National Ag Day is meant to recognize and thank farmers and the many people whose work supports agriculture, from those raising crops and livestock to those hauling, processing and marketing what the land produces. Around New Glarus, it also offers a fitting moment to reflect on how much the agricultural landscape in the Town of New Glarus and northern Green County has changed across generations.

Wisconsin’s dairy economy remains a powerhouse. A recent University of Wisconsin-Madison analysis found the state’s dairy sector generates an estimated $52.8 billion in economic impact, underscoring the continuing strength of milk production, cheesemaking and the industries tied to them. Yet that statewide strength exists alongside a quieter and more personal story in places like New Glarus, where the structure of farming has changed dramatically even as agriculture remains central to the land and to local identity.