Weekly Rural Wisconsin
Community Digest

Welcome to the second edition of the Weekly Rural Wisconsin Community Digest. I am Erica Lawton, your Farm Gal Realtor, covering Adams, Clark, Crawford, Dunn, Eau Claire, Juneau, Polk, Price, St. Croix, Waushara, and Wood counties across central, west central, south central, southern, and southeastern Wisconsin. Every week I round up what is happening across this part of the state, from cattle auctions and horse shows to early teal season and timber workshops.

Mid-August is one of my favorite times in rural Wisconsin. The corn is tasseled and starting to dent, the fair season is running full steam, and there is a shift in the air that says hunting season is right around the corner. Here is what is happening the week of August 10 across our coverage area.

Cattle Industry News and Auctions

This Week's Sales

Fennimore Livestock Exchange runs its regular slaughter and replacement cattle sale on Wednesday, August 12 at 8:30 AM. August 12 is the second Wednesday of the month, which also means the monthly Dairy/Feeder Cattle/Beef Cow Sale happens on Saturday, August 8. If you are in Grant, Crawford, or Richland counties, Fennimore remains one of the strongest regional markets for moving cattle before fall.

Bloomington Livestock Exchange holds its combination feeder cattle sale (Beef, Holstein, Angus X) on Friday, August 21. Slaughter sales run every Tuesday. Bloomington serves the Driftless counties well, including Crawford and the southern parts of our coverage area.

Up in central Wisconsin, Oberholtzer Dairy Cattle & Auction Co in Loyal (Clark County) has a machinery consignment auction on Friday, August 14 at 9:30 AM. If you are in Clark, Wood, or Price counties and have equipment to move before harvest season, this sale draws strong regional traffic.

The Richland Cattle Center (Stade Auction) in Richland Center runs its Wednesday dairy auctions weekly. Their August consignment auction is Wednesday, August 26, timed and online only.

Shows and Events

The Governor's Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction is THIS Wednesday, August 12 at the Wisconsin State Fair Coliseum in West Allis. Reception at 5 PM, auction to follow. Tickets are $60 through August 5 and $75 after. This is the big one for Wisconsin agriculture, supporting youth livestock programs across the state. If you have never been, it is worth the trip to see the best of Wisconsin's youth livestock exhibitors.

The Wisconsin State Fair continues through August 16 in West Allis. The Junior Beef Cattle Show runs August 10 through 13. The Open Beef Cattle Show runs August 13 through 16. The Draft Horse Show featuring Belgian, Percheron, Shire, and Spotted Draft classes runs August 11 through 14, and it is also a North American Six Horse Hitch Classic Series qualifier. If you appreciate heavy horses, this is the week to go.

The Grant County Fair in Lancaster runs August 16 through 23, with livestock shows August 19 through 22. Grant County has always been a strong ag county, and this is one of the better regional fairs in southern Wisconsin.

Equine Events, Horse Shows, and Rodeos

August is a big month for equine activity across our coverage area. Here is what is coming up this week.

Rodeos

The St. Croix Valley PRCA Rodeo is August 21 and 22 in Glenwood City, running alongside the St. Croix County Fair. This is one of the premier rodeo events in western Wisconsin, with bareback riding, saddle bronc, bull riding, barrel racing, and tie-down roping. If you are in Polk, St. Croix, or Dunn counties, this is worth the evening drive.

The Wisconsin Valley Fair Rodeo happened August 7 and 8 in Wausau (Marathon County), north of our direct coverage area but a notable regional event that drew good crowds.

Over in Ladysmith, the Rusk County Rodeo ran August 7 and 8. Rusk County borders Price County to the north, so some of you in the Price County area may have made the trip.

The WHSRA Regional Junior and High School Rodeo is August 28 through 30 in Lancaster. If you have a young rodeo competitor in your family, this is the regional qualifier to watch.

Horse Shows and Events

The Wisconsin Ranch Horse Association Show runs August 13 through 16 at the Walworth County Fairgrounds Equestrian Center. This is a strong regional event for ranch riding, reining, and working cow horse enthusiasts. Walworth County is southeast of our primary coverage area, but it is the premier equine facility in southern Wisconsin.

Over at the Eau Claire Bit and Spur Foundation grounds, the Friday Fun Show is August 21, and the WSCA Pleasure Show runs August 22 and 23. Bit and Spur is one of the best equine facilities in western Wisconsin, and their summer show schedule is always strong.

The Northwest Wisconsin Equine Club game show (WSCA) is Saturday, August 29. If you are in Polk, Barron, or Dunn counties and looking for a fun, low-pressure show, this is a good one.

Wild West Campground in Amherst offers daily guided trail rides through August at 10 AM, noon, 2 PM, and 4 PM. $45 per person for a 45-minute ride. A good option if you want to ride but do not have your own horse on the property.

Hunting Seasons, Regulations, and Wildlife Updates

Season Dates Opening Soon

We are one month out from the major fall seasons opening. Here is what to mark on your calendar.

Early teal season opens September 1 and runs through September 9. This is the first waterfowl opportunity of the year, and it is a great warmup for the regular duck season. If you hunt ducks on the flowages in Juneau, Adams, or Wood counties, the early teal action can be excellent on warm September evenings.

Early goose season also opens September 1 through September 15. The resident Canada goose population is strong across all our coverage counties, and early season field hunting in Dunn, St. Croix, and Polk counties is some of the best in the state.

Mourning dove season opens September 1 through November 9. Dove hunting is growing in popularity across Wisconsin, and the agricultural areas in Waushara, Adams, and Juneau counties provide excellent field hunting.

Early bear season opens September 9. Bear zones A, B, and D allow hunting with dogs starting September 16. If you drew a bear tag, now is the time to check your bait sites. I have been hearing from landowners in Clark and Price counties that bear activity has been strong this summer, with good reports coming out of the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.

Archery and crossbow deer season opens Saturday, September 12. Fall turkey season opens the same day. If you are a bowhunter, this is the most exciting date on the calendar. August is the month to get your stands hung, trails trimmed, and cameras checked. Reading access, trails, and terrain on a hunting property is one of the most important skills for a serious buyer.

Ruffed grouse (Zone A) opens September 12 as well. Price, Clark, and Wood counties have solid ruffed grouse populations, and the early season can be excellent if you get out before the leaves drop.

Wildlife Management

The DNR's fall CWD surveillance program is ramping up. If you are in Wood, Crawford, or Adams counties where CWD is established, carcass movement restrictions apply. The DNR website has the latest zone maps and sampling locations. If you are hunting in a CWD-affected county, plan to get your deer tested. It is free to hunters and the data helps manage the herd long term.

Late summer is also the best time to walk a potential hunting property, especially for buyers looking at land in Polk, Price, St. Croix, or Juneau counties. The cover is fully grown out, you can see where the deer are bedding, and you can get a real feel for how the property drains. Walk it now so you know it before the season opens.

Timber and Forestry Activities

Kiln Drying Short Course

The Great Lakes Kiln Drying Association (GLKDA) Kiln Drying Short Course runs this week, August 11 through 13, in Antigo. This workshop covers kiln operation and management for forest products professionals. It is hosted through the Wisconsin DNR Forest Businesses training calendar. If you run or manage a kiln operation, this is the premier training event in the upper Midwest.

Oak Wilt Workshop

The Wisconsin Forestry Center and Natural Resources Foundation are hosting an Oak Wilt Biology and Management Workshop on August 18 from 1 PM to 3:30 PM at Schmeeckle Reserve in Stevens Point. DNR Forest Health Specialist Alex Hornung will discuss oak wilt biology, identification, and management options for landowners. If you own oak timber in Wood, Clark, or Adams counties, oak wilt is a real concern, and this workshop is worth your time.

Forestry Webinars

The Wisconsin Forestry Center is also hosting a Social Science Mini-Series webinar on August 5 titled "Better Together: The Power of Relationships in Fire Management." This one is geared toward professionals, but the insights about prescribed fire and landowner relationships are useful for anyone managing timber in fire-prone areas.

Summer Timber Assessments

August is a key month for summer timber stand assessments across our coverage counties. County foresters in Wood, Clark, Price, and Adams counties are actively doing stand evaluations. If you own timbered acreage and are thinking about a fall or winter harvest, now is the time to get a forester out to mark your stand and get a cruise done. Hardwood and aspen prices have held steady through mid-2026, and fall typically brings active buying from regional mills. I cover timber valuation in detail in my guide on what your timber is worth.

The Managed Forest Law (MFL) program remains open for new enrollment. If you own 10 or more acres of woodland in counties like Price, Clark, Wood, or Waushara, MFL can reduce your property tax burden while keeping your timber managed sustainably. Reach out to your county forester for the latest entry deadlines and eligibility requirements.

ATV and Trail Riding

Group Rides and Club Events

Summer ATV season is running strong across central and western Wisconsin. Most county ATV trails opened in May and are active through mid-September. Here is what is coming up.

The Wisconsin ATV/UTV Association (WATVA) is holding its Northwest Region Workshop on August 22. Location is still being finalized, so watch the WATVA website for details. The Northeast Region workshop was August 8 in Mountain.

The Trempealeau County ATV Club has a two-day ride scheduled for August 29 and 30, with a rain date of September 12 and 13. Trempealeau County sits just south of our coverage area, but the riding there is some of the best in the Driftless, with routes through the coulees and ridge tops. If you ride in western Wisconsin, this one is worth the trip.

In the Northwoods, the St. Germain ATV Club held its group ride on August 15 last week. If you missed it, they typically have late summer rides as well.

Trail Conditions

Trail conditions are generally good across our coverage counties. The Wild Rivers State Trail (Polk County) and the Red Cedar State Trail (Dunn County) are both open and well maintained for ATV and bike use. In Clark and Wood counties, the county forest roads and ATV routes are in good summer shape. Check county trail status pages before you head out, especially after heavy rain events.

Snowmobile Clubs

Snowmobile clubs across the state are holding summer meetings and trail maintenance days. The Trailmates Snowmobile Club (Wausau area) has its August meeting on August 12, with their annual Chicken Dinner on August 22. The Fond Du Lac County Snowmobile Association held a free corn roast on August 8. The Walworth County Snowmobile Alliance has an ATV/UTV Poker Run on August 15. If you belong to a club in Clark, Price, Dunn, or St. Croix counties, check your club's calendar for summer maintenance days. Good summer trail work means good winter riding.

Farming, Crop Reports, and Ag Events

Crop Conditions

The USDA NASS Wisconsin Crop Progress and Condition Report publishes every Monday through the growing season. The report published August 3 showed Wisconsin's corn crop rated 61% good to excellent, with soybeans at 63% good to excellent nationally. Corn is in the dough to dent stage across our coverage counties, with earlier-planted fields in Crawford, Grant, and the southern tier more advanced. Soil moisture remains adequate across central and western Wisconsin, which is good news heading into the critical grain-fill period for corn.

Soybeans are setting pods across Adams, Waushara, Wood, and Juneau counties. The warm weather through July and early August has pushed crop development slightly ahead of the five-year average in many areas. Wheat harvest is wrapping up in southern Wisconsin, and haylage cutting continues in the dairy regions of Dunn, St. Croix, and Polk counties.

County Fairs and Ag Events

Here is the updated county fair lineup for our coverage area through late August:

• Clark County Fair — August 5-9 in Thorp. Completed as of August 10. I heard good reports from neighbors who went.
• Eau Claire County Fair — August 6-8 in Eau Claire. Completed with PRCA rodeo and live bands.
• St. Croix County Fair — August 5-9 in Glenwood City. The 184th edition of Wisconsin's oldest county fair wrapped up this past weekend.
• Wisconsin Valley Fair — August 6-9 in Wisconsin Rapids (Wood County). Featured Shenandoah, Skillet, and the XRoads41 Music Festival.
• Price County Fair — August 20-22 in Phillips. Classic Northwoods fair with livestock, exhibits, and family entertainment.
• Waushara County Fair — August 20-23 in Wautoma. Central Wisconsin lake country fair with midway and ag exhibits.
• Central Wisconsin State Fair — August 25-30 in Marshfield (Wood County). One of the larger fairs in the state, with heavy ag programming, midway, and grandstand entertainment.
• Crawford County Fair — August 27-30 in Gays Mills. The 167th annual fair in the heart of the Driftless Area.
• Grant County Fair — August 16-23 in Lancaster. Livestock shows August 19-22.
• Adams County Fair — September 10-13 in Friendship. Moved from its traditional August slot to September due to carnival availability this year.

Farmers Markets

Mid-August is peak produce season at every farmers market in our coverage area. Sweet corn, tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, and melons are all coming in strong. Here are the markets running this week:

• Eau Claire Downtown Farmers Market — Saturdays, 7:30 AM to noon, Phoenix Park.
• Menomonie Farmers Market — Saturdays, 8 AM to noon and Wednesdays, Wilson Park.
• Baldwin Farmers Market — St. Croix County. Wednesdays, 3 PM to 6 PM.
• Wisconsin Rapids Farmers Market — Wood County. Saturdays, 7 AM to noon.
• Adams Friendship Market — Adams County. Saturdays, 8 AM to noon.
• Phillips Farmers Market — Price County. Thursdays, 2 PM to 5:30 PM.
• St. Croix Falls Farmers Market — Saturdays, downtown St. Croix Falls.
• Rome Farmers Market — Adams County. Gather By the Bandshell, second Tuesday of the month.

Other Notable Rural Community Events

Eau Claire Area (Eau Claire and Dunn Counties)

Brickfest 2026 is Saturday, August 15 at The Brickhouse in Eau Claire. The Chippewa River Trolley Urban Nature Adventure Tour runs August 13. Music fans take note: The String Cheese Incident plays two nights (August 14 and 15) at The Pines, with Leftover Salmon, Lettuce, Eggy, and Dogs in a Pile supporting. If you are in Eau Claire, this is a big weekend.

In Menomonie, Music Over Menomin continues with Balterdash on August 12. A Swift Night Out is August 13 at The Creamery. The Keyes Chevrolet Corvette Car Show was August 8, and Wheeler Days was August 7 through 9. Menomonie has a strong August calendar.

St. Croix and Polk Counties

The Wine and Cheese Festival at Dancing Dragonfly Winery in St. Croix Falls is Saturday, August 15. Saturday Splash and Sounds continues through August 15 at Big Rock Creek, with live music by the pool. Them Coulee Boys play August 18. Wannigan Days in St. Croix Falls and Taylors Falls features a parade through downtown, and the St. Croix River Valley is at its summer peak for boating and recreation.

The St. Croix Valley PRCA Rodeo at the St. Croix County Fairgrounds in Glenwood City is August 21 and 22. If you live in Polk or St. Croix counties, this is a can't-miss event.

Juneau and Adams Counties

Castle Rock Lake and the Wisconsin River flowage are at peak summer recreation levels. The lake country around Juneau and Adams counties is a major destination for cabin owners and vacationers. If you are looking at recreational parcels near the lakes, late summer is the time to see the property at its busiest. The Gather By the Bandshell event at Rome Town Center is the second Tuesday of the month.

Wood County

The Wisconsin Valley Fair wrapped up August 9, but the Central Wisconsin State Fair in Marshfield is coming up August 25 through 30. Ryan Stevenson performs August 14 at the Performing Arts Center in Wisconsin Rapids. Wood County sits at the intersection of central Wisconsin agriculture and Northwoods recreation, and the land market here continues to be active for both tillable ground and hunting tracts.

Price County

The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest is open for dispersed camping, hiking, and mountain biking. The North Country National Scenic Trail runs through Price County and is in great shape for summer hiking. The Price County Fair is August 20 through 22 in Phillips. If you are looking at timber or recreational land in the Northwoods, August is prime scouting season before the fall market picks up.

Clark County

The Clark County Fair wrapped up August 9 in Thorp. Clark County's forest land and affordable hunting tracts continue to draw buyer interest. If you own timber or recreational land in Clark County and are thinking about selling, late summer is the time to get it ready for fall buyers.

Crawford County

The Driftless Area is at its summer peak. The Crawford County Fair runs August 27 through 30 in Gays Mills. Summer trout fishing on the spring-fed streams of Crawford County is excellent through October 15. The bluff country around the Kickapoo and Wisconsin rivers offers some of the most beautiful rural property in the state.

Waushara County

The Waushara County Fair runs August 20 through 23 in Wautoma. Waushara County is central Wisconsin lake country, with strong demand for seasonal and recreational properties around the many lakes in the county.

Archived: Past Events Now Complete

The following events from previous weeks have now passed. These are noted here so the site stays current and you know what is behind us.

• Dunn County Fair — July 22-26, 2026, Menomonie (completed)
• Polk County Fair — July 23-26, 2026, St. Croix Falls (completed)
• Forest Fest — July 25, 2026, Eagle River (completed)
• Clark County Fair — August 5-9, 2026, Thorp (completed)
• Eau Claire County Fair — August 6-8, 2026, Eau Claire (completed)
• St. Croix County Fair — August 5-9, 2026, Glenwood City (completed)
• Wisconsin Valley Fair — August 6-9, 2026, Wisconsin Rapids/Wood County (completed)
• Fennimore Livestock Exchange Slaughter & Replacement — August 5, 2026 (completed)
• Bloomington Livestock Exchange Feeder Sale — August 7, 2026 (completed)