MADISON, Wis. (WFRV) – Officials with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection announced Friday that the 2026 and 79th Alice in Dairyland Finals will be hosted in Marathon County.
According to a release from the WDATCP, Alice in Dairyland is a communications professional who works to help educate Wisconsinites throughout the state about Wisconsin agriculture.
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Citing a report from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension, Marathon County is said to have over 2,200 farms (97% family owned), more than 473,000 acres of land devoted to agriculture, more than 11,000 yearly jobs in the industry, and over $2.8 billion yearly in economic activity, making it an “ideal” place to host the 79th Alice in Dairyland Finals.
Ginseng, dairy, and maple syrups are said to be among Marathon County’s leading agricultural products, with the county ranking No. 1 in ginseng and No. 2 in the dairy industry throughout Wisconsin.
Over the course of the next year, the 2025 winner and 78th Alice in Dairyland, Sarah Hagenow, will be making 10 appearances in Marathon County before the 2026 finals.
Officials say her appearances are said to include stops at Colby Cheese Days, the North Central Wisconsin Antique Steam and Gas Engine Show, the Athens Fair, and other agribusinesses, including a maple syrup farm and a ginseng garden.
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The selection of the 79th Alice in Dairyland will take place on May 16th in Wausau, following a three-day finals event (May 14-16) that features press conferences, agribusiness tours, interviews with the media, and speeches.
To learn more about the Alice in Dairyland program, click here.
