Farmers And Mental Health (Hour 2)

Transcript

Farmers And Mental Health (Hour 2)

Matenaer on Air · Mon May 19, 2025

Kathryn Lake

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Jane Matenaer

Good morning and welcome, welcome to Matt Nair on air.

Jane Matt Nair, Greg Buck, Calvin Butenoff coming to you live from our studio at Radio Park in Racine.

You can always join us no matter where you're listening across the state, perhaps you're in Oshkosh.

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Butternut.

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Amory, Amory.

You can always join us 855-752-4842.

Leave a comment if you're watching in the live stream on Facebook, YouTube, and what used to be Twitter coming up in about a half an hour after the 1030 news, a segment which has turned you into what we call Audio Sorbet.

It's an opportunity for us to take a little cleansing, a little cleansing for your ears away from the news.

So after the 1030 news, we're going to love on our state.

Parks, Wisconsin State Parks celebrating 125 years, we want to know about your favorite state park.

And then we're going to share the best worst reviews of Wisconsin State Parks.

They're hilarious.

Greg Bach

They're really, they'll make you feel so

Jane Matenaer

good.

You will, you will die.

And then we're going to wrap up the show as we always do with this.

It shouldn't be a thing.

Today it is the, I'm going to mule over this edition.

So stay tuned for that.

Right now, though, it has been far too long since she has been on our airwaves.

Our friend, she is the fabulous farm babe.

She is Pam Yankee.

Good morning, Pam.

How are

Pam Jahnke

you?

Good morning, kiddo.

I'm outstanding.

I'm outstanding in a in a winter coat today, though, surprisingly

Jane Matenaer

enough.

It's chilly.

You are you are live from our world saving media's world headquarters overlooking State Street in Madison.

So one of the reasons why we wanted to have you on and we're going to get to lighter things in just a little bit.

But May is Mental Health Awareness Month.

And when we've had you on before, Pam, we've talked about this quite a bit.

when it comes to Wisconsin farmers and mental health.

And we all know our farmers have had a lot of challenges.

It seems like always.

Yeah, I was going to say the last 10 years.

No, it goes even beyond the last 10 years.

It's always been tough for farmers.

And mental health is one of those things that you want to

Nobody wants to talk about.

Nobody wants to talk about that they're having struggles, that they're having a tough time.

What resources are available for Wisconsin Farmers Pym?

Pam Jahnke

Well, and I'll tell you, Jane, it's really particularly strong to me right now after the storms that went through last week in Dodge County and some of those surrounding areas.

The reason being is right now is really crunch time for a lot of our Wisconsin farmers.

They are in the middle of trying to get everything done as far as planting is concerned.

Now put on top of that, the tornadoes or straight line winds, whatever they decided is that came through that area.

I was telling somebody this morning.

what you don't stop and think about when you look at pictures.

Now, social media has been just awash with pictures, showing everything from an impaled cow that got caught with a two by four right on through to just absolutely demolished barns.

And that's tragic, always tragic.

Anytime something like that happens to anybody, farmer or not,

is

Pam Jahnke

tragic.

But then you stop and think about the prolonged mental stress that that farm's going to be under.

Stop and think how many farms, when you drive out in Wisconsin these days, you see barns, right?

But not all barns have animals in them.

Not all barns have plumbing or water or electricity.

Definitely don't have milking equipment.

So now my barn's gone.

Where am I going to take all these cows so that they can get milk twice a day?

There's stress for number one.

If I happen to have neighbors nearby that have space, now I may have the couple of the barns where I'm milking more than a couple hundred cows.

Family farms that were milking a couple hundred cows.

Now I may have cows at three different locations.

Now, I have to coordinate milk pickup.

I have to coordinate milking those cows, veterinary checks.

And where did the feed go?

When that storm came through, all of my feed likely disappeared with it.

And if you take a look outside of these days, folks, there's not a lot of things growing

that

Pam Jahnke

we're going to be able to feed our cows and keep them going.

That's why I really think it's important to remind people about the available resources for mental health.

You lean on your neighbors.

Your neighbors are there.

The casserole parade is already unfolded.

But then there's those moments where you have to say, uh-oh, how am I going to pick myself up, dust myself off, and keep going?

And that's why Wisconsin, since the pandemic, I believe really amplified what we've been doing as far as resources for Wisconsin farmers.

Now we're almost to the point where it's a maze of, oh my god, I've got all these toll-free numbers, but what do you do?

Somebody told me the other day, and I think it's very, very wise.

Before you start telling somebody to reach out, call that resource and find out what you're

really getting at the end of that phone

Pam Jahnke

line.

Because everybody's got a toll free number.

But do they really know agriculture?

Do they really know the stressors that you are going through?

Whether it's tomorrow, we're going to get one to two inches of rain.

That's going to kick us out of the fields.

If I'm not even started, that's a stressor.

uh, you know, bring about real life challenges like, uh, alcohol, drugs, uh, we're getting older.

Now my physical body can't do what I need it to do.

All of that mounts.

So I always remind people, I feel most confident about the Wisconsin department of egg tree and consumer protection.

They have the farmer hotline, which I will be giving you the 800 number there.

And that really gives a kind of a pallet of services for farms.

So they'll help you with financial resources if you're struggling to figure out how to pay bills or how to manage debt.

They'll also help you with herd health.

That's something that nobody talks about.

When you are America's Dairyland, a lot of your stress comes from, why can't I fix this with my dairy cows?

What in the world is wrong here?

So they help with that.

They also have counseling that's available, and they work through other challenges like transition.

How am I going to get the next generation?

to come along with me, and the dynamics of family business, which is really what 99% of our farms are.

Now, that number is 800-942-2474.

800-942-2474.

And that one is available basically during business hours, but they always will get back to you.

And that's one thing I always like to remind people is they will get back to you.

And then there's the other side of things.

As I said, when you get older,

or you're physically becoming more challenged, now they've started since the pandemic, a farmer wellness hotline, and that will allow for remote vouchers.

Oh,

that's a great idea.

Pam Jahnke

I just talked to Jess Boatchamp, who is the coolest chick.

She is the one that you will likely catch when you call for the farmer wellness helpline.

Jess is currently building a house right near my home farm, ironically enough, and yet we've never met.

which is hard to say about Abrams.

But anyhow, so what she was telling me is she is finding more and more farms that are comfortable using a voucher system if they need resources.

Because the last thing you want to ask a farmer to do is leave the farm to go to a session.

So these can be virtual.

And the other thing that they found is, I think she said once a month, they will get together online and just talk.

They'll have one farmer that maybe has been in kind of the conversations a little longer act as a

moderator

Pam Jahnke

and Then they go and you decide what's going to be discussed now farmer to farmer.

That's where the groove That's where the magic really happens getting them to do that and the farmer wellness hotline is 888 901 25 58 888

901, 2558, and that's a 24-7 gig.

Now, it's not that Jess is propping her eyelids open with toothpicks to be there, but we've got an arrangement with Iowa, for example, Minnesota.

They've got similar services.

So if

somebody's going to pick up.

Pam Jahnke

Somebody's going to pick up on him.

So those are the two main ones that I know that I am confident about, that I feel good referencing others.

Now, there's many other groups that we are fortunate to have around.

somebody in Sauk County lived through a husband's suicide, had farmed all his life, had challenges with depression at all his life, finally took his life, and the church community in the Sauk County community stepped in and said, hey, we got to do this.

These are our neighbors.

So they have the Farmer Angel Network.

Greg Bach

We

Pam Jahnke

have them on

Greg Bach

the show.

Pam Jahnke

Yeah.

I'm just, those people are so wonderful at how it is morphed into so much more.

And again, that's a farmer to farmer, completely confidential always, farmer to farmer kind of conversation that happens.

They just got done with a series of spring meetings to try to get everybody feeling better as they went to the fields.

Because as you alluded to with the outset, Jane, the unfortunate part about the audience that I love is they rank near the top in the nation of suicide.

Victims farming is not only one of the most dangerous occupations still even with technology.

It is also unfortunately one of the number one Suicide categories and it's because it's still largely dominated by men.

Yep, men don't talk men don't share men are super steel and then and and on the farm.

We've got guns.

We've got heavy machinery.

We've got all kinds of ways

that we can make it look like an accident if we want.

And that's what I hear from insurance agents is when somebody calls them and says, I want to know about my life insurance policy.

Red flag.

Yeah.

Red flag.

Why are you asking this?

And they will do some triage to see what's going on and ask maybe the question, are you thinking about suicide?

And that's a trigger because what they're trying to do is make sure that I'm going to make it look like an accident.

and set up the farm.

So these are the conversations.

Jane Matenaer

If you're just joining us, Pam Yankee is our guest.

She is the fabulous farm babe.

You can hear her reports and her colleagues' reports across civic media.

And we're talking about mental health, especially, May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and especially about Wisconsin farmers.

We will include those numbers that you gave us, Pam, in our show notes.

Greg will make sure that they're in our show notes.

All I can think to is one of the groups that you mentioned.

Farmer to farmer, having farmer to farmer conversations has really got to be the way to go.

Pam Jahnke

Oh, you definitely see response.

And it also helps regardless of demographics.

Let's recognize that Wisconsin farmers, although not as old as the national average, let's say the average Wisconsin farm is, you know, mid fifties.

But you may have young farmers that are in a different situation.

They've got a growing family or they're dealing with the stress of that transition.

Mom and dad don't want to get out of the way.

But I want a farm to be able to have different groups dealing with different items or circulating through different items and in a non-judgmental way, talking with each other.

That has turned out, according to Jess Bochamp, turned out to be very, very valuable to them.

And they seem to work.

And like I said, they can do it on their time.

If Jess wants to go to bed, for example, they can have a conversation after chores are done at 8.39 o'clock at

Jane Matenaer

night.

Yeah, that's got to make all the difference, really.

And what you mentioned, Pam, about that is in all of the years I've been doing this and in all the storm reporting that I've done over the years, I never once thought about somebody's barn getting destroyed.

And what if you milked in that barn and what do you do with those cows that still have to get milked?

They don't care.

There was a storm.

Yeah.

Pam Jahnke

And

Jane Matenaer

also, oh, go on Pam, go on.

Pam Jahnke

Well, I was just going to say, I know that many people have seen the news reports and that the very emotional.

I mean, listen, whether you want to believe it or not, if she's got a name or a number, I know that cow.

If I have to euthanize that cow, that is a mentally, oh, you think it's bad losing your dog or cat?

People.

I've spent half a generation trying to bring this cow into my herd.

And just watching the animals, I think, is probably the most difficult for any dairy farmer to handle.

And like I said, this is just the beginning of their path to recovery.

And it ain't going to happen overnight.

And the cast rules are going to disappear, and they're still going to have to be figuring out what next to get those cows home.

Jane Matenaer

Reach out for help.

Help is available.

Please don't keep it to yourself.

Find someone to talk to.

Check our show notes.

civicmedia.us.

Go to shows, click on Matt and Air on Air.

Everything will be right there.

We're going to continue our conversation with Pam Yankee on the other side.

Stay with us.

You are listening to Matt and Air on Air.

This is the Civic Media Radio Network.

We'll be right back.

Then she starts to cry.

She takes a swing, man.

She can't hurt.

She don't mean no harm.

She just don't know what else to do.

Kathryn Lake

Bye.

You're listening to Civic Media.

Stay up to date on the latest news and information for your local community and Wisconsin by signing up for our free email newsletter.

Visit civicmedia.us slash email to get started.

Jane Matenaer

Good morning and welcome back to Matt Nair on air.

Jane Matt Nair, Greg Bach and the Board Lord coming to you from our studio at Radio Park in Racine where you can always join us, give us a call, send in a text at 855-752-4842.

You can also leave a comment if you're watching on the live stream on Facebook, YouTube and what used to be Twitter after the 1030 News audio survey.

We are going to talk about our state parks and which one is your favorite?

And then we're going to share some of the best worst state park reviews.

They're hilarious.

Wonderful.

They are too much grass.

Too much.

There's it was a great state park, too much grass.

I don't understand the grass.

So that's all coming up after 10 30 right now, though.

Pam Yonkey is here.

She is the fabulous farm babe.

And you hear her reports across civic media.

And we had a text come in specifically for you, my friend.

Greg Bach

Yes, Carol from Walk Shall Listen in WAUK says, please let Pam know what a treasure she is.

She is an amazing advocate for farmers and agriculture as well as a tremendous educator for those of us unfamiliar with the issues farmers face.

Now I'm glad Carol said that because that leads me into my question of guidance.

Now,

I suggest everyone listen to the Midwest Farm Report every morning from five to six right here on Civic Media, whether it's Pam Yankees, Stephanie Hoff or Ben Jarbo talking about the things that are important about farmers.

But, you know, Pam, I didn't grow up in the farm.

I grew up in the suburbs.

I don't have farmers in my family.

Where would people go to get just your basic information besides your show on what's going on on our farms in Wisconsin and what is going on?

with our farmers themselves just so we're you know more educated and understand because a lot of people think farms that's that's way out in the country no it's 10 minutes west of you

Pam Jahnke

yeah yeah especially in wisconsin yeah you're you're right in fact we were kind of talking about that i was i was uh with a young man that's 21 and same background zip on agriculture and i walked him through and i said you know

literally Wisconsin is still very fortunate that you don't have to drive very far before you find your first farm.

It may look different.

It may be more of a vegetable or produce, but they're there.

And I kind of speak to all of them.

You know, like I said, I kind of make sure I'm very careful about what I advise people to tap into because there's so much out there.

So I always encourage you please Midwest Farm Report on all the platforms on our website because at least I know that's a vetted source.

and what you get is going to be verified.

There's a lot of social media streams.

I like to watch what's happening with the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation, Wisconsin Farmers Union.

If you're an issues-driven person, if you're curious, I see some people that asked about state legislature doing some things, that would be the best place to kind of walk along there.

I routinely talk to Senator Pat Teston, who's the current chair of the Senate Agriculture and Revenue Committee.

Then we've got Howard Markline, who's joint finance but comes from farming.

So some of those individuals may post things on occasion.

The National Association of Farm Broadcasters does a good job of trying to get stuff out too.

One site that I really think for just tidbits that will get you thinking, Wisconsin Ag in the classroom.

Now it's designed for school kids, but not to, I don't want to condescend to the audience, but given the lack of understanding a lot of folks or exposure people may have had to agriculture, those little tidbits might be thought starters that you never

Jane Matenaer

imagined.

Pam Jahnke

Just look for Wisconsin Ag in the classroom and it will give you little pieces of information on all of Wisconsin agriculture.

My heart, my background is in dairy, but think about cranberries and ginseng and things that you

would have to travel to see if you wanted to see.

And the Wisconsin Ag and the Classroom program does it really wonderfully.

The other thing I like about it is they've got hands-on learning.

It's designed for teachers.

And what they do is they give teachers lesson plans that can also include teaching kids how to make butter, teaching kids how to do in the classroom cheese making in a Ziploc.

I mean, just if you think as an adult going through the process,

And, oh yeah, I never thought about salt, or I never thought about this, or I never thought about a flavor.

It does help you kind of get connected, if you will.

So, those are some sources.

Greg Bach

And I want to remind everybody too that, you know, speaking of the Wisconsin Farmers Union, we have Derek Von Ruden.

I'm Darren.

Jane Matenaer

We do this all the time.

We screw up his name

Greg Bach

all the time.

Darren Von Ruden, who is the president on...

the first Wednesday of every month

to

Greg Bach

be on the show, to talk about those issue-driven ideas and those notions that are affecting farmers.

And also, Pat Crichtlow has Hans Brighton-Moser on as

well.

So

Greg Bach

there are plenty of resources, but this is great, Pam.

And I'll go through some of those and I will get them linked in the show notes so people can, and I don't think it's condescending at all to tell people, hey, if you don't know anything, start where the kids start at the beginning

Pam Jahnke

and educate yourself.

Yeah, that's a great

Greg Bach

idea.

Pam Jahnke

Well, and like I said, they're short.

because if you're not in it, your attention span to it isn't going to be all that

great to

Pam Jahnke

begin with.

And like I said, in this day and time, there is so much content out there.

But it's generally like if you go to social media, somebody's got a point they're trying to make.

I always want to make sure that I'm providing you just a whole lot of options, but verified options that are news driven, fact driven, so that you can make your own decisions.

And like I said, egg in the classroom.

Start with the tidbits.

Start with the little bits that you can share with somebody else at the water cooler as they used to say.

Jane Matenaer

Now I want to make cheese in here.

Now I want to make Matt Nair on air cheese.

You guys

Pam Jahnke

want to make cheese in a

Jane Matenaer

bag?

There you go.

Pam Jahnke

We're going to check that out.

Jane Matenaer

We're going to start there.

We're going to make cheese.

That sounds like a real

Greg Bach

Gouda

Jane Matenaer

idea.

Oh, I like that.

Bam Yankee is the fabulous farm, babe.

So good to see you.

Thank you so very much, my friend.

Take care.

We'll have you back on in a few.

Good to

Jane Matenaer

see you.

News is coming up next, and then when we return, let's love on our Wisconsin State Parks.

You are listening to Matt Nair on air.

This is the Civic Media Radio Network.

Good, good morning.

Welcome back to Matt and Air on Air.

Jane Matt and Air.

Greg Bach and Sweet Calbee on the board coming to you from our studio at Radio Park in Racine.

You can always join us, call or text.

The number is the same.

855-752-4842.

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We do have baseball coming up a little bit later on today.

Our broadcast starts at 6 0 5.

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In Hayward the Crew, hosting the Orioles tonight, our broadcast starts at 605 Go Crew.

Yeah.

Saw this article and thought it would be an opportunity for us to love on our state parks.

This from the Wisconsin Public Radio, Joel Patton out with the byline, much loved and underfunded.

Wisconsin State Parks celebrate 125 years.

Thanks to revenue sharing and volunteers.

That's essentially what keeps our parks open.

We have 50 state parks.

So what is your favorite state park in Wisconsin?

855-752-4842.

Your favorite state park in Wisconsin.

Which one is it?

We want to know.

What do you love to do there?

What's so great about it?

And then we're going to share some of the best, worst.

Reviews is amazing of Wisconsin state parks Do you have a favorite

Greg Bach

I am not going to lie I don't have a ton of exposure to Wisconsin state parks, but I always love Devils Lake Park It's just beautiful.

There's a lot of walk.

Jane Matenaer

It's

Greg Bach

unique.

Jane Matenaer

It's very

Greg Bach

It's sought after people go there all the time and it's cool place to go and relax and hang out I mean like all good parks.

I mean all parks would wonderful, but Devils Lake is just

I have to go back there.

Jane Matenaer

855-752-4842.

What is your favorite state park in Wisconsin?

855-75 Civic.

I think about all the ones around.

Bayfield, the Apostle Islands, I mean, the Apostle Islands State Park, that whole area is kind of like one big park.

Greg Bach

Bayfield is just, I mean, I would love to get up there and just spend some time.

Jane Matenaer

You would love Bayfield.

I want to

Greg Bach

really visit Northwestern Wisconsin, because the stories I hear, and I know Tony is up in Ashland.

It's just

Jane Matenaer

it's so beautiful.

Yeah, we are blessed with Unbelievable nature here.

We really are in Wisconsin and depending upon where you go around the state You get something a little bit different all over the place.

Greg Bach

Absolutely

Jane Matenaer

eight five five seven five two four eight four two What is your favorite, Wisconsin State Park?

I have friends who would always go to Copper Falls or the the flowage

The Flowage.

Welcome to the Flowage.

Well, as it could be a movie.

Welcome

to the

Jane Matenaer

Flowage.

Casper in Madison texting in Peninsula State Park.

Absolutely gorgeous.

The best sunset in the entire state.

Well then.

That's pretty high praise.

Greg Bach

Jess in Dane County listening in WAUK.

Thank you for listening.

Jesse.

Jesse.

Amacon Falls.

You can swim in.

And so you can swim in, on, and around waterfalls.

I've never heard of this.

Sign me up.

I'm looking it up right now because I just love the idea of like waiting into water.

Jane Matenaer

Waterfalls.

Greg Bach

Waterfalls around.

Jane Matenaer

Amnicon Falls.

Amnicon.

A-M-N-I-C-O-N.

Right there.

Okay.

Amnicon Falls.

Greg's doing a search for that.

Jesse, I like that one.

Sarah in Green Bay, Governor Thompson and Governor Earl Pestigo River area.

Tons to do their fish swim, go on the Marinette County waterfall tour.

Greg Bach

I mean, Pestigo is gorgeous, gorgeous area.

It's wonderful, wonderful.

I mean, there's just, it's so relaxing in Pestigo.

Did we find Amnicon?

Amnicon is right smack almost at the top of Wisconsin.

It's like, you can look over me like, Hey, what's up, Minnesota?

You're right there.

It's, it's west of Ashland and Ironwood.

Okay.

And.

I mean, it's around the, that's kind of on the way to Bayfield.

Yeah.

It's those, it's those places where you're like, it's around rock mountain cutter.

You're like, I've never heard of any of these places.

I'm trying to find a, uh, I mean, Ashland of course is going to be the closest thing I've heard of, but yeah, it is almost at the Wisconsin, Minnesota boundary waters.

So it's

Greg Bach

so beautiful.

I bet you it's, I, Jane, just, just think of this right now for a moment.

You're in amnicon falls state park.

You're camping.

and you're just looking up at the sky.

At the

Jane Matenaer

billions of stars.

Exactly!

I love space.

8-5-5-7-5-2-4-8-4-2 Wisconsin State Parks, celebrating 125 years, which is your favorite state park?

Where do you go every year?

Can't miss out.

Gotta go, gotta, maybe, maybe a camp, maybe a glamp.

I would

Greg Bach

I would glam I would totally glam I feel like if I camped Jane I would just be like I'm Why am I always moist when I'm camping?

I'm

Greg Bach

always

just

Greg Bach

slightly wet.

I'm always just like I feel damn.

I'm yes.

That's a perfect word I'm just constantly damn

Jane Matenaer

when I'm molding

Greg Bach

8 5 5

Jane Matenaer

7 5 2 4 8 4 2 Ali from the North Woods is on the line.

Good morning Ali.

Thank you for joining us

Good morning

We all stole my thunder, but our family has family picnics at Amnicon Falls, and it's a wonderful place.

You can hike, you can bike, you can, the kids go down by the falls while the adults get chance to visit.

And we even had one of our, a little bit older,

Um, in his thirties, possibly forties out, um, panning for gold last year.

Really?

And he found a couple of little small, um, bits of gold.

Really?

Yes.

So we always enjoy Amnicon Falls and miss our dad who loved to go there.

Jane Matenaer

Oh, that's awesome, Ollie.

Hey, that's high praise for Amnicon Falls.

Thank you so much.

Really appreciate it, Ollie.

Thank you for listening.

Greg Bach

I looked it up.

It's about six hours away from where I live.

So maybe just get

Jane Matenaer

you.

Road

Greg Bach

trip.

Maybe a civic media road trip here.

Cassandra on the live stream says, I grew up to double.

going to Devil's Lake cause it was only 20 minutes away.

I've grown to love Highcliff State Park outside of Appleton.

There's another one.

I mean, I'm just going to hear about parks I've never heard of.

And then Alicia on the live stream says, I used to live down the road from 12 foot falls.

Oh, there you go.

Jane Matenaer

Oh, we have Shishu also in the live stream.

I love going to Huffman Hills in the spring for the beautiful ponds.

And in the fall to climb the tower, you can see colors for miles.

That's amazing.

Oh, can you imagine that in fall?

Oh, that would be so beautiful.

Favorite state parks.

We're loving on our state parks, celebrating 125 years, no thanks to the government.

855-75 Civic, where's your favorite place in Wisconsin?

Cindy from Appleton, check it in.

Good morning, Cindy.

What do you think about best state parks?

Well, the best one for me is Highcloth State Park because it's close to home and it's part of the Niagara escarpment and has a lot of history.

Nice.

And I think it's just a shame that the so-called conservatives who are supposed to be conserving have decided that our state parks are not worth funding anymore.

And I just think

Shame, shame, shame on them.

Jane Matenaer

Well, and thank goodness for all the volunteers, Cindy, because even in this article, it essentially says revenue sharing and volunteers are what have managed to keep our state parks open.

And we have 50 state parks in Wisconsin.

So thank God for volunteers.

If you're looking for something to do, you can volunteer to Wisconsin State Park.

I'm sure they're looking for you.

Thank you, Cindy, for checking in.

I appreciate that.

Greg Bach

You know what, Jane?

I have some worst.

Park reviews here for you.

Jane Matenaer

We have the best

Greg Bach

of the worst.

Jane Matenaer

The best of the worst.

The best of the worst park reviews.

This is from the Milwaukee Journal of Sentinel.

Greg Bach

Yeah, this was an article.

We've actually, we've covered this before.

We could not, of course, get through all of them, but this was an article written by, I believe, hold on, my mouse is

Jane Matenaer

failing me.

Drew

Greg Bach

Dawson.

Thank you.

Drew Dawson was the writer of this wonderful article and he scoured the internet for the best worst reviews of Wisconsin State Parks.

And I'm gonna start right at,

You know, I mentioned it earlier, Devils Lake State Park.

Quote, this is a review left on their website, so you can check it out yourself.

I'm not making this up.

Quote, I have never paid money to see rocks.

Was disappointing.

They wanted $16 for a day pass.

Jane Matenaer

What do you expect?

That's what makes Devils Lake so unique are the rock formations.

They do rock climbing out there.

Greg Bach

This is a great review.

I love this one.

It's also about Devils Lake State Park.

Usual State Park, nothing really to set it apart from the rest.

Lake, camping, that's about it.

What

Jane Matenaer

are you looking for?

Did you want to dance, dance and dinner?

Did you want some theater too?

Ooh, Brigadoons

Greg Bach

on stage.

The

Jane Matenaer

best of the worst reviews of Wisconsin State Parks, 8-5-5.

752-4842, also about Devils Lake.

I would not recommend this park to anyone who wants to enjoy the outdoors peacefully, leave this park to the drunks and inconsiderate rubes or camp in the winter.

It does get really populated out there.

Devils Lake is one of the most popular.

But the cell signal is terrible.

Greg Bach

You're at a state park.

Well, Jane, I need to make phone calls and or look at TikTok.

So I need more cell towers in my state park.

What

Jane Matenaer

is your favorite state park in Wisconsin?

855-752-4842.

Bob from Madison is on the line.

Good morning, Bob.

Thanks for joining us.

Hey, good morning.

I'm a big fan of the state parks.

My wife and I like to.

travel a lot.

And up in that part of the state around Amacon, there's also Paterson State Park, which is a very pretty park.

And a quick fun fact on that park is that Big Manitou Falls, it's the, I believe, the fourth largest waterfall east of the Mississippi, and it's only six inches shorter than Niagara Falls.

really little fun fact you know and uh... a great park up there also with copper fall state park which uh... they have this beautiful uh... trail that you can walk you don't have to be you know incredibly you know uh... mister mrs hiker right uh... but uh... any any level of you know outdoorsy niffle get you around this beautiful uh... uh... trail around uh... couple of waterfalls and a few rapids so uh... uh... there's just beautiful parks everywhere

Jane Matenaer

Really appreciate that, Bob.

I want you to hear this again.

These are the best of the worst reviews of Wisconsin State Parks.

And my sister and I were at Copper Park Falls a couple of years ago.

It's gorgeous.

Here is what they had to say about Copper Falls.

The forest management of this park is horrible.

Hard to see around all the overgrowth.

Typical overemphasis on letting nature just take over, hoping someone can get into the system and change this culture of just letting nature be nature.

Greg Bach

And this next one for Copper Falls is more of a you problem than a them problem.

The darn directions took us to Pierre South Dakota.

This park is in Wisconsin.

Never trusting Google Maps ever again.

By the way, yes, Google Maps still thinks this place is in Pierre South Dakota.

Maybe you should review Google Maps and not the state.

Park.

Jane Matenaer

Governor Dodge, a state park.

Again, where these are the best of the worst reviews of Wisconsin State Park.

Governor Dodge State Park.

The raccoons are fearless and numerous.

Meh.

Meh.

And this has got to be the best of the worst to all caps.

Yeah.

To all and, and, uh, uh, yes, exclamation

point at the end

Jane Matenaer

of every word.

Yeah.

Too much grass.

Get rid of it

Greg Bach

noted Bob also mentioned Paterson State Park They had some reviews as well quote don't bother if you have a dog I've never seen so many dog no dog allowed signs before

Jane Matenaer

what you want to check that before you take the dog to the park

Greg Bach

Yeah,

Jane Matenaer

maybe do that ahead of time.

Greg Bach

Yeah, and there and I think oh, and this is the best one mirror Lake State Park before we go quote just go to Devil's Lake

Jane Matenaer

Too much grass get my grass out of my state park.

It drives me crazy

more

Jane Matenaer

cell towers coming up next This shouldn't be a thing mulling it over addition.

You're listening to Matt near on air This is the civic media radio network.

We'll be right back

Kathryn Lake

You're listening to Civic Media.

Find the latest news, information, and archives of all your favorite shows on the Civic Media website, civicmedia.us.

Jane Matenaer

Welcome back to Matt and air on air Jane Matt and air Greg Bach and Doctor slide on the board coming to you from her studio at Radio Park in Racine 8 5 5 7 5 2 4 8 4 2 leave a comment if you're watching in the live stream on Facebook YouTube and what used to be Twitter we have a couple more

comments I wanted to share we were talking about let's love on our state parks Wisconsin state parks celebrating 125 years so we were taking your favorite state parks to check out Kirk from Eau Claire says a perot state park in Trempelo hiking goat trails on the face of the bluffs you can

see the Mississippi River four miles.

Bob from Richland Center, listening on WRCE.

I don't have a favorite state park.

They're all great, but I do want to thank our forefathers for their foresight, setting these national treasures, natural treasures aside for everyone to enjoy.

Yep.

as of today.

Greg Bach

It's almost like they thought they were important to protect

Jane Matenaer

Jane.

Liz from Salkville, Kohler, Andre State Park.

