Submitted by Jill Albanese, Wisconsin State Fair

WEST ALLIS, WI – The Wisconsin State Fair is proud to have recognized the Sander family of rural Woodville, Wisconsin as a 100-year honoree.

Wendy Sander said, “My mother, Eula Casper, moved on to the farm when she was three years old. The family farm place has been continuously under family ownership for 100 years in 2025!

The Century Farm Awards Program began in 1948 as part of Wisconsin’s Centennial Celebration.  The program honors families who have had continuous ownership of their Wisconsin farm or home for 100 years or more.  For the past 51 years, Hillshire Farm of New London, Wisconsin, has sponsored the Awards Program. Compeer Financial also sponsored the Awards Program this year.

On Tuesday, August 5 during the 2025 Wisconsin State Fair, Hillshire Farm and Compeer Financial recognized 69 Century Farm families. More than 10,000 Century Farms have been honored since the program’s inception.

The 2026 Wisconsin State Fair, presented by UScellular®, will take place August 6 – 16.  The State Fair offers a unique experience to all who attend and is an exceptional value. Enjoy dozens of FREE entertainment stages, exciting rides and games in SpinCity, thousands of animals, endless family activities, events, contest, shopping vendors, and culinary delights. For more information, visit WiStateFair.com or follow us on social media.

For more information on the Century Farm Program, please call Jill Albanese at 414-777-0580.

Submitted by Patrol Lieutenant Andrew Thoms, Pierce County Sheriff’s Office

DIAMOND BLUFF TOWNSHIP, WI – On Wednesday October 29, 2025, at approximately 11:28 a.m., the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office was notified of an accident involving a skid steer and a train near County Road OO and State Road 35 in Diamond Bluff Township.

It was determined that a Bobcat skid steer was operated by Randy Anderson, 72 years old of Hager City, WI and was attempting to cross a private railroad crossing traveling east bound when he was struck by a BNSF train traveling south bound.

Mr. Anderson was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Pierce County Medical Examiner.

The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Red Wing Fire Department, Red Wing EMS, Ellsworth Fire Department and Life Link III Helicopter.

Submitted by Liz Dietsche, PC Fair

ELLSWORTH, WI – The Pierce County Fair is excited to announce the generous donation of handmade placemats to the Pierce County Nutrition Program.

Many thanks are extended to our talented fair exhibitors who dedicated their time and creativity to the “Placemat Challenge,” producing beautiful, fall-themed placemats for this community initiative. Entries were part of the “Open Class Home Furnishings” category, where each placemat was judged and then gifted to the Nutrition Program to share with clients throughout Pierce County.

Several exhibitors went above and beyond by creating multiple placemats, ensuring that many individuals across our communities could enjoy these cheerful works of art.

Looking ahead, the 2026 and 2027 “Placemat Challenge” will feature Christmas Stockings, with Shop With a Cop selected as the recipient organization. Those interested in participating are encouraged to contact the Pierce County Fair Office at 715-273-6874 or visit the Fair’s website at co.pierce.wi.us/departments/fair.

Join us for the Pierce County Fair August 13 through 16, 2026.

Submitted by Marcus Rufledt, DNR Deer Donation Program Manager

MADISON, WI – Hunters can help Wisconsinites in need by donating deer harvested in Wisconsin through the DNR’s deer donation program. Venison from donated deer is processed and distributed to food pantries across the state. Since the program began in 2000, hunters have donated over 100,000 deer, which were processed into over four million pounds of ground venison.

What to Expect when Donating – Hunters can donate the entire deer free of charge and retain the head and antlers for mounting if desired. When dropping your deer off at a processor, you will be asked to complete the log sheet indicating your intent to donate the deer. We’ll do the rest.

The donated deer will be processed, and the venison will be distributed to charitable organizations to help feed those Wisconsinites in need of food assistance. Hunters and the public can also voluntarily donate $1 or more to help cover venison processing fees. You can donate at any DNR license sales location or online through your Go Wild account.

Lead Bullets and Venison – Deer harvested with lead bullets have been shown to have tiny lead pieces or fragments remaining in a portion of the processed meat. This is especially true for ground venison. Lead is toxic to humans, even in very low amounts. Children under six years old and pregnant women are at the greatest risk from lead exposure. Consider switching to non-toxic, lead-free ammunition, such as copper, or to bow hunting, to reduce exposure to lead for venison recipients. Visit the Safely Eating Venison webpage for recommendations on reducing the risk of lead in venison.

How to Donate Your Deer – Hunters can donate any deer harvested legally in Wisconsin. Deer harvested outside Wisconsin cannot be donated. Deer harvested in a listed county affected by chronic wasting disease (CWD) must be tested for CWD before or at the time of donation (see below).

1. Field-dress and register your deer prior to dropping it off at a processor/drop-off location. Handle the carcass as if it were destined for your own table. A couple of bags of ice placed in the cavity will help preserve the carcass in warm weather.
2. Register your deer. Write down your registration confirmation number, as you will need it to fill out the Hunter Deer Donation Log Sheet; this number can be retrieved through your Go Wild account or by calling DNR Customer Service (1-888-936-7463). If your deer was harvested from one of the counties requiring CWD testing (see CWD Testing Requirements tab on the website), please ensure you complete the required CWD testing before donating.
3. Call ahead! Contact one of the participating processors before dropping off your deer to ensure they have space to accept it. More processors may be added later in the season, so check back if you don’t see one currently in your area.
4. Drop off your deer at a participating processor.

List of places to donate deer – go to the DNR website: dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/hunt/donation, for the list.