Rural Urban Flow Spring Exchange 2026

May 15, 2026 8:00 AM - 8:00 AM Central

The Commons Community and Arts Center

Rural and urban participants are invited to a weekend May 15th -17th in the picturesque hills of Wisconsin’s Driftless Region in and around Viroqua. We will visit inspiring farms that have environmental and social missions, as well as learn about the virtues and advantages of a local “microcollege” and Folk School.

Please note that this is a multi-day event with multiple locations. Participants are welcome to join some or all activities.

Please RSVP AND register here: https://bit.ly/3OBg3XD

Itinerary Details Here: http://bit.ly/4w3KkPv

Friday, May 15th – Depart Milwaukee at 8 am. Van will be available with limited capacity; please sign-up, first-come first-served. Other travelers are welcome to meet up at Kinship to carpool and/or join the caravan.

First stop on the way to Viroqua will be Cates Family Farm in the Town of Wyoming, Iowa County, near Spring Green. In 2024, Richard L. Cates wrote A Creek Runs Through This Driftless Land: A Farm Family’s Journey Toward a Land Ethic about his multi-generational farm that weaves science, love, and a land ethic into a successful model for raising and marketing grass-fed beef while also working to restore the land and Lowery Creek, an adjoining trout stream. Urban and rural participants are invited to meet at the farm at 10am for a tour.

Next, FLOW will visit Thoreau College and the Driftless Folk School outside Viroqua to meet Director Jacob Hundt who will tell us about this innovative microcollege with a transformative liberal arts curriculum that immerses students in authentic community, shared labor and governance, and rigorous engagement with great works and natural phenomena. Thoreau College is a place, “where students can nurture their sacred curiosity, connect with their deepest selves, and cultivate the capacities they will need to manifest their highest aspirations for the world.”

Supper on Friday will be the first pizza night of the season at Sittin Pretty Farm and will feature live music. Proceeds support local organizations and charities; May 15th will benefit Thoreau College. The wood-fired pizzas must be ordered in advance.

Sittin Pretty Farm offers rental overnight lodging available for groups and individuals through AirBNB where we can rest and restore through nature and art. Camping options nearby include Sidie Hollow.

Saturday, May 16th – We’ll wake up at the beautiful farm and hollow, freshen up, and head to The Commons for breakfast and interactive session led by The Dairyland Brickyard. The Brickyard is where courage gets to work. It’s a next generation civic and service organization that aims to forge a stronger, unified America.

We are working out visits to additional sites. The area around Viroqua is home to the Organic Valley® corporate headquarters and many local farms are members. We will try to arrange a visit to a dairy farm to hear about the value of being part of an organic-based farmer-owned cooperative. Another option is visiting a Wisconsin Farmers Union member’s organic vegetable farm or a farm where regenerative grazing of sheep and cows is practiced. Hiking opportunities and visiting artist’s venues, prairie restoration sites and other locations are anticipated.

May 17th – Breakfast and depart

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Waiver

By registering and attending this event, you are agreeing to comply with The Brickyard's Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. You agree to the Community Agreement policy of committing to: Finding Common Ground, Treating Others with Respect, Upholding the Truth, Not Spreading Misinformation, and Having Zero Tolerance for Discrimination of Any Kind. Further, by attending this event you agree that The Brickyard may photograph, video, and/or record your likeness, voice, and/or activities (collectively "Images"). You hereby grant to The Brickyard and its successors the following rights: (i) permission to use and re-use, publish and re-publish, and modify, edit, or alter any Images taken during the event, in The Brickyard's sole discretion; (ii) permission for The Brickyard to, in its sole discretion, use the Images for any editorial, commercial, trade, advertising, or other purpose in any medium now existing or subsequently developed, worldwide; and (iii) the ability for The Brickyard to transfer these rights to any other entity that The Brickyard, in its sole discretion, sees fit. In addition, and as consideration for your ability to attend this event, you acknowledge and agree that your in-person attendance at the event is completely voluntary; there are inherent risks to in-person attendance at any event; and by attending the event in-person you are assuming all risks, hazards, and dangers arising from or relating in any way to your attendance, including the risk of contracting or being exposed to any communicable disease, illness, or injury, whether occurring before, during, or after the event, however caused or contracted, and voluntarily waive all claims and potential claims against The Brickyard, and any of its present and future subsidiaries, affiliates, partners, officers, directors, employees, shareholders, agents, other representatives, as well as any successors, heirs, and assigns of any of the foregoing, relating to such risks.

About the Cedarburg Chapter

Across cities and towns just like yours nationwide, we serve our communities by starting with bringing different neighbors together for events centered around social gatherings, service, and civics.

By rolling up our sleeves side-by-side, we can begin to see that we have more in common than what divides us; that first and foremost we are fellow Americans with a common love for our families and communities.

These Chapters – also known as our Brickyards – are mobile places for neighbors to connect and solve local problems. We do this through respectful and open conversations, and to find higher ground as we work together brick-by-brick.

The Dairyland Brickyard is located in Cedarburg, Wisconsin and led by Naoimi Lundman.

Visit the Cedarburg Chapter Page