>> WELCOME TO WISCONSIN PUBLIC
TELEVISION.
I'M PATTY LOEW.
THIS WEEK FROM THE FRONT LINES
IN AFGHANISTAN TO THE COVER OF
"TIME" MAGAZINE.
>> TO SEE HIM LIKE THAT, HE'S
SUCH A STRONG PERSON AND HE
JUST LOOKED SO VULNERABLE.
>> AN UPDATE FROM THE WISCONSIN
HOME FRONT.
PLUS NEW INFORMATION ABOUT A
PLAN TO BRING HEALTH INSURANCE
TO ONE GROUP THAT REALLY NEEDS
IT, WISCONSIN FARMERS.
>> IT WAS GETTING SO EXPENSIVE
AND IT WASN'T COVERING OUR
CHILDREN AFTER THE AGE OF 19.
>> AND WISCONSIN'S VINEYARDS
BECOME A BOUNTY FOR TOURISM.
>> WHEN YOU GET SEVERAL
WINERIES IN THAT REGION THEN
YOU BECOME A DESTINATION.
>> WE'LL TAKE YOU TO THE NEW
WINE COUNTRY THIS WEEK ON "IN
WISCONSIN."
>> THAT'S A NEWS CLUSTER OF
GRAPES RIGHT THERE.
>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR "IN
WISCONSIN" IS PROVIDED THE
PEOPLE OF ALLIANT ENERGY, WHO
BRING SAFE, RELIABLE AND
ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY ENERGY
TO KEEP HOMES, NEIGHBORHOODS
AND LIFE IN WISCONSIN RUNNING
SMOOTHLY.
ALLIANT ENERGY OFFERING
ENERGY-SAVING IDEAS ON THE WEB
AND THE ANIMAL DENTISTRY AND
ORAL SURGERY SPECIALSS OF
MILWAUKEE AND OSHKOSH.
A VETERINARY TEAMWORKING WITH
HOMEOWNERS AND FAMILY
VETERINARIANS THROUGHOUT
WISCONSIN PROVIDING CARE FOR
SMALL COMPANION ANIMALS FOR
ADDITIONAL FUNDING PROVIDED BY
BIKE WISCONSIN.
>> WE BEGIN THIS WEEK WITH THE
WAR IN AFGHANISTAN.
AS DEBATE CONTINUES ON WHETHER
THERE SHOULD BE A TROOP SURGE.
HERE IN WISCONSIN FAMILIES ARE
COUNTING THE DAYS UNTIL THEIR
LOVED ONES RETURN, INCLUDING
MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL GUARD'S
951st ENERGY COMPANY OUT OF
RHINELANDER.
THAT UNIT IS ON THE FRONT LINES
CLEARING EXPLOSIVES, A MISSION
THAT HAS NOT GONE UNNOTICED.
IN FACT, THIS WISCONSIN SOLDIER
LANDED ON THE COVER OF "TIME"
MAGAZINE THIS MONTH AFTER BEING
INJURED IN A BLAST.
"IN WISCONSIN" REPORTER
FREDERICA FREYBERG TALKS TO THE
WIFE.
>> PLENTY OF COFFEES OF THE
MAGAZINE COVER PHOTO ARE
SCATTERED AROUND THE HOME IN
HIS RURAL SPARTA.
FOR HIS WIFE, DAWN, THE PHOTO
BRINGS THE RISK HE FACES INTO
SHARP FOCUS.
>> I WAS PRETTY UPSET TO SEE
HIM LIKE THAT.
HE'S SUCH A STRONG PERSON AND
HE JUST LOOKED SO VULNERABLE.
AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT MY
HUSBAND.
>> A WISCONSIN PRISON GUARD
BACK HOME, IN AFGHANISTAN
SERGEANT FIRST CLASS CHET
MILLARD COMMANDS A PLATOON OF
SOLDIERS FROM THE 951st
ENGINEER COMPANY OUT OF
RHINELANDER.
THEIR MISSION, FINDING AND
DISARMING BOMBS ALONG ONE OF
AFGHANISTAN'S MOST DEADLY
HIGHWAYS.
MILLARD HAS SAID HE ALWAYS
EXPECTS TO GET HIT.
WHEN HE DOESN'T, IT'S A GOOD
DAY.
IT WAS NOT A GOOD DAY IN EARLY
SEPTEMBER WHEN HIS ARMORED
VEHICLE RAN OVER AN IMPROVISED
EXPLOSIVE DEVICE.
MILLARD AND OTHERS WITH HIM
WERE INJURED AND MEDEVACED OUT.
THE TIME PHOTO SHOWS HIM ON A
STRETCHER WAITING FOR RESCUE.
