A documentary about the small, eclectic town in southwest Wisconsin. A town in an accelerated state of evolution.. an evolution perceptible in real-time, with, of course, an uncertain outcome.

In the Summer of 2005, following the painful but amorous beak-up of my marriage, I began to perceive a compulsion to return to my childhood home of Viroqua, Wisconsin. A place, legend holds, named after a tragic indigenous maiden. .. who plummeted to her death after she was denied her true love. Viroqua's spirit now, it seems, has guided me home.

For the soul of Viroqua, you see, is in great peril. The forces of modern society see opportunity... they see a place undervalued, and not yet discovered. These same forces, inevitably will steal her ardent flame, and irreversibly take the soul of this town, like so many before her.

So it is therefore my calling to return to this place, and with the help of my co-directors, allow her a voice through this documentary, and thereby, perhaps, aid in her salvation, her triumph over the approaching marauders.

We believe this film portrays universal truths, at many layers and levels, and therefore is a laudable artistic effort with, we hope, mass appeal. The struggles and ascension of Viroqua's soul, and of our souls... and the lessons we document have the ability to accomplish perhaps our greatest goal... healing.

The Viroqua Public Market...

Wisconsin's Oldest Public Market & Home of the Indoor season, Viroqua Farmers Market, every Saturday morning!

"Neighbors selling to neighbors - harnessing the power of our fertile soil and creative spirit

Viroqua sits amidst the bluffs, coulees, and small, snake-like streams of enchanting Driftless Region of Southwestern Wisconsin. This region is unusual because it has never been tilled over by ancient glaciers (three of them!). Viroqua, is also special, for it is a place now in rapid evolution... An evolution, should you visit, that you not only can observe, but indeed, participate in! And now...

Viroqua has a city center!

This town square can be found in the charming confines of the lovingly rehabbed award-wining, historic Clark/Peterson building, complete with streetlamps, benches and even a fountain. The space is a genuine public market - where local artisans, farmers and other merchants hawk their wares on the market floor. Most of the businesses sell some, if not entirely, locally made or grown items. In the public market you can discover..

...some of the most unique, high quality, hand-created items in America, all sold directly by the people who make them!

This kind of entrepreneurship, invigorates the saying

"MADE IN AMERICA"!

The market is anchored with over fourteen brand new stores! There is GREENMAN MUSIC HALL Viroqua's premiere music, event, dance, arts cultural center and banquet facility... VIVA local fine artists' collective, Sibby's Organic Zone Ice Cream Parlor & Restaurant..... Greenman Music & Vinyl....

The Viroqua Public Market is one of the only Ten Thousand Villages, Fair-Trade import retail outlets in Wisconsin! This, and so much more awaits you.

If you are unable to visit us in person, you may enjoy browsing our online e-store for a bit of virtual shopping.

The soil of our region is millions of years old, making it some of the richest in the world. We have always had a connection to it, and it to us. An interlaced synergistic swirl of earth, humanity, and expression, surrounds us. As we move into a new era, as this evolution unfolds before our eyes, the energy of the earth and of our consciousness will blend, sustaining and enhancing our society.The Historic Viroqua Public Market... a crossroads in time, a common space to share with the world all that which inevitably grows!
-Dr. Tony Macasaet and the other managers of the Viroqua Public Market