the road, look for bald eagles,
trumpeter swans, loons and
other
waterfowl.
Cranberry
marshes also provide habitat
for sandhill cranes, whitetail
deer, muskrats, otters, coyotes,
wolves and other wildlife.
Past the ponds you'll
find more cranberry
beds belonging to
the Rezin marsh
along both sides
of the road.
Many cranberry
marshes
in
our
area
are
m u l t i - g e n e rat i o n
operations. We have
families who have been
growing cranberries for five, six
and even seven generations,
including family members of the
James Potter Cranberry Marsh,
which is the next marsh on your
right.
Ahead on the left is Potter
Cranberry Company. Established
in 1871 and owned by the Potter
family since 1912, the marsh is
one of the oldest in the Warrens
area.
Continuing on take a right on
to Auger Road to see Wetherby
Cranberry Company. This marsh
is owned by the Van Wychen
family, who produce their own
cranberry wine and sell fresh
cranberries in season. Third-
generation cranberry grower
Nodji Van Wychen also offers
tours by appointment for a fee.
43
When departing from Wetherby
Cranberry, turn right on Hwy
EW and then left on Augusta
Road. Here you can get a close-
up view of the Potter Cranberry
Company marsh. On the right
are sections that are
being renovated. The
12 original beds are
being converted
into two 15-acre
beds. The oldest
beds on the left
were
planted
in 1928 and are
still
producing
cranberries
90
years later.
Stay on Augusta Road until it
intersects with Crampton Road
where Hancock Brothers has
a sphagnum moss processing
facility. Wisconsin is the only
state in the U.S. to commercially
harvest sphagnum moss. You
may see sphagnum moss spread
out on the sand to dry before it
is packaged and sold to garden
centers and plant nurseries.
The long-fibered moss holds 20
times its weight in water, making
it invaluable for keeping nursery
stock alive in shipment.
At the intersection of Crampton
and Beltz Road is a sign for Beltz
Cranberry Company owned by
the Steve and Betty Gehbardt
family. Some of the Ocean Spray
commercials featuring the two
comical cranberry growers were
filmed on the Gebhardt marsh.