>> WELCOME TO "IN WISCONSIN."
I'M PATTY LOEW.
THIS WEEK, THE ECONOMIC
DOWNTURN TOWN ON THE FARM.
>> IT'S PROBABLY ALMOST HALF OF
WHAT WE WERE MAKING LAST YEAR.
>> IT'S THE END OF THE LINE FOR
SOME FAMILY OWNED WISCONSIN
DAIRY FARMS.
PLUS WE TAKE YOU TO PLATTEVILLE.
>> THE SERVICE THAT WE WANT TO
GET DONE, YOU KNOW.
>> SEE HOW A FATHER AND SON,
ALONG WITH THEIR ODD
CONTRAPTION ARE RESTOCKING THE
STATE'S FOREST AND THE INSIGHTS
OF MICHAEL PERRY ARE ON PARADE,
LITERALLY.
>> THIS ISN'T A PARADE.
IT'S A PILGRIMAGE.
>> HE MAKES HIS "IN WISCONSIN"
DEBUT WITH THE HUMOROUS NEW
VIDEO ESSAY.
NEXT ON "IN WISCONSIN."
>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR "IN
WISCONSIN" IS PROVIDED BY THE
PEOPLE OF ALLIANT ENERGY, FOR
BRINGING 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 VETERINARY TEAM WORKING WITH
PET OWNERS AND FAMILY
VETERINARIANS THROUGHOUT
WISCONSIN, PROVIDING CARE FOR
ORAL DISEASD DENTAL
PROBLEMS OF SMALL COMPANION
ANIMALS, WITH ADDITIONAL
FUNDING PROVIDED BY BIKE
WISCONSIN.
>> WE BEGIN THIS WEEK WITH A
SOLDIER'S STORY.
AS THE UNITED STATES BEGINS TO
STAND DOWN IN IRAQ AND DEBATE
THE TROOCREASE IN
AFGHANISTAN, WE THOUGHT IT
WOULD BE WORTH REVISITING OUR
REPORT ON U.S. ARMY MAJOR
ANDREW OLMSTED.
HE'S A SOLDIER WITH WISCONSIN
CONNECTIONS AND THE FIRST U.S.
CASUALTY IN IRAQ LAST YEAR.
WE LEARNED THA NEW BOOK
ABOUT THE ARMY HERO.
MORE ON THAT IN A MOMENT.
FIRST ART HACKETT SHOWS YOU HOW
OLMSTED'S WRITINGS ARE HAVING
AN IMPACT AROUND THE WORLD AND
IN CEDARBURG.
>> HE'S AN EXCEPTIONAL WRITER.
HE'D BEEN WRITING FOR SIX OR
SEVEN YEARS AND HAD REALLY
GOTTEN INTO DISCUSSING A LOT OF
POLITICAL ISSUES AMONG OTHER
THINGS.
HE ALSO WROTE ABOUT THD SOX
WHICH WERE HIS TEAM.
>> WE OLMSTED OF CEDARBURG
IS U.S. ARMY MAJOR ANDREW
OLMSTED'S FATHER.
MAJOR OLMSTED, AGE 37, WAS THE
FIRST U.S. SOLDIER TO DIE IN
IRAQ IN 2008.
HE WAS BASED AT FORT CARSON IN
COLORADO.
ANDREW OLMSTED LEFT BEHIND A
WIDOW, AMANDA WILSON.
ANDREW OLMSTED GREW UP IN MAINE
AND THEN MASSACHUSETTS WHERE
HIS FATHER WAS A CHEMICAL
ENGINEER FOR POLAROID.
WHILE IN COLLEGE, OLMSTED
JOINED ROTC AND THEN ENTERED
THE ARMY.
>> THERE WERE A NUMBER OF
DIFFERENT THINGS THAT
INFLUENCED HIS DECISION.
SOME OF THE BOOKS THAT HE WRITE.
WHEN YOU READ THROUGH A BOOK
AND IT'S ALL ABOUT CAMARADERIE
AND HOW YOU CAN MAKE A
DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD BY --
AND AT THE SAME TIME BE A PART
OF SOMETHING BIGGER THAN
YOURSELF.
>> ABOUT SEVEN YEARS AGO,
ANDREW OLMSTED BECAME A
BLOGGER, WRITING A SERIES OF
WRITINGS ON THE INTERNET.
>> HE TO BLOG BLOG
BECAUSE HE LIKED TO HAVE A
DISCUSSION AND HIS WORDS WERE
NOT LIBERAL.
IF YOU GO THROUGH AND LOOK
THROUGH SOME OF THE EARLIER
BLOGS, YOU'LL DISCOVER HE'S
TRYING TO USE THE BLOG AS A WAY
TO CONSOLIDATE IN HIS OWN MIND
WHAT HE THINKS ABOUT SPECIFIC
ISSUES.
>> HE EVENTUALLY CREATED A NEW
BLOG, ANDREW OLMSTED.COM AND
THEN JOINED A GROUP OF OTHER
BLOGGERS AT A SITE CALLED
OBSIDIAN WINGS.
THE GROUP WAS LOOKING FOR A
CONSERVATIVE VOICE.
>> HE'S MORE LIBERTARIAN THAN
CONSERVATIVE.
IT WAS A SMALL L, NOT A CAPITAL
L.
>> ANDREW OLMSTED SERVED IN THE
ARMY FOR 15 YEARS BUT WASN'T
ORDERED TO IRAQ UNTIL MID 2007.
>> IN GENERAL THIS IS WHAT HE
FELT, THAT BECAUSE HE WAS A
SOLDIER, HE HAD TO GO.
PLUS I THINK HE FELT HE WAS
GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO SOME
GOOD BY DOING THE TRAINING AND
ULTIMATE, HOPEFULLY WE WOULD BE
ABLE TO TURN THIS OVER TO THE
IRAQIS AND THEN WALK AWAY.
>> THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS IN
DENVER ENLISTED OLMSTED TO
WRITE A BLOG FOR THEIR WEBSITE.
REPORTER DAVID MONTERO WAS
ASSIGNED TO WRITE THE
BACKGROUND STORY.
>> IT WAS INTERESTING THE FIRST
FEW ENTRIES OF HIS BLOGS THAT I
READ.
I THOUGHT THEY WERE TECHNICAL
AND HE REALLY DIDN'T LET
HIMSELF BE -- HIS VOICE BE IN
THE WRITING, I DIDN'T THINK,
EARLY ON IN THE -- IN OUR BLOG.
IT WASN'T UNTIL LATER, I THINK
AS HE GOT COMFORTABLE WITH THE
FORUM, AND GOT READER COMMENTS
THAT HE STARTED TO OPEN UP A
BIT.
>> HE PUT ONE UP ONE TIME
ASKING PEOPLE NOT TO SEND
SOCCER BALLS BUT THE NEEDLES
AND PUMPS SO THE KIDS COULD
REINFLATE THESE THINGS.
ONCE THE IRAQI KIDS HAD BEATEN
THEM UP, THEY DEFLATE RATHER
RAPIDLY SOMETIMES.
>> I THINK HE WAS MORE
COMFORTABLE MAKING OBSERVATIONS
ABOUT THINGS THAT HE WAS SEEING
AND THINGS HE WAS DOING BUT
THIS IS STUFF THAT WE HAD
TALKED ABOUT PRIOR TO HIS
LEAVING TO -- ABOUT HIS
INTERESTS IN THE CULTURE AND
HIS TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE
CULTURE, MAKING SURE THAT HE
DID THE PROPER THINGS TO BE THE
BEST AMBASSADOR AS HE COULD BE.
I THINK HE DID SEEM HIMSELF AS
AN AMBASSADOR TO THE IRAQI
PEOPLE.
>> HIS LOST POST FOR THE ROCKY
MOUNTAIN NEWS WAS DATED
DECEMBER 26, 2007, DESCRIBING
THE MUSLIM HOLIDAY.
>> THE MANAGERING EDITOR CAME
UP TO ME AND SAID THERE WAS A
REPORT GOING AROUND THE
BLOGOSPHERE THAT ANDREW WAS
KILLED.
I DIDN'T BELIEVE IT RIGHT AWAY.
I WAS REALLY HOPING IT WASN'T
TRUE AND SO MY FIRST REACTION
WAS A LOT OF THINGS THAT APPEAR
ON BLOGS AREN'T TRUE AND
SOMETIMES IT'S LIKE A DRY
TENDER FIRE.
THINGS CAN SPREAD SO FAST AND I
THOUGHT SOMEBODY
INADVERTENTLY POSTED SOMETHING
THAT WASN'T TRUE.
>> THE DAY AFTER OLMSTED WAS
KILLED, ANOTHER POST APPEARED
ON THE BLOG.
IT BEGINS, THIS IS AN ENTRY I
WOULD HAVE PREFERRED NOT TO
HAVE PUBLISHED BUT THERE ARE
LIMITS TO WHAT WE CAN CONTROL
IN LIFE AND APPARENTLY, I HAVE
PASSED ONE OF THOSE LIMITS.
>> I CAN VISUALIZE ANDY TRYING
TO GO OVER AND TALK TO PEOPLE,
SEE IF THEY WOULD PUT THEIR
GUNS DOWN AND UNFORTUNATELY,
THEY DIDN'T KNOW HIM AND THEY
DECIDED TO SHOOT HIM.
>> WHEN HE DIED ON JANUARY 3,
ALL OF A SUDDEN THIS LAST POST
POPS UP ON THE BLOG.
DID YOU KNOW THAT WAS COMING?
>> NO.
NO.
I HAD NO IDEA.
