STRATFORD - STRATFORD
Life-Sized Candyland
All ages are welcome to stop by the Stratford Branch Library on Thursday, Aug. 7, any time between 1 to 7 p.m., for a sweet journey through a life-sized version of Candy Land. Travel through the Peppermint Forest, over the Gumdrop Mountains, and more. The event is free; no registration required. Call 715-687-4420 for more info.
Book club
The Stratford Book Club will meet Wednesday, Aug. 20, at 1 p.m. at the Stratford Branch Library to discuss “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain. When Huck escapes from his drunken father and the ‘sivilizing’Widow Douglas with the runaway slave Jim, he embarks on a series of adventures that draw him to feuding families and the trickery of the unscrupulous Duke and Dauphin. For more information, call 715687-4420.
College note
The following students were named to the president’s list for the 2025 spring semester at Northcentral Technical College in Wausau: Amanda Carrion, Ashton Wrensch, Ben Zuelke, Breleigh Skaya, Brooks Vanderhoof, Carley Ehrike, Claire LaPointe, Cody Randow, Cooper Bosmans, Cristina Aguilera- Cano, Derek Wiese, Ella Heidmann, Erik Oertel, Ethan Heeg, Garrett Zuelke, Gavin Meyer, Jack Tubbs, Jesse Bauer, Kassedey Downey, Kayla Casperson, Kaylie McHugh, Keirstyn Mannigel, Kenidi Palmer, Laney Pankratz, Lily Dabbert, Maci Stueber, Maggie Schwabe, Mathias Kaiser, Matthew Folz, Matthew Kolb, MyKayla Stueber, Natalie Thompson, Nathan Cordes, Orlando Carrion, Perla Martinez Gonzalez, Rachel Jennings, Rachel Schulte, Riley Spindler, Riley Kroening, Sophia Delo, Tina Bushman, Trenton Cournoyer, Trygve Aschenbrenner. To be named to the list, students must earn a gradepoint average of 3.75 or above and complete a minimum of six credits.
Pasture walk on Friday
The Cloverbelt Grazing Community will host a pasture walk on Friday, Aug. 1, from 10 a.m. to noon, at the Marshfield Ag Research Station, 208356 Drake Ave. N., Stratford. Organizers will discuss a project utilizing portable shade structures for animals on pasture. Participants will look at how different ways of managing pastures can affect soil health, water quality and grass growth. Does moving animals every day help the land?
All pasture walks are free and all are welcome (kids too). Cookies and refreshments will be provided. No RVSP required. Questions can be directed to Brooke Bembeneck, conservation grazing analyst at Marathon County, by calling or texting 715-370-9651 or send an email to. Brooke.Bembeneck@marathoncounty.gov
Genealogy presentation
Adults are invited to a genealogy meet up on Monday, Aug. 11, from 1-2:30 p.m. at the Marathon County Public Library’s Wausau Headquarters, 300 N. First St., Wausau. Each session will begin with a short presentation on a particular genealogy resource led by the Adult Services librarian. Afterwards, there will be an opportunity to ask questions and have independent exploration time using our resources with assistance provided.
This event is free and open to the public with no registration required. For more information, call 715-261-7230.
Artist Appreciation Month
Patrons of all ages are invited to celebrate American Artist Appreciation Month with the Marathon County Public Library every Saturday in August. Drop in at any MCPL location during open hours. Participants are welcome to replicate the masters or create original works of art in the libraries’ creator spaces. Find your inspiration through collections of art books and see what you can create. A variety of art supplies will be provided at each location.
This event is free and open to the public with no registration required. Patrons can stop by any time their preferred MCPL location is open. For more information, call 715261-7230.
Illustration contest
Artists age 13 and over are invited to create original artwork inspired by the Marathon County Public Library’s creative writing contest. Submissions will be accepted from Aug. 1 to 31 in two different age categories – Teen (13-18) and Adult (19-plus). Winning artwork will be displayed at the library and honored at the Central Wisconsin Book Festival.
Submissions should be an original, unpublished work created without the use of AI, be appropriate for a general audience, and be created by a Marathon County resident. Check mcpl.us for the full list of submission requirements. Artwork can be submitted in PNG or JPG format to contest@mcpl.us with the subject heading: ”Illustration Contest 2025 – ‘Your Age Group’.”
Winners will be chosen anonymously by judges and prizes awarded for first, second, and third place in each age category. First place winners will receive library swag, a gift card, and an invitation to participate in an author reading and recognition ceremony at the 2025 Central Wisconsin Book Festival in September. All winning illustrations will be displayed at the library with artist information. This event is free and open to all artists age 13+. For more information, call 715-2617230 or visit https://mcpl.us/event/all-mcpllocations- illustration-contest/.
Flax Harvest on Saturday
The Marathon County Chapter of Wisconsin Farmers Union invites community members, farmers, and fiber enthusiasts to a Flax Harvest celebration and conversation about sustainable fiber systems on Saturday, Aug. 2, at Red Door Family Farm, 245423 State Highway 97, Athens.
The event, which will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., will shine a spotlight on local flax production, explore the growing interest in domestic flax sources, and offer a broader discussion on what it means to cultivate truly sustainable fiber in the U.S. Learn how this local flax project got started, the lifecycle of flax, and the challenges faced in growing it. Participants can also try their hand at the historic craft of turning flax into linen
