaukee County. Everything is made without preservatives or synthetic chemicals.

What makes Day Bread Bakers truly special is a commitment to community. Customers can purchase bread for someone in need, no questions asked, through the "pay forward board". DBB also accepts food stamps at participating farmers markets, helping ensure everyone has access to quality food. It's an approach that shines through everything he does.

Want to try it yourself? Find Day Bread at these southeastern Wisconsin farmers markets:

📍 Thiensville Farmers Market - TUES, 9am-2pm
📍 Jackson Park Farmers Market - THURS, 3pm-6:30pm
📍 Waukesha Farmers' Market - SAT, 8am-12pm
📍 Brookfalls Farmer's Market - SUN, 10am-2pm
📍 Farmer's Market To Go - Wisconsin

Stop by, say hi to Peter, and be part of a growing community centered around good food and even better values! 🇯🇵 🍰 🥐

07/31/2025

WISCONSIN DISABILITY PRIDE IN ACTION 👨‍🦼‍➡️👩‍🦯‍➡️👏
This July, we celebrate Disability Pride Month—honoring the achievements of people with disabilities while advocating for equal rights and inclusion. As the month comes to a close, it's the perfect time to spotlight advocates still fighting to fulfill promises of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

If you haven't been following along already, I welcome you to learn about Carl Schulze from Neenah. Today, Carl is traveling the final stretch of his 90+ mile journey in his wheelchair—culminating tomorrow, Friday, August 1st, at the Wisconsin State Capitol.

Here's why Carl made this inspiring journey:
Home care workers in Wisconsin earn only $12-16 per hour—wages so low you literally cannot survive on them. These Wisconsin workers providing essential, life-sustaining care are making wages that won't even cover basic rent and groceries, let alone support a family.

This wage gap creates a devastating shortage of caregivers, leaving people like Carl, who needs assistance with daily activities like getting in and out of his wheelchair, washing, dressing, and meal preparation, without reliable care. The irony? During his three-week trek, Carl actually lost over a week of travel time due to care unavailability. That's exactly the problem he's working to solve right there.

Carl's ask is simple but powerful: Raise home care worker wages to at least $20 per hour. Because when we value the people who provide essential care, we're really valuing the independence and dignity of people with disabilities.

Our family, friends, and neighbors in need of home care remain deeply concerned that Medicaid cuts included in the federal budget bill will force states to pick up more costs, creating budget holes that will abandon people who rely on these services and drive more care workers to better-paying jobs, further depleting a care industry already experiencing shortages. Folks like Carl stand ready to work with the Governor and our public officials to maintain and improve these programs—because for people with disabilities, these aren't just line items; they're lifelines to a better quality of life.

This is what Disability Pride means—accepting who you are, demanding to be seen, and expecting better for your entire community 💪 ✊👇

Want to show up for Carl?
He will kick off the final day of his journey at McPike Park at 10:30 AM tomorrow in Madison, and make his way to the State Capitol to give a public speech at noon.

07/30/2025

Germantown’s very own Happy Day Farmhaus receiving some well-deserved international recognition! Wisconsin’s agricultural community is all the more richer with small family-run farms like yours in it 🥬🧄🍅🌷

Humans Who Grow Food is a community that aims to connect people across borders and cultures, and to lessen dependence on supermarkets by sharing the stories, reflections, and practices of food growers worldwide.

07/29/2025

Honestly, I’m way more likely to trust communities who’ve been protecting Wisconsin’s land and water for generations than energy companies solely driven by profit 👇👇👇

WISCONSIN INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES WARN US FIRST, WHY DO WE LISTEN LAST? 🌿 🦅

As drilling permits advance in Wisconsin’s forests and pipeline battles rage on, tribal communities watch their warnings fall on deaf ears—again.

Wisconsin Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest is facing a new mining threat, with a company drilling for copper and gold despite fierce pushback from the Lac Du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians and growing concerns across the state. The tribe has been sounding the alarm about acid mine drainage, damage to wetlands and wild rice beds, and threats to sacred sites—but their pleas to stop the project have been shot down, and the drilling keeps going.

And this isn't the only time Wisconsin's Indigenous communities have been waving red flags that nobody seems to notice. The Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa is in a huge legal battle to block Enbridge's Line 5 oil pipeline reroute, which would cut through nearly 200 waterways and over 100 acres of wetlands feeding into Lake Superior. They've been warning about oil spills, water contamination, and threats to their way of life, but state and federal agencies keep rubber-stamping permits anyway. Even after a federal court ruled that Enbridge was trespassing on tribal land and called the pipeline a public nuisance, the company continues to operate and expand–putting the whole watershed in jeopardy.