I'M NOT SURPRISED.
AS HE SAID WHEN HE OPENED THE
BLOG, HE SAID HE ALWAYS WANTED
TO HAVE THE LAST WORD AND BY
GOD, HE WAS GOING TO DO IT.
SO HE DID.
>> ANDREW OLMSTED HAD WRITTEN A
LENGTHY MESSAGE TO BE POSTED IN
THE EVENT OF HIS PASSING.
IT WAS LED WITH A QUOTE FROM
HIS FAVORITE SCIENCE FICTION
SERIES, BABYLON FIVE AND THIS
ONE FROM PLATO.
ONLY THE DEAD HAVE SEEN THE END
OF WAR.
>> I DO ASK THAT NO ONE TRY TO
USE MY DEATH TO FURTHER THEIR
POLITICAL PURPOSES.
I WENT TO IRAQ AND DID WHAT I
DID FOR MY REASONS, YOURS.
MY LIFE ISN'T A CHIT TO BE USED
TO BLUDGEON PEOPLE TO SILENCE
ON EITHER SIDE.
>> IF YOU READ IN HIS FINAL
POST THE COMMENT THAT HE SAID I
HOPE THAT -- TWO THINGS.
ONE HE SAID WE WENT TO WAR TOO
QUICKLY.
THERE WERE MIXED FEELINGS ABOUT
DOING THIS.
HE ALSO SAID, I'M IN THE ARMY.
WHEN THE BOSS SAYS YOU GO, YOU
GO.
>> A DECISION THAT FOR MOST OF
US IN AMERICA WAS ACADEMIC,
WHETHER OR NOT TO GO TO WAR IN
IRAQ HAD VERY REAL CONSEQUENCES
FOR HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE.
YET I WAS AS GUILTY AS ANYONE
AS MINIMIZING THE REAL
CONSEQUENCES IN THE COLD
DISCUSSION OF THE MERITS OF WAR
AND PEACE.
NOW, I'M FACING SOME VERY REAL
CONSEQUENCES OF THAT DECISION.
WHO SAYS LIFE DOESN'T HAVE A
SENSE OF HUMOR?
>> IT REMINDS ME OF THAT -- I
DON'T KNOW IF YOU SAW THE MOVIE
CONTACT WITH JODY FOSTER BUT
WHEN SHE'S UP THERE LOOKING AT
ALL OF THE STUFF AND SHE SAID I
SHOULDN'T HAVE SENT A SIGN, I
SHOULD HAVE SENT A POET TO
DESCRIBE WHAT YOU SAW.
WE HAVE ESSENTIALLY A WRITER
ABLE TO DESCRS FEELINGS
AND WHAT HE THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT
WAS GOING ON OVER THERE AND HOW
HE SAW THINGS OVER THERE.
>> I KNEW THE BLOG WAS
WORLDWIDE.
I KNEW THERE WOULD BE A LOT OF
PEOPLE WHO WOULD SEE IT.
>> ACCOUNTS OF THE FINAL POST
BOUNCED FROM BLOG TO BLOG.
ANDREW OLMSTED'S FINAL POST WAS
REPRINTED IN PAPERS IN
AUSTRALIA, SOUTH AFRICA AND
GERMANY.
HERE IT IS IN HUNGARIAN.
>> IT'S A BROADER THING THAN
JUST A SINGLE FAMILY.
HE WANTED THIS SEEN BY AS MANY
PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE AND HE GOT
HIS WISH IN A WAY.
THERE ARE OVER HALF A MILLION
HITS ON IT AND THAT WAS SEVERAL
MONTHS AGO.
>> WESLEY OLMSTED HAS COLLECTED
PRINTOUTS OF THE ONLINE
COMMENTS FROM THE BLOGS.
THEY FILL HUNDREDS OF PAGES IN
A RING BINDER.
MORE THAN 4,000 U.S. TROOPS
HAVE DIED IN IRAQ SINCE THE WAR
BEGAN IN 2003.
>> 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,
ALMOST UNIVERSALLY WHAT THEY'RE
SAYING IS SOMEBODY FINALLY SAID
WHAT I'VE BEEN THINKING FOR A
LONG TIME.
SO I MEAN, IN THE WAY HE WAS
POET FOR THE REST OF THE WAR.
ANDREW IS THE SPOKESMAN FOR
THOSE WHO DIED IN IRAQ.
>> ANDREW OLMSTED'S PERSPECTIVE
LIVES ON IN A NEW BOOK CALLED
"A SOLDIER'S WORDS" PUBLISHED
VANT IEJ PRESS.
HIS FATHER SAID HE SENT A COPY
OF THE BOOK TO PRESIDENT OBAMA,
SUGGESTING HE READ IT PRIOR TO
MAKING A DECISION ON WHETHER TO
SEND MORE TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN.
SO FAR HE'S NOT HEARD BACK FROM
THE PRESIDENT.
PROCEEDS FROM THE BOOK WILL GO
TO A SCHOLARSHIP FUND AT
OLMSTED'S FORMER HIGH SCHOOL IN
MASSACHUSETTS.
THE HEARTBREAK OF WAR AND TOUGH
ECONOMIC TIMES ARE HITTING HARD
ON THE HOMEFRONT.
WISCONSIN DAIRY FARMERS KEEP
HEARING AB ECONOMIC
RECOVERY AND YET THEIR COST FOR
DOING BUSINESS WAY OUT PACES
THE PRICES THEY GET FOR MILK.
IN OUR ING MONEY MATTERS
SERI"IN WISCONSIN"
FREDERICA FREYBERG SHOWS YOU
HOW FARMERS ARE STILL WAITING
FOR RECOVERY DOWN HE FARM
IN PLYMOUTH.
>> THE ACREAGE OUT BACK OF THE
DAIRY FARM WILL SOON BE GRAZING
LAND FOR HIS 200 COWS.
THEY'LL BE EATING GRASS TO SAVE
ON THE BACK BREAKING COST OF
FEED.
>> IT'S PRETTY TOUGH.
>> I AM A LITTLE PROBABLY
AFRAID OF WHAT'S COMING IF MILK
PRICES DON'T IMPROVE.
>> THE PRICE FARMERS HAVE BEEN
GETTING FOR THEIR MILK FOR THE
LAST SEVERAL MONTHS IS THE
LOWEST IN 25 YEARS.
>> IT'S PROBABLY ALMOST HALF OF
WHAT WE WERE MAKING LAST YEAR.
>> AND THEIR COSTS FOR THINGS
LIKE FEED AND SEED AND
FERTILIZER HAVE ONLY GONE UP
AND THEN THERE'S HEALTH CARE.
>> JAMES JUST HAD SURGERY ON
HIS SHOULDER THIS LAST FEBRUARY.
WE HAD TO PAY THOUSANDS.
I'M STILL ON HIS
HOSPITAL BILLS.
>> SHEBOYGAN COUNTY DAIRY AGENT
HEARS IT EVERY DAY.
>> THEY SAY TO ME THAT THEY
DON'T KNOW HOW THEY'RE GOING TO
MAKE THE NEXT MILK CHECK LA
A LOT OF TIMES THE MILK CHECKS
ARE SPENT BEFORE THEY RECEIVE
IT IN THEIR BANK ACCOUNT.
>> MILK PRICES FOR FARMERS ARE
THE RESULT OF SUPPLY AND DEMAND.
A COOL SUMMER MEANT COWS
PRODUCED MORE SO THE PRICE IS
HIGH EVEN AS SOME FARMERS WENT
OUT OF BUSINESS AND DEMAND ON
THE EXPORT MARKETS OF CHEESE
AND NONFAT DRY MILK FELL INTO
THE BASEMENTS THIS YEAR.
GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS LIKE PRICE
SUPPORTS DO OFFER WISCONSIN
FARMERS SOME NEEDED RELIEF.
>> THE EXTRA MONEY THAT WE JUST
GET MONTHLY FROM THE MILK
PROGRAM HELPS TO JUST KIND OF
TAKE THE EDGE OFF OF SOME OF
THOSE BILLS THAT WE CAN'T PAY.
>> AG EXPERTS SAY INCREASINGLY
IN THIS MARKET AND IN THIS
ECONOMY, DAIRY FARMERS ARE
TURNING TO ANOTHER KIND OF
GOVERNMENT HELP MANY NEVER
CONSIDERED BEFORE.
THINGS LIKE FOOD STAMPS, FUEL
ASSISTANCE, HEALTH INSURANCE
FOR THE POOR.
>> THESE PRODUCERS TAKE PRIDE
IN A PRODUCT THEY PRODUCE AND
THEY TAKE PRIDE THEY ARE SELF
SUFFICIENT AND IT IS BREAKING
THEIR HEARTS TO EVEN HAVE TO
CALL AND ARE THERE
PROGRAMS OR OPPORTUNITIES FOR
ME THAT I CAN TAP INTO JUST TO
GET ME THROUGH THE NEXT MONTH?
>> THE YOUNGEST SON TIM WORKS
ON THE FARM.
HIS THREE OLDER SIBLINGS LEFT
FOR COLLEGES AND OTHER
PROFESSIONS.
>> I'M NOT REALLY SURE ABOUT
WANTING TO CONTINUE TO DAIRY
FARM HERE.
>> TIM SAYS HE'S WATCHED HOW
HARD HIS PARENTS HAVE WORKED
AND DESPITE THEIR WISHES, HE
MAY NOT BECOME THE FOURTH
GENERATION TO RUN THE FARM.
>> THIS ISN'T REALLY A JOB.
IT'S A LIFE.
>> THE WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE REPORTS THAT SINCE
ABOUT 1950, 100,000 FAMILY
FARMS HAVE GONE OUT OF BUSINESS.
MANY TIMES A RETIRING FARMER
BECOMES THE LAST IN A LINE.
>> THEIR NEEDS ARE GOING OUT,
THEIR BACKS ARE GOING OUT.
THEY CAN'T DO THAT MUCH LONGER
AS THEY AGE BUT THEY DON'T HAVE
ANOTHER GENERATION, THE SONS OR
DAUGHTERS COMING IN.
>> BUT THERE ARE GLIMMERS OF
HOPE AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE
INTERESTED IN FARMING LIKE IN
THE FACES OF KIDS TENDING FOR
SHOW ANIMALS AT THE SHEBOYGAN
COUNTY FAIR.
>> YOU GUYS ARE READY?
>> TINA COLEMAN CALLS THIS A
HAPPY TIME IN THE MIDST OF ALL
OF THE TOIL AND TROUBLE.
>> THIS IS THE HIGHLIGHT OF
SHEBOYGAN COUNTY IS THE CLIMAX OF THE
SUMMER.
TO SEE THESE YOUNG KIDS TO HAVE
PASSION AND HEART, IT IS A
BRIGHT SPOT AND IT'S AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE FARMERS TO
SPEND TIME WITH THEIR FAMILIES.
THIS BRINGS OUR FAMILIES
TOGETHER, GIVES THEM A BREAK
FROM THE EVERY DAY THINGS THAT
ARE GOING ON IN THE FARM.
>> THINGS LIKE SENDING MILK OFF
TO MARKET FOR PRICES THAT DON'T
ALLOW MOST FARMERS TO BREAK
EVEN, MUCH LESS PROFIT.
EXPERTS SAY PRICES THAT WOULD
ALLOW THAT ARE NOT EXPECTED FOR
AT LEAST A YEAR.
>> WISCONSIN AG EXPERTS SAY
PRICES ARE STARTING TO EDGE
HIGHER BUT HAVE A LONG WAY TO
GO TO REVERSE THE READY INK
FACING FARMERS.
THE PRESIDENT MONTH SIGNED
LEGISLATION THAT GIVES 350
MILLION DOLLARS IN EMERGENCY
FINANCIAL RELIEF TO DAIRY
FARMERS.
THE REPORT YOU JUST SAW IS PART
OF A MUCH LARGER PROJECT
INVOLVING JOURNALISTS FROM
AROUND THE COUNTRY CALLED
PATCHWORK NATION.
IN COLLABORATION WITH PBS'S
NEWS HOUR AND THE CHRISTIAN
SCIENCE MONITOR, WE ARE
EXAMINING HOW ECONOMIC ISSUES
ARE PLAYING DIFFERENTLY ACROSS
THE COUNTRY.
TO LEARN MORE JUST GO TO OUR
WEBSITE AT wpt.org/InWisconsin.
YOU'LL FIND INFORMATION ABOUT
PATCHWORK NATION.
IT'S THAT TIME OF THE YEAR WHEN
SQUIRRELS ARE BUSY STORING AWAY
NUTS FOR ANOTHER LONG WINTER.
BUT THEY'VE GOT SOME
COMPETITION.
"IN WISCONSIN" LIZ KOERNER
INTRODUCES YOU TO A FATHER AND
SON TEAM WITH AN UNUSUAL FALL
WRIT RAL AROUND PLATTLE.
>> BRANDON?
IF I COULD GET YOU TO START
PUTTING THE PICKERS IN THE
TRAILER AND I'LL SHUE
GARAGE DOOR HERE.
>> ROGER LANGE AND HIS SON
BRANDON WOULD NOT BE INSULTED
IF YOU CALLED THEM A LITTLE
NUTTY.
>> DO YOU WANT ONE OR TWO
PICKER ?Z
>> TWO.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> IN FACT, THEY HAVE AN AUTUMN
RITUAL THAT ALL BUT GUARANTEES
THAT THE LANGE FAMILY NAME AND
THE WORD NUTS ARE USED IN THE
SAME SENTENCE.
>> LOOKS LIKE THERE'S QUITE A
BIT OF SEED HERE SO --
>> EVERY YEAR THE LANGES
COLLECT NUTS LIKE ACORNS ON
LAWNS AROUND TOWN USING THESE
FUNNY LOOKING MACHINES.
PUSHING PAST EACH OTHER WITH
THEIR PICKERS, AT TIMES THEY
APPEAR TO BE A DANCING DUET.
BRANDON SAYS THERE'S A GOOD
REASON WHY HE HELPS HIS DAD
EVERY YEAR.
>> FUN.
>> THIS ANNUAL FATHER-SON
ADVENTURE GOT STARTED 11 YEARS
AGO WHEN BRANDON WAS ONLY TWO.
