Where does food come from-the farm or a box? This question and others will be answered at an Open House sponsored by Diamond Vu Agricultural Educational Education Center on Sunday, September 26, 2021. The event will be held on a local farm in Sheboygan Falls. Nicole Butler, President, stated, “this family fun event has something for everyone.”
The Center is hosting its second annual “Sundae on the Farm” Open House. At the open house, the community will experience over 12 learning stations from local businesses and organizations. Stations will include hands-on activities about various aspects of agriculture. New additions this year are alpacas, herbs, mushrooms, apples, and horses, just to name a few.
In addition to the animals, there will be horticultural stations as well. Learn how to make a bouquet, decorated pumpkin, or tour the flower fields. Come watch the vintage tractor club demonstrate vintage thrashing techniques. For the kids, paint a pumpkin.
The fee to attend is: $10 per carload. Food and refreshments will be available for purchase. New this year are specialty food items such as gourmet grilled cheese, herb infused sweet treats, and haymakers switchel. Participants can enjoy the farm life while walking around with a complimentary container of milk and listening to live music.
Diamond Vu Agricultural Educational Education Center is a new 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization located in Sheboygan Falls. Their missions are to use “hands-on” agricultural education that help families gain an understanding of the essential role farming plays in our world, as well as the food choices they make every day. Open houses, farm tours, and K-12 class trips will be scheduled on a rotating 12-month basis. Butler said, “Another focus will be to advocate for products that are local, healthy, and readily available.
Mike Butler, Dairy Farmer, has spent the past 31 years obsessed with breeding an outstanding herd of Registered Holsteins and maintaining the good health of the herd. He is proud of the success he has had developing 16 excellent cows and breeding the Junior All American in 2005. Mike freely employs the concept of sustainable intensification on the farm. This concept seeks to marry the need to maintain livestock farming activity with an eco-friendly approach which supports high animal welfare standards.
Nicole Butler, President and Master’s Degree Educator graduated from UW-Platteville with a degree in Agricultural Education and Horticulture. As a licensed master educator, she has worked in the Hartford, West Bend, and Kewaskum school districts. Through her tenure at a local cut flower operation, Nicole was production manager for 10 years while she was teaching. She attended classes in San Diego, CA to enhance her grower knowledge. Nicole has been creating floral arrangements for the past 24 years and has won numerous awards for her arrangements.
Diamond Vu Agricultural Educational Education depends on the donations and corporate sponsorship in order to thrive. The Board of Directors is in the early stages of preparing for a capital campaign to expand activities to a five-county region-Sheboygan, Manitowoc, Fond du Lac, Washington, and Kewaunee. Their annual “Friends of the Farm” membership program is for families, individuals, and students. Becoming a member allows them to receive the biannual newsletter, discounted prices for activities, and free admission to the annual open house. Another way to get involved is to support corporate sponsorship giving guidelines.