Once drilling starts, everyone's scrambling to play catch-up. The real power moves happen much earlier—during boring permit phases, before companies even break ground. That's when you want to be watching permit applications, building coalitions, and backing groups that challenge these projects in court. It's way easier to prevent a mess than clean one up later.

Environmental concerns typically start with Indigenous communities and spread as more residents learn about long-term impacts. The lesson is clear: we need to listen to Indigenous voices right from the get-go.

Indigenous communities spot environmental dangers way before projects get approved, but we don't listen until it's crisis time. These communities have been protecting these lands for generations, and their track record for predicting environmental problems is pretty solid—so why aren't we paying attention?

Written by: Jennie Brand

07/25/2025

When a Wausau resident shared that she and other graduates of Marathon County Government Treatment Court were planning a sober picnic to celebrate recovery, the community showed up big.

This is what community looks like—lifting each other up and celebrating second chances. Just one more reason we love this town ❤️‍🩹 🤝 🧺

07/23/2025

BARNS, BLOOMING ONIONS & BLUE RIBBONS
The Art of Honoring Wisconsin State Fair 🎨🎡🌽

One of my favorite Wisconsin State Fair traditions is the annual Fairtastic Poster Art Competition. There’s something special about seeing artistic talent from across the state capture the magic of Wisconsin life and culture—like this year’s winning piece by South Milwaukee artist Lauren Marvell Illustrations.

The Wisconsin State Fair Park Foundation invites artists across the state to create the official poster artwork that will be seen by thousands of fairgoers. This beloved competition challenges artists to create playful color sketches inspired by children's book illustration, showcasing the pure joy of youth experiencing everything our fair provides.

FAIRTASTIC CONTEST PRIZES INCLUDE:
🏆 All Participants: (2) complimentary fair tickets
🏆 Top 3 Finalists: $400 stipend and (6) fair tickets
🏆 Grand Champion: $1,250 cash award, (25) prints of their poster and merch samples, and statewide exposure through official promos

Proceeds from poster and merch sales support the WSFP Foundation, established in 1995 to fund youth programs and improvements to the grounds like the brand-new Dairy Building and the Butterflies Alive! interactive exhibit.

NOW IT'S YOUR TURN TO BE THE JUDGE!
Take a look at some of these Fairtastic Grand Champions of the past. If you were awarding the blue ribbon, which poster would you choose? 👇👇👇

07/22/2025

EVERYTHING'S COMING UP LAVENDER 💜 🚜 🌾
Lavender season is in full swing across Wisconsin, and the fields are as beautiful as they are fragrant. Washington Island gets a lot of well-deserved attention, but lavender farms are blooming all over the state right now.

Whether you’re planning a fun day trip, exploring new parts of Wisconsin, or curious about how your favorite products are made, local farms and the lavender they grow have something special to offer.

Beyond the Instagram-worthy shots, you can:
🍇 Pick your own lavender for DIY floral arrangements
🍇 Stock up on ingredients for candle making and crafting
🍇 Shop on-site storefronts for lavender products, soaps, oils, and gifts!
🍇 Create your own home, beauty, and cleaning products
🍇 Grab lavender-infused sugars and syrups for your pantry
🍇 Feel more grounded in nature and frolic to your heart's delight

Communities across the state host festivals from mid-June through early August, celebrating local small businesses and the farms that supply them. It’s a perfect way to support local and indulge in all things lavender!

There's probably a farm closer to you than you think! Check out this map showing lavender farms across Wisconsin. Which one will you hope to visit this season? 👇

📸 New Life Lavender & Cherry Farm, Pondview Lavender Farm

07/21/2025

🌤️ ✈️ 🛩️
MAGNIFICENT WISCONSIN FLYING MACHINES
Hot on the heels of Milwaukee’s 2025 Air & Water Show, EAA - The Spirit of Aviation AirVenture officially kicked off in Oshkosh on Sunday, July 20, and Wisconsinites are giving aviation enthusiasts from around the world a warm welcome!

Here’s what has us excited to serve as AirVenture's wingman for 71 years:

📍 600,000 visitors from 94 countries descend on Wisconsin—over 70% travel from out of state

📍 Daily air shows feature jaw-dropping aerobatics, military demonstrations, and one-of-a-kind aircraft performances

📍 Evening shows bring even more excitement with blimps, fireworks, and drone displays

📍 Aircraft rides give you a bird’s-eye view of the convention grounds aboard vintage planes

📍 KidVenture is a hands-on aviation zone where young people can try flight simulators, tackle building projects, and learn about aviation history

📍 Fly-In Theater shows classic Hollywood films on a giant outdoor screen under the stars

📍 Aircraft showcase areas include Boeing Plaza, historic World War II Warbirds, thousands of unique homebuilt aircraft, and top-tier aerobatic performers

There's something pretty amazing about watching our community transform into the world's busiest airport for a week. Whether you're a total aviation geek or just love seeing Wisconsin get the global spotlight it deserves, AirVenture delivers an experience that's genuinely one-of-a-kind.

Wisconsin, you are clear to land. AirVenture runs through July 27th!

📸 EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2025 - Pictures, Video, Q&A Community!

07/18/2025

🎉 Celebrating 125 Years of Wisconsin State Parks! 🌲
This year marks an incredible milestone: 125 years of protecting and sharing Wisconsin's natural treasures!

Back in 1878, Wisconsin lawmakers had a big idea—they set aside 50,000 acres for what they called "The State Park for Wisconsin." Unfortunately, those scattered timber lands were sold off to lumber companies, but Wisconsinites didn't give up on the dream of preserving our most beautiful spaces for everyone to enjoy. Their dedication finally paid off in 1900 when Interstate Park was born at the gorgeous Dalles of the St. Croix.

This natural Wisconsin treasure has connected families with nature for over a century—but this celebration also honors the Indigenous peoples who have called this land home for generations. Today, 12 Tribal nations, including 11 federally recognized tribes, live here. As we celebrate our parks, we acknowledge their enduring contributions to this land, past, present, and future.

Today, our State Park System protects more than 790,000 acres of state lands. With more than 6,500 campsites and over 2,000 miles of trails, these parks, forests, recreation areas, wild rivers, flowages, and trails continue to provide recreation and inspiration for Wisconsinites and visitors alike.

Here's how you can celebrate:
🌳 Get limited-edition 125th anniversary merchandise - waterproof stickers, tote bags, camp mugs, and posters featuring our historic parks! Available at select state park properties

🐿️ Join the big celebration at Interstate Park on September 20th - family-friendly activities, special ceremony, and recreation opportunities for all abilities

🐾 Explore the interactive Story Map to learn about our park system's incredible history and plan your next adventure. I just love this map—it's beautiful, loaded with historical tidbits, and super engaging!

Keep an eye on the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources website and social media for special anniversary events throughout the year showcasing the our state's extraordinary natural resources.

Which State Park is your favorite to explore?

07/18/2025

SCONNIE SPOTLIGHT ☀️ 🐟 🎨
In the heart of Butternut, Wisconsin (pop. 372), muralist Kelly Meredith brought her vision of a rural art gallery and studio back home, and opened Fanatical Fish in May 2015 off Main Street.

The gallery hosts art classes in addition to artwork by other local artists. Meredith's paint studio is out back, and where she creates signature aluminum panel murals. Fanatical Fish is open from all summer long to shop, create, and chat about Wisconsin's vibrant, often underrated art community.

What is one of your favorite hidden art gems in WI? 💎

07/16/2025

CELEBRATE SUMMERWEEN 🎃🍁👻✨
Wisconsin’s Latest Interactive Urban Legends Map

Summerween is exactly what it sounds like—a blend of summer and Halloween! Rather than saving all the fun for one week in October, this trend lets Halloween and fall lovers stretch out the festivities. It’s all about keeping that magical autumn spirit alive—haunted hikes, urban legends, and ghostly fun, all with a summer twist.

Craving spooky season before Labor Day? A Midwestern Redditor who made a popular Indiana folklore map is now building interactive maps featuring the same for every state—including Wisconsin. This map features urban legends, cryptids, myths, hauntings, and all sorts of paranormal spots. Some locations are marked in a general sense, while others pinpoint statues, famous sightings, or monuments tied to local legends. To say the least, there's a lot more folklore beyond the Rhinelander Hodag and our beloved Paul Bunyan!

What local myths do you think belong on the map? It's a work in progress, but the creator is excited to share what's ready so far and welcomes your urban legend suggestions to help expand it.

Here are a few reminders if you decide to go exploring:

🔦 Do your own research before you visit! Most of these places are rural, and sometimes all you’ll find is the legend itself.

🔦 Some map markers show general areas, others point to specific statues, first encounter sites, or monuments.

🔦 Many locations are private property, homes, workplaces, or even federal land. Please get permission before visiting.

Above all, be respectful to locals and the spot itself.
Keep Wisconsin kind, courteous, and curious!

Check out the map in the comments below ⬇️⬇️⬇️