The Wisconsin Apple Growers Association in cooperation with the University of Wisconsin Extension & The Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems (CIAS) is holding the annual Apple Field Day, on Tuesday, July 9, 2024. The Field Day is hosted by Red Sky Cider. The program begins at 9:00 am 

The Field Day is open to all apple growers and is a good opportunity to ask questions, learn from experts, and talk with other growers. 

To Register: Click on the REGISTER button.  Log in to the Wisconsin Apple Grower Assn website with your email address.  Fill in the appropriate information.  To add additional people from your orchard, click "Add Guest" at the top menu CLICK HERE-TO REGISTER

Cost of event:   (includes lunch and refreshments)

 •$40 / person—Wisconsin Apple Grower member orchard or business

•$60 / person—non-WAGA members

A $10 late fee per orchard/company charged for registrations after July 4, 2023.

How To Find Red Sky Cider 

Red Sky Cider is located in Waupaca, Wisconsin. its 4.4 miles west of the QuikTrip in Waupaca. From there it's on the south side of the road. Red Sky Cider can be “Googled” under “Stretching Waters”. 

Red Sky Cider

John Sturm, a Wisconsin native with an MBA from Northwestern University, transitioned from a corporate career as a senior executive in pet food brands to embracing the life of an apple farmer and cider maker. Alongside his son Carl, John is an enthusiastic water-skier and contributes to the local skier show team. His recent focus has shifted to managing AirBNB properties and operating a cider farm on the Waupaca Chain O’ Lakes, drawing on self-taught knowledge and expertise from Cornell University, Michigan State, and UW-Madison.

Starting as a hobby, John’s interest in cider making grew into a passion, leading him to establish a 400-tree R&D orchard in 2012 to experiment with high-density orchard practices and specialty cider apple varieties. By 2017, he expanded his venture to a 10-acre commercial orchard, cultivating a diverse selection of apple and pear varieties on an old dairy farm property. The commercial orchard varieties include Redfield, Golden Russet, Hewe’s Crab, Harrison, Campfield, Graniwinkle, Kronebush, Calville Bland, Bedan, Tolman Sweet, Twistbody Jersey, Bulmer’s Norman, Chisel Jersey, Dabinett, Sweet Coppin, Brown Snout, and Stoke Red. Perry pear varieties include Butt, Gelbmoster, Barland, Normanische, Yellow Huffcap, Hendre Huffcap, and Gin. There are 10 quince varieties still being tested. With a commitment to quality and innovation, John faces the challenges of agriculture, production, and marketing in the burgeoning craft cider industry.

Schedule of Events

Red Sky Cider

E1495 State Road 54, Waupaca, WI 54981

9:00 – Registration and coffee—Visit Exhibits

9:15 – Welcome by WAGA President Joe Ferguson and introduction to Cidery by John Sturm

9:30-9:45-Break/Transition to Field

9:45-UW-Extension Rotation

    Rotating Field Session I—Crop load Management, Thinning Strategies for unpredictable weather, Amaya Atucha, UW Madison Horticulture

    Rotating Field Session II— Managing Wasps and Japanese beetles, Christelle Guedot, UW Madison Entomology

    Rotating Field Session III—Modeling and Managing Fire Blight Leslie Holland, UW Madison Plant Pathology

11:45—Lunch – included with Registration / Visit Exhibits

12:45—WI Division of Alcohol Beverages-ACT 73, Permits required in order to produce wine/cider and how to legally sell it-Zac Dolan-Director of legal Services, permitting and reporting

1:15—DATCAP-Licensing, sanitation requirements, food processing, local restrictions, zoning, conditional use permits-Charlie Bloom, RS-Food Scientist Advanced-Licensing, Division of Food and Recreational Safety

1:45--Dervis H. Gürsoy, Founder-Spraycision-Sprayer DEMO

2:15—Grower panel -Irrigation strategies for large and small growers –Joe Ferguson, Steve Louis, and John Sturm

3:00--Cider operations demo and hard cider tasting -Grounds Tour