Lodi Farmer's Market

On any Friday afternoon in the Summer, you’ll find Lyn Lorenz sitting in her lawn chair in the parking lot of the Northern Edge restaurant.   But it’s not as strange as it sounds:  Lyn is watching over the weekly Farmers’ Market.  She’s got a smile and a hearty greeting for everyone that walks by–calling most by name and asking how things have been going over the past week.  She also has information, answers, and an occasional “Susie the Duck for President” button to give away.

The crowd that wanders through the market range from 5 to 95, and are wearing everything from bib overalls to business suits. The Lodi Farmers’ Market was the brain-child of Peg Zamisch.  In the winter of 2000-2001, Peg wrote an article in the Lodi Enterprise wondering if anyone would be interested in creating a market for farmers and local craftsmen to sell their food and wares.  The response was very positive.  And so, after much planning, the Lodi Farmers’ Market opened up in the summer of 2001.

Starting–and maintaining–a successful market takes more than just plunking down in an open space and saying you’ve got things to sell.   The organizers researched the project heavily and sought out the best resources they could find for information regarding the laws, best practices, guidelines, and tips to create a succusseful, sustainable market.  The UW Extension program was instrumental in getting the groundwork laid out.   There are no laws specifically governing markets in Wisconsin.  The UW Extension, however, was able put together a list of laws that govern the various activities that take place at the market.  The Market is very conscious of these laws and guidelines.

The rules are just the foundation on which the market is built.  The real structure comes from being a true part of the community.  The Farmers’ Market isn’t just a place where people buy stuff.  It’s a place where people interact, and a group which gives back to the community.   One of the most important parts of the market is what happens the morning after.  Inside the small barn are large ice chests.  These get filled with the unsold produce from vendors and donations from community members.  On Saturday morning, the Lodi Food Pantry stops by and collects the food.   The fresh fruits and vegetables are divided up and taken to needy families in the Lodi area and to the local senior citizens who can’t make it to the market.  The bounty of the community is given back to the community; nothing goes to waste.

Lyn in the Market Barn

The interaction between the market and the community continually builds on itself.  Lyn is very proud of the barn, for example.  The money for the small structure came from the Roberta Arnold Community Fund.  During her time as City Board Supervisor, Arnold took her salary and put it into a special fund for community projects.  Using the money they received, the Market purchased the materials to build their barn.  The labor for the project was donated by Laurent Soucie’s industrial arts class at the Lodi High School.  There’s  even a little bit of local history built into the barn; some of the boards used to build it came from a local barn that had been torn down.

With the Market’s barn in place, they gained room to store more produce for the pantry.  And so it comes full circle; the money and labor they received from the community is, in turn, used to give food and friendship back to the community. The Lodi Farmers’ Market hasn’t been without its bumps in the road–sometimes literally!

In its first year, the market resided in the parking lot between Spring Creek and Main Street.  Space was a little tight and traffic was occasionally an issue, but it was a place to start.   When construction started on Highway 113 and the new City Hall, they had to move.   The owner of the Lodi Bowl offered his parking lot.  So, they picked up and moved to a new location.  A sudden fire shut down the bowling alley, leaving the market unsure of it’s future.   The surrounding businesses, however, stepped in and offered their resources to help the vendors; electricity and bathrooms being the two most important offerings.  Thanks to the Piggly Wiggly and Susie’s Car Wash, the market made it through the season.

The search for a new location ended with them moving just a quarter mile down the road to the parking lot of the City Limits.  When Annette Fassbender moved into the building and started the Northern Edge, she made sure that the Market knew they were welcome to stay.  Because it doesn’t own it’s own property, the market is dependent on the friendship of local businesses.  They’ve never been disappointed.

A market, however, can’t survive on good will alone.  It has to offer something that the community wants.  The Market succeeds in that aspect, too.  Fresh fruits and vegetables, honey, and flowers fill the tables.  There’s buffalo meat and fresh seafood for those with heartier appetites.  And there’s an array of crafts for those who appreciate the outdoors.  There are also special events, bands, presentations, workshops with professional gardeners, and special guests. The average shopper is becoming more and more aware of local markets and the wide variety of produce available fresh from the garden.  As Lyn says “Quality is very important [to us]. You not only know the goods you’re buying, but you know who you’re buying them from.”

Stop by on a Friday this summer and get a taste of “the food less traveled.”

