Taking the runway for dairy

TREMPEALEAU, Wis. — Dairy products are some of the most sought-after items for food pantries but one of the most difficult to keep in stock. Annaliese Wegner, Anna Ledebuhr and Jess Ecker helped ensure they are readily supplied to the Galesville-Ettrick-Trempealeau Community Food Pantry in an unconventional manner. They hosted a fashion show. 

Ecker’s Apple Farm near Trempealeau opened its doors April 24 for the Dairy Chic Fashion Show. Proceeds were used to place dairy products in the local food bank.

Wegner, co-owner at Wegnerlann Dairy, helped facilitate the idea with Ledebuhr, owner of Coulee Boutique in Galesville.  

“I went to one of Coulee Boutique’s fashion shows and had so much fun,” Wegner said. “After the show, I chatted with Anna and we decided to collaborate. Our goal was to create something fun and different that would have a positive impact on our community.”

Wegner wanted to help raise money to keep dairy products at local food pantries, as well as provide a night of entertainment for the community.

“Being a dairy farmer, I have an understanding of how difficult it can be for food pantries to get and keep dairy products,” Wegner said. “It made sense to raise money for this particular situation.”

Wegner and Ledebuhr also connected with Wegner’s mother, owner of A Farm Chick’s Closet outside of Baldwin, to bring even more variety to the show. The next step was finding a venue. Ecker of Ecker’s Apple Farm was willing to host the event thanks to great community ties.

“We wanted to have the event at Ecker’s because they value the community as much as Anna and I do,” Wegner said. “And their space is just so beautiful.”

The event featured a fashion show, silent auction, charcuterie, hard cider, sandwiches, conversation and a chance to gather with others who want to support the community.

In total, the event raised $4,000. The money will go directly to the Galesville-Ettrick-Trempealeau food pantry.

“It’s important for us to give to the food pantry because it’s our community and our people,” Wegner said. “We are better and stronger when we work together to help one another. It was amazing to see so many people and local businesses show up in some way for this event.”

Hosting the event provided a different way for the community to connect and support local businesses.

“Everyone gets sick of the same old scene,” Wegner said. “It was nice to have a reason to get dressed up, go out and support local businesses and our community while raising awareness for dairy in the food pantry.”

The event also included a silent auction with a variety of items donated from local businesses, including cow-themed charcuterie cups from Hunt and Gather Grazing. Mlsna Dairy Supply, Trempealeau County Farm Bureau and Hegg Mill LLC sponsored the event.

Wegner emceed the event, while Ledebuhr and Ecker worked on the show. Fashions from Coulee Boutique and A Farm Chick’s Closet were on display at the apple farm.

Throughout the show, Wegner continued to discuss the importance of dairy products being available to food pantries — not just for the nutritional value they provide, but to support local farmers in the area as well.

“A big issue pantries have is storing the milk,” Wegner said. “We are hoping to create vouchers for a gallon of milk at the local grocery store that the food pantry can hand out.”

With limited space available at Ecker’s Apple Farm, tickets were sold in advance. The event sold out its 100 ticket-goal and had 20 models and several helpers in attendance. The audience also came from a variety of backgrounds, blending agriculture with the community.

“A lot of the people in attendance were not from dairy farm families,” Wegner said. “We had a wide variety of people buy tickets, and I thought that was so important for us to continue to get the word out.”

Wegner’s social media presence helped raise awareness for the cause. Her Modern-Day Farm Chick page has over 160,000 followers as she shares her farm life with the world.

“Social media is always helpful when it comes to events like this,” Wegner said. “It was great to have others work on the event with me and use their platforms to promote the event. It was a group effort, and I’m very proud of the turnout.”

Wegner, Ledebuhr and Ecker received great feedback and plan to put together a similar event for the community next year.