On this episode of Wisconsin Life, Angela Fitzgerald journeys to the Lodi Marsh Segment of the Ice Age Trail. She is joined by volunteers as they build a new boardwalk on the trail. We learn about the organization’s effort to preserve the popular trail running through the state’s breathtaking glacial landscapes. We hear from Luke Kloberdanz, the Director of Philanthropy at the Ice Age Trail Alliance to learn about their volunteering efforts.
We also find Thomas Meyer who has spent 30 years growing the DNR’s State Natural Area program. Tasked with protecting the state’s rarest species, he helps spread awareness of the unique habitats. Most recently, he advised on the PBS Wisconsin “Wisconsin Scenic Treasures” project.
A unique racing pair run past as Roger Pedretti shares the sport of Burro racing. Burro racing involves the person being tethered to a burro by a 15-foot lead rope and running alongside the burro for the duration of the race. In almost all his races, Roger and his burro Samaritan have finished in the top 10. The Pedretti family are the only known burro racers in Wisconsin.
Then, Mississippi-born and Sun Prairie-based artist Jerry Butler shares his belief that he has a responsibility as an artist to make empowering art for the community. At 74, Butler remains true to his mission by creating murals and accessible multimedia work. Just as people came together to support his art career, Butler works to champion a new generation of artists through his practice.
Finally, Milwaukee actor and therapist Nancy Smith-Watson and her husband share the art of the stage. Their specific stagecraft is that of Shakespeare, and they founded “Feast of Crispian,” an organization providing three-day Shakespeare intensives for veterans at Zablocki VA Medical Center in Milwaukee.
