Voices of Rural Wisconsin Part One: The Call of the Land
The Klessig Family
The Klessig family's ties to Saxon Homestead Farm are six generations strong. The three surviving generations are represented on a frosty December day in the den of their home in the town of Cleveland, about fifteen miles north of Sheboygan near the western shores of Lake Michigan. In addition to being successful and innovative dairy farmers, the Klessig family has earned a reputation as guardians of the land-both their own and the working lands across the state. Grandmother Margaret Klessig's late husband, Ed, led the storied opposition to development of I-43 through the rich Eastern Wisconsin farmlands during the 1970s. Ed and Margaret's children were part of that fight, including their youngest son, Robert, who camped out for days with his father and a cow on the Capitol Building lawn in front of then-Governor Patrick Lucey's office to draw attention to their concerns. Another son, Erik, has dedicated his life to enhancing the wildlife habitat of Manitowoc County. Son Karl, one of the active partners in the Saxon Homestead farm and creamery, just finished his tenure on Glacial Lakes Conservancy. He lent his voice and leadership to the Wisconsin Working Lands Initiative, a package of strengthened farmland protection measures that overwhelmingly passed the Wisconsin Legislature in 2009.
The walls and shelves of Margaret Klessig's home are full of photos and other mementos of life richly lived. Most of the family members present provide their own interpretation of the pull of the land and how it has shaped their lives. Bright-eyed Val, the nineteen-year-old daughter of Karl and Liz Klessig who is home from UW-Madison on Christmas break, surprises her family with what she says. So, we have the pleasure of hearing from the youngest generation and the oldest in our record of this visit.
To listen to the interviews, click on one of the play buttons below. If you do not see a play button you will need to download and install Adobe's Flash Player.
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