Meet the man who tends the turf at Lambeau Field, a flower farmer and a team of pond hockey enthusiasts – just a few of the people sharing their stories in this episode.
This collection of stories from people sharing their “Wisconsin Life” includes the story of Allen Johnson, who took a job with the Green Bay Packers on a whim. Today he is responsible for managing, maintaining and manicuring the famed tundra. On game day, it is “game on” for Johnson and his grounds crew as they make sure the field is painted and mowed. Johnson tells of how his job is never done. Go behind the scenes to see what it takes to get Lambeau Field ready for prime time and Johnson’s proudest moments.
Also, meet Emma and Auguste Hayot from Sturgeon Bay. The pair were from different continents and spoke different languages when they first met. The only thing they had in common was their second language… Walloon. A shared ability to speak that dying language from a region in Belgium brought them together, and the couple fell in love and got married.
Next, Madison resident Caroline Greenwald shares her story. As an artist whose work has been exhibited in galleries around the world, Greenwald was always drawn to water as inspiration for her work. Now, having survived cancer, water has a different pull on her. She has joined “We Can Row”, a rowing program that provides community and strength-building for women cancer survivors.
Then, it’s over to Star Valley, in Crawford County, to meet John Zehrer. Zehrer owns and operates the 165 acre Star Valley Flower Farm near Soldiers Grove.The farm has a connection to the Civil War. Zehrer’s found a niche in producing specialty cut flowers, woody ornamentals and aronia – a new super fruit – that are supplied to big box stores and shipped around the world.
Finally, Wisconsin Life heads north to Eagle River. “Hockey at the roots” is how pond hockey players like Michael Eder describe their simple, stripped-down version of the game. Four on four players compete with no goalies in a huge tournament hosted annually by Eagle River. Teams compete in different divisions from “Over 60”, to those still new to the game, but all agree, it is hockey the way it should be.
