Plover’s Food + Farm Exploration Center opens Dec. 2
By Brandi Makuski
Plover’s newest attraction will soon be open to the public.
The Food + Farm Exploration Center opens on Dec. 2, giving the public a chance to learn more about Wisconsin’s rich agricultural industry and innovative practices through an immersive experience.
After a $41 million fundraising campaign and state-of-the-art facility and exhibit design, the exploration center is now complete. The 50,000-square-foot facility is situated on 24 acres in Plover, just south of Lake Pacawa Park.
The exploration center includes over 60 immersive, interactive exhibits, as well as meeting and event space, a cafe, and four acres of demonstration fields.
The center even has classroom space where visitors of all ages can be taught about food preparation and preservation. It’s also home to the world’s largest potato masher, designed to be a “selfie spot” for all generations.
“There is a profound need to reconnect people to agriculture, for them to understand really where their food is coming from,” said Dick Pavelski, founder and president of the Food + Farm Exploration Center. “The exploration center will provide a place to do that. We are bringing everyone to the table here to learn about how we farm sustainably, the technology we use, how it gets to the grocery store, and how that can help in feeding the world.”
Planning for the exploration center began four years ago. The Farming for the Future Foundation identified a need to reconnect people to their food and the farmers who grow it. The resulting project produced a space that joins agriculture, education, STEM, and workforce development.
“After years of planning, we are so excited for this dream to become a reality,” Executive Director Andy Reitz said. “Wisconsin and its farms feed the nation and the world, and now this one-of-a-kind facility will allow current and future generations to learn about innovation and sustainability in the agriculture industry.”
The Food + Farm Exploration Center will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. The center is closed on Mondays.
The center is located at 3400 Innovation Dr. in Plover, south of Lake Pacawa Park off of Hoover Ave. South.
Tickets are $12 for adults, $11 for seniors 60 and older, $8 for kids 12-17, and $6 for ages 3-11. Children under three are free. For more information on upcoming events or to buy tickets, go to www.explorefoodandfarm.org.