AT THAT AGE, HE WASN'T MUCH
HELP BUT THINGS HAVE CERTAINLY
CHANGED OVER THE YEARS.
>> I NEED A HELPER.
HE'S PRE-- PRETTY
INVALUABLE.
I MEAN, HE'S -- HE'S A GOOD,
HARD WORKER.
>> AND HARD WORK IS WHAT IT'S
ALL ABOUT.
BRANDON AND HIS FATHER START
THE NUT PICKING SEASON IN MID
AUGUST, COLLECTING THEIR FIRST
CROP UNDER BURR OAK TREES.
>> THIS IS BUR OAK.
IT'S AN ACORN FROM THE BUR OAK
TREE.
IT HAS CURLIES ON THE END AND
THE CAP IS ATTACHED TO THE SEED.
THAT'S HOW YOU NORMALLY SEE IT.
I GO BACK TO THE SAME TREE
EVERY YEAR BECAUSE THAT'S THE
FIRST TREE THAT DROPS.
>> AFTER THE BUR OAK HARVEST,
THE LANGES MOVE ON TO WHITE OAK
FOLLOWED BY RED OAK AND GATHER
A LITTLE BUTTERNUT AND SHAGBARK
HICKORY ALONG THE
THEY SELL MOST OF THE NUTS TO
THE DNR'S WILSON STATE TREE
NURSERY IN BOSCOBEL AND EARN
$25 TO $35 A BUSHEL.
ROGER ALREADY HAS A FULL TIME
JOB SO THE CASH FOR COLLECTING
NUTS IS A BONUS.
BRANDON SAID HE'S SAVING FOR
COLLEGE AND A TRUCK.
YOU CAN PROBABLY GUESS WHICH
COMES FI
>> TRUCK.
>> BUT THEIR WORK ISN'T DONE
WHEN THEY PACK UP AND HEAD FOR
HOME.
THAT'S WHEN THESE PICKERS GET
PICKY.
THEY HAND SORT THE BUR OAK
ACORNS AND PICK OUT THE TRASH.
>> THE LEAVES, TWIGS, STICKS,
ANYTHING THAT LOOKS LIKE IT'S
JUNK.
>> A LOT OF THIS STUFF WILL GO
DOWN THROUGH THE MESH.
THAT'S WHY I'M SWISHING IT
AROUND.
>> WHITE OAK AND RED OAK ACORNS
ARE EASIER TO SATURDAY THAN BUR
OAK.
THEY JUST SHOVEL THEM INTO A
BIG BUCKET OF WATER.
>> ANYTHING WITH AIR IN IT WILL
ACTUALLY FLOAT.
IT MAKES IT NICE FOR SORTING.
LOOK AND SEE HOW T DID.
IT LOOKS LIWILL STILL
NEED A LITTLE BIT OF TOUCHUP ON
IT.
>> AFTER THE LANGES DELIVER THE
NUTS TO THE DNR, THEY'RE
PLANTED IN THE STATE'S TREE
NURSERY.
WHEN THE TREES ARE TWO TO THREE
YEARS OLD, THE DNR SELLS THEM
TO THE PUBLIC.
ROGER AND BRANDON SEE EVIDENCE
OF THEIR HARD WORK IN A PRIVATE
PLANTATION JUST DOWN THE ROAD
FROM THEIR PLATTEVILLE HOME.
THE DNR ESTIMATES ABOUT A
MILLION TREES ARE NOW GROWING
OUT OF THE LANGE'S SEED
COLLECTING EFFORTS.
>> THERE'S A LOT OF WORK IN
THIS, AND KIND OF GIVES YOU A
WARM, FUZZY FEELING KNOWING
THAT, YOU KNOW, I PROVIDED A
LOT OF SEEDS TO THE STATE.
>> THE SERVICE THAT WHO HE WILL
WILL GET IT DONE, YOU KNOW.
>> ROGER LANGE SAYS WHITE OAK
ACORNS PAY THE BEST.
THE DEMAND FROM THE STATE IS
DOWN THIS YEAR BECAUSE THEY'RE
NOT SELLING AS MANY TREES.
THIS WEEK WE WELCOME A NEW
CONTRIBUTOR TO OUR STATEWIDE
NEWS MAGAZINE PROGRAM.
MICHAEL PERRY LIVES IN RURAL
EAU CLAIRE COUNTY AND IS A
POPULAR AUTHOR.
HIS NEWEST BOOK IS "COOP, A
YEAR OF POULTRY, PIGS AND
PARENTING."
PERRY HAS BEEN ALL OVER THE
COUNTRY ON A NATIONAL BOOK TOUR.
BUT WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION
VIEWERS CAN SAY THEY KNEW
MICHAEL PERRY FIRST.
HIS HUMOROUS VIDEO ESSAYS HAVE
APPEARED ON OUR SISTER PROGRAM,
"HERE AND NOW" FOR THE PAST SIX
YEARS.
