In 1942, a loaf of bread was 9 cents, a gallon of milk was 60 cents, and you could purchase a new car for $1,100 and a new house for $6,950.
Harvard was the self-proclaimed “Milk Center of the World” and began celebrating its proud title with an annual festival fittingly dubbed Milk Days.
Needless to say, times have changed. Even as Harvard’s dairy industry has shrunk, the festival has grown by leaps and bounds and now spans three days the first weekend of June — this year, it’s June 4-6. Over three days, it’s estimated that between 50,000 and 75,000 attendees visit this town of 9,000 people.
What hasn’t changed is the meaning behind the festival, which is to honor the town’s farming heritage. Milk continues to be a major focus of the festival, which includes a dairy cattle show, milking demonstrations, free milk giveaway from Dean Foods and a milk-drinking contest.
“With a reflection on our farming heritage and a focus on family and tradition, Harvard Milk Days has weathered the test of time and created opportunities for community-minded people to enjoy a fun family festival,” Board Secretary Mike Bannwolf said.
Behind the Scenes
From that first year celebrating its dairy farmers and through the peak in the 1960s to its 69th year this spring, Milk Days is made possible due in no small part to a core of hardworking volunteers.
In 2009, 32 Milk Days committees included 286 volunteers, according to Bannwolf, who became a Milk Days volunteer in 1968. Each committee represents a different event. Without volunteers, these events wouldn’t be possible.
“Committee sizes range from two to three people to up to 30 people,” Bannwolf said. “For example, the horse show requires a large committee whereas the marketplace can be handled by just a few. Every volunteer is very important.”
Volunteers are particularly vital as the number of events grows annually. And because there is occasional turnover, committees are always looking for fresh ideas from new volunteers. “We look for volunteers who are interested in community involvement,” Bannwolf said. “[People who] really have an interest in the community always turn out to be excellent volunteers.
“A lot of those starting at the committee level advance to become a chairperson or co-chairperson,” he said. “A lot of people have been involved for a long time. We have a lot of 30-year-plus volunteers and many with five to 10 years of involvement.”
Simply put, “Milk Days couldn’t happen without our volunteers,” Bannwolf said. “So much happens behind the scenes. Making Milk Days happen requires a long-term commitment by passionate people. I can’t thank them enough.”
And just like work on a family farm, all ages are encouraged to lend a hand at Milk Days. “A lot of teenagers who were past participants in events become volunteers,” Bannwolf said. “There’s a family feel to the event — older kids help with the younger ones and there are a lot of parents and children. Just as a farming operation, Milk Days includes all age groups.”
What’s New
Milk Days kickoff events take place before the big festival weekend beginning with the Queen Coronation on May 8, the Prince and Princess Contest on May 16, and a number of activities on May 29. “A number of our kickoff events have been relocated to the Harvard Moose Lodge, such as the Craft & ‘Udder’ Neat Stuff,” Bannwolf said.
New Milk Days events include Woody’s Menagerie — an educational wildlife exhibit and camel rides all three days, entertainment by Walworth County Cloggers, and a car and bike show.
The annual carnival includes more than 24 amusement rides, and 60 food vendors, games and novelty shops in the marketplace.
For an event this big, planning starts far in advance. “We are already planning next year’s Milk Days,” Bannwolf explained.
>> For more, call 815-943-4614, visit www.milkdays.com or e-mail
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Sidebar: Milk Days Events
Saturday, May 8
• Queen Coronation
Sunday, May 16
• Prince and Princess Contest
Saturday, May 29
• Pancake Breakfast
• Horse Show
• Car/Bike Wheelz Show
• Craft & “Udder” Neat Stuff
• Outdoor Grilling Competition
Friday, June 4
• Antique Tractor Show
• Milk Days Festival Grounds Open
• Pioneer Drum & Bugle Corps
• Woody’s Menagerie Wildlife Presentation
Saturday, June 5
• Milk Run/Walk
• Antique Tractor Show
• Milk Days Brunch with Orion Samuelson
• Milk Days Parade
• Woody’s Menagerie
• Milk Drinking Contest
• Talent Show
• Cow Chip Lotto
Sunday, June 6
• Community Church Service
• Junior Dairy Cattle Show/Antique Tractor Show
• Walworth County Cloggers
• Woody’s Menagerie
• Cow Chip Lotto
• New Odyssey
• Fireworks Display
