Welcome to the first edition of the Weekly Rural Wisconsin Community Digest. I am Erica Lawton, your Farm Gal Realtor, and I cover Adams, Clark, Crawford, Dunn, Eau Claire, Juneau, Polk, Price, St. Croix, Waushara, and Wood counties. Every week I am going to round up what is happening across this part of the state, from cattle auctions and county fairs to ATV rides and timber sales. If you live rural, work rural, or want to buy rural property in Wisconsin, this digest is for you.
August is peak fair season across Wisconsin. The corn is tasseled out, the calves are weaned, and every county from the Driftless to the Northwoods is firing up the midway. Here is what is on the calendar this week and beyond.
Cattle Industry News and Auctions
This Week's Sales
Fennimore Livestock Exchange runs its regular slaughter and replacement cattle sale on Wednesday, August 5. If you are in southwest Wisconsin and have cattle to move, this is one of the better regional markets. They run every Wednesday, but the August 5 and August 12 sales are the ones to circle.
Bloomington Livestock Exchange holds its combination feeder cattle sale (Beef, Holstein, Angus X) on Friday, August 14 and again on August 28. These are the 2nd and 4th Friday sales that draw consignments from across Grant, Crawford, and Richland counties.
Down in Thorp (Clark County), Oberholtzer Auctions has a machinery consignment sale with feeder cattle and market cows on Friday, August 14. This is a good one if you are in Clark County and looking to move cattle alongside equipment before harvest season kicks into high gear.
Shows and Events
The Governor's Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction is Wednesday, August 12 in Madison. Reception at 5 PM, auction to follow. Tickets are $60 before 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 drive.
The Wisconsin State Fair runs August 6 through 16 in West Allis. The Junior Beef Cattle Show runs August 10 through 13, and the Open Beef Cattle Show runs August 13 through 16. If you are showing or just watching, State Fair is the capstone of the summer livestock season.
The Grant County Fair in Lancaster runs August 16 through 23, with livestock shows and competitive exhibits August 19 through 22. Grant County is a strong ag county, and their fair reflects that.
The Wisconsin Brown Swiss State Show is in Madison at the Alliant Energy Center, August 22 through 26. If Brown Swiss cattle are your thing, this is the state gathering.
Equine Events, Horse Shows, and Rodeos
If you ride, you have options in Wisconsin this month. Here is what is coming up across our coverage area.
Rodeos
Hell on Hooves Rodeo at Wild West Days in Viroqua (Vernon County) runs August 13 with mutton bustin', bull riding, bronc riding, barrel racing, and ranch rodeo events. Viroqua is about as western Wisconsin as it gets, and this rodeo draws a good crowd every year.
The Richland Center Rodeo continues through August 23 in Richland Center. It has been running since mid-July, so there is still time to catch it before the summer season winds down.
Horse Shows and Events
Over at the Eau Claire Bit and Spur Foundation grounds, there is a full August schedule. The WWDA Dressage Show runs August 8 and 9. The Friday Fun Show is August 21. And the WSCA Pleasure Show runs August 22 and 23. If you are in western Wisconsin and looking for a place to ride and show, Bit and Spur is one of the best facilities in the region.
The WWHSA UMBHA Show is August 15 and 16 in West Salem (La Crosse County). This is a regional Morgan and pleasure horse show that draws riders from across the upper Midwest.
The Otter Creek Summer Horse Trials run August 7 through 9 in Darlington (Lafayette County). USEA and USEF recognized, from Starter through Intermediate courses. If eventing is your sport, this is a strong, well-run event in southwestern Wisconsin.
And the Wisconsin State Fair Draft Horse Show runs August 11 through 14 in West Allis, featuring Belgian, Percheron, Shire, and Spotted Draft classes. It is also a North American Six Horse Hitch Classic Series qualifier. If you appreciate heavy horses, put this on your list.
Hunting Seasons, Regulations, and Wildlife Updates
August is the quiet month for hunting in Wisconsin. Most big game and waterfowl seasons do not open until September. But that does not mean there is nothing going on. Here is what to know this week.
Season Dates to Watch
Early bear season (Zones A, B, D) opens September 9. If you drew a bear tag, now is the time to get your bait sites prepped and your gear checked. The DNR published the spring turkey harvest results in June (stable harvest, consistent with prior years), and applications for elk season closed May 31. Archery and crossbow deer season opens September 12, with fall turkey starting the same day.
Inland trout season is still open through October 15. August is a great month for trout fishing on the spring-fed streams of the Driftless Area, especially in Crawford and Vernon counties. If you have not fished the timber country streams in Clark or Price counties, those are worth the trip too.
Wildlife Management
The DNR continues CWD surveillance across the state. If you are in a CWD-affected county (including Wood, Crawford, and parts of Adams County), remember that carcass movement restrictions and special antlerless deer rules apply. The DNR website has the latest zone maps and disposal guidelines.
For those of you looking at hunting land in Polk, Price, or St. Croix counties, late summer is the best time to walk a property. The cover is at its fullest, the trails are visible, and you can see how the terrain drains and where the deer are bedding. Reading access, trails, and terrain on a hunting property is one of the most important skills for a serious buyer.
Timber and Forestry Activities
The Great Lakes Kiln Drying Association (GLKDA) Kiln Drying Short Course is 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 and is a solid opportunity for anyone in the timber industry who runs or manages a kiln operation.
August is also the month when many county foresters in Wood, Clark, Price, and Adams counties are doing their summer timber stand assessments. If you own timbered acreage and are thinking about a harvest in the fall, now is the time to get a forester out to mark your stand. Prices for Wisconsin hardwood and aspen have held steady through mid-2026, and the fall market typically sees active buying from regional mills. I cover this in more detail in my guide on what your timber is worth.
