Wisconsin Dairy Launches Its Own On-Farm Carnival

Wisconsin Dairy Launches Its Own On-Farm Carnival FARM HOME Toys/Games 26-5-22 Neighbors invited to corn boils or hog roasts at the Wittenwyler brothers' farm near Monticello, Wisconsin, always know they'll be treated to a lot more than food. Wade Wittenwyler and his older brothers, Kurt and Mark, have put together a small collection of carnival rides that are set up and running on a three-acre parcel that they legally separated from the 120-acre family dairy farm. They call the carnival setup Tri-Brothers Farm Fun, LLC. So far, there are three rides. The first is a 37-ft. Ferris wheel, which Kurt picked up six years ago from a family-owned carnival ride company in Platteville, Wisconsin. He powers it with a flat belt from a pulley on a 1947 H Farmall. The second ride is a steel track roller coaster Wade bought a couple years ago. It was owned by a carnival company in Waupaca, Wisconsin. The farm's most recent ride is a Flying Tiger Shark. Made by King Rides in 1965, it's an airplane swing ride, with the planes all painted like tiger sharks. All three rides have been refurbished with new or rebuilt parts, and all have new paint jobs. Sometimes they have to improvise. For example, they replaced the electric motor that powers the coaster with one from an old silo unloader. The Flying Tiger Shark had to be rewired before it could be used. It's powered by six electric motors. Activities at Tri-Brothers Farm Fun are generally family corn boils or pig roasts, with an occasional benefit or fundraiser for a local charity or other cause. The brothers do not charge for rides, but all events held at the farm are by invitation only. Wittenwyler admits, though, that most people in the Monticello area have been out to the farm at least once. The Wittenwyler brothers are looking for more antique rides for their business. Wade, a train enthusiast, would like to find a small gauge railroad. Their 80-year-old mother wants a merry-go-round, but Wade figures that might be a little more than his milk check can handle. "They sell for as much as $1,000 per horse," he notes. "If you know of an old carnival ride that's for sale, or just want to talk about what we have, we'd be happy to talk to you," he adds. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Tri-Brothers Farm Fun, LLC, W4514 Wittenwyler Road, Monticello, Wis. 53570 (ph 608 938-4463; E-mail: wadewitt@wekz.net).

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