Tour+Staff



Tour instructor **Chuck Hatfield** grew up on a farm near Ontario where he spent most of his spare time hiking and exploring the nearby woods and cliffs. He received a degree in elementary education and science at La Crosse, and later a master’s degree in teaching from Oshkosh. He taught for 35 years in Green Bay, serving in both elementary and middle schools. His second “career” was working with Heritage Hill State Park—locating, moving and reassembling ethnic log buildings. Gwen and Chuck moved to La Farge in 1998 and built a home on Maple Ridge Road overlooking Organic Valley and La Farge. He has taught since 2001 for the KVR, working with students from elementary to graduate school. One of his passions has been to hike and explore all areas within the Reserve, studying the geological and natural history of the area.



Tour instructor **Brad Steinmetz,** born and raised in La Farge, returned to his hometown and taught social studies classes at La Farge High School for over thirty years. He currently is an Affiliated Professor at UW-La Crosse and teaches courses at the Reserve on the history of the northern Kickapoo Valley including the settlement of the area, flooding problems of the Kickapoo River, the La Farge Dam Project and other topics of human history. Steinmetz has been writing on various local history projects over the last five years and published volume one of his history of La Farge in 2010. His second book on the history of the La Farge Dam Project was released in December 2011. Brad says that his favorite part of teaching at the Reserve is working with people who share his interest in the history of this place.




 * Jonel Kiesau** is the Education Coordinator for the Kickapoo Valley Reserve. She loves helping to make the tour run smoothly, but her favorite part is spending a week touring the Kickapoo and exchanging ideas with fellow educators.

Alan Anderson, retired UW Extension Agent who was instrumental in the creation of the Kickapoo Valley Reserve. Lynn Heasley, author of __[|A Thousand Pieces of Paradise].__ David Rhodes, author of __Driftless.__ Music by the __[|Norsekdalen Trio]__ Bernice Schroeder, Brian Turner and other former land owners whose land was appropriated for the La Farge Dam Project. Bill Quackenbush, of the Ho-Chunk Nation's Cultural Resources Division. [|Rhonda Funmaker], traditional Ho-Chunk gardener and cook. Kevin and Patsy Alderson, authors of __[|Barns Without Corners.]__ [|The Valley Stewardship Network], water quality monitors. Dave Vetrano, DNR Fisheriers Biologist. Music by [|Dan Sebranek]. Susan Johnson of [|Avalanche Looms]. Robert and Summer Deal Schulz, [|blacksmithing] and homesteading. The Cashton Amish community. Ron Johnson, [|Sandhill Folk Co.] Ken and Michelle Workowski, [|The Nature of Things]. Wildrose Dairy, local large scale dairy with methane digester. [|Organic Valley Family of Farms.] Mark Shepard, [|New Forest Farm.] Nicholas Gale, Primitive Wilderness Skills. Brad Hutnik, DNR Forester.
 * Cultural Tour Guest Presenters have included:**