Just over a week ahead of the Wisconsin State Fair, Stephanie Hoff of the Mid-West Farm Report wonders why the fair takes place in West Allis and what Milwaukee’s connection to agriculture looks like.
Julia Griffith of Historic Milwaukee Inc. helps her answer those questions. Historic Milwaukee Inc. is a nonprofit that preserves and educates the public about history and architecture through public education programming. Griffith boasts that the organization is housed in the historic grain exchange building — a key component to Milwaukee’s history.
In addition to explaining the origins of the Wisconsin State Fair, Griffith touches on the present-day urban gardening and urban farming movement. But first she explains why Milwaukee is nicknamed Cream City — and it doesn’t have to do with dairy or beer!
