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The Stanley area is part of the productive Central/ Western Wisconsin
agricultural belt. Dairy farming, since the early 1900's has been one of the
areas chief industries. Although the number of small family farms has decreased,
the number of acres being farmed has actually increased. Several large dairy
operations have been developed in recent years. The largest such operation is
currently milking between 300-400 cows. The chief characteristics of such an
operation are that the cows spend their day in a large loafing barn, automatic
feeders are used for feeding, and the milking parlor allows multiple cows to be
milked at one time.
In recent years Mennonite families, mostly from Pennsylvania, have purchased
many of the areas most productive farms. They are good farmers who use most
modern techniques to maximize production. Their presence in the area is most
pronounced because many of them use horse and buggy as their chief means of
transportation. Their numbers are sufficient enough that they have established a
Mennonite Church about a mile from Stanley, and they operate several rural
schools in the Stanley-Boyd Area.
Many of the Mennonite farms also engage heavily in the production of
vegetables and flowers that they sell at a large Mennonite Auction Market in
nearby rural Withee. Several of them also occasionally appear in Stanley selling
vegetables and fruit. They have also become known for the quality strawberries
that some of them allow locals to pick during the strawberry season.
Another transition that the Stanley area is experiencing is the shift to the
major production of corn and soybeans. Since the July 2002 opening of an ethanol
production plant in Stanley, more and more farmers have increased their corn
production. The plant is close by and provides a cash market for corn. Each
month more than 550 semi-trucks of corn arrive at the ethanol plant. Local
farmers are allowed to deliver their corn to the plant in grain boxes if they so
desire. A corn drying facility has been built directly across the road from the
ethanol plant, as the corn moisture content usually needs to be reduced for
ethanol production.
So agriculture in its changed form is still a major factor in the Stanley
economy. To the lament of many "old timers" their memory of the farm is much
different than what it is like on today's remaining dairy farms! One thing that
hasn't changed is that locals and visitors to the Stanley area can purchase
cheese at LaGrander's Hillside Dairy, W11299 Broek Rd., in rural Stanley. Many
varieties of Colby and cheddar cheeses made at LaGrander's can be purchased
directly at their outlet store. The LaGrander's can be reached at 715-644-2275.
Stanley Boyd Environmental and Outdoor
Educational Center
Stanley Boyd School District launched it's agricultural education center in
Spring 2009 on 70+ acres east of the schools. Wisconsin DNR, FFA, FFA
Alumni, local farmers and residents assisted with some five years of planning
and joining of properties. DNR paid for the cost of of the pond/dam
which is among other special features of the project. A walking trail
surrounds the site; hundreds of trees including elms, apple, apricot, aspen,
cherry, dogwood, flowering crab, hackberry, Japanese lilac, linden, maple oak,
pear, plum, river birch, serviceberry and willow are being planted; camelina
seed has been planted to be processed into fuel for the district's school
busses; elementary students planted pumpkins; and educational projects are being
planned for all grade levels.
The major goal is to develop an area where agriculture, forestry, wildlife,
leisure and environmental study come together for the community.
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