Biography - www.jerryapps.com Jerold W. Apps Jerryappsauthor@gmail.com Facebook

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Jerry Apps, born and raised on a Wisconsin farm, is Professor Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the author of more than 35 books, many of them on rural history and country life. His nonfiction books include: Once a Professor, Living a Country Year, Every Farm Tells a Story, When Chores Were Done, Humor from the Country, Country Ways and Country Days, One-Room Schools, Cheese, Breweries of Wisconsin, Ringlingville USA (History of Ringling Brothers circus), Old Farm: A History, Barns of Wisconsin, Horse Drawn Days: A Century of Farming With Horses, Campfires and Loon Calls, Whispers and Shadows, and Wisconsin Agriculture: A History. His children's books include: Stormy, Eat Rutabagas, Tents, Tigers and the Ringling Brothers, and Casper Jaggi: Master Swiss Cheese Maker, and Letters From Hillside Farm (A YA novel). He has an audio book, The Back Porch and Other Stories. Jerry has published novels, Cold as Thunder, The Travels of Increase Joseph, In a Pickle: A Family Farm Story, Blue Shadows Farm, Settlers Valley, Cranberry Red, Tamarack River Ghost, and The Great Sand Fracas of Ames County.  Jerry is a former publications editor for UW-Extension, an acquisitions editor for the McGraw-Hill Book Company, and editor of a national professional journal.

Jerry has won awards for his writing from the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Library Association (the 2007 Notable Authors Award), American Library Association, Foreword Magazine, Midwest Independent Publishers Association, Robert E. Gard Foundation, The Wisconsin Council for Writers (the 2007 Major Achievement Award), Upper Midwest Booksellers, and Barnes and Noble Bookstores, among others. In 2010 he received the Distinguished Service Award from the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s College of Agricultural and Life Science, was named a Fellow by the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences Arts and Letters in 2012, and was named to the Wisconsin 4-H Hall of Fame in 2014. In 2016, Jerry won the White Cedar Outstanding Teaching Award from The Clearing.

• County Extension Agent, Green Lake and Brown Counties, 1957-1962.
• Publications Editor, State 4-H Office, 1962-1964.
• Assistant, Associate and full Professor, Ag. And Extension Ed. Dept, 1964-1974.
• Professor, Continuing and Vocational Education, 1974-1994.
• Staff Development, University of Wisconsin Extension. 1964-1974, 1982-1985.
• Chancellor’s Office, University of Wisconsin Extension, 1989-1993.
• Chair, Department of Continuing and Vocational Education, 1977-1979, 1982-1987.
• Director of Kellogg funded National Leadership Development Program, 1989-1993.
• Professor Emeritus, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1994-present.

• The Land Still Lives. Wisconsin House. 1970 (Out-of-Print).
• Cabin in the Country. Argus. 1973 (Out-of-Print).
• Village of Roses. Wild Rose Historical Society. 1973.
• Barns of Wisconsin. Wisconsin Trails. 1977, 1995 (Out-of-Print).
• Mills of Wisconsin and the Midwest. Wisconsin Trails. 1980 (Out-of-Print).
• Skiing Into Wisconsin. Pearl Win Publications. 1985.
• Breweries of Wisconsin. University of Wisconsin Press. 1992, 2005.
• One-Room Country Schools. Amherst Press. 1996.
• Wisconsin Traveler’s Companion. Wisconsin Trails. 1997. (Out-of-Print)
• Rural Wisdom. Amherst Press. 1997. (Out-of-Print).
• Cheese: The Making of a Wisconsin Tradition. Amherst Press. 1998.
• When Chores Were Done. Amherst Press. 1999.
• Symbols: Viewing a Rural Past. Amherst Press. 1999. (Out-of-Print)
• Humor From The Country. Amherst Press. 2001.
• The People Came First - A History of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension. Cooperative Extension Publications. 2002.
• Eat Rutabagas. Amherst Press. 2002.
• Stormy. Amherst Press. 2002.
• Ringlingville USA. Wisconsin Historical Society Press. 2004.
• Every Farm Tells A Story. Voyageur Press. 2005.
• Country Ways and Country Days. Voyageur Press. 2005.
• Country Wisdom. Voyageur Press. 2005
• Tents, Tigers and the Ringling Brothers. Wisconsin Historical Society Press, 2006.
• Living a Country Year. Voyageur Press, 2007
• In a Pickle: A Family Farm Story. University of Wis. Press, 2007
• Casper Jaggi: Master Swiss Cheese Maker. Wisconsin Historical Society Press, 2008.
• Old Farm: A History, Wisconsin Historical Society Press, 2008.
• Blue Shadows Farm, University of Wisconsin Press, 2009
• Horse Drawn Days: A Century of Farming With Horses. Wisconsin Historical Society Press, 2010
• The Travels of Increase Joseph University of Wisconsin Press, 2010
• Cranberry Red, University of Wisconsin Press, 2010
• Barns of Wisconsin (Revised Edition) (Places Along the Way), Wisconsin Historical Society Press, 2010
• Campfires and Loon Calls, Fulcrum Publishing, 2011
• Garden Wisdom: Lessons Learned from 60 Years of Gardening, Wisconsin Historical Society Press, 2012
• Rural Wit and Wisdom, Fulcrum Press, 2012
• Tamarack River Ghost, University of Wisconsin Press, 2012
• Letters from Hillside Farm, Fulcrum Press, 2013
• The Quiet Season, Wisconsin Historical Society Press, 2013
• Limping through Life: A Farm Boy’s Polio Memoir, Fulcrum Press, 2013
• The Great Sand Fracas of Ames County, University of Wisconsin Press, 2014
• Whispers and Shadows, Wisconsin Historical Society Press, 2015
• Wisconsin Agriculture: A History, Wisconsin Historical Society Press, 2015
• One Room Country Schools, Wisconsin Historical Society Press, 2015
• Telling your Story, Fulcrum Press, 2016
• Roshara Journal: Chronicling Four Seasons, Fifty Years, and 120 Acres, Wisconsin Historical Society Press, 2016
• Never Curse the Rain, Wisconsin Historical Society Press, 2017
• Old Farm Country Cookbook, Wisconsin Historical Society Press, 2017
• Cold As Thunder, University of Wisconsin Press, 2018
• Simple Things: Lessons from the Family Farm, University of Wisconsin Press, 2018
• The Civilian Conservation Corps in Wisconsin: Nature’s Army at Work, Wisconsin Historical Society Press, 2019
• The Land Still Lives, Wisconsin Historical Society Press, 2019
• When the White Pine was King: A History of Lumberjacks, Log Drives, and Sawdust Cities in Wisconsin, Wisconsin Historical Press, 2020
• Cheese: The Making of a Wisconsin Tradition (2nd Edition), Wisconsin Historical Press, 2020
• The Old Timer Says: A Writing Journal, Wisconsin Historical Press, 2020
• The Wild Oak, Three Towers Press, 2021
• Settlers Valley, University of Wisconsin Press, 2021
• A summer of Peas and Pickles, Three Towers Press, March, 2022
• Meet Me on the Midway: A History of Wisconsin Fairs, Wisconsin Historical Press, 2022
• More than Words: A Memoir of a Writing Life Wisconsin Historical Press, 2022)
• Planting an Idea: A Guidebook to Critical and Creative Thinking About Environmental Problems Fulcrum Press, 2023
• On Farms and Rural Communities: An Agricultural Ethic for the Future Fulcrum Press, 2024

• Toward a Working Philosophy of Adult Education. Syracuse U. 1973.
• Tips For Article Writers. Wisconsin Regional Writers, 1973.
• Problems in Continuing Education. McGraw-Hill. 1980.
• Problemas de La Educacion Permanente. Paidos Educador. Barcelona, 1983, 1994.
• Problems in Continuing Education. Arabic Translation.
• The Adult Learner on Campus. Follett. 1981.
• Study Skills for Adults Returning to School. McGraw-Hill. 1978, 1981.
• Improving Your Writing Skills. Follett. 1982.
• How to Improve Adult Education in Your Church. Augsburg. 1972
• Ideas For Better Church Meetings. Augsburg. 1975.
• Improving Practice in Continuing Education. Jossey-Bass (Simon & Schuster). 1985.
• Higher Education in a Learning Society. Jossey-Bass (Simon & Schuster). 1988.
• Study Skills For Today’s College Student. McGraw-Hill. 1990.
• Mastering The Teaching of Adults. Krieger. 1991.
• Leadership For The Emerging Age. Jossey-Bass, 1994.
• Teaching From The Heart. Krieger. 1996.
• Once a Professor: A Memoir of Teaching in Turbulent Times. Wisconsin Historical Society Press. 2018

Apps has written more than 1000 articles and columns that have appeared in Wisconsin newspapers and magazines, and in national magazines. He has chapters in several books including an article in the Oxford Companion to United States History. Two monographs are “Giving Old Barns New Life: Ethnic History and Beauty of Old Barns,” and “Giving Old Barns New Life: Wisconsin’s Changing Farmsteads,” (Both University of Wisconsin-Extension).

• Segment about Ringling Brothers as part of Cable Network, Arts and Entertainment, Biography (2005).
• Regular guest on Wisconsin Public Radio, the Larry Meiller Show and others.
• Special segment on Jerry’s writing as part of Wisconsin Public TV series, “In Wisconsin” (2003).
• Segment about Ringling Brothers as part of National Public TV series, “History Detectives (2003).
• Segment about history of Cheese as part of History Channel program (2007)
• National Public Radio: “To the Best of our Knowledge,” (May 21, 2009)
• PBS Wisconsin: Jerry Apps: A Farm Story (Preview)
• PBS Wisconsin: For the Love of a Farm
• PBS Wisconsin: A Century of Farming With Horses
• PBS Wisconsin: Casper Jaggi, Swiss Cheese Maker
• PBS Wisconsin: A Brief Look at Wisconsin Agricultural History
• PBS Wisconsin: To the best of our Knowledge
• PBS Wisconsin: Jerry Apps: A Farm Story
• PBS Wisconsin: A Farm Winter with Jerry Apps
• PBS Wisconsin: Limping Through Life
• PBS Wisconsin: The Land With Jerry Apps, 2015
• C-Span Books: Limping Through Life, 2015-2016
• PBS Wisconsin: Never Curse the Rain, 2017
• PBS Wisconsin: Jerry Apps: One Room Country School, 2018
• PBS Wisconsin: Jerry Apps: Food and Memories, 2022
   

