Chapman Park giveaway’s aim was to give boost to local farmers

“Our goal is to support our local farmers, their families and kids that have an interest in agriculture,” Amanda Haugen of Chippewa Valley Energy said as the Dairy To Go drivein event was going on this past Thursday afternoon outside the Elk Park in Stanley. With locally notable public officials like Mayor Al Haas and First Ward Alderman Mark Fitzsimmons among those present to help out, the Stanley-Boyd Alumni’s Dairy To Go event held at the Elk Park this June 18 and scheduled from 4 to 6 p.m. or else from 4 p.m. until supplies ran out, was sponsored by Chippewa Valley Energy, together with help from Hansen’s IGA, LaGrander’s Cheese together with Kwik Trip. The recent dairy event put put on through the Stanley-Boyd FFA alumni as a way to help support June Dairy Month was a team effort, as Haugen’s colleague Michelle Larson explained later from the office.

“The Stanley FFA Alumni approached us about doing something to help support dairy month,” she said. “They normally do their big sub sandwich sale in June, but due to COVID19 were unable to do that this year,” she related of the present. “Working with them, we came up with a plan to support local farmers, promote dairy month and hopefully raise awareness of FFA.” After Chippewa Valley Energy initially pledged $2,500 towards the event, Larson said that the support of other local

Photo by Joseph Back.

businesses helped make the event more far reaching.

“Thanks to local business support we will be able to stretch those dollars,” she said of the support given Dairy To Go by local area businesses Hansen’s IGA, LaGrander’s Cheese and Kwik Trip. Specifically, Hansen's IGA gave a discount on milk used for the event, Kwik Trip donated $50 towards the butter cost and LaGrander’s Hilltop Dairy, donated 200 pounds of cheese, with the local energy company purchasing an additional 200 pounds in addition to what was donated by LaGrander’s. “Because of the generosity of these local businesses, we will be donating the additional dollars to another event the Stanley Boyd FFAAlumni are a part of later this summer,” Larson made known. The Dairy To Go event this past June 18 was first come, first serve, with a car line that initially extended out from the parking lot near the Elk Park all the way back to the park entrance further east on County Trunk O and closer to town. Members of the Stanley Police Department were on the scene to help with traffic control and address any problems with flow. Although the details are still being worked out, another Dairy to Go event is currently planned for Cadott at the end of July, with paper readers directed to the Facebook page of Chippewa Valley Energy for updates.

Meanwhile back at the local Elk Park this past Thursday, Haugen explained more details of a related scholarship program as more cars and trucks rolled past, being directed to stops where they could pick up milk, butter, and cheese—don’t forget the cheese! Haugen said that livestock would be purchased and that scholarships were also being given out in conjunction with the event—$100 each for a maximum of 50. The scholarships for the 4-H/FFA program are open only to the children and grandchildren of members of the Eau Claire Oil Coop Co., doing business as and better known by the name of Chippewa Valley Energy, although the two are the same entity. Purchase price by Chippewa Valley Energy is $2500/head for steer, and $500/head for Hogs, and scholarships will still be given to kids even if their animal is purchased by Chippewa Valley Energy. Those interested in applying for the animal buy and/or scholarship program may do so by going to www.chippewavalleyenergy.net or email [email protected] for more information. Photos are due by June 22nd, 2020 for Northern WI State Fair Participants, with notifications sent out by June 24th to those the local energy company plans to purchase animals from. For all other Fair auction participants, applications are due by July 13th, with notification by July 15th if their animal is on the purchasing list. But why whole milk, in the final analysis? One local volunteer had a thought on the matter.

“Because at that point you’re getting more for your money,” they offered of the non-homogenized diary variety. Judging by the line of cars in just the first twenty minutes at the Elk Park event, many locals agreed.