How it’s Made in Wisconsin

How it’s Made in Wisconsin

We are seeking corporations, organizations and makers of all sizes and sectors to provide a unique “behind-the-scenes” perspective of Wisconsin-made products via facility tours, demonstrations or open house opportunities for your local communities and school groups as part of the 2025 Wisconsin Science Festival.

Why?

  1. Help communities learn more about the science and technology behind how products are made in Wisconsin and why they are important to our state.
  2. The science festival’s How It’s Made in Wisconsin project provides opportunities for Wisconsin-based companies to gain exposure and promote accessibility of STEM to target audiences.
  3. The Wisconsin Science Festival provides unique opportunities for youth to connect to experts in their own communities and learn about potential career paths.
  4. No cost to participate, and companies will be highlighted as festival event host sites.

How it works

  1. Complete the interest application form to establish available dates, times and group sizes. Events can be open to the public or serve preregistered groups only depending on facility needs.
  2. The Wisconsin Science Festival team will help connect, and supplement costs for, schools, community groups, 4-H volunteers, etc. in the area who are interested in attending.
  3. Companies will be included in regional and statewide marketing efforts and will also receive additional materials to help promote their participation in the festival.

2024 Partners:

  • Farm Wisconsin Discovery Center (Manitowoc) = Open to all ages. A standard tour includes an introduction to our facility and Wisconsin agriculture through interactive exhibits, birthing barn insight and a dairy farm bus tour. We also offer hands-on STEM labs as an add-on experience. Typical visit length is 2-3.5 hours. Learn more: https://farmwisconsin.org/
  • Babcock Dairy (Madison) = Visit the Babcock Dairy Store Observation Deck to learn about dairy processing, making ice cream and cheese, and pasteurizing milk. Buy breakfast, lunch or a cone during your visit. (Cashless only)
  • ABS Global (Rio) = Designed for ages 7th grade and up. Tour is 1 hour with available dates Oct 15 & 16. Facility tours include behind-the-scenes of Leeds, Wisconsin state-of-the-art facilities housing nearly 500 bull – both dairy and beef sires. Headquartered in DeForest, Wisconsin, USA, ABS Global is the world-leading provider of bovine genetics, reproduction services, technologies, and udder care products. Learn more: https://www.absglobal.com/
  • Sassy Cow Creamery (Columbus) = Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 10am, 12pm and 2pm. Our farm tours are approximately 45 minutes long, giving the attendees a full view of our operating dairy farm. Our tour guests can expect the opportunity to learn all about dairy farming in Wisconsin as well as have the chance to pet a cow. Guests of all ages are welcome, with each tour being tailored to best suit the age range attending. Learn more: https://sassycowcreamery.com/
  • Vesperman Farms (Lancaster) = Find out how science plays a huge role in everything that happens on the farm, from making apple cider donuts and growing a wide array of plants, to launching pumpkins around the farm and cutting a precise pattern in the field for the annual corn maze. All these events are open to the public, prearranged groups are also welcome. Learn more: https://www.vespermanfarms.com/

2023 Partners:

  • Generac (Waukesha) = Generac is a leading provider of energy technology solutions and power products, and their employees incorporate the “T” or technology in STEM daily across multiple facets of the business. Middle and high school classrooms are invited to participate in a two-hour “doors open” experience at their global headquarters in Waukesha to discover how different departments utilize technology to complete projects and fuel innovation as they seek to power a smarter world. 40 student maximum. Learn more about Generac at https://www.generac.com/
  • Turner Hall (Milwaukee) = Join Turner Hall staff on a tour of the building to draw connections between its history and how the evolution of technology connects to the building, making it what it is today. Learn more: https://www.milwaukeeturners.org/visit
  • Sherman Phoenix Marketplace (Milwaukee) = Learn more: https://www.shermanphoenix.com/marketplace
  • WI Cranberry Research Station (Black River Falls) = Max of 60 students. Join us for a marsh tour covering how cranberries are grown while also highlighting research and applied sciences beyond the classroom/lab. This is an outdoor marsh tour and would involve some walking around the marsh.
  • Tri State Custom Windows (Dodgeville) = Learn more: https://www.tristatecustomwindows.com/
  • Babcock Dairy (Madison) = Visit the Babcock Dairy Store Observation Deck to learn about dairy processing, making ice cream and cheese, and pasteurizing milk. Buy breakfast, lunch or a cone during your visit. (Cashless only)
  • Thermo Fisher Scientific (Madison) = Learn more: https://www.thermofisher.com/us/en/home.html
  • Pablo Center at the Confluence (Eau Claire) = Take a behind-the-scenes tour of the Pablo Center.

Have questions? Contact Sam Mulrooney, Wisconsin Science Festival director.

(608) 316-4390 | smulrooney@wisc.edu

Project sponsor:

Project partner: