CULTURE, CURDS AND CHEESY CHATTER [August 2020 Newsletter]
Volume 13, Issue 8 – Download PDF
REMINDER DATES:
The Center is now open for season!
Hours will be 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays. Visit our Hours & Tours page to learn more.
NHCC will have a Board meeting Aug. 12 at 4 p.m. and a general meeting at 5 p.m. at the Center.
Overtime With Fritz Kopp
Above and Beyond–NHCC docent, Fritz Kopp, is known to never turn away visitors interested in touring the cheese museum. After a hot summer day, that included hosting 55 motorcyclists and other visitors, Fritz headed to his car in the NHCC parking lot. In a few minutes he was back and announced that we had more guests. The hands on the clock are an indication of the time he graciously went into “overtime” and conducted a one hour guided tour.
Fritz’ love and passion of sharing his knowledge and experience as a retired champion cheesemaker is witnessed many times, as observed by your NHCC director.
Stirring the kettle, With President Jim
August…..glorious August! It wouldn’t be so bad if it weren’t so blamed hot. I do not recall, but my mother told me that when I was born in the month of August, it was a stinker. That was in the mid to late 30’s and the Midwest suffered from one of the hottest summers on record.
Mom said that many nights she and Dad would take me out into the yard under the big oak trees to sleep because it was too hot in the house. At that time Dad was managing a huge (for that era) beef-hog operation north of Princeton, IL.
Another incident a few years later is nowhere to be found in my memory bank. It was probably too terrible a time. Mom said that Dad and the hired crew were applying roofing tar to some buildings and of course junior got into tar and then headed for the sandbox. Mom said it took hours and both gasoline and kerosene to clean me up. After 4th grade we moved back north where Dad managed another huge farm (640 acres) near Grand Detour, Il. Half of it was in virgin timber. I loved roaming those woods with my Scottish Highland Terrier, Pup.
But in August, the Blackberries would ripen. There were huge clumps of wild berries throughout the woods. At berry time, Dad would gather milk buckets and off to the woods we would go. Those huge black gems were converted by Mom into jam, juice, canned berries, and such. I have never grown to dislike blackberries. In fact I have a wild patch in the back of my yard, where I sooth my annual yearning.
From my yard to yours until next issue, Jim.
CHEESE MEMENTO TO FLORIDA
Shown above is a delightful family from Florida. They really enjoyed their tour of the museum and were especially happy that they were able to purchase the “Wisconsin Cheese” box in our Milk Pail Gift Shop.
The nine-year old son is holding our “thank you” bag with a few souvenirs, compliments of NHCC.
Director Donna’s Monthly Update August 2020
Since March our habits have changed dramatically. This has lead us to re-evaluate, re-value, and recalibrate our lives, and NHCC is no exception! With an open mind to figure out what the future of an opening date and museum tours during the Covid– 19 pandemic, with the support of the Executive Board and a reduced staff of dedicated and willing volunteers lending a helping hand, we emerged with a “new normal” in a safe environment.
Reduced hours of operation and offering Covid –19 secure experiences—face masks required, sanitation stations and following Wisconsin state guidelines for Public Facilities we hosted visitors from 21 states and the countries of Peru, Brazil, and Ethiopia to date. They say “a picture is worth a thousand words” so I am requesting that you look at the photos in this newsletter. It will say more to you than if I type a description. (No, I’m not lazy….but sometimes boring!)
NHCC is grateful for a recent grant approval and check in the amount of $3,500 from the City of Monroe’s Visitor and Promotion Fund. The amount received covers the cost of development of our new website designed by Kacey Kaderly, KitterKatter Productions, and our annual ad in the Green County Tourism
Guide.
Your Director, Donna