>> THE DOCTOR TOLD HIM WE
WOULDN'T KNOW THE FULL EXTENT
OF THE BRAIN INJURY FOR SIX
MONTHS.
>> SERGEANT MILLARD SUFFERED
WHAT IS DESCRIBED AS A MILD
TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY FROM THE
BLAST.
HE'S BACK WITH HIS PLATOON BUT
NOT YET RUNNING ROUTE CLEARING
MISSIONS.
WHILE ALL OF THAT IS HAPPENING
ON THE WAR FRONT, AT HOME THE
MILLARDS HAVE FOUR CHILDREN,
ALL WITNESS TO HIS PUBLICLY
SHOWCASED INJURY.
>> IT WAS SCARY BUT YOU JUST
HAVE TO TRY AND STAY HAPPY FOR
THE LITTLE ONES AND HER SO
THEY'RE NOT ALL UPSET.
>> GUNNER SAID ME WHEN I
TOLD HIM HIS DAD WAS HURT.
HE SAYS MOM, I KNEW HE WAS
GOING TO GET HURT BECAUSE THAT
AFGHANISTAN IS A BADCE.
IT'S A DANGEROUS PLACE.
>> DESPITE THE RAW HONESTY,
DAWN MILLARD SAYS THAT IN
PARTICULAR THEIR YOUNGEST,
7-YEAR-OLD GUNNER AND
6-YEAR-OLD LEXI DON'T GRASP THE
WORST THAT COULD HAPPEN.
IN A SHOW OF SYMPATHY AND
SUPPORT OF THE WORST THAT CAN
HAPPEN, RHINELANDER THIS MONTH
MOURNED THE DEATH OF A YOUNG
SOLDIER OF THE 951st, PATRIOTS
IN THE WIND AND COLD
REMEMBERING SERGEANT RYAN ADAMS
KILLED IN THE DUST AND HEAT BY
ENEMY FIRE.
IT HAPPENED JUST WEEKS AFTER
SERGEANT MILLARD WAS INJURED.
DAWN MILLARD ATTENDED THE
FUNERAL.
>> TO WALK IN THERE AND SIT
THERE AND LOOK AT THAT CASKET
AND REALIZE HOW CLOSE YOU'VE
COME, IT'S SCARY.
YOU'RE SO GRATEFUL THAT IT'S
NOT YOU.
BUT, I MEAN, YOU CAN'T HELP BUT
FEEL GUILTY THAT YOU FEEL THAT
WAY.
>> IT'S THE REALITY OF WHAT CAN
HAPPEN AND WHAT IS HAPPENING ON
A DAILY BASIS ACROSS THE
COUNTRY.
>> DAN BUTTERY KNOWS BOTH THESE
MEN OF THE 951st.
HE WAS THEIR COMMANDER IN
ANOTHER UNIT OF THE WISCONSIN
NATIONAL GUARD DURING AN
EARLIER TOUR IN IRAQ.
FOR HIM, INJURY AND DEATH IN
THIS AFGHANISTAN UNIT HITS AS
CLOSE TO HOME AS IF IT WERE
FAMILY.
>> IT'S DEVASTATING.
WHEN YOU ARE A COMPANY
COMMANDER OR ANY KIND OF
LEADER, YOU ALMOST TAKE ON A
PATERNAL ROLE.
>> BUTTERY HIMSELF WAS INJURED
IN IRAQ AND FINISHED HIS TOUR
BUT IS NOW RETIRED FROM THE
NATIONAL GUARD.
>> MY NEW MISSION IS EVERY
CHANCE I GET TO SUPPORT THE
FAMILIES, TO SUPPORT THE
SERVICE MEMBERS.
>> HE NOW VOLUNTEERS WITH THE
AMERICAN LEGION AND THOSE
RETURNING HOME MAY PROVE A NEW
BATTLE FOR SOLDIERS PERFORMING
SUCH PERILOUS DUTY.
>> FOR SOME IT WOULD TAKE
MONTHS.
SOME YEARS.
SOME MAY NEVER GET OVER IT
BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY HAVE
EXPERIENCED.
>> THROUGH ALL THAT CHET
MILLARD IS EXPERIENCING AT HOME
IN SPARTA THE FAMILY ROUTINE
CONTINUES ON WITHOUT HIM.
THOUGH IT'S AN UNEASY ROUTINE
WITH NERVOUS AND SLEEPLESS
NIGHTS FOR DAWN MILLARD.
>> IT'S WANTING HIM BACK HOME,
WORRYING ABOUT HIM.
THAT'S THE HARD PART.
JUST KNOWING THAT HE IS SAFE
MAKES EVERYTHING EASIER.
>> THE FAMILY CHECKS OFF THE
DAYS ON A COUNTDOWN TO DADDY
CALENDAR AND THE WEEKS HAVE
FINALLY TURNED TO DAYS WITH THE
951st EXPECTED HOME SOMETIME
AROUND THANKSGIVING.
>> YOU JUST WANT IT OVER.
>> OVER SO THAT THE GOOD DAYS
ARE MARKED NOT JUST BY NOT
BEING HIT BY ENEMY FIRE OR AN
IED.
>> THE SOLDIERS RETURNING FROM
IRAQ ANFGHANISTAN ARE A NEW
GENERATION OF VETS WITH NEW AND
DIFFERENT NEEDS FROM VETERANS
OF PAST WARS.
THE WISCONSIN AMERICAN LEGION,
THE STATE'S LARGEST VETERANS
SERVICE ORGANIZATION, IS
DESIGNING A VIRTUAL LEGION POST
SO THAT RETURNING VETS LIKE
THOSE IN THE 951st CAN SURF THE
WEB FOR SERVICES, SUPPORT AND
COMMUNITY.
A SOLDIER WITH WISCONSIN
CONNECTIONS WAS THE FIRST U.S.
CASUALTY IN IRAQ LAST YEAR.
NOW HIS BLOG IS HAVING A
WORLDWIDE IMPACT.
>> THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF
COMMENTS FROM A NUMBER OF
SOLDIERS.
PEOPLE WHO HAD SERVED WITH HIM,
SOME WHO HAD JUST BEEN IN IRAQ
AND UNILATERALLY WHAT THEY'RE
SAYING IS SOMEBODY FINALLY HAS
SAID WHAT I'VE BEEN THINKING
FOR A LONG TIME.
SO I MEAN, IN THE WAY THAT
RUPERT BROOK WAS THE POET FOR
THE FIRST WORLD WAR ANDY HAS
BECOME THE SPOKESMAN FOR THOSE
WHO DIED IN IRAQ.
>> WE'LL UPDATE YOU ON THE
STORY OF AND DREW OLMSTED AND
HOW HIS PASSION FOR WRITING HAS
TAKEN ON A NEW TWIST AFTER HIS
DEATH.
>> HE WANTED THIS TO BE SEEN BY
AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE AND
HE'S GOTTEN HIS WISH.
>> NEXT THURSDAY AT 7:00.
WE HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US.
THIS WEEK HEALTHCARE REFORM
CONTINUES TO DOMINATE THE
HEADLINES.
TWO YEARS AGO, "IN WISCONSIN"
FEATURED A NEW APPROACH TO
HEALTH INSURANCE FOR FARMERS.
THIS WEEK WE'RE STILL ON THE
STORY WITH AN UPDATE ON THE
FARMERS HEALTH COOPERATIVE OF
WISCONSIN.
CO-OP CARE MOVED OF ITS
CRITICAL PILOT PHASE.
"IN WISCONSIN" RE
HACKETT SHOWS YOU HOW WELL IT'S
WORKING IN DODGEVILLE AND
ACROSS THE STATE.
>> IT'S BEEN REALLY GREAT TO
HAVE THIS LEGISLATION THAT.
>> IN THE FALL OF 2007 THE
FARMERS HEALTH CO-OP WAS
SOLICITING NEW MEMBERS IN TOWN
MEETINGS.
AMONG THE CO-OP'S FIRST MEMBERS
WERE JIM AND CONNIE MARCH WHO
OPERATE A DAIRY FARM NEAR
DODGEVILLE.
SHE SAID THEY HAD HEALTH
INSURANCE BUT WERE SHOPPING
AROUND FOR A BETTER DEAL.
>> IT WAS GETTING SO EXPENSIVE
AND IT WASN'T COVERING OUR
CHILDREN AFTER THE AGE OF 19.
>> TWO YEARS LATER THE MARCH'S
SON TRAVIS IS STILL COVERED
SINCE HE LIVES AND WORKS ON THE
FARM.
JIM MARCH SINCE WORD HAS GOTTEN
AROUND THAT THE FAMILY IS IN
THE CO-OP.
>> WE'VE HAD SEVERAL CALLS ON
KNOWING ABOUT IT IN THE AREA,
YEAH.
I'M SURE THERE ARE MORE LOOKING
INTO IT.
>> THE MARCH'S REACTION, SO FAR
SO GOOD.
>> THEY DO THE PREVENTIVE CARE
SO I HAD A PHYSICAL AND
EVERYTHING THIS YEAR AND THEY
PAID EVERYTHING BUT THE
DEDUCTIBLE.
IT IS STILL CHEAPER THAN WHAT
IT WAS WITH THE OTHER INSURANCE
COMPANY.
SO--
>> TWO YEARS AGO.
>> IT IS STILL CHEAPER.
AND THAT'S A GOOD THING.
>> KATHY IS THE CO-OP'S
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
>> WE FOUND OVER 80% OF OUR
FOLKS EITHER SAID THEIR
PREMIUMS DIDN'T CHANGE WHEN
THEY JOINED OR THEY WERE --
ACTUALLY WENT DOWN WHEN THEY
JOINED FARMERS HEALTH CO-OP.
65% SAID THE BENEFITS IMPROVED.
>> IT STARTED OUT COVERING
2,200 PEOPLE.
SINCE THEN IT'S GROWN ABOUT 18%.
MAHAFFEY SAYS THE ECONOMY HAS
HELD BACK GROWTH AS HAS
COMPETITION FROM BADGER CARE, A
STATE OF WISCONSIN PROGRAM FOR
THE UNINSURED.
THE CO-OP DOESN'T JUST INSURE
FARMERS.
IT ALSO INSURES PEOPLE WHO
PROCESS AGRICULTURAL CROPS LIKE
THESE CRANBERRIES THAT WILL
FLOAT TO THE TOP OF A BOG IN
THE FALL.
ALPINE FOODS IN NEKOOSA IS ONE
OF THOSE PROCESSORS.
THEY STARTED FIVE YEARS AGO
PROCESSING CRANBERRIES TO
BAKERIES.
THEY HOP GROW BY
DEVELOPING NEW USES FOR THE
CRANBERRY, AMONG THEM HAND
LOTION CONTAINING OIL FROM
CRANBERRY SEEDS.
AS A STARTUP COMPANY WITH TWO
EMPLOYEES, INSURANCE WAS
PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE.
>> I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE A
WIFE THAT WAS WORKING FULL-TIME
AND A COMPANY THAT OFFERED IT.
WHENEVER SHE QUIT WORKING AND
IT WAS JUST THE FAMILY AND I,
WE HAD TO RISK IT FOR A PERIOD
OF TIME BEFORE WE WERE ABLE TO
FIND A GROUP INSURANCE.
>> CHRISTINE SOHNS IS THE CHIEF
FINANCIAL OFFICER.
SHE RELIED ON COBRA BENEFITS.
>> I KNEW IT WOULD BE ENDING
SOON AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN AN
ISSUE OF WHETHER I COULD HAVE
STAYED EMPLOYED WITH ALPINE
FOODS OR MOVE ON TO ANOTHER
COMPANY WHERE I HAD TO GET
INSURANCE.
>> TODAY ALPINE FOODS USES THE
CO-OP TO OFFER INSURANCE,
ALBEIT A PLAN WITH A HIGH
DEDUCTIBLE TO THEIR 25
EMPLOYEES.
THEY'RE EXPANDING AND MARKETING
A NEW PRODUCT.
BERRY BITS.
SMITH SAYS THEY DON'T
CRANBERRIES SOUR TASTE.
THEY MIGHT BE ELIGIBLE FOR
CONVENTIONAL GROUP COVERAGE BUT
SOHNS SAYS THEY STILL PREFER
THE CO-OP.
>> WE COULD GET COME PARABLE
INSURANCE BUT LESS COVERAGE.
I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT GETTING
GOOD COVERAGE FOR THE EMPLOYEES.
>> A RESEARCH ECONOMIST AT THE
UNIVERSITY OFCONSIN-MADISON
WHO IS EVALUATING THE INSURANCE
CO-OP SAYS THE COVERAGE IS
BETTER THAN THAT AVAILABLE
THROUGH INDIVIDUAL POLICIES.
>> IT THE FIRST TIME FARMERS
HAVE RECEIVED PREVENTIVE CARE,
FOR ONE.
THEY HAVE NEVER HAD THE LUXURY
OF HAVING AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO
IN FOR REGULAR VISITS.
>> WHILE THE CO-OP'S RATES HAVE
INCREASED IN EACH OF THE FIRST
TWO YEARS, SHE SAYS IT STARTS--
>> IT HAD NO HISTORY OF
UTILIZATION PATTERNS.
THERE WAS NOBODY COLLECTING.
SO GIVEN -- WHEN YOU BASE YOUR
BASELINE PRICES, ALL YOU CAN DO
IS TO TAKE -- INTAKE AS YOU
LOOK AT PEOPLE AND SAY OKAY,
FINE, THIS IS GIVEN YOUR AGE
AND HISTORY, HERE IS WHAT WE
CAN OFFER YOU AS INSURANCE.
>> SHE HAS FOUND IT DIFFICULT
TO DETERMINE A PRECISE CAST
COMPARISON BECAUSE INSURANCE
COMPANIES QUOTE PRICES ON
INDIVIDUALCIES ON AN
INDIVIDUAL BASIS AS OPPOSED TO
THE BROAD RATING CATEGORIES
USED WITH THE CO-OP'S GROUP
PLANS.
SO FAR SHE'S IMPRESSED WITH THE
CO-OP'S OVERALL PERFORMANCE.
>> VERY ENGAGED FROM AN INSURER
PERSPECTIVE AND CONSUMER
PERSPECTIVE.
ACTIVELY MAKING SURE THEY DO
NOT GET THE WORST DEAL ONS
FOR INSURANCE AND NEGOTIATING
GOOD DISCOUNTS FROM PROVIDERS.
>> IN APRIL OF 2010 THE CO-OP
WILL FACE ITS FIRST REAL TEST.
THE ORIGINAL MEMBERS WILL BE
ABLE TO DROP OUT AND COLLECT
THE DEPOSITS THEY POSTED WHEN
THEY JOINED.
>> THAT WAS THE PAYMENT THAT
THEY MADE TO SECURE THEIR
COMMITMENT FOR THREE YEARS AND
WE SAID IF YOU STAY YOU'LL GET
THAT MONEY BACK.
WE'LL BE RECEIVING THOSE CHECKS
IN 2010.
AGAIN, WE BELIEVE BECAUSE OF
THE PREMIUM INCREASES, SINGLE
DIGITS, THE BENEFITS, WE'VE
DONE SATISFACTION SURVEYS, VERY
HIGH SATISFACTION RATE IN OUR
PROGRAM SO WE FEEL VERY
STRONGLY THAT WE'LL KEEP A VERY
HIGH PERCENTAGE OF THOSE.
>> THE FARMERS HEALTH
COOPERATIVE OF WISCONSIN HAS
ADVANCED OUT OF THE STATE'S
FEDERATION OF COOPERATIVES AND
IS NOW AD-ALONE
ORGANIZATION.
IT CAME INTO BEING AFTER THE
STATE LEGISLATURE PASSED A LAW
MAKING THE INSURANCE
COOPERATIVES POSSIBLE.
THE REPORT YOU JUST WATCHED AS
PART OF A COLLABORATIVE
HEALTHCARE REPORTING PROJECT BY
MADISON AREA MEDIA OUTLETS.
TO GET MORE INFORMATION ON ALL
THE REPORTS, JUST GO TO OUR
WEBSITE wpt.org, CLICK ON
INWISCONSIN FOR A LINK.
WHAT BETTER TO GO WITH OUR
FAMOUS WISCONSIN CHEESE THAN A
LITTLE WISCONSIN WINE.
IT'S HARVEST TIME AND WHILE OUR
STATE IS KNOWN FOR CHERRY AND
CRANBERRY-BASED WINES.
MORE AND MORE GRAPE VINEYARDS
ARE NOW DOTTING THE STATE'S
RURAL LANDSCAPE.
AS "IN WISCONSIN" ANDY SOTH
DISCOVERED, IT COULD MEAN A
BOOM IN TOURISM FOR PLACES LIKE
GREENLEAF.
>> IT'S A SUNNY FALL DAY
DOZENS OF PEOPLE HAVE TURNED
OUT FOR AN ANNUAL GRAPE HARVEST.
>> THESE PEOPLE COAS
VOLUNTEERS.
THEY SIGN UP DURING THE YEAR.
THEY JUST WANT TO BE PART OF
OUR EXTENDED WINE FAMILY.
>> THAT FAMILY IS HEADED BY
STEVE DEBAKER.
>> THATA NICE CLUSTER OF
GRAPES RIGHT THERE.
>> OWNER OF TROUT SPRINGS
WINERY IN THE UNEXPECTED
LOCATION OF NORTHEASTERN
WISCONSIN.
WHEN HE FIRST PLANTED VINES IN
1995 DEBAKER SAYS HIS NEIGHBORS
THOUGHT HE WAS CRAZY.
>> YOU'RE OUT THERE WITH YOUR
LITTLE DRILL AUGER AND AUGERING
THEM DOWN IN AND YOU'RE
PLANTING ALL THESE GRAPES AND
PEOPLE NEXT TO THE ROAD WOULD
STOP AND GO WHAT IN THE HECK
ARE YOU DOING?
AND WHEN YOU TELL THEM WE'RE
PLANTING GRAPES, THEY LOOK AT
YOU LIKE YOU'RE F ANOTHER
PLANET.
YOU ARE DOING WHAT?
WHAT ARE YOU, NUTS?
>> NOW NEIGHBORS SHOW UP TO
BRING IN T HARVEST.
>> PART OF WHAT THEY DO IS IN
THAT WINE.
