Celebrate Southern Wisconsin's Bountiful Fall Crop At Deerfield

Apple Fest 

Fall is finally here and for some apple aficionados a pilgrimage to Bayfield Apple Festival and Gays Mills Apple Festival is a worthy daytrip. But with over a dozen orchards within a 25 mile radius of Madison Southern Wisconsin is an equally prime location for a festival. Jeff Moerke, co-owner of the Bittersweet Blessings Farm, an apple orchard in Deerfield saw the potential and in 2021 he and his wife Elizabeth created Deerfield Apple Fest. The apple festival celebrates the bountiful harvest of his orchard and everything delicious about one of America's most popular fruits the apple. Bittersweet Blessings Farm is home to 20 varieties of heirloom apples produced from 120 trees that according to Moerke were planted in the 1930s. 

Deerfield Apple Fest is also a celebration of Jeff Moerke's passion for farming, woodworking, and honoring of the legacy of the 182 year old farm which he and his wife purchased in 2017. Woodworking has been a part of Moerkes life for 40 years, and was life saving. In 2014, Jeff suffered an industrial accident and was unable to return to work. By perseverance and the support of his wife he changed his focus to his life long hobby working with wood. Jeff began crafting furniture, signs, and all types of primitives selling them at fairs across the country. One of Jeff's friends calls his work, "antiques while you wait." The woodworking has inspired Moerke to reach out to friends he has made on the road at craft fairs over the years and invite them to sell their wares at Deerfield Apple Fest. This year, over 260 vendors will be selling everything from solar garden lighting, Christmas decorations, sea glass to bird houses and leather goods.

Deerfield Apple Fest is also apple pies, apple butter, apple cider, apple jelly and apple donuts. This year, visitors can watch apple butter made on the premises, the apples supplied by Bit Farms, the culinary guidance provided by Crystal Cafe of Iola. Attendants can also watch apple cider being produced from the 20 varieties of apples picked from the orchard. The donuts are also born of Moerke's apple trees.

Another tradition Jeff and Elizabeth began with their first Apple Fest, the Wisconsin Apple Pie Championships. Last year, Crystal Cafe of Iola was the grand prize winner. This year, the Iola cafe's owners after seeing the success of the Moerke's festival retired from the competition, and decided to sell their award winning pies at Apple Fest instead. The pie championships requires each entrant to submit two pies. One pie from each submission will be sold at auction all proceeds benefit the Deerfield Food Pantry.

There is also three entertainment features at this year's event, which includes musical acts, Horse, and Just Dave, and popular magician, James Ember. For the kids there is face painting, a petting zoo courtesy of New Beginnings Ranch, and caricature drawings. There is also a blacksmith and axe throwing.

For the pickers in your family the Bittersweet Blessings Farm has apples. There are also pears both Forelle and Asian varieties.

And what does Jeff Moerke see for the future of Apple fest? He is lobbying his wife for an additional day, the added calendar date for additional musical attractions possibly and carnival rides. 

DETAILS:

Deerfield Apple Fest takes place Sunday, September 25th from 8 am to 3 pm.

The Bittersweet Blessings Farm is located at 4509 Highway 73 in Deerfield.

Admission is $5 with 20 acres of ample parking on the farm..