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Wisconsin milks it with Udder Tuggers weekend

High-A Brewers affiliate honors farmers in America's Dairyland
@memheller
July 1, 2023

It keeps getting cheddar and cheddar for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers’ favorite promotional weekend. Going by the Wisconsin Udder Tuggers for four games last week, the team honored both America's Dairyland and Dairy Month in June.

It keeps getting cheddar and cheddar for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers’ favorite promotional weekend.

Going by the Wisconsin Udder Tuggers for four games last week, the team honored both America's Dairyland and Dairy Month in June.

In 2009, the Timber Rattlers began hosting an annual "Salute to Cows" promotion. A decade later, in 2019, the Udder Tuggers were born. Then just a one-night event, the team hosted mooing contests, chocolate milk samplers and, yes, a real cow.

“I mean, you just think Wisconsin -- dairy cows, cheese, the whole deal. So it’s just part of the state and the tradition [with] the dairy farmers and all those people,” Timber Rattlers manager Joe Ayrault said of the promotion. “It’s perfect to do that promotion here in Appleton, [Wisc.]”

A-moo-sing fans and critics alike, the Udder Tuggers won Golden Bobblehead awards for Best Theme Night and Best Overall Promotion in 2019.

Now in its fourth iteration in 2023, the promotion lasted four nights, the better part of a series against Lansing.

The Udder Tugger logo is just as snappy as the new moniker. Featuring a charging bipedal cow with jiggling udders and a ringing cowbell in tow, it surely makes an impression. The 2023 uniforms made a nod to traditional dairy farmer dress, with the jersey and pants combined to look like overalls. All the final touches, like the cap bill in cow print, make for a brie-lliant ensemble.

With giveaways including mini bats and "Farmer Fang'' bobbleheads, the weekend at the park was truly grate.

“The unis say it all, with the blue jeans and tight pants with ‘Udder Tuggers’ on the jersey. The guys loved it,” Ayrault said.

Accruing top marks in attendance and merchandise sales, it’s clear that Udder Tuggers weekend is a fan favorite.

Melanie Heller is a contributor for MiLB.com.