WisconsinEye spent the day with Tera Johnson at Wisconsin Specialty Protein in Reedsburg, Wisconsin on October 30, 2009. It’s here where Tera financed, built, and now operates a 14 million dollar award-winning “green building” whey processing plant. The plant was built to capture the added value found in whey produced by organic and rBST free milk and cheese producers here in Wisconsin. Prior to Wisconsin Specialty Protein, this whey was mixed with traditional whey and then processed for the general whey market. Now it can be processed as organic or rBST free whey and sold as bulk to the organic food industry or packaged into Tera’s own branded dietary supplement called Tera’s Whey. Join us as we learn more about Tera, the business she started and the plant she has built.

As part of WisconsinEye’s series, "Made in Wisconsin," producer Meredith Clanfield and videographer Paul Schmidt visited Wisconsin Wagon Company in Janesville, Wisconsin on September 21, 2009. Wisconsin Wagon Company, a wagon and toy manufacturing company since the early 1900s, began as a carriage manufacturing company in the late 1800s. WisconsinEye cameras followed the assembly of the classic Janesville Coaster wagon. Owner Karen Ferguson and fellow employees John Dooley and John Sarnow provided a behind the scenes look at how the wagons are made and a history of the company.

As part of WisconsinEye's series "Made in Wisconsin," videographer Paul Schmidt visited Carma Laboratories, Inc, makers of Carmex lip balm, in Franklin, Wisconsin on September 1, 2009. Carma Laboratories is a third generation family owned business. Paul Woelbing, President of Carma Laboratories, led a tour of the manufacturing facility, where Carmex jars, squeeze tubes and other Carmex products are made.

WisconsinEye visited Wild Rose Fish Hatchery in Wild Rose Wisconsin on August 14, 2009. Wild Rose Fish Hatchery stocks Wisconsin waters with fish for anglers and to combat invasive species. Wild Rose is currently producing brown trout, Chinook and Coho salmon. When the coldwater facilities are completed in 2009, Wild Rose plans to resume production of northern pike, walleye, lake sturgeon, tiger and great lakes spotted musky. Joan Voigt, Assistant Naturalist Guide for Wild Rose Hatchery spoke about the hatchery and showed us around the facilities.

As part of WisconsinEye's series "Made in Wisconsin," videographer Paul Schmidt visited Orion Energy Systems in Manitowoc, Wisconsin on July 30, 2009. Orion manufactures a multitude of energy-efficiency technologies such as the Compact Modular™ high-intensity fluorescent (HIF) lighting system, InteLite® control platform, and Apollo® Light Pipe. Orion President and CEO Neil Verfuerth spoke about the company and led a tour of Orion's manufacturing and testing facility.

As part of WisconsinEye's series "Made in Wisconsin," videographer John Schroeder visited a Kohler Co. manufacturing facility in Kohler, Wisconsin on July 15, 2009. Kohler Co. is a family owned business dating back to 1873. During the visit, WisconsinEye cameras followed the assembly of a toilet being manufactured. Cindy Howley, manager, Design Center at Kohler Co. provided an overview and history of the company, Dan Lawrence, supervisor, vitreous products, led a tour of the steps involved in creating a Kohler Co. toilet, and Shane Judd, water conservation manager, provided information on water conservation.

As part of WisconsinEye's series "Made in Wisconsin," videographer Paul Schmidt visited Allen Edmonds shoe assembly in Port Washington, Wisconsin on July 14, 2009. Allen Edmonds was established in 1922 by Elbert W. Allen.  Jay Schauer, chief financial officer of Allen Edmonds, provided an overview and history of the company and Jim Kass, Vice President of operations, led a tour of the steps involved in creating a shoe.

As part of WisconsinEye’s series “Made in Wisconsin,” videographer Paul Schmidt visited Great Lakes Distillery, the makers of Rehorst vodka, gin, and other specialty spirits in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Great Lakes Distillery is a small-batch distillery, and is Wisconsin’s first distillery since prohibition. Guy Rehorst, founder of Great Lakes Distillery, provided an overview and history of the company and Ryan Rappis, Sales and Marketing Manager, led a tour of their facility.

As part of WisconsinEye’s series “Made in Wisconsin,” videographer Paul Schmidt visited Sheldons’ Inc., the assembly plant for Mepps Fishing Lures in Antigo, Wisconsin. Mepps is a family owned business started by Todd Sheldon in 1951. Michael Sheldon, owner of Mepps, provided an overview and history of the company and his son Michael Sheldon, Marketing Manager, led a tour of their assembly plant. The tour follows the assembly of a Hot Fire Tiger grey squirrel tail Aglia fishing lure.

As part of WisconsinEye’s series Made in Wisconsin, we had the opportunity to visit Ariens Company in Brillion Wisconsin. Ariens manufactures lawn equipment and snow throwers, and was established in 1933 when it began manufacturing large tillers for farm use. In our time at Ariens Company we had the chance to visit with Dan Ariens, President of Ariens Company. He described the company and region, as well as their unique collaboration with Brillion High School where they contributed $1.5 million to build a technology and engineering education center. After our interview we took a tour lead by Jeff Hebbard, Vice President of Operations at Ariens Company. He gave us a unique view into how they design and manufacture one model of the Ariens snowthrowers.

As part of WisconsinEye’s series "Made in Wisconsin," videographer Paul Schmidt visited Patch Products in Beloit, Wisconsin. Lisa Wuennemann, Director of Marketing, provided an overview and history of the company and led a tour of their manufacturing, shipping, and office facilities.

WisconsinEye visited the Grassland Dairy Products, Inc. factory in Greenwood, Wisconsin on July 1, 2008. Trevor Wuethrich, Vice President of Grassland Dairy, provided an overview and history of the company and led a tour of the facilities.

Wisconsin Eye visited the Wigwam Mills Inc. factory in Sheboygan, Wisconsin on May 23, 2008.  Wigwam Mills has been manufacturing socks in Sheboygan Wisconsin for over one hundred years.  Robert Chesebro, President of Wigwam Mills spoke about the company and Jerry Vogel, Director of Manufacturing led a tour of the facility.

As part of Wisconsin Eye’s series “Made in Wisconsin,” videographer Paul Schmidt visited Regal Ware Worldwide in Kewaskum and West Bend, Wisconsin. Doug Reigle, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, provided an overview and history of the company and Joe Swanson, Senior Vice President of Operations, led a tour of their manufacturing facility in West Bend, Wisconsin.  The tour follows the manufacturing process of a piece of Regal Ware cookware.

As part of WisconsinEye's new series "Made in Wisconsin," videographer Paul Schmidt traveled to Park Falls to tour the St. Croix Rod Company manufacturing facility on March 31, 2008. St. Croix Rod Company designs and manufactures a variety of fishing rods for fly fishing, spinning and casting, salwater, and ice fishing. Jeff Schluter, Vice President of Sales and Marketing speaks about the company, and Steve Strehlow, Human Resources Manager leads a detail tour of the manufacturing facility.

As a part of WisconsinEye's new series "Made in Wisconsin," videographer Paul Schmidt visited the TREK Bicycle facility in Waterloo Wisconsin on March 7, 2008. Todd VandeBerg, Human Resources Generalist for TREK led a tour of the facility through different deparments such as bicycle design, sales, manufacturing and shipping.

As part of WisconsinEye’s Made in Wisconsin series, we had the opportunity to meet and visit with the owners of the New Glarus Brewing Company in New Glarus Wisconsin. Join us as we take a tour of the brewery, learn about its 21 million dollar expansion, and in the process discover what makes New Glarus Brewing Company unique to our Wisconsin Community.