JOHNSONVILLE — There was no mustard, onions or sauerkraut.
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Ralph and Shelly Stayer, owners of Johnsonville, pamper one of their Racing Sausages on Thursday with a manicure and foot-bath of beer. American Family Field has its own set of Racing Sausages that tonight will make their World Series debut.
Ralph Stayer, whose father founded Johnsonville out of a meat market in the Sheboygan County hamlet, walks with the Racing Sausages that are housed at the company’s headquarters. The “BRAT” sign in the background was created in 2018 by Robert Indiana, who fashioned the sign after his “LOVE” signs seen in cities throughout the country.
Ralph Stayer, 85, shows off some of the many styles of sausages made by his company, Johnsonville. The sausage company, once a small regional player, now sells it products in 40 countries and has more than 4,000 employees.
Leo Landis, the director of curatorial services at the Wisconsin Historical Society, and other staff members are working to restore the three original Racing Sausages that debuted in 1993. Bratwurst, seen here at the State Archive Preservation Facility, along with Polish and Italian sausages, was made of commercially available foam and glued together on cardboard. The plan is to have the trio displayed in the Wisconsin History Center when it opens in 2027.
Shelly Stayer, chief brand officer and chair of the Johnsonville board of directors, shows off some of the sausage-themed swag at the company’s retail store in rural Sheboygan County. The lights above are shaped like bratwurst.
Photos: Johnsonville and the Racing Sausages
Johnsonville and the Racing Sausages
At the headquarters of Johnsonville, grills serve as flower planters.
Johnsonville and the Racing Sausages 6
Johnsonville and the Racing Sausages
Ralph Stayer, left, and his wife, Shelly Stayer, gather with the Racing Sausages near the BRAT sign along Highway J in Johnsonville.
Johnsonville and the Racing Sausages
Shelly Stayer, chair of the Johnsonville board of directors, helps Chorizo with its sombrero Thursday during an event at the sausage company’s store.
Johnsonville and the Racing Sausages
Bratwurst looks on as other Racing Sausages prepare Thursday in Johnsonville.
Johnsonville and the Racing Sausages
Getting into a Racing Sausage isn’t easy. They’re also top-heavy.
Johnsonville and the Racing Sausages 4
Ralph Stayer, 85, shows off some of the many styles of sausages made by his company, Johnsonville. The sausage company, once a small regional player, now sells it products in 40 countries and has more than 4,000 employees.
Johnsonville and the Racing Sausages
Johnsonville makes over 1 billion brats a year, but is also well known for its summer sausage.
Johnsonville and the Racing Sausages
Modern coffee cups branded with Johnsonville sit below a photo of the meat market where the now global company was started in 1945. The company store along Highway J in Johnsonville opened in 2020.
Johnsonville and the Racing Sausages 2
Shelly Stayer, chief brand officer and chair of the Johnsonville board of directors, shows off some of the sausage-themed swag at the company’s retail store in rural Sheboygan County. The lights above are shaped like bratwurst.
Johnsonville and the Racing Sausages
Ralph and Shelly Stayer, owners of Johnsonville, give Bratwurst, one of its Racing Sausages, a pampering on Thursday.
Johnsonville and the Racing Sausages 3
Ralph and Shelly Stayer, owners of Johnsonville, pamper one of their Racing Sausages on Thursday with a manicure and foot-bath of beer. American Family Field has its own set of Racing Sausages that tonight will make their World Series debut.
Johnsonville and the Racing Sausages
Johnsonville and the Racing Sausages
Ralph Stayer leans against his Mercedes SUV to look out at his summer sausage plant in Johnsonville. The plant is on the site where Stayer’s father purchased a meat market in 1945.
Johnsonville and the Racing Sausages
Johnsonville is home to 65 residents but also nearly 2,000 employees at the sausage company that bears the community’s name.
Johnsonville and the Racing Sausages 1
Ralph Stayer, whose father founded Johnsonville out of a meat market in the Sheboygan County hamlet, walks with the Racing Sausages that are housed at the company’s headquarters. The “BRAT” sign in the background was created in 2018 by Robert Indiana, who fashioned the sign after his “LOVE” signs seen in cities throughout the country.
Johnsonville and the Racing Sausages
Fans enjoy the sausage race between innings during opening day in 2006 at Miller Park.
Johnsonville and the Racing Sausages
Wisconsin State Journal reporter Jason Wilde, left, was dressed as the Hot Dog during last Sunday's Weiner Race at Miller Park. The others are L-R Tony Young, Polish Sausage; Lindsay Christensen, Italian Sausage; and Katie Raschka, Brat. The Milwaukee Brewers hosted the Washington Nationals at Miller Park Sunday June 4, 2006. Steve Apps-State Journal. (Published caption 6/11/06) State Journal columnist Jason Wilde, with his "fat, pasty-white legs" poking out from under the Hot Dog costume at left, toes the line last Sunday at Miller Park for the sausage race.
Johnsonville and the Racing Sausages 5
Leo Landis, the director of curatorial services at the Wisconsin Historical Society, and other staff members are working to restore the three original Racing Sausages that debuted in 1993. Bratwurst, seen here at the State Archive Preservation Facility, along with Polish and Italian sausages, was made of commercially available foam and glued together on cardboard. The plan is to have the trio displayed in the Wisconsin History Center when it opens in 2027.
Johnsonville and the Racing Sausages 6
Johnsonville and the Racing Sausages 4
Ralph Stayer, 85, shows off some of the many styles of sausages made by his company, Johnsonville. The sausage company, once a small regional player, now sells it products in 40 countries and has more than 4,000 employees.
Johnsonville and the Racing Sausages 2
Shelly Stayer, chief brand officer and chair of the Johnsonville board of directors, shows off some of the sausage-themed swag at the company’s retail store in rural Sheboygan County. The lights above are shaped like bratwurst.
Johnsonville and the Racing Sausages 3
Ralph and Shelly Stayer, owners of Johnsonville, pamper one of their Racing Sausages on Thursday with a manicure and foot-bath of beer. American Family Field has its own set of Racing Sausages that tonight will make their World Series debut.
Johnsonville and the Racing Sausages 1
Ralph Stayer, whose father founded Johnsonville out of a meat market in the Sheboygan County hamlet, walks with the Racing Sausages that are housed at the company’s headquarters. The “BRAT” sign in the background was created in 2018 by Robert Indiana, who fashioned the sign after his “LOVE” signs seen in cities throughout the country.
Johnsonville and the Racing Sausages 5
Leo Landis, the director of curatorial services at the Wisconsin Historical Society, and other staff members are working to restore the three original Racing Sausages that debuted in 1993. Bratwurst, seen here at the State Archive Preservation Facility, along with Polish and Italian sausages, was made of commercially available foam and glued together on cardboard. The plan is to have the trio displayed in the Wisconsin History Center when it opens in 2027.
Johnsonville and the Racing Sausages
Wisconsin Historical Society Director of Curatorial Services Leo Landis, left, and Wisconsin Historical Society Circulation Librarian Laura Hemming stand next to the original bratwurst suit from the Milwaukee Brewers sausage races on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026 at the State Archive Preservation Facility in Madison, Wis.
