Apple Orchards

​The apple-growing history of Gays Mills began with early farmers recognizing the fertile lands along the Kickapoo River. In 1905, John Hays and Ben Twining gathered apples from local farmers to showcase at the State Fair. Their exhibit not only won first prize but also earned top honors at a national apple show in New York.
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Inspired by this achievement, the Wisconsin State Horticulture Society initiated ‘trial orchards’ statewide, to interest growers in commercial production.  The society also planted a five-acre site on High Ridge with recommended apple varieties.  By 1911, the Gays Mills orchard had flourished, prompting the formation of an organization dedicated to promoting orchard sales. Today, Gays Mills boasts over a thousand acres of apple orchards, celebrated nationally for their exceptional color and flavor.