No Joke: Wisconsin Farm Technology Days launches countdown to Stratford event

STRATFORD – Wisconsin Farm Technology Days officially kicked off its 2026 event with a media day held May 15 at Redetzke’s No Joke Dairy outside of Stratford.
The event takes place July 14-16 on the farm, but preparations take several years to make it all happen.
Farm Technology Days is led by General Manager Janet Keller, who took the position a year and a half ago after being an exhibitor for over three decades, as well as being on the state board of directors.
“I actually play a very small role. I’m in the background trying to help host farms put together the leadership committees and the volunteer force. I work a lot with the exhibitors themselves, some of which I know real well from my days as an exhibitor,” Keller said.
“It’s always been near and dear to my heart because I was involved in FFA and 4-H as a youth, and I know how important those programs and others are to making sure we have a strong next generation of farmers and industry leaders, people that work for equipment companies, people that maybe are wanting to drive drones, people that might want to work in computers and agriculture or maybe public relations. There’s such a wide gamut of needed employees in our ag industry.

“Wisconsin Farm Technology Days is over 72 years old, and so we try to give a good mix of the history of agriculture in the state of Wisconsin, but also of the evolution of the agriculture business. So, all of us eat, right? And so we want to help explain to the consumers what agriculture is all about, where your food is produced and all of the new technologies, the things like the animal husbandry that goes in, the care of the animals, the care of the land, the stewardship of the land and a lot of neat aspects like the drone application in agriculture these days, too.”
To coincide with the host farm’s name, “Redetzke’s No Joke Dairy,” the theme for this year’s event is “We’re Serious” about Wisconsin Farm Technology Days.
Keller explained that the theme goes along with a unique story for the Redetzke family.
“The interesting thing about their path to becoming a farmer: they grew up on this farm, but they went away and had careers outside of agriculture and were on the road and such. But the brothers — both Sam Redetzke and Matt Redetzke and Brittany, who is Matt’s wife — all wanted to come back and be part of agriculture on the farm level, to raise their families here,” she explained.
Keller added that the location of the farm, in Marathon County, also makes it a great place to hold the event.
“Central Wisconsin is a very strong agriculture geography in our state. So we do rotate this show each year around different parts of the state and try to highlight different types of agriculture. But here in Marathon County, we have not only dairy, which is quite strong as far as our state rankings, but also things like ginseng and cranberries and specialty crops. Potatoes are grown in central Wisconsin and green beans and other specialty crops. So we like to come to central Wisconsin because it’s the middle of the state, so it’s easy for all points in Wisconsin to drive here for a day. The second thing is it’s a strong agriculture hub that has great community leaders and volunteers to help us put the show on, and we’re just very glad to be back in this area again this year,’ she said.
“This event simply doesn’t happen without people who are willing to give their time, energy and sometimes even their sanity to make it successful,” 2026 Farm Technology Days Volunteer Chair Vicki Halopka stated during Media Day. “Whether you’ve been involved for months or you’re just joining the effort during the week of or any day of the show, you are part of something special, something that brings agriculture, technology, education and community together in a way few events can.
“Farm Tech Days is big in many ways, but most importantly, it has a big impact. What truly makes it special is it’s powered by local hands and local hearts. Volunteers are the backbone. Volunteers are the people who greet the visitors, guide exhibitors, answer questions, keep things running smoothly and make sure everyone leaves with a great experience and a positive impression of our community.”
Halopka said that volunteering doesn’t happen just during the show itself; it begins in mid-June and continues through the week of the show — July 14-16.
“Over the next several weeks, we’re going to be finalizing schedules, filling volunteer roles, and making sure every tent, tractor, shuttle, demo area has the support it needs. Just as importantly, we want every volunteer to feel confident, prepared and appreciated,” she added.
“We are building something big, and every minute and hour you give truly makes a difference.”
The 2026 event takes place at Redetzke’s No Joke Dairy, 216601 Wescott Ave., Stratford.
Move-in starts on June 15, and work continues a few days after the July show.
Help is still needed in stake, layout and utilities installation; grass trimming; garbage & recycling pick-up; tent setup; tram drivers and safety helpers; parking; admissions; crowd control; public relations; and other areas.
For more information or to sign up, visit www.wifarmtechdays.org/volunteers.