Vicki Nemitz jokingly describes herself as a professional volunteer. Not only does Vicki serve on the Wisconsin Cranberry Discovery Center’s board of directors, but she’s an active volunteer at the Discovery Center.

An avid cranberry glass collector, Vicki enjoys helping arrange the cranberry glass displays in the Discovery Center’s gift shop. The gift shop features one of the largest selections of cranberry glass in the area. The distinctive color of cranberry glass is due to the gold chloride used in its manufacturing process.

But what really keeps Vicki busy is the Warrens Cranberry Festival. Vicki is president of the festival that attracts over 100,000 visitors to Warrens. Held annually the last full weekend of September, the dates of the 2006 festival are Sept. 22-24. For more information, visit the Cranfest Web site at: www.cranfest.com.

In recognition of her efforts in promoting Wisconsin’s cranberry industry, Vicki received the 2005 Agri-Communicator Award sponsored by Agri-View, a weekly Wisconsin ag newspaper.

Besides her volunteer activities, Vicki handles the accounting duties for her family’s cranberry marsh. She and her husband, Robert, operate a marsh north of Warrens that was once owned by former Wisconsin Governor Coles Bashford.

Governor Bashford, who held office from 1856-58, didn’t own the marsh very long and the property underwent several changes of ownership in its early history. Later the marsh was purchased by the Union Cranberry Company, which also owned the building that today houses the Wisconsin Cranberry Discovery Center.