WITHOUT THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE
HELPING US TODAY, THERE IS NO
WAY THAT WE COULD -- THERE IS
NO WAY WE COULD GET ALL THIS
STUFF DONE TO MAKE THE WINE.
>> IT'S THESE VOLUNTEERS
GIVE IN EXCHANGE FOR A MEAL AND
THE PRIDE OF HAVING THEIR OWN
LOCAL WINERY.
>> YOU KNOW IT'S FUNNY, SINCE
WE STARTED PEOPLE WILL SAY --
THEY'LL BRING OTHER PEOPLE AND
SAY THIS IS OUR WINERY, IT'S
RIGHT IN OUR BACKYARD.
IT IS LIKE THEY'RE CLAIMING IT
AS THEIR OWN.
>> THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A
WINERY IN YOUR BACKYARD IS
INCREASING IN WISCONSIN.
>> THERE ARE OVER 30 WINERIES
ACROSS THE STATE THAT MAKE UP
THE WISCONSIN WINERY
ASSOCIATION.
AND OF THOSE, MORE THAN HALF
HAD THEIR START AFTER THE YEAR
2000.
MANY STATE WINERIES SPECIALIZE
IN FRUIT WIENZ USING
WISCONSIN-GROWN APPLES,
CHERRIES AND CRANBERRIES.
SOME MAKE TRADITIONALE BUT
USE GRAPES IMPORTED FROM
CALIFORNIA OR OTHER MORE
ESTABLISHED GROWING REGIONS.
BUT AN INCREASING NUMBER ARE,
LIKE TROUT SPRINGS, MAKING WINE
PRIMARILY FROM WISCONSIN-GROWN
GRAPES.
SOMETHING GLEN SPURGEON HAS
DONE SINCE 1981.
>> WE'RE PRODUCING WINES FOR
MIDWESTERN STATES.
>> HE HAS DONE WELL BY CATERING
TO WISCONSIN'S TASTE FOR
SWEETER WINES.
BECOME ONE OF THE STATE'S
LARGEST WINERIES.
THEY DISTRIBUTE THEIR GOODS TO
RESTAURANTS AND LIQUOR STORES
THROUGHOUT THE REGION.
TROUT SPRINGS IS MUCH SMALLER.
SELLING PRIMARILY ON SITE IN
ITS TASTING ROOM.
BOTH WINERIES AREFITING
FROM A RECENT CONSUMER TREND.
>> ONE OF KEY THINGS
NOWADAYS IS BUY LOCAL.
A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE DOING THAT.
>> QUIFSHY GROVN FITCHBURG
FEATURES A NUMBER OF WISCONSIN
WINES.
>> MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE
BEING AWARE OF BUYING LOCAL AND
BUYING LOCAL PRODUCTS AND
STAYING CLOSER TO HOME.
AND JUST REALIZING THAT WOW, IF
WE CMAKE WINE HERE AND IT'S
GOOD, WHY NOT DRINK THAT RATHER
THAN SOMETHING THAT IS BROUGHT
IN FROM ARGENTINA?
>> IT'S FROM THE WOLLERSHEIM
WINERY, THE ONLY STATE WINERY
LOCATED IN AN OFFICIALLY
RECOGNIZED WINE AREA.
THE LAKE WISCONSIN AVA.
NAMES LIKE NAPA AND SONOMA ARE
THE MOST FAMOUS CALIFORNIA AVAs.
WISCONSIN HAS JUST ONE.
DEBAKER WOULD LIKE TO SEE HIS
REGION RECEIVE AN AVA.
TROUT SPRINGS SITS ON THE
NIAGARA ESCARPMENT WHICH
EXTENDS FROM LAKE WINNEBAGO TO
THE SHORES OFE HURON.
IT IS A WINE GROWING REGION IN
ONTARIO AND UPSTATE NEW YORK.
THAT GEOLOGY CONTRIBUTES TO THE
WINE'S FLAVOR.
>> BECAUSE WE SIT ON THE
NIAGARA ESCARPMENT THERE IS
DOLL MITE ROCK AND POROUS SOILS.
WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT WHERE
GRAPES ARE GROWN THAT'S WHEN
YOU'RE EXPERIENCING.
YOU'RE EXPERIENCING THOSE
MINERALS AND THAT SPECIAL SOIL
THAT'S HERE.
THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE EXPERIENCING.
>> BEING IN AN OFFICIAL
VITICULTURAL REGION ALLOWS WINE
MAKERS TO SELL WHAT IS KNOWN AS
ANS TATE WINE.
>> MAKING AN ESTATE WINE IS
GRAPES THAT ARE GROWN ON SITE.
THEY NEVER LEAVE THE SITE.
