A nature photographer, a cyclocross enthusiast and a couple that runs an animal sanctuary are among the Wisconsin people sharing their stories in this episode.
This collection of stories from people sharing their “Wisconsin Life” includes the story of Jeff Rennicke, who has traveled the world as an environmental writer for publications like “Backpacker” and “National Geographic.” But after being a guest speaker at the Land O’ Lakes boarding school, Conserve School, Rennicke decided to settle down and accept a job there. Looking for a creative outlet, he turned to photography and capturing the stunning beauty of the North Woods landscape that surrounds him.
Next up, Jill Carnegie and Jim Tomasi share their stories of how they became the curators of a Walworth County animal sanctuary and what it takes to provide these animals a new “forever home”. For more than 40 years, abused and abandoned exotic animals have been given a second chance at the “Valley of the Kings,” a 10-acre animal sanctuary run by Carnegie and Tomasi. The sanctuary has become a home to more than 50 lions, tigers, bears, emus, camels and leopards who live out the rest of their lives there. Find out how people become owners of exotic pets.
Then Wisconsin Life travels to Greenville in Outagamie County. That’s where Jed Schleisner has built a career building and restoring neon signs. After earning a degree in biology decades ago, Schleisner stumbled on a class in building and maintaining neon signs. Along the way, he’s also built a collection of rare signs from across the country.
Finally, called the steeplechase of cycling, cyclocross is a wild ride for racers competing in any weather on a winding trail of obstacles. Sheboygan-based professional cyclist Brian Matter describes the ins and outs, highs and lows of this fasting-growing form of bike racing.
