Beloved author, educator and storyteller recognized by Wisconsin Legislature for preserving the state’s rural heritage through books and public media
MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Historical Society and Wisconsin Public Media are proud to celebrate today’s passage of Senate Joint Resolution 71, which honors Jerry Apps for his extraordinary contributions as an author, broadcaster, educator and rural historian. The joint resolution was made possible thanks to support from the Wisconsin Senate and Assembly and was cosponsored by Representatives Tranel, Novak, Kreibich, O’Connor, Gundrum, Mursau, Murphy, Penterman, Sinicki, Miresse, Goodwin and Palmeri. It was introduced by Senators Jacque, Pfaff, Keyeski, Wirch, Spreitzer and Ratcliff.
“Jerry Apps is one of Wisconsin’s most beloved storytellers whose work has profoundly shaped how we understand and remember rural life in our state,” said Christian Overland, the Ruth & Hartley Barker Director and CEO of the Wisconsin Historical Society. “As a prolific author, educator and historian, Jerry has preserved the stories of Wisconsin’s farms, families and communities. His decades of work—through books, teaching and public television—have inspired generations to value the land, traditions and the people who define our shared history.”
“We are so grateful for all of the stories, wisdom and wit Jerry has shared through his work as an agricultural educator, historian, author and host of seven television documentaries that have reflected the lives and experiences of so many of Wisconsin’s residents and congratulate him on this well-deserved recognition,” said Jon Miskowski, PBS Wisconsin Director of Television. “Through his stories of rural life—the joy, the hardships, the camaraderie and the lasting connections to friends, family, neighbors and the land—Jerry has preserved these important memories, shared important lessons and reconnected so many of us with these essential Wisconsin experiences.”
Born and raised on a central Wisconsin farm, Apps is a former county extension agent and professor emeritus at the University of Wisconsin College of Agriculture and Life Sciences in Madison, where he taught for thirty years. Apps has written more than 50 titles over decades including more than 20 published by the Wisconsin Historical Society Press, his most recent being “Lunkers, Keepers, and Ones that Got Away.” The Society Press is also publishing a brand-new title by Apps in fall 2026 entitled “Old Farm Country Christmas,” which will be released along with a companion documentary by PBS Wisconsin.
In addition to this new documentary, the award-winning author has made many other outstanding contributions to public media, taking part in many PBS Wisconsin documentaries, including this year’s “Meet Us at the Fair,” a nostalgic collection of stories celebrating the sights, sounds, people and memories of Wisconsin’s county and state fairs. Apps received a regional Emmy Award for the TV documentary “A Farm Winter.” His widely enjoyed television productions have been broadcast in Wisconsin and across the country, sharing the experiences of rural life, agricultural traditions and communities from across the state.
Senate Joint Resolution 71, adopted unanimously in both legislative chambers, formally recognizes his lifetime of service in preserving Wisconsin’s rural identity. It also commends his impact through both the printed word and public media.
About the Wisconsin Historical Society
The Wisconsin Historical Society, founded in 1846, ranks as one of the largest, most active and most diversified state historical societies in the nation. As both a state agency and a private membership organization, its mission is to help people connect to the past by collecting, preserving and sharing stories. The Wisconsin Historical Society serves millions of people every year through a wide range of sites, programs and services. For more information, visit wisconsinhistory.org.
About PBS Wisconsin
PBS Wisconsin is a service of the Educational Communications Board and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. PBS Wisconsin is a place to grow through learning on WHA-TV, Madison; WPNE-TV, Green Bay; WHRM-TV, Wausau; WLEF-TV, Park Falls; WHLA-TV, La Crosse; and WHWC-TV, Menomonie-Eau Claire.
