PLOVER — A 31-foot-tall steel potato masher is one of Wisconsin's newest roadside attractions.
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A 31-foot-tall potato masher serves as the Food + Farm Exploration Center's calling card.
Heath Dornfeld, operations and exhibits director at the Food + Farm Exploration Center in Plover, demonstrates one of the two tractor simulators in the 50,000-square-foot facility. The center, which opened in December, includes a children's museum, interactive exhibits, STEM programming, event space and demonstration gardens.
This model of an irrigation system explains how water is used on crops, particularly those grown in sandy soil.
A box of sand and specialized lighting lets users like Heath Dornfeld explore how changing topography affects water flow and erosion. The Food + Farm Exploration Center's Soil Cube tells the story of Wisconsin soil.
Justin Wolman, a marketing and communications specialist at the Food + Farm Exploration Center in Plover shows off an interactive game that allows players to stomp out potato blight.
Video screens embedded into a green bean sorter contribute to a realistic experience at the Food + Farm Exploration Center.
Photos: Food + Farm Exploration Center in Plover
One of the many exhibits at the Food + Farm Exploration Center in Plover. The 50,000-square-foot facility opened in December and features a children's museum, scores of exhibits, STEM programming, a demonstration kitchen, event space and nearly five acres of crop land.
Stools in the shape of potatoes provide a seating area for young learners at the Food + Farm Exploration Center in Plover.
Heath Dorfeld pulls a pair of imitation carrots from an iterative display at the Food + Farm Exploration Center in Plover. The 50,000-square-foot facility opened in December and features a children's museum, scores of exhibits, STEM programming, a demonstration kitchen, event space and nearly five acres of crop land.
The Kitchen Lab is a large demonstration kitchen that hosts classes and events at the Food + Farm Exploration Center in Plover.
Justin Wolman, a marketing and communications specialist at the Food + Farm Exploration Center in Plover shows off an interactive game that allows players to stomp out potato blight.
This model of an irrigation system explains how water is used on crops, particularly those grown in sandy soil.
A play grocery store helps children at the Food + Farm Exploration Center in Plover better understand the origins of food.
The Food + Farm Exploration Center in Plover didn't open until December but potatoes were harvested from the property last fall and used to make a batch of vodka.
One of the many exhibits at the Food + Farm Exploration Center in Plover. The 50,000-square-foot facility opened in December and features a children's museum, scores of exhibits, STEM programming, a demonstration kitchen, event space and nearly five acres of crop land.
The cafe at the Food + Farm Exploration Center in Plover.
One of the many exhibits at the Food + Farm Exploration Center in Plover. The 50,000-square-foot facility opened in December and features a children's museum, scores of exhibits, STEM programming, a demonstration kitchen, event space and nearly five acres of crop land.
A 31-foot-tall potato masher serves as the Food + Farm Exploration Center's calling card.
Potato chips get a nod in one of the many exhibits at the Food + Farm Exploration Center in Plover. The 50,000-square-foot facility opened in December and features a children's museum, scores of exhibits, STEM programming, a demonstration kitchen, event space and nearly five acres of crop land.
A sweet corn harvester fills the Tech Center at the Food + Farm Exploration Center in Plover. Machinery is loaned out by area farmers on a rotating basis.
Education at the Food + Farm Exploration Center in Plover doesn't stop at the bathroom door.
These plots at the Food + Farm Exploration Center in Plover include small irrigation systems and grow a variety of crops. The plan for this year is potatoes, sweet corn, green beans, peas and cucumbers.
A massive sweet corn harvester is on display at the Food + Farm Exploration Center in Plover.
Video screens embedded into a green bean sorter contribute to a realistic experience at the Food + Farm Exploration Center.
One of the many exhibits at the Food + Farm Exploration Center in Plover. The 50,000-square-foot facility opened in December and features a children's museum, scores of exhibits, STEM programming, a demonstration kitchen, event space and nearly five acres of crop land.
Heath Dornfeld, operations and exhibits director at the Food + Farm Exploration Center in Plover, demonstrates one of the two tractor simulators in the 50,000-square-foot facility. The center, which opened in December, includes a children's museum, interactive exhibits, STEM programming, event space and demonstration gardens.
A box of sand and specialized lighting lets users like Heath Dornfeld explore how changing topography affects water flow and erosion. The Food + Farm Exploration Center's Soil Cube tells the story of Wisconsin soil.
Barry Adams covers regional news for the Wisconsin State Journal. Send him ideas for On Wisconsin at 608-252-6148 or by email at badams@madison.com.
