The landscape of Southwest Wisconsin, along with northeast Iowa, southeast Minnesota, and northwest Illinois, comprise a topographic region known as the Driftless Area. This approximately 24,000 square-mile area escaped glaciation during the last glacial advance of the past 26,000 years. Because of this, the area includes a topography that is uniquely different from the surrounding glaciated landscapes. It is an area characterized by a rugged terrane that includes narrow flat-topped ridges, steep rocky hillsides, and dissected valleys that contain abundant cold-water springs and well-developed stream networks.

During this talk, Dr. Emerson will share the story of the Driftless – what lies beneath this beautiful and unique region and how it came to be.

Dr. Norlene Emerson is a native of Richland County, having grown up on a family-owned dairy farm. She is currently an emeritus geology professor from UW-Platteville Richland, and alum of UW-Platteville Richland. Norlene taught a variety of intro geology courses on the UW Platteville Richland campus (2002 – 2018). She received her PhD from UW-Madison in the field of sedimentary geology and invertebrate paleontology.  Norlene’s research interests focus on early Brachiopod evolution and pursuing a better understanding of the environmental conditions within the Upper Mississippi Valley during the late Ordovician Period when this region was covered by a shallow warm tropical sea. 

Dinner
We are happy to partner with Chef’s Hideout to provide dinner at the barn beginning at 5:00 p.m.

You can pre-order dinner through September 13th. Choices for pre-order are:

  • Brisket sandwich with fries and slaw

  • Pulled pork sandwich with fries and slaw

  • HUGE salad with toasted walnuts

All pre-orders are $16.19 (includes $1.19 credit card processing fee). Order now

You can also pick up a brisket sandwich or pulled pork sandwich the night of the lecture for $15. Salads are only available pre-order.

Tickets
Tickets are free for the lectures, and no registration is required…just come and enjoy!

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