We went, we took a trip there as kids in grade school.

The beautiful lake, the dunes, bird and wild flower, walk, stargazing and so much more.

Lori and Hayward, Ollie forgot to mention the wonderful Pavilion and a pavilion in Amacon Falls Park.

Dozens of picnic tables covered shelter, electricity, a perfect place for family

picnics and the kids can swim right by the falls nice that sounds great uh it is 1054 calvin that means it is time for

this shouldn't be a thing

Jane Matenaer

and as always if you have a thing you think should not be send it into greg and me at jane says at civicmedia.us j a n e s a y s jane says

at civicmedia.us.

This from the Associated Press.

Calvin found this one.

The headline reads, Burrow Racing Wins Over Runners in Back Country Ode to Mining History.

They're racing donkeys, essentially.

This is from Morgan Lee in the Associated Press.

Cerillos, New Mexico.

Back Country Runners are embracing the physical and emotional challenge.

of racing with pack burros that don't always move at their pace.

This race honoring the Old West.

Greg Bach

It just sounds like you wanna run with donkeys.

Jane Matenaer

You have to pull a donkey.

Essentially, the burros must carry a saddle, a pick, and a pen, and a shovel in homage to the old mining days, and then they are led by these miners they have to sprint with their burros to the finish line.

70 teams competed.

70.

Greg Bach

All I'm going to say is poor donkeys.

Because this didn't have to happen.

Jane Matenaer

There was no... While the burrows weren't calling for this.

No,

Greg Bach

no, no, not at all.

And it just seems like someone said, hey, you know what we should do?

To recognize and honor the old ways.

Jane Matenaer

The old west

Greg Bach

let's just do something that gives us a reason to party get drunk and Be a quote-unquote contest.

Jane Matenaer

Are we

Greg Bach

sure this didn't

Jane Matenaer

happen in

Greg Bach

Milwaukee?

Is this our running of the bulls?

Jane Matenaer

It's the running of the burrows.

Oh God, we just are not what God intended Marvin Sandoval of Leadville, Colorado and his mini burrow named Buttercup Finished first on Saturday completing the course in just over 49 minutes

Hundreds of cheering spectators lined the street with his nearest competitors, not even in sight.

He says the secret to his success.

He calls Buttercup.

She's like a unicorn.

She wants to be out front.

A burl race can devolve into a contest of wills when they decide they don't want to do that.

Greg Bach

I just want to see all of them not want to do that.

They'll just sit there going, no.

Jane Matenaer

Experienced racers say that doesn't mean their donkeys are being stubborn.

They are smart and naturally curious.

If something scares them and it makes them nervous, they're just going to stop and check it out.

Yeah.

Healthy donkeys typically live 40 years or more and they're supposed to be from, and I've,

follow some people who have rescue farms, where they've taken in donkeys and burrows, and they are supposed to be the sweetest animals.

Greg Bach

The

Jane Matenaer

sweetest, sweetest animals.

Burl racing emerged shortly after World War II in depopulated Colorado mining towns.

It is now an official state heritage sport with the marquee races in Leadville, Buena Vista, and Fair Play blending.

county fair cheer and athleticism

Greg Bach

no no you're no you're running you're pulling the donkey i'll tell you what we'll call this athleticism when you the human are pulling a donkey in a cart that's athleticism until then you are literally just sitting there going go and

Jane Matenaer

join

Greg Bach

come on come on i am i have turned into old man bach on this one i do not like this i think it's a no forget it

Hey, you wanna celebrate the old days?

Go to museum, read a

Jane Matenaer

book.

You can do that too.

Don't need to ride a donkey.

Leave the burrows alone.

Yes!

That wraps up today's episode of...

This shouldn't be a thing.

Jane Matenaer

Coming up on the show tomorrow, he is back from his vacation.

Pat, quite low.

We'll be joining us after the 9.30 news.

I hope you can join us for that.

Thank you, Greg and Calvin, all of our engineers and everyone at Civic Media.

Without all of you, nothing works.

And thank you most of all for calling and for texting and for listening.

It absolutely means the world.

I hope you find some joy today and you have the chance to share it.

Keep it right here.

News is coming up next, followed by Tom Hartman from 11 to two, Todd Alva, two to four, Maggie Dawn, four to six, Pete Schwabba and Nightlight from six to eight PM.

Have a great day.

We will see you tomorrow.

News is next on the Civic Media Radio Network.

Kathryn Lake

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