07/24/2026
What an unforgettable morning celebrating the people, places, and stories that make Southern Door County so special! 🍒🚜❤️
On Wednesday, the Southern Door Business Association welcomed a wonderful group of guests for our inaugural Cherries & Dairies Trolley Tour. Together, we went behind the scenes to experience the dedication, innovation, and hard work of the farms and family-owned businesses that work tirelessly day in and day out to keep Southern Door’s agricultural heritage alive and thriving.
A special thank you to Honey Bee Door County for providing a beautiful assortment of fresh breakfast pastries and to Pinky Promise Coffee for keeping everyone energized with delicious locally roasted coffee.
Our day began at Soren's Valhalla Orchards, where guests received a rare behind-the-scenes look at a working cherry orchard during the height of harvest. We watched mechanical tree shakers in action and even drove the trolley through the orchards—an experience few people ever get to enjoy. It was the perfect way to kick off a day focused on Southern Door agriculture.
At Olson Family Farm, a fifth-generation dairy farm, we witnessed how tradition and technology work hand in hand. Along with a completely solar powered farm, their state-of-the-art robotic milking system was fascinating to watch and demonstrated how today’s farmers continue to innovate while carrying on generations of family farming.
Next, we visited Wienke's Market "A Taste of Door County", where we learned how a small roadside farm stand started by the Wienke family has blossomed into the thriving destination it is today. What began as a family farm stand has grown into a beloved Door County landmark, with their locally made products now enjoyed by visitors and shipped to customers across the country—a true testament to hard work, perseverance, and entrepreneurial spirit. Guests also had the opportunity to sample a selection of wines courtesy of Shellie from Von Stiehl Winery, whose products are available at Wienke’s Market as well as many other retailers throughout the area.
On our drive between our second and third stops, we passed by the Red Barn Corn Maze, where owner, Jan Guilette, gave a brief rundown of what they offer during the fall season and explained how they create their corn maze… drawn by hand on a graph sheet of paper and then marked off with correlating flags throughout the field so they can come back through and cut the design in with a mower! Throughout the summer, they will maintain the design by hand picking out any stalks that grow up into their cut paths.
Our final stop took us to Country Ovens, LTD, where we heard the inspiring story of a business that began in a garage with a single food dehydrator. Today, that small family operation has grown into an internationally recognized company, shipping its Door County cherry products across the country and around the world. Their journey is a remarkable example of vision, determination, and the power of family business.
Upon returning to the Orchard, guests were invited to pick a pail of cherries to take home to enjoy!
A huge thank you to our outstanding trolley driver, Dave Samuels, who was one of the original “brainstormers” of this tour and safely guided us throughout the morning while adding plenty of laughs and local charm along the way.
Most of all, thank you to everyone who joined us. We hope you left with a greater appreciation for the people behind Southern Door’s farms and small businesses. These are more than places to visit—they are families, innovators, and hardworking neighbors whose passion helps make our community such an extraordinary place to live, work, and explore.
Here’s to celebrating Southern Door’s rich agricultural heritage—and the people who make it possible. 🍒❤️
Show of hands… who would want to do this tour if offered and open to the general public?
Destination Door County
Peninsula Pulse Newspaper
The Wisconsin Explorer
Wisconsin Agricultural Tourism Association
Door County Economic Development Corp.
Rooted Wisconsin
WFRV Local 5
The Hen House Bar and Grill
Rebecca Ann
