Chancellor Mnookin visits central Wisconsin, highlighting key issues in agriculture and veterinary medicine
The University of Wisconsin–Madison has deep ties to central Wisconsin, where Chancellor Jennifer L. Mnookin visited on March 31. UW boasts 340 current undergraduate students hailing from Marathon and Waushara counties, where more than 3,020 alumni and 130 employees reside. While visiting, Chancellor Mnookin met with local partners in agriculture, law enforcement and veterinary medicine, and she highlighted the university’s service to the region.
Chancellor Jennifer L. Mnookin visited the Hancock Agricultural Research Station in Hancock, Wisconsin on March 31, 2025. Mnookin, along with CALS Dean Glenda Gillaspy and State Representative Vincent Miresse (D-Stevens Point) of Wisconsin’s 71st Assembly District, survey potatoes in cold storage. Photo: Andy Manis
At the day’s first stop, UW–Madison’s Hancock Agricultural Research Station in Waushara County, Chancellor Mnookin and station staff emphasized the importance of the university’s contributions to the region’s development. Hancock, a 412-acre vegetable research farm, has had a major impact on the region’s agricultural practices since its establishment in 1916, notably in advancing crop productivity through irrigation.
At the Hancock Agricultural Research Station, Megan Smolarek, potato procurement field manager for McCain Foods, talks about a new variety of potatoes being researched. Photo: Andy Manis
Yi Wang, associate professor of sustainable vegetable production and extension specialist, demonstrates a robot (known simply as “the dog”) that can scan vegetables to advance cropping system research.used in agriculture fields. Photo: Andy Manis
Representatives of area producers McCain Foods, Heartland Farms and Coloma Farms (recently featured in UW–Madison’s statewide campaign) participated in the event. HARS is home to the state’s Potato & Vegetable Storage Research Facility, where critical work is being done to help address recent potato shortages.
Chancellor Mnookin visited Athens Veterinary Services in Athens, Wisconsin. From left, Marathon County Sheriff’s Department Captain Tim Burkholder, Rep. Karen Hurd (in foreground), Marathon County Sheriff’s Department Lieutenant Troy Deiler, Rep. Jesse James, Chancellor Mnookin, Marathon County Sheriff Deputy Kyle McMullen, K9 Hero, Dr. Tom Albrecht of Athens Veterinary, UW SVM Dean Jon Levine, Dr. Taylor Marquardt of Athens Veterinary, and Dr. Paul Dlugopolski of Athens Veterinary. The veterinarians pictured are all alumni of UW SVM. Photo: Andy Manis
The chancellor’s first stop in Marathon County was Athens Veterinary Services, a full-service hospital for large and small animals, where five of the doctors are UW–Madison School of Veterinary Medicine alumni. One unique highlight of the visit was a focus on SVM’s Law Enforcement Partnership Program, which helps ensure K9 officers safely protect and serve the community.
This program benefited Marathon County Sheriff’s Department K9 officer Hero, a 6-year-old Belgian Malinois that specializes in narcotic detection and apprehension. Hero underwent surgery in September 2024 for a spinal cord injury incurred in training and was referred to UW Veterinary Care Physical Rehabilitation, which provided an individualized comprehensive rehab plan to optimize recovery, mobility and function. Hero has already safely returned to narcotic detection and continues to work hard in rehab with the aim of returning to apprehension work.
Tom Heise, owner of Custom Meats and Chancellor Mnookin at his facility. Photo: Andy Manis
The chancellor also visited Custom Meats of Marathon, an award-winning meat cutter and processor in Marathon City since 1989. Owner Tom Heise is a graduate of UW–Madison Extension’s Master Meat Crafter Program, which provides participants with comprehensive and in-depth knowledge of meat science, food safety and meat processing principles.
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