Dairyland Conference

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The Dairyland Conference is a high school athletic conference in west central Wisconsin. It was founded in 1959 and all member schools are affiliated with the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.

Contents

History

1959–1977

Dairyland Conference
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13km
8.1miles
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Location of Original Dairyland Conference Members

The Dairyland Conference was formed by six small high schools in west central Wisconsin in 1959. Three members came from the original Mississippi Valley Conference (Augusta, Osseo and Whitehall) and the other three from the disbanded Trempealeau Valley Conference (Blair, Eleva-Strum and Independence). [1] The membership roster soon increased to eight schools, with Lincoln High School in Alma Center joining from the West Central Conference in 1961 [2] and Cochrane-Fountain City moving over from the Mississippi Valley Conference in 1963. [3] [4] Alma High School joined the Dairyland Conference in 1971 from the West Central Conference. [5] They replaced Cochrane-Fountain City, who was moved to the Coulee Conference that year. [6]

1977–2000

In 1977, the Dairyland Conference added four schools: two from the Coulee Conference (Cochrane-Fountain City and Melrose-Mindoro) and two from the defunct West Central Conference (Gilmanton and Taylor). [7] The membership roster would remain the same for eight years, until the league realigned into divisions based on enrollment size in 1985: [8]

Large SchoolsSmall Schools
AugustaAlma
Cochrane-Fountain CityAlma Center Lincoln
Eleva-StrumBlair
Melrose-MindoroGilmanton
Osseo-FairchildIndependence
WhitehallTaylor

Osseo-Fairchild left for membership in the Cloverbelt Conference after the first season of this alignment. [9] In 1989, Blair and Taylor merged to form Blair-Taylor High School, inheriting both predecessors' Dairyland membership in the process. [10] [11] The Dairyland Conference also consolidated into a single division that year. Augusta's departure to the Cloverbelt Conference in 1990 would bring membership down to nine schools. [12] Luther High School in Onalaska entered the Dairyland Conference in 1991, bringing the roster back up to ten schools. [13] The next year, the conference reinstated the Large School/Small School divisional alignment: [14]

Large SchoolsSmall Schools
Blair-TaylorAlma
Cochrane-Fountain CityAlma Center Lincoln
LutherEleva-Strum
Melrose-MindoroGilmanton
WhitehallIndependence

Luther was voted out of the conference in 1996, with members citing issues with travel distances and competition level disparity. [15] Soon after Luther left the conference in 1997, they were invited to become members of the Coulee Conference. [16]

2000–present

Immanuel Lutheran High School in Eau Claire joined the Dairyland Conference as its tenth member in 2000, after the merger between the WIAA and the Wisconsin Independent Schools Athletic Association was completed. [17] Eleva-Strum moved over to the Large Schools division to even out the divisional balance at five members each: [18]

Large SchoolsSmall Schools
Blair-TaylorAlma
Cochrane-Fountain CityAlma Center Lincoln
Eleva-StrumGilmanton
Melrose-MindoroImmanuel Lutheran
WhitehallIndependence

In 2006, Alma Center Lincoln and Eleva-Strum swapped divisions, [19] and in 2009, Alma High School entered into a cooperative agreement for most sports with nearby Pepin High School. The Pepin/Alma cooperative inherited Alma's place in the Dairyland Conference's Small Schools division. [20] Augusta reentered the Dairyland in 2014 and was added to the conference's Large Schools division. [21] Blair-Taylor and Eleva-Strum switched divisions in 2016, [22] [23] with the latter making their return to the Large Schools division. Blair-Taylor returned to the Large Schools division in 2021, [24] with Alma Center Lincoln moving back to the Small Schools division. [25] Two years later, Independence and Gilmanton became a cooperative program and remained in the Small Schools division. Cochrane-Fountain City moved over to the Small Schools division to balance the alignment at five schools per division: [26]

Large SchoolsSmall Schools
AugustaAlma Center Lincoln
Blair-TaylorCochrane-Fountain City
Eleva-StrumImmanuel Lutheran
Melrose-MindoroIndependence/Gilmanton
WhitehallPepin/Alma

In 2024, Osseo-Fairchild left the Cloverbelt Conference to rejoin the Dairyland, and they were placed in the Large Schools division. [27]

List of conference members

Current members

SchoolLocationAffiliation Enrollment MascotColorsJoinedDivision
Alma Center Lincoln Alma Center, WI Public164Hornets  1961 [2] Small
Augusta Augusta, WI Public226Beavers  1959, [1] 2014 [21] Large
Blair-Taylor Blair, WI Public193Wildcats  1989 [10] [11] Large
Cochrane-Fountain City Fountain City, WI Public175Pirates   1963, [3] [4] 1977 [7] Small
Eleva-Strum Strum, WI Public197Cardinals  1959 [1] Large
Immanuel Lutheran Eau Claire, WI Private (Lutheran, CLC)96Lancers  2000 [17] Small
Independence/
Gilmanton 		Independence, WI Public172Indees  2023 [26] Small
Melrose-Mindoro Melrose, WI Public223Mustangs  1977 [7] Large
Osseo-Fairchild Osseo, WI Public255Thunder  1959, [1] 2024 [27] Large
Pepin/
Alma 		Pepin, WI Public149Eagles  2009 [20] Small
Whitehall Whitehall, WI Public216Norse  1959 [1] Large

Former members

SchoolLocationAffiliation Enrollment MascotColorsJoinedLeftConference JoinedCurrent Conference
Blair Blair, WI PublicN/ACardinals  1959 [1] 1989 [10] