3 Instagram-Worthy Sunflower Fields in Wisconsin

With Covid, I am not sure if a public event like this will happen, but in 2019 I was fortunate enough to see two different fields of sunflowers in Wisconsin. And they were fields I had never been to. I’ll start with the one I didn’t visit in 2019, but have been to several times! 

Middleton, WI: Pope Farm Conservancy

The fields closest to my home are Pope Farms, which have a special history to my family as my mom knows the original land owners and my grandpa used to ski jump near there. I even had a family member get her engagement pictures taken here.  This sunflower attraction has gotten very popular, so now it is harder to get to and is quite crowded. I did not make it here in 2019, so I cannot attest to the new rules like the shuttle, having to pay a fee, and having to park far away. It used to be a simple park your car a 3-10 minute walk away and just wander around the beautiful 105 acre conservancy as you wish without an admission fee. That’s not the case anymore. But, it’s still a beautiful place with plenty of space to wander. There are interpretive signs so you can learn about the history of the land like glaciers and the different settlers. After doing some research, it looks like Pope Farm Conservancy even has a 12 acre food pantry garden now called “Forward Garden.”

All of the details for visiting Pope Farm Conservancy for Sunflower Days can be found here.  

The address is 7440 West Old Sauk Road, Verona, WI 53593. As a local, I would not consider this to be in the city of Verona, but I guess it is.  That’s just a logistics thing, because the town of Middleton is in charge of all things Pope Farms. 

Oconomowoc, WI : Stonebank Sunflower Farm

Just across from a school in Oconomowoc are 500,000 bright, stunning sunflowers.  The story behind this field sounds very midwestern - just a farmer who wanted to let people enjoy these charming flowers before harvesting.  Stone Bank Elementary School is even ok with patrons using their parking lot.  When I went in 2019 there were maybe 10 other people there which left me plenty of room to soak it all in.  Some people had brought ladders or a trusty 5 gallon bucket to stand on in order to get a better view.  I don’t believe this is an annual event, so do some research before coming.  The address is N68W33866 County Road Oconomowoc, Wisconsin 53066.  Parking was very easy in the school parking lot. 

Eau Claire, WI: Babbette’s Seeds of Hope

Not to be biased, but I saved the field with the best story for last. Just outside the college town of Eau Claire resides Babbette’s Seeds of Hope and her heartfelt story. Babbette died in 2014 of Multiple Myeloma.  She had fought it since 2006.  When I went in 2019, it was a donation based admission and from the donations, a portion of the proceeds are donated to hospitals, cancer research, and patient advocacy groups.  

Parking was easy and there were lots of signs so you can’t miss it. You can actually do a maze through the sunflower field. Throughout the maze there were lots of photo opportunities including posing on tractors. The address is:  W5725 State Road 85 Eau Claire, WI 54701.  

Unfortunately, I doubt anything like sunflower days or mazes will occur in 2020, but tuck this one away for a fun Wisconsin get away. You’ll get to see an abundance of natural beauty and explore three incredible areas in Wisconsin.