For conservation-minded landowners, the DNR's working forest and Managed Forest Law (MFL) enrollment remains open. If you own 10 or more acres of woodland in counties like Price, Clark, or Wood, MFL can reduce your property tax burden while keeping your timber managed sustainably. Reach out to your county forester for the latest entry deadlines.
ATV and Trail Riding
Summer ATV season is in full swing across central and western Wisconsin. Most county ATV trails opened in May and are running through the fall. Here is what is happening this week.
Group Rides and Club Events
The St. Germain ATV Club has a group ride on August 15 from 10:30 AM to 3:00 PM. This is in Vilas County, north of our primary coverage area, but it is a well-organized ride that draws riders from across the state.
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 has some of the best ATV riding in the Driftless Area, with routes that take you through the coulees and ridge tops. If you ride in western Wisconsin, this is worth the trip.
The Wisconsin ATV/UTV Association is holding its Northwest Region Workshop on August 22. Location is still being finalized, but watch the WATVA website for details.
Trail Notes
Trail conditions vary by county and recent rainfall. In general, the trails in Price, Polk, Clark, and Wood counties are in good summer shape. The Wild Rivers State Trail (Polk County) and the Red Cedar State Trail (Dunn County) are both open and well maintained. Check county trail status pages before you head out, especially after heavy rain.
Snowmobile clubs are holding summer meetings and trail maintenance days this month. If you belong to a club in Clark, Price, or St. Croix counties, check your club calendar for brush clearing and sign maintenance dates. Good summer 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 most recent report (July 27) showed most of the state's corn in the dough to dent stage, with soybeans setting pods. Soil moisture was adequate to surplus across most of central and western Wisconsin. The early-planted corn in our southern counties, including Crawford, Grant, and Iowa, is looking strong heading into August.
Haylage and corn silage cutting is ramping up in Dunn, St. Croix, and Polk counties. Wheat harvest is wrapping up in the southern tier of our coverage area. If you are a farmer in Adams, Waushara, or Wood counties, keep an eye on the USDA reports for price trends as we head into the fall corn market.
County Fairs (The Big Summer Ag Events)
This week is the real kickoff for county fair season across our coverage area. Here is the lineup:
- Clark County Fair — August 5-9 in Thorp. Theme is "Red, White, & Boots." Livestock shows, midway, entertainment.
- Eau Claire County Fair — August 6-8 in Eau Claire. PRCA rodeo, live bands, corn boils, family activities.
- St. Croix County Fair — Opening August 5 in Glenwood City. The 184th edition of Wisconsin's oldest county fair. That is right, 184 years. If you have never been, this year is the one.
- Price County Fair — August 20-22 in Phillips. Classic Northwoods fair with livestock and exhibits.
- Waushara County Fair — August 20-23 in Wautoma. Central Wisconsin lake country fair.
- Central Wisconsin State Fair — August 25-30 in Marshfield (Wood County). One of the larger fairs in the state, with heavy ag programming.
- Crawford County Fair — August 27-30 in Gays Mills. The 167th annual fair in the heart of the Driftless Area.
- Adams County Corn N Tater Festival — August 15 in Grand Marsh. Not the full fair (that moved to September 10-13 this year), but a great community event.
Farmers Markets
National Farmers Market Week is August 2-8. If you have not visited your local farmers market yet this summer, this is the week to go. Here are the markets running in our coverage area:
- Eau Claire Downtown Farmers Market — Saturdays, 7:30 AM to noon, Phoenix Park. One of the best in western Wisconsin.
- Menomonie Farmers Market — Saturdays, 8 AM to noon, 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.
The Westby Friday Night Farm and Flea Markets run August 7 and 14 in Vernon County. They draw a good crowd with fresh produce, baked goods, and local crafts.
Other Notable Rural Community Events
I wanted to highlight a few more things happening across our coverage area this week that do not fit neatly into one category but are worth knowing about.
Polk County
The St. Croix Falls area is busy this month. Water sports on the St. Croix River are at their peak, with the National Scenic Riverway drawing boaters, kayakers, and anglers from the Twin Cities metro. If you are looking at rural property in Polk or St. Croix counties, August is the best time to see what the river corridor lifestyle really looks like.
Juneau County
Castle Rock Lake and the Wisconsin River flowage are busy with recreational traffic. The lake country around Juneau and Adams counties is prime cabin and vacation home territory, and the late summer market is active. I am seeing good inventory of recreational parcels near the lake areas.
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. If you are looking at timber or recreational land in the Northwoods, August is prime scouting season.
Dunn County
Menomonie's Red Cedar State Trail is a favorite for biking and hiking. The trail runs 14.5 miles along the Red Cedar River and connects to the Chippewa River State Trail for longer rides. If you are thinking about buying rural property in Dunn County, the trail access and college-town amenities in Menomonie make it one of the more practical options in western Wisconsin.
Wood County
The Central Wisconsin State Fair is still a few weeks out (August 25-30), but planning is underway in Marshfield. 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 parcels.
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)
That Is the Week Ahead
That covers it for the first week of August. County fairs, cattle sales, horse shows, ATV rides, and the quiet before hunting season kicks off in September. I hope this digest helps you stay connected to what is happening in rural Wisconsin.
If you know of an event I should include in next week's digest, or if you have questions about rural property in any of the counties I cover, reach out. I am your Farm Gal Realtor, and I am in these communities every week. You can send me an email at erica@ericalawton.com or give me a call at (715) 495-0456.
And if you are thinking about buying or selling rural property in Wisconsin, I would love to talk. Farm ground, hunting land, timber, ranch, or recreational acreage — I help with all of it across Adams, Clark, Crawford, Dunn, Eau Claire, Juneau, Polk, Price, St. Croix, Waushara, and Wood counties.