Civil Municipal - May 2024

“We have been really trying to push tourism into this area,” says Finch. Hillsboro is considered a gateway community to the Driftless Region, Wisconsin’s gorgeous flowery area characterized by steep bluffs, cliffs, and valleys. The scenic landscape offers tons of recreational activities, such as fishing, hiking, and cycling. “[Hillsboro] is a great place to visit. It’s a great place to stay,” emphasizes Finch.“And even if you’re not an outdoors person, there are still things for you to do.” If you’re a car buff, the Hillsboro area has an annual car show and a drag strip for racing. Or there is the Hillsboro Brewing Company, home to over 25 craft beers and seltzers. Hillsboro Brewing Company, or HBC, is unique with its restoration and retrofitting of an old 1900’s carnation plant making it one of the “It probably sounds small-scale,” says Kubarski. “But in this area, that would be huge.” SMALL CITY, BIG HEART Farming is in people’s blood in Hillsboro, says Mayor Kubarski, and that notion is reflected in the city’s dynamic agriculture industry. The area used to be 100% dairy farms, explains Kubarski, but that’s changed over the years as larger agricultural companies have swooped into Hillsboro. No longer are there many farms with 50 to 60 cows; Hillsboro now houses several larger farms with over 1,000 cows. The agricultural output has diversified, too, though the city’s big business comes from multiple plants producing butter and cheese. And with such a hearty farming industry comes plenty of celebration. 106 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 05