Agriculture is a massive part of the Wisconsin economy. That makes sense considering that the state is famous around the world for its dairy products, namely the cheeses which are exported from the Badger State. Milk is also an extremely significant export for Wisconsin’s bottom line. Dairy products alone rake in billions of dollars for the state in a given year. If you’re looking for a job in an industry with legs in the state, you can’t go wrong in dairy.
Dairy products aren't the only agricultural exports that provide major profits for the Badger State. Other agricultural goods with a strong economic imprint in the state include corn, potatoes, hay, beans, peas, beets, cranberries, and oats. The state also has a wealth of mines that excavate and process key raw materials which include zinc, lead, iron ore, and copper.
Manufacturing also plays a pivotal role in providing jobs within the state and goods both inside the state and out. Some of the key manufactured goods made in Wisconsin include processed foods, beer, furniture, general machinery, and automobiles. Where the Badger State shines in manufacturing, though, is in paper. Wisconsin is the top producer of paper in the entire nation.
Tourism also brings significant money into the state, especially when it comes to outdoor recreation. Wisconsin has over 14,000 lakes within its borders which draw visitors from around the nation and world for fishing, jet skiing, ice boating, and other various water sports. There are also 95 different recreation areas, state parks, and forests in the state which cover nearly 15% of Wisconsin’s total area.
Key sites of interest for locals and tourists alike include the Ice Age National Scientific Reserve, the extremely cool Circus World Museum in Baraboo, the picturesque Wisconsin Dells, three different national scenic riverways (St. Croix, Lower St. Croix, and Wolf), and the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.
Another key tourist attraction is Lambeau Field in Green Bay. The home of the National Football League’s Green Bay Packers, Lambeau Field is the oldest continuously used stadium in the league. It’s also rife with ghosts of games past, a stadium unlike any other. And if you happen to go to a game during the winter, you’ll likely find out why the stadium sometimes referred to as “Titletown USA” is also nicknamed “the Frozen Tundra.”
That’s not all for sports in Wisconsin, though. The state has two more professional sports teams among the four major American sports – the Milwaukee Brewers (Major League Baseball) and Milwaukee Bucks (National Basketball Association). The state’s also home to minor league teams, semi-professional squads in the major sports and other sports, and of the best indoor soccer teams in history – the Milwaukee Wave.
We haven’t even covered collegiate sports yet. The Wisconsin Badgers are one of the most storied college football programs in the Midwest, and the Marquette Golden Eagles are a regular standout in college basketball. If you’re looking for spectator sports to be a big part of your everyday life, you can’t do much better than moving to Wisconsin.
All of this talk about sports brings us to the best thing to do when watching sports – eating! Wisconsin's cuisine is greatly influenced by the large amounts of German and Scandinavian immigrants who settled within the state. You can find plenty of restaurants with takes on traditional German fare like schnitzel, and you will even Hofbraus and buffets which offer modernized takes on classic foods from both regions.
That's not all for food in Wisconsin, though. Cheese is king and queen in the Badger State, which means you'll find everything from bratwursts covered in cheese to upscale fondue restaurants. There's a real love of meat which makes itself known almost everywhere you go. Whether it's sandwiches, hot dogs, hamburgers, or steaks, you'll always be able to find a good meal that will fill you up without emptying your wallet.
So, how are you going to get around to sample all of the great food Wisconsin has to offer? There are bus systems, streetcars, and rail services in limited areas. There's also Amtrak which can shuttle you between Chicago and Milwaukee, but the easiest way to get around Wisconsin is in your passenger vehicle. The comprehensive system of highways and byways is your ticket to the Badger State, which makes shipping your car as soon as you can a top priority.
If you’re somebody who travels out of state or out of the country a lot for business or pleasure, Wisconsin does have one major international airport to its credit – Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport. If that doesn’t work for you, you can always take a train into Chicago and fly out of there.
And if you're heading to Wisconsin with higher education on the mind, you have options. Firstly, there's the University of Wisconsin System which has 26 campuses to its credit – the flagship of which being the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Madison. If you're looking to go to school for a trade, there are also 16 campuses within the Wisconsin Technical College System.
That’s not all, though. Wisconsin also has a wealth of great private colleges which include Marquette University in Milwaukee, Beloit College in Beloit, Edgewood College in Madison, Wisconsin Lutheran College on the border between Wauwatosa and Milwaukee, Lakeland College in Plymouth, and Carroll University in Waukesha.
Now that you've gotten a detailed look at the ins and outs of the Badger State, it's time to add some Wisconsin trivia knowledge to the mix. Let's start by taking a look at the various inanimate and living symbols of the state:
That's not all for our dive into Wisconsin trivia! We want you to be the talk of your next (or first) dinner party in Wisconsin, so here are some really cool facts about the state for you to recite:
Are you ready to experience everything that the Badger State has to offer? Shipping your truck, car, or van with Nexus Auto Transport will get you there. Whether you want to catch a Milwaukee Brewers game or have some fun on one of the state’s many lakes, a reliable vehicle is your ticket to the natural grandeur and pure entertainment of Wisconsin.
