DNR No Longer Staffing State Fair

6/22/17 – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources will no longer have a large presence at the state fair to promote hunting, fishing and other recreational pursuits. A D-N-R spokesman tells the Wisconsin State Journal that the department will no longer send between 100 to 200 staff members to the 11-day event. The decision is part of the department’s attempt to refocus its efforts after budget cuts and criticism from the Legislature. The agency has previously operated a two-acre Natural Resources Park on the state fair park grounds where it offered activities such as archery, birdwatching, fishing, knot-tying and tracking. Department spokesman Jim Dick says starting this year it will offer information on state parks, recreation areas and endangered species, but the state fair will now manage the two-acre site.