In 1936, Don Steckleberg stopped fixing boats in his spare time and started fixing them as a business instead. That was the start of Don’s Marine–a business that is still running strong, over 70 years later.

For almost 40 years, Don ran his business out of the barn on his farm outside of town. In 1974, Don’s daughter Jane and her husband Steve bought the business and moved it to its new larger site on the edge of town. They soon outgrew that building and made one more move to their current location. The last move was only a few hundred yards, but it allowed them the room to plan for future expansion. That was a smart move. The original showroom and storage shed have expanded to 2 showrooms and 3 warehouses for boat and materials storage. The facility also expanded its outside storage area, inventory, and sales force.

In 1978, Jane and Steve’s oldest sons–twins Mark and Neil–took their experience in the family business and started out on a business venture of their own: Manke Enterprises. While Don’s Marine continued to sell and service boats and motors, the twins took a different approach: sales and service of lakeshore equipment. Almost every lake-side home has a pier, and many have boat lifts. Manke Enterprises quickly became the company to call for equipment, installation and removal. With their crane barges, they also became the people to call for marine recovery jobs. These most often consist of pulling up boats that have sunk because of damage or heavy rains. It’s also included a few more unusual items such as snowmobiles and even an airplane.

While Mark and Neil were off building up their own business, their younger brother, Andy, was working his way up the ladder at Don’s Marine. In 2006, with Andy as the General Manager, Jane and Steve decided it was time to pass along the family business. In an interesting move, Andy became a partner in–and president of–Manke Enterprises, which then bought Don’s Marine.

A Family Tradition

What started as one man working out of his barn has grown to include over 25 employees and a million-dollar showroom. Don’s Marine has gained a well-earned reputation as one of the best, most reliable marine dealerships in the region. Manke Enterprises has earned the right to include cities, townships, state parks, and even the University of Wisconsin’s Athletic Department in their list of satisfied, long-term clients.

How do they do it? Simple. They constantly look forward, while never forgetting what their grandfather taught them: Always do your best, always be honest and friendly, and always give the customers what they want.

A walk through the showroom will show you that Don’s advice was good. The showroom displays a boat for almost everyone; Rinker sport boat for the more active clients, luxurious Bennington pontoons for those who prefer to pamper themselves, and solid Alumacraft fishing boats for beginners and pros alike. Manke Enterprises works with both local companies such as Wickcraft and national companies such as Shorestation.

The owners aren’t the only ones to be on their 3rd generation. It’s not uncommon to see customers talking about when their grandfather bought a boat from Don.

Lake Wisconsin, the Wisconsin River, and the other smaller lakes and rivers are an important part of life in the Lodi area. They provide relaxation and enjoyment to both residents and visitors, as well as a solid economic foundation for the entire area. Competition for that money is stiff, and it’s often tempting for a new business to step in and try to take advantage of the tourists. Those companies don’t last long. In an area where everyone knows everyone, who you are is just as important as what you sell. Everyone knows who the Manke brothers are: They’re people who take your fun seriously, so that you can spend more time enjoying the water.

A Part of the Community

As with most of the business owners in town, the Manke brothers are a part of the community. It’s not just that they grew up here, it’s how they continue to be involved. The business gives money and support to many local organizations, including the Lodi Area Fire Department, the Optimists, the Rotary Club, and local chapters of Ducks Unlimited and the Boy Scouts. But they do more than that. All three of the brothers have been active in the Lodi Agricultural Fair; it’s been a common site to see them running around the grounds before the fair, helping to get everything set up and running, and again after the fair making sure that everything is picked up and stored for next year. Mark is continually search stores–from antique stores to eBay–in search of antiques from the city’s businesses. This year’s fair will include a display of many of these items. Neil is active in coaching local youth sports, and brings his enthusiasm and energy to the mix–both on and off the field.

This interest and involvement in the community are what make Don’s Marine and Manke Enterprises more than just businesses. Customers can see it when they walk through the door; from the casual greetings to the antique poster on the office door advertising “Wisconsin’s New Vacationland”–the newly-created Lake Wisconsin.

Maybe in another 40 years, the next generation will take over and have a little corner display showing of a quaint bit of ancient local history: The first websites for Don’s Marine and Manke Enterprises.

In the spring of 2005, Annette Fassbender moved into a quaint little building in downtown Lodi with the intent of taking a Lodi landmark and bringing it back to it’s former glory. The landmark wasn’t the building, it was what was inside: The Downtown Cafe. Over the last 50 years, the little building which sits on Main Street, with Spring Creek running directly underneath it, has been home to a series of simple restaurants. When Annette stepped in, the building was empty; the previous restaurant having closed down a while earlier.

With family and friends chipping in to help clean the building, haul in tables and chairs, paint the walls, and wash the carpets, the place started to take shape. Paintings from local artists adorned the walls, and pottery from local potters sat on the shelves. It looked like a good place to eat.

Looks, however, don’t fill your stomach or tickle your tongue. That’s where the real inspiration came in. The Downtown Cafe was going to be a place where food was made right. Annette had learned to cook the old-fashioned way from her mother and her grandmother. There’s a right way to cook and there’s an easy way to cook. Anyone can do it the easy way. But customers know when you do it the right way. That’s the only way Annette would do it.

From the very first day, she set the rules on how things would be done–and still are. Pies are made from scratch–even the crusts. The jam you get with your breakfast toast is made 30 feet away in the kitchen with fresh seasonal fruits and natural ingredients. Hamburgers are shaped by hand. Even some of the spices are grown right here in town.

People noticed. Business boomed. On Sundays after church the place would be packed and people lined up out on the street waiting for a table. That cute little building on Main Street was quickly reaching its limits.

In the summer of 2007, a series of events came together to allow a big change. Another restaurant on the northern edge of town went out of business. The owner of the building was one of Annette’s former employers, and a friend. The lease on her current building was coming due. Several more community groups were looking for a place to hold their meetings and events. And business had reached a point where she could afford to take the risk. With the encouragement of her husband, Annette took the next big step and moved into the building known until recently as the City Limits. 50 years earlier, however, it was known as the Sunset, and the cook was a lovely young German woman with a true skill for cooking. That woman just happens to be Annette’s grandmother–one of the women who taught her how to cook. A large number of the dishes served at the new Downtown Cafe & Northern Edge Restaurant came from Grandma.

With the move to the new building came the opportunity to really expand the business. After only 2 years, Annette needed more room and had more opportunities. In a wise business move, she decided to create 2 restaurants in one place. Breakfast and lunch are now served in the small front dining room under the sign of the Downtown Cafe. In the evenings, however, the bar opens up and the staff moves to the 3 large dining rooms in the back. The night chef takes over the kitchen and the aromas of steaks and seafood fill the air. Now you’re eating at the Northern Edge.

The choice to move into the new building was a risk that is paying off for Annette and her husband Rick. The breakfast and lunch crowds have followed them, knowing that it’s not the building that matters, but the food. At night, the dining rooms are filled with regular customers as well as special meetings for community groups, businesses, wedding receptions, and parties of all kinds.

It’s these special events that make the real difference. Every community needs a place in which to gather; a place in which to deal with business, meet with friends, and celebrate the milestones of life. In Lodi, that place is the Northern Edge. The community had been without this kind of place for a while, and the lack was noticeable. Now, the Northern Edge hosts regular meetings for the local chapters of the Rotary, Optimists, and Ducks Unlimitied, as well as groups such as the Christian Women’s Club. The local fire department met in the newly-redecorated dining rooms for their annual awards dinner, and city’s EMT crew were able to use the facilities to expand their annual spaghetti dinner fund-raiser. All of this is in addition to the wedding receptions, reunions, and other one-time events.

As with many businesses in the area, the Downtown Cafe and Northern Edge are family businesss. Annette, of course, puts in long hours in the restaurant as well as overseeing the catering side of the business–taking her home-cooked dishes and fancy hors d’ouvres out to events and gatherings throughout the area. You’ll find her oldest daughter, Lindsay serving food in the afternoons, and pouring drinks in the evenings. Her son Nick works behind the swinging doors, cooking up breakfasts and lunches. Her youngest two boys, Richie and Joey, are often seen bussing tables, wrapping silverware, and stocking the salad bar. And it’s not uncommon to see one of her grandchildren wandering around and bringing a smile to the faces of customers.

Be sure to look over the antique photographs hanging in the dining room. If you pay close attention you just might notice a photo of the Sunset staff from a New Years Eve over 50 years ago… including a lovely young German woman named Marcella Carberry. Annette just called her “Grandma”.