EVEN THOUGH WE DO THAT HERE,
UNTIL WE HAVE OUR AVA, WE CAN'T
PUT THAT ON OUR BOTTLE.
>> BEING OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED
AS A VITICULTURAL AREA WON'T
ONLY BENEFIT TROUT SPRINGS BUT
OTHER CURRENT AND FUTURE
NORTHEAST WISCONSIN GRAPE
GROWERS.
>> WE DEFINITELY WANT TO SEE IT
SPREAD.
THERE ARE TWO OR THREE NEW
WINERIES THAT HAVE SPRUNG UP IN
OUR IMMEDIATE 30 MILE VICINITY
IN THE LAST COUPLE THREE YEARS
SO WE DEFINITELY WANT TO SEE IT
GROW.
>> IN THE OPPOSITE CORNER OF
THE STATE GLEN SPURGEON ALSO
SEES OPPORTUNITY WITH MORE
WINERIES OPEN.
>> IF YOU HAVE ONE WINERY YOU
HAVE A PLACE WHERE TOURISTS
WILL STOP IN.
WHEN YOU GET A REGION WITH TWO
OR THREE OR FOUR OR SEVERAL
WINERIES IN THAT REGION, THEN
YOU BECOME A DESTINATION.
>> WHILE IT'S STILL A SMALL
INDUSTRY, WISCONSIN WINERIES
ARE RAISING A GLASS TO A
HOPEFUL FUTURE.
>> EVERY WINERY AND EVERY WINE
MAKER HAS GOT THEIR OWN STYLE
SO IT'S FINE.
THERE IS ROOM FOR EVERYONE.
>> SINCE THAT REPORT, DEBAKER
SAYS HE'S MADE PROGRESS IN
HAVING HIS GROWING REGION
RECOGNIZED AS AN OFFICIAL
AMERICAN VITICULTURAL AREA.
HE PREDICTS THAT WITHIN THE
NEXT YEAR OR SO, 12
NORTHEASTERN WINERIES WILL ALSO
BE ABLE TO CLAIM THE WISCONSIN
LEDGE AS THEIR WINE GROWING
HOME.
WISCONSIN WINE MAKERS FINISHED
HARVESTING THEIR GRAPES A FEW
WEEKS AGO.
THE COOL SUMMER WEATHER HAD
SOME WORRIED AND DELAYED THE
HARVEST FROM ONE TO THREE WEEKS.
>> I WOULD RATHER SEE A FEW
FALL THAN HAVE THEM NOT RIPE.
THAT WOULDN'T GOOD IF THEY
WEREN'T RIPE.
>> GRAPES DON'T NEED TO BE
HARVESTED BEFORE A HARD FREEZE
BUT ONCE THERE IS ONE THE VINE
ISN'T MAKING ANY MORE SUGAR.
IN ADDITION TO IT BEING A GOOD
YEAR FOR GRAPES, THE CHERRY AND
APPLE CROPS USED IN FRUIT WINES
ARE ALSO IN EXSHAPE.
CRANBERRIES ARE TOUTED AS A
SUPER FRUIT PROVIDING HEALTH
BENEFITS AND THE REST OF
WORLD IS TAKING NOTICE OF
WISCONSIN'S CRANBERRY CROP.
IN THE PAST YEAR, OUR STATE AS
SEEN AN 18% INCREASE IN
CRANBERRY EX PORTS.
PART OF THE REASON,SCONSIN'S
NEW PUSH TO INTRODUCE THE FRUIT
TO OTHER COUNTRIES AND THAT
MARKET IS EXPECTED TO GROW.
TRADE REPRESENTATIVES FROM 12
COUNTRIES CAME TO WISCONSIN IN
LATE SEPTEMBER TO TOUR OUR
CRANBERRY INDUSTRY.
WISCONSIN PROVIDES MORE THAN
HALF OF THE WORLD'S CRANBERRIES
AND PUMPS NEARLY $350 MILLION
INTO THE STATE'S ECONOMY.
MAKING THE DAIRY STATE ALSO THE
BERRY STATE.
NOW HERE IS A LOOK AT SOME OF
THE REPORTS WE'RE WORKING ON
FOR THE NEXT EDITION OF "IN
WISCONSIN."
MICHAEL PERRY ON PARADE.
IT'S NUTS IN PARDEEVILLE AND
MONEY MATTERS DOWN ON THE FARM.
>> THIS IS FREDERICA FREYBERG.
IN OUR LIFE DOWN ON THE FARM AS
DAIRY PRICES PLUMMET.
>> IT I PROBABLY ALMOST HALF
OF WHAT WE WERE MAKING LAST
YEAR.