THIS WEEK WE DEBUT PERRY'S
FIRST VIDEO ESSAY FOR "IN
WISCONSIN."
A RECOVERING FARM BOY, HE HAS A
FONDNESS FOR TRUCKS AND
TRACTORS AND AS YOU'RE ABOUT TO
SEE, PERRY REACHED THE
EPICENTER OF THAT INTRIGUE LAST
SUMMER IN MADISON.
>> HOW ARE YOU DOING?
I WOKE UP AT 6:00 A.M. THIS
MORNING, 3 1/2 HOURS SOUTH OF
MY CHICKEN COOP AND I LOOKED
OUT MY HOTEL ROOM WINDOW AND
THERE ON THE HORIZON, I SAW A
BEAUTIFUL SIGHT.
THIS I FAVORITE VERSION OF
THE INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER
LOGO.
I DON'T KNOW IF I WANT TO TOUCH
IT.
WE GOT LITTLE PEANUT TRACTORS
AND GREAT BIG, OL'HONKING
TRACTORS.
WE'RE IN MADISON, WISCONSIN FOR
THE RED POWER ROUNDUP.
THIS IS THE BIGGEST COLLECTION
OF RED PAINT YOU'RE GOING TO
FIND IN THE ENTIRE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA.
IT'S A LONG HAUL FROM A HORSE
DRAWN REAPER IN 1831 TO THIS IN
2009.
THIS IS A FARM BOY'S DREAM COME
TRUE HERE.
YOU KNOW WHAT WOULD BE REALLY
TERRIFIC IS IF SOMEONE WOULD
TAKE THE BEAUTIFUL OLD
TRACTORS, FIND A BUNCH OLD
INTERNATIONAL PICKUP TRUCKS AND
HAVE THEMES A PARADE.
>> NOBODY WILL BREAK DOWN.
>> WHEN YOU'RE OFFERED THE
OPPORTUNITY TO BE THE MARSHALL
OF THE HARESTER PARADE, THERE'S
REALLY ONLY ONE ANSWER.
AWAY WE GO.
FOLLOW THAT TRACTOR.
THIS ISN'T JUST A PARADE.
THIS IS A PILGRIMAGE.
WE HAVE FOLKS FROM ALL OVER THE
U.S. THAT COME TO THIS EVENT.
IF YOU LIKE RED PAINT, THIS IS
YOUR DAY OF WORSHIP.
SOMETIMES YOU'RE IN THE PARADE
D SOMETIMES YOU'RE IN THE
PARADE.
I THINK WE RAN OUT OF GAS.
IF YOU LIKE RED PAINT, TODAY IS
YOUR DAY.
LISTEN TO THAT EXHAUST CAP
RATTLE.
SOMETIMES A FELLA NEEDS A
LITTLE HELP, A LITTLE CRANK.
ALL RED ALL THE
I SHOULD MENTION THAT I DO HAVE
FRIENDS WHO HAVE A FONDNESS FOR
AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT OF
ANOTHER COLOR.
BUT TODAY IS OUR DAY, AND WE'LL
STILL BE FRIENDS TOMORROW.
THERE'S THE SELF HELP GROUP FOR
PEOPLE WHO ARE SSED WITH
INTERNATIONALS AND IT'S CALLED
THE INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER
COLLECTOR'S CLUB AND YOU ARE
LOOKING AT MEMBER NR 429.
IT IS A GORGEOUS I.H. LOGO IN
3D.
THAT'S A BEAUTY.
I WOULD LIKE THAT FOR A TIE
CLIP.
THIS IS NOT A TRACTOR SHOW, A
TRUCK SHOW.
THIS IS AN ART SHOW.
HERE COME A BUNCH OF GORGEOUS
OLD TRUCKS.
OK.
B MODEL THERE, A WOODY NG
THROUGH, THREE KD MODELS IN A
ROW.
ANYBODY WHO SAYS AN
INTERNATIONAL ISN'T BEAUTIFUL
HASN'T SEEN THAT TRUCK.
I'M NOT OF A GEAR HEAD BUT
I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE I LOVE
INTERNATIONAL TRUCKS.
I LOVE THEM SO MUCH, I WROTE A
BOOK ABOUT ONE CALLED TRUCK, A
LOVE STORY.
AND PEOPLE ASK ME SOMETIMES,
THEY'LL SAY IS THAT A LOVE
STORY ABOUT A OR A WOMAN?
I ALWAYS ASK, IS THERE NOT ROOM
IN A MAN'S HEART FOR BOTH IN I
-- BOTH?
I MEAN, LOOK AT HER.
FOR A FARM BOY, THIS IS LIKE
GOING TO THE LE.
>> IN A BIG WAY, MICHAEL
PERRY'S BOOK "TRUCK, A LOVE
STORY" WAS DEVOTED IN EQUAL
POINT TO HIS THEN FIANCE AND
ALL THINGS INTERNATIONAL
HARVESTER AND AFTER THIS WEEK'S
REPORT, YOU CAN UNDERSTAND WHY.
"IN WISCONSIN" WILL FEATURE
MORE OF L PERRY'S VIDEO
ESSAYS IN THE COMING WEEKS.
NOW HERE'S A LOOK AT SOME OF
THE REPORTS WE'RE WORKING ON
FOR THE NEXT EDITION OF "IN
WISCONSIN."
>> THIS IS JO GARRETT.
IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN AS
MILLIONS OF MIGRATORY SONG
BIRDS STREOUGH OUR STATE.
>> THIS BIRD THAT WEIGHS 10
GRAMS HAS FLOWN FROM COSTA RICA
OR PANAMA TO WISCONSIN, ACROSS
SO MUCH HAZARDS.
>> WHY DID THESE BIRDS DIE HERE
IN WISCONSIN?
WE'LL INVESTIGATE WHAT'S
KILLING THESE SONG BIRDS.
>> I'M ANDY SOTH.
THIS YEAR WISCONSIN CELEBRATES
100 YEARS OF FLIGHT.
THERE ARE PL OF MILITARY
HEROS, PLENTY OF EXTRAORDINARY
PILOTS, EXTRAORDINARY
INVENTIONS.
>> AND WE'LL EXPLORE A UNIQUE
SECTION OF THE ICE AGE NATIONAL
SCENIC TRAIL WHERE YOU CAN GO
BOWLING, HIKING, TO CHURCH AND
GET A TATTOO IN SAME DAY.
THOSPORTS NEXT THURSDAY AT
7:00 ON "IN WISCONSIN."
WE LEAVE ENTHUSE WEEK WITH A
LOOK AT THE AMAZING CREATURES
THAT CALL NECEDAH WILD REFUSE
AOUBLG THEIR HOME.
IT'S LOCATE MD JUNEAU COUNTY.
SAVANNAHD SEDGE MEADOWS
AND UPLAND HARDWOOD TIM WE ARE
HABITATS
>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR "IN
WISCONSIN" IS PROVIDED BY THE
PEOPLE OF ALLIANT ENERGY, FOR
BRINGING 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 VETERINARY TEAM WORKING WITH
PET OWNERS AND FAMILY
VETERINARIANS THROUGHOUT
WISCONSIN, PROVIDING CARE FOR
ORAL DISEASE AND DENTAL
PROBLEMS OF SMALL COMPANION
ANIMALS WITH ADDITIONAL FUNDING
PROVIDED BY BIKE WISCONSIN.
>> ON THE NEXT EDITION OF "IN
WISCONSIN."
MILLIONS OF MIGRATORY BIRDS
STREAM THROUGH OUR STATE.
SO WHY ARE THESE BEAUTIFUL
BIRDS DYING IN WIS'S
LARGEST CITY?
PLUS CELEBRATING A CENTURY OF
FLIGHT IN WISCONSIN.
THIS REPORT WILL HAVE YOU
FLYING HIGH.
AND WHERE CAN YOU GO HIKING,
BOWLING TO CHURCH AND GET A
TATTOO ALL ON THE SAME TRAIL?
>> NICE.
>> "IN WISCONSIN", THURSDAY AT
7:00 ON WISCONSIN PUBLIC
TELEVISION.
>> ON THE NEXT EDITION OF "IN
WISCONSIN", MILLIONS OF
MIGRATORY BIRDS STREAM THROUGH
OUR STATE SO WHY ARE THESE
BEAUTIFUL BIRDS DYING IN
WISCONSIN'S LARGEST CITY?
PLUS CELEBRATING A CENTURY OF
FLIGHT IN WISCONSI REPORT WILL HAVE YOU
FLYING HIGH.
AND WHERE CAN YOU GO HIKING,
BOWLING, TO CHURCH AND GET A
TATTOO ALL ON THE SAME TRAIL?
>> NICE.
>> "IN WISCONSIN", TONIGHT AT
7:00 ON WISCONSIN PUBLIC
TELEVISION.
>> THIS BIRD THAT WEIGHS 10
GRAMS HAS FLOWN FROM COSTA RICA
OR PANAMA TO WISCONSIN ACROSS
SO MANY HAZARDS.
>> THIS IS JO GARRETT.
WHY DID THESE BIRDS DIE HERE IN
WISCONSIN?
WE'LL INVESTIGATE WHAT'S
KILLING THESE SONG BIRDS.
>> THURSDAY NIGHT AT 7:00 ON
WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.
>> WE'LL EXPLORE A UNIQUE
SECTION OF OF THE ICE AGE
NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL WHERE YOU
CAN GO BOWLING, HIKING, TO
CHURCH AND GET A TATTOO ALL ON
THE SAME DAY.
>> NICE.
>> THURSDAY NIGHT AT 7:00 ON