• First place award in non-fiction and scholarly book writing (1977, 1989, 2002 Council for Wisconsin Writers).
• Award of Merit: For Distinguished Service to History (1978, 1981, 1993, 1999, 2003) State Historical Society of Wisconsin.
• Research to Practice Award for books in education (1982), American Association for Adult and Continuing Education.
• Adult Educator of the year award for books in education (1987), Wisconsin Association for Adult and Continuing Education.
• Landsdowne Scholar, University of Victoria, 1991
• Outstanding Literary Achievement Award (1993), Wisconsin Library Association.
• Recognition Award (1994), Wisconsin Retired Educators Association.
• Wisconsin Idea Award (1994), University of Wisconsin-Extension
• Writer in Residence (1995) Rhinelander School of Arts.
• Award for Excellence in Interpretation of Wisconsin and Midwest Heritage (1996), Robert E. Gard Foundation and Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters.
• Fellow: International Hall of Fame for Adult and Continuing Education. 1996.
• Wisconsin 4-H Alumni Award. Wisconsin 4-H Foundation, 1998.
• Distinguished Visiting Professor, University of Alberta, 1988.
• Distinguished Visiting Professor, University of Alaska, 1995.
• “Midwest Favorite” book award from Upper Midwest Booksellers Association, 1999, 2000.
• Pride of Wisconsin Award for Excellence in the Field of Regional Literature, Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 2001, 2002.
• Outstanding Academic Title award, Association of College and Research Libraries, American Library Association, 2005.
• Major Achievement Award, Council for Wisconsin Writers, 2007
• Notable Authors Award, Wisconsin Library Association, 2007
• Old Farm: A History, A Midwest Connections Pick, Midwest Booksellers Association, 2008
• Old Farm: A History. Council for Wisconsin Writers, Inc. - First Place in 2008 Ellis/Henderson Outdoor Writing Category
• Old Farm: A History. 2008 ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Finalist in Environment Category
• Old Farm: A History. 2008 Midwest Independent Publishers Association - First Place in Nature Category and Finalist in Midwest Regional Category
• Old Farm: A History. 2009 Independent Publishers Book Awards - Gold in Best Regional Nonfiction in Great Lakes Region
• Old Farm: A History. 2009 National Indie Excellence Awards - Finalist in History Category
• Blue Shadows Farm. 2009 Midwest Book Awards - Finalist in General Fiction
• Cranberry Red. 2010 Midwest Book Awards-Finalist in General Fiction
• Distinguished Service Award, University of Wisconsin-Madison, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, 2010
• Barns of Wisconsin. 2011 Silver Award: Best Regional Nonfiction book, Independent Publishers Book Awards
• Barns of Wisconsin. 2011 Finalist: Next Generation Indie Book Awards
• Elected as Fellow, Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters (2012)
• A Farm Winter With Jerry Apps, Regional Emmy Award Winner, 2014
• White Cedar Outstanding Teaching Award, The Clearing, 2016
• UW Alumni 72, 2017
   

News Articles

• Wisconsin State Journal: Recommended Reading
• Capital Times: What are you reading
• Chicago Tribune: Gardening
• Wisconsin Alumni Magazine
• LaCrosse Tribune: “A force within nature literature”
• Working Writers
• Doug Moe: From farm to typewriter, Jerry Apps' journey
• 12 Gifts: Jerry Apps Remembers Christmas Past
• One-hundred-twenty-fifth library visit

Authors Guild, Council For Wisconsin Writers, Wisconsin Writers Association, Wisconsin Academy for Sciences Arts and Letters, State Historical Society of Wisconsin.

• Publications Editor, University of Wisconsin-Extension (1962-1965)
• Acquisitions Editor, McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1976-1982.
• Writing Instructor: School of the Arts, Rhinelander, 1971-2000; The Clearing, Door County, 1990- 2020; Write by the Lake, UW-Madison, 2001-2006; Green Lake Writers’ Institute; Loras College, Dubuque, Iowa
• Consulting editor to Follett and Jossey-Bass publishing companies. (1985 to 1994)
• Consultant and narrator for the production of “Barns” Video, Wisconsin Public TV, (2000). June Dairy Month spokesperson for the Dairy Council of Wisconsin, (1999).
• Ph.D. in Education and Rural Sociology, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Professor Emeritus, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Married, three grown children. Interests include farming, nature study, and gardening.