Business View Magazine | October 2020

251 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2020 Vernon County is home to over 200 organic farms – the most of any county in Wisconsin and second only in number to California. In fact, Organic Valley (OV), founded in 1988 in the village of La Farge, along the Kickapoo River, is the nation’s largest farmer-owned organic cooperative and one of the world’s largest organic consumer brands. Organic Valley markets products such as milk, cheese, eggs, soy, protein shakes, butter, yogurt, organic snack items, and more. Under the Organic Prairie brand, the cooperative markets organic beef, pork, chicken, and turkey products. With 1,800 farmer-owners across the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom, Organic Valley markets its products in all 50 states and exports to 25 countries. Tied into the County’s agriculture-based economy are many home-grown, food-based businesses, including GoMacro, a manufacturer of plant-based protein bars; Wonderstate Coffee, a specialty coffee company that roasts its beans in Viroqua; and Wisco Pop! Beverage Co., another Viroqua-based company that makes soda pop and sparkling waters using a lot of local foods, such as ginger, honey, and organically-grown berries. Hillsboro Brewing Company and local wineries, such as Vernon Vineyards and Branches Winery, tie directly into the ag-based economy as well. Vernon County is also a tourist mecca with unsurpassed natural amenities providing many outdoor recreation activities. It is home to the Kickapoo Valley Reserve, an 8,600-acre natural reserve, between the villages of La Farge and Ontario; Wildcat Mountain State Park, with over 25 miles of scenic hiking, nature, and equestrian trails, plus canoe and kayaking opportunities; and many other county parks and nature preserves with public access. Vernon Trails, a local non-profit organization, have created, collaborated and maintained over 50 miles of shared use trails on both public lands, attracting adventure seeking mountain bikers and nature lovers from miles around for the unsurpassed VERNON COUNTY , WI SCONS IN Economic Development & Tourism Coordinator, Christina Dollhausen