>> THIS IS THE END OF THE LINE
FOR MANY FAMILY-OWNED WISCONSIN
DAIRY FARMS.
PLUS WE'LL TAKE YOU TO
PLATTEVILLE.
>> THE SERVICE IS GET HER DONE.
>> THIS THE LIZ KOERNER.
SEE HOW A FATHER AND SON ALONG
WITH THEIR ODD CONTRAPTION ARE
RESTOCKING THE STATE'S FORESTS.
AND THE INSIGHTS OF MICHAEL
PERRY ON PARADE, LITERALLY.
>> THIS ISN'T JUST A PARADE.
THIS IS A PILGRIMAGE.
>> HE MAKES HIS "IN WISC
DEBUT WITH A -- THAT'S NEXT
WEEK ON WISCONSIN PUBLIC
TELEVISION.
NOW A QUICK REMINDER ABOUT OUR
INTERACTIVE BLOG CALLED THE
PRODUCER'S JOURNAL.
IT IS UPDATED EACH WEEK DAY BY
THE PEOPLE WHO WORK IN FRONT OF
AND BEHIND THE SCENES ON "IN
WISCONSIN."
AND OUR NEWS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS
PROGRAM "HERE AND NOW."
YOU'LL FIND OUT IN ADVANCE
ABOUT REPORTS WE'RE WORKING ON,
THE PEOPLE WE'VE MET AND THE
PLACES WE'VE BEEN.
WE HOPE YOU'LL CHECK OUT THE
PRODUCER'S JOURNAL AT wpt.org,
THEN CLICK ON IN WISCONSIN.
WE LEAVE YOU THIS WEEK WITH THE
SPLENDOR ALONG WISCONSIN'S
FIRST RUSTIC ROAD.
DEDICATED IN 1965 THIS ROAD
CROSSES THROUGH HILLS AND
VALLEYS CREATED BY GLACIERS
NEARLY 12,000 YEARS AGO.
THE STATE LEGISLATURE
ESTABLISHED THE RUSTIC ROAD
PROGRAM TO KEEP THE WISCONSIN'S
SCENIC, LIGHTLY TRAVELED ROADS.
HAVE A GREAT WEEK IN WISCONSIN.
>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR "IN
WISCONSIN" IS PROVIDED BY THE
PEOPLE OF ALLIANT ENERGY WHO
BRING SAFE, RELIABLE AND
ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY ENERGY
TO KEEP HOMES, NEIGHBORHOODS
AND LIFE IN WISCONSIN RUNNING
SMOOTHLY.
ALLIANT ENERGY, OFFERING
ENERGY-SAVING IDEAS ON THE WEB
AND THE ANIMAL DENTISTRY AND
ORAL SURGERY SPECIALISTS OF
MILWAUKEE AND OSHKOSH.
A TEAMWORKING WITH PET OWNERS
AND FAMILY VETERINARIANS
THROUGHOUT WISCONSIN.
WITH ADDITIONAL FUNDING
PROVIDED BY BIKE WISCONSIN.
>> ON THE NEXT EDITION OF "IN
WISCONSIN," OUR ONGOING MONEY
MATTERS SERIES, LIFE DOWN ON
THE FARM AS DAIRY PRICES
PLUMMET.
PLUS WE'LL TAKE YOU
PLATTEVILLE TO SEE HOW A FATHER
AND SON, ALONG WITH THEIR ODD
CONTRAPTION, ARE RESTOCKING THE
STATE'S FORESTS.
AND MICHAEL PERRY ON PARADE,
LITERALLY.
>> THIS ISN'T JUST A PARADE.
IT'S A PILGRIMAGE.
>> THURSDAY AT 7:00 ON "IN
WISCONSIN."
>> ON THE NEXT EDITION OF "IN
WISCONSIN," OUR ONGOING MONEY
MATTERS SERIES, LIFE DOWN ON
THE FARM AS DAIRY PRICES
PLUMMET PLUS WE'LL TAKE YOU TO
PLATTEVILLE TO SEE HOW A FATHER
AND SON ALONG WITH THEIR ODD
CONTRAPTION ARE RESTOCKING THE
STATE'S FOREST AND MICHAEL
PERRY ON PARADE, LITERALLY.
>> THIS ISN'T JUST A PARADE.
IT IS A PILGRIMAGE.
>> TONIGHT AT 7:00 ON "IN
WISCONSIN."
>> THE INSIGHTS OF MICHAEL
PERRY ON PARADE, LITERALLY.
>> THIS ISN'T JUST A PARADE.
THIS IS A PILGRIMAGE.
>> HE MAKES HIS "IN WISCONSIN"
DEBUT WITH A NEW VIDEO ESSAY.
>> THURSDAY NIGHT AT 7:00 ON
WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.