What started as an employee appreciation cookout at Metcalfe’s Market has now become the largest brat and music festival in the world, featuring thousands and thousands of Johnsonville brats. Event organizer Tim Metcalfe says the menu also includes sweet corn, ice cream, and carnival food, among other things. Roughly 1,900 volunteers will raise $100,000 for various charities by working at Brat Fest. Three music stages will provide entertainment. Families can get up close and personal with animals and farm equipment. Event-goers can also do some shopping at a new marketplace. Brat Fest is going on Friday through Sunday at Willow Island at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison. Find more details, including when to view the fireworks, at https://bratfest.com/

What started as an employee appreciation cookout at Metcalfe&rsquo;s Market has now become the largest brat and music festival in the world, featuring thousands and thousands of Johnsonville brats. Event organizer Tim Metcalfe says the menu also includes sweet corn, ice cream, and carnival food, among other things. Roughly 1,900 volunteers will raise $100,000 for various charities by working at Brat Fest. Three music stages will provide entertainment. Families can get up close and personal with animals and farm equipment. Event-goers can also do some shopping at a new marketplace. Brat Fest is going on Friday through Sunday at Willow Island at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison. Find more details, including when to view the fireworks, at <a href="https://bratfest.com/">https://bratfest.com/</a>

Join Pam Jahnke for the latest farm news. Heard daily on WOZN 96.7 FM and 1670 AM in Madison Wisconsin from 5-6am. Also heard on affiliate stations all over Wisconsin.

Join Pam Jahnke for the latest farm news. Heard daily on WOZN 96.7 FM and 1670 AM in Madison Wisconsin from 5-6am. Also heard on affiliate stations all over Wisconsin.

MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

Daily audio and podcasts from the Mid-West Farm Report Madison!

Daily audio and podcasts from the Mid-West Farm Report Madison!

What Better Way To Spend Memorial Day Weekend?

There's a partnership unique to Wisconsin, that's all about Wisconsin.  Let's do a little deeper dive on how the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation actually helped to start Rural Mutual Insurance!

Pam Jahnke is joined by Jenny Martin, Rural Mutual Insurance, Director of Marketing and Mandy Ganser, WFBF, Director of Member Relations.  They explain how farmers need for insurance fueled the beginning of Rural Mutual!  Today, that foundation of serving the rural community continues to resonate. Martin explains that 90 years ago, Wisconsin farmers were having difficulty finding insurance that covered the professions they were involved in.  Through that conversation, Rural Mutual began.

Today, Rural Mutual continues to serve that audience and more with over 150 agents statewide.  Rural Mutual is exclusively in Wisconsin so that its agents know the clients they serve.

The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation began more than 105 years ago giving a voice to agriculture.  Today, that voice is the largest group speaking up for agriculture through 61 county Farm Bureau organizations.  Mandy Ganser, WFBF, Director of Member Relations says that today the benefits offered through membership are vast.  Not only is the organization advocating through agriculture and rural policy developments, there's also financial rewards.  Discounts for family related expenses like health and wellness or travel are available through the membership.  As you'd expect, Ganser stresses their partnerships with farm specific bonuses too.  Case-IH, Ford and Caterpillar are just a few corporate partners offering member discounts.  Ganser says it's just as simple as presenting your membership card.

There's a partnership unique to Wisconsin, that's all about Wisconsin.&nbsp; Let's do a little deeper dive on how the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation actually helped to start Rural Mutual Insurance!
Pam Jahnke is joined by Jenny Martin, Rural Mutual Insurance, Director of Marketing and Mandy Ganser, WFBF, Director of Member Relations.&nbsp; They explain how farmers need for insurance fueled the beginning of Rural Mutual!&nbsp; Today, that foundation of serving the rural community continues to resonate. Martin explains that 90 years ago, Wisconsin farmers were having difficulty finding insurance that covered the professions they were involved in.&nbsp; Through that conversation, Rural Mutual began.
Today, Rural Mutual continues to serve that audience and more with over 150 agents statewide.&nbsp; Rural Mutual is exclusively in Wisconsin so that its agents know the clients they serve.
The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation began more than 105 years ago giving a voice to agriculture.&nbsp; Today, that voice is the largest group speaking up for agriculture through 61 county Farm Bureau organizations.&nbsp; Mandy Ganser, WFBF, Director of Member Relations says that today the benefits offered through membership are vast.&nbsp; Not only is the organization advocating through agriculture and rural policy developments, there's also financial rewards.&nbsp; Discounts for family related expenses like health and wellness or travel are available through the membership.&nbsp; As you'd expect, Ganser stresses their partnerships with farm specific bonuses too.&nbsp; Case-IH, Ford and Caterpillar are just a few corporate partners offering member discounts.&nbsp; Ganser says it's just as simple as presenting your membership card.

Wisconsin Through And Through - Rural Mutual Insurance And WI Farm Bureau

According to Lee Schulz, Chief Economist with Ever.Ag, 2023 was the worst year ever in pork production. How do markets look three years later in 2026? He tells us about the healthy balance of supply and demand in the marketplace.

According to Lee Schulz, Chief Economist with Ever.Ag, 2023 was the worst year ever in pork production. How do markets look three years later in 2026? He tells us about the healthy balance of supply and demand in the marketplace.

2026 Shows Healthy Pork Market

Maintaining a record system for all of Wisconsin's livestock is no small feat, but the Wisconsin Livestock Identification Consortium (WLIC) is up to the task. Every three years, WLIC contacts everybody who's actively in the system to renew their registration, and in 2025, the organization did just that. Julie Sweeney is the Executive Director. She tells us about the success they saw during the renewal and their priorities for 2026.

Maintaining a record system for all of Wisconsin's livestock is no small feat, but the Wisconsin Livestock Identification Consortium (WLIC) is up to the task. Every three years, WLIC contacts everybody who's actively in the system to renew their registration, and in 2025, the organization did just that. Julie Sweeney is the Executive Director. She tells us about the success they saw during the renewal and their priorities for 2026.

What Better Way To Spend Memorial Day Weekend?

In 1 playlist(s)

MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips