Southwest Tech “Farm to Tech Table” Dinner Tickets Available
Southwest Tech is hosting its first ever “Farm to Tech Table” progressive dinner on Saturday, September 15th from 5 – 9 p.m. This unique culinary experience will allow guests to see and experience different aspects of campus all while dining on fresh, local food prepared by Southwest Tech’s Culinary instructors, students and alumni. Individual tickets are $50 per person. Table and course sponsorships are also available. For questions or to purchase tickets contact Kim at 608-822-2379 or via email at kschmelz@swtc.edu. For a complete menu or to purchase tickets online visit https://www.swtc.edu/calendar-events/farm-to-tech
Proceeds from the event will benefit the Southwest Tech Charger Cupboard Food Pantry and Culinary Scholarship Fund. The Fennimore Chamber and Economic Development board members will support this new event as one of the table sponsors. Both organizations encourage area residents to take advantage of this unique opportunity.
Fennimore Area Chamber of Commerce Fall Promotion and Decorating Contest
Fennimore Area Chamber of Commerce marketing committee is pleased to announce they will sponsor their annual fall promotion and decorating contest. This year’s promotion “Fall Into Savings in Fennimore” will be held the last week of September. Fennimore businesses are encouraged to participate. On Friday and Saturday, September 28 and 29, Carr Valley Cheese will offer space in their front lawn for a farmers’ market. Contact Joy at Carr Valley for more details, space is limited.
Fennimore’s daily traffic nearly doubles the last week of September as a tremendous amount of traffic travels through town on their way to harvest festivals and road trips to enjoy the beautiful fall colors. Chamber board member, Joy Bussan/manager of Carr Valley Cheese and committee chair of the Fall Into Savings in Fennimore promotion reports “Shoppers love traveling through the area and love to stop and shop for cheese, home grown produce, cafe’s and gift shops.”
Last year’s Fall Decorating Contest was so well received the marketing committee would like to make this an annual activity. With a bountiful harvest of the fall events, fall travelers and apple and cranberry festivals there is a lot of traffic passing through Fennimore. Let’s deck out our community and our businesses to serve as a warm welcome to our community and businesses. Our goal is to encourage tourists to stop and shop while passing through Fennimore on their way to area festivals, Fennimore Schools Homecoming and Museum’s Heritage Day and Toy Tractor Show.
Decorating must be done by noon on Monday, September 24. Be creative decorate store windows, light poles (caution you can’t obstruct sidewalks or site of traffic), be creative. To qualify to be judged you must send a photo by Sept 24 to promo@fennimore.com for the first round of judging. Prizes include: 1st Place – $100; 2nd Place – $50 and 3rd Place – $25 (all prizes paid in Fennimore bucks).
Download the Fall in Fennimore decorating contest registration form
Fennimore Museums Fall Hours Begin
Following Labor Day, the Fennimore Doll and Toy Museum and Fennimore Historical Railroad Museums will both begin their fall hours. Both museums will only be open Saturday and Sunday the months of September and October from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. or by appointment during the weekdays.
Even though the 2018 season is coming to an end, you can still schedule a tour for the Doll and Toy Museum. Contact Mary Davis 608-822-3466 or Connie Neal 822-7920 for the Doll Museum or Chuck Stenner 608-485-2408 for the Fennimore Railroad Museum.
New event – BBQ Grillin September 23
Sunday, Sept 23 is the date set for the 1st Annual BBQ Grilling Cookoff Contest. The cookoff will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the parking lot of Krantz Auto Parts, 725 Lincoln Avenue in Fennimore.
The cookoff is open to anyone who enjoys grilling. Contact Jeff Hagen 608-822-5237 or Tina Frye 608-576-5295.
Organizers encourage the public to come participate by sampling all the food and helping serve as judges for the cookoff. Wristbands will be sold for just $10 for unlimited sampling, along with a Dog Park fundraising water bottle filled with water or lemonade. A silent auction has a diverse amount of great items to bid on. We hear people want more things to do in Fennimore….so here is a brand new event that sounds deliciously great fun. Plan to save the date and come with family and friends, all for a great cause the New Fennimore Dog Park.
All proceeds from this new fundraiser will be shared by the Fun Fest committee and the Fennimore Dog Park committee.
Download the BBQ Contest Poster
FAF Grant Cycle Now Accepting Applications
The Fennimore Area Foundation is pleased to announce its semi-annual application period for awarding grants in Fall 2018. The Fennimore Area Foundation is interested in providing assistance to groups, projects or activities promoting community wellness, services to or facilities for Fennimore area children, or other endeavors falling within its charitable mission. Total funds to be granted will be up to $2,500 to one recipient or divided among any number of recipients.
Because the Foundation is a non-profit organization, grant awards must follow certain guidelines and grants may only be awarded to qualifying non-profit organizations. Applicants receiving awards will be expected to submit a brief report or summary of the completed or on-going project or activity receiving a grant within six months of its receipt. The Foundation sees part of its purpose being an incubator of community-wide participation in making Fennimore a better place to live, work and play. When ideas or visions focused on this goal require nurturing, the Foundation sees itself as a source for assistance to the extent it can assist.
To be considered, applications must be received by the Foundation or postmarked no later than September 30, 2018. Those interested in submitting a grant application are invited to complete the FAF Fall 2018 Grant Application Form and mail it to the Fennimore Area Foundation (FAF) at P.O. Box 134, Fennimore, WI 53809. Prospective
Looking Ahead At Fall Events
The popular Heritage Day and Harvest Day Festivities will be held Sunday, September 30 for multiple of Fennimore events. The Railroad Museum will host their Annual Heritage Day at the Railroad Museum, contact Fred Brechler if you want to be vendor or want to display antique farm tractor/equipment or classic car. 608-732-4296. Fred reports there will be a shuttle available again this year with drop off at the Fennimore Doll & Toy Museum, Memorial building for Toy Show and pancake breakfast with a loop around to 4th & Washington to view Dale Vogel’s large tractor collection (weather permitting) and then back to the Museum again.
Across the street, the Fennimore Doll and Toy Museum will offer free admission all day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friends of the Fennimore Doll and Toy Museum will hold their food stand from 11 to 2 p.m., face painting, kiddie games and pedal tractor pull (registration at 12:30 – starts at 1 p.m.) Inside the museum they will also offer a large number of quality items for sale from the Doll and Toy Museum gift shop at unbelievable prices. Be sure to come in the Museum to see sale items; you don’t want to miss this sale.
Also that day at the Fennimore Legion Annex in the Memorial building the FFA will host their annual pancake breakfast in the morning. Next door in the Memorial building gym the FFA Alumni will host their Farm Toy Tractor Show and Sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., contact Pete Winch for vendor space 822-7806.
Fennimore Area Giant Pumpkin Club
The 2018 growing season has been like a greenhouse and has offered a great growing season. The BIG question is who have the largest pumpkin in 2018? Last year’s grand prize went to Brian Friederick whose pumpkin came in at 548 pounds. The 2018 weigh off is planned for 1 p.m. on Sunday, Sept 30 in the parking lot of The Hilltop. The public is invited to attend.
Fennimore Area Writers Group
The Fennimore Area Writers group will meet on Friday, September 7. Meetings are held between 8:30 and 9:30 a.m. at the meeting room at Hardees. Do you enjoy writing or just enjoy listening to stories written by others? No matter what your interest, everyone is encouraged to attend. Bring along your own writings, your favorite writers or just come enjoy others writing. FAWA is for all ages; we welcome all family members to participate.
Crossroad Riders ATV/UTV Club Accomplishes Much During First Year
Crossroads Riders ATV/UTV Club, Inc. held their annual meeting/election of officers Aug 22. 2018/19 officers include: Tracy Henkle, president; Joe Smith, VP, Karla Witzig, Secretary and Sandy Wiest, Treasurer.
The Crossroads Riders meet the 4th Wednesday of the month at 6pm at different locations. After just one year in existence the club has done an amazing job of organizing and installing ATV/UTV signs.
Recently club members installed informational kiosks at two of the ATV/UTV entrances into the City of Fennimore. The kiosks were purchased by the Fennimore Area Chamber of Commerce as a way to welcome visitors into Fennimore as well as give them a map showing how to get to businesses for fuel, food, lodging and other services. A third kiosk will be installed as soon as they receive approval from a property owner for a sign near the 12th Street and Roger Hollow Road area.
Governor Walker Proclaims September as Chamber of Commerce Month
Scott Walker, Governor of the State of Wisconsin recognizes chambers do not always receive the recognition and credit they deserve for making Wisconsin a better place to live, work and play. For the second year Governor Scott Walker has proclaimed September as Chamber of Commerce month.
Did you know there are 267 local chambers of commerce servicing villages, towns and cities throughout Wisconsin? While each chamber is unique and each have their own mission these chambers provide a wide variety of services to their members, including advocacy and economic development, promotion of tourism and other community events. Chambers also work to solve critical economic challenges, including addressing the labor shortage and encouraging entrepreneurship.
Fennimore’s Chamber by laws state their purpose is to serve the community by providing support for business and economic development.
I’m very thankful and proud that the Fennimore Area Chamber of Commerce serves as a critical community partner and problem solvers with the unique ability to work with stakeholders from both the private and public sectors. I am especially proud of the partnership and teamwork between the Fennimore Chamber, Fennimore Industrial and Economic Development Corp and the City of Fennimore.
Chamber Announces Plans to Host NEW Fun at Five Networking Event
Chamber is hosting a new networking event recognizing all Women involved in Fennimore businesses.
All women involved in business (and the men that support them) are invited to join us for Fun at Five on Thursday, Sept 20, 2018 from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. One of Fennimore’s newest business owners, Cori Friederick, is happy to host the event at her business, Hilltop Bar and Grill. All Women who play such an integral role in keeping Fennimore businesses thriving (and supportive men working with you) are encouraged to attend. Bring along your business cards and come network with other champions… Let’s empower one another.
The Fennimore Area Chamber of Commerce is Fennimore Proud! It’s the Chamber’s way of saying “Thank You”
Download the Fun at Five Networking poster
Workforce Summit Planned Oct 3
Southwest Tech will be the site of SW WI Chamber Alliance Workforce Summit. The summit will be held in the Lenz Center from 8 a.m. to noon. Southwest Tech will co-sponsor the event and will also offer campus tours following the summit.
Chamber Board Leadership Roles
The Chamber will hold their annual meeting on Thursday, Oct 11 at noon. Agenda items will include election of officers and board members and presentation of the chambers 2019 budget prepared by the chamber board. Chamber members and guests are welcome; mark your calendars and plan to attend.
This is the time of year the Chamber sends out a reminder to anyone wishing to serve in a leadership role as an officer or board member should contact the Promotions Coordinator office no later than Sept 15 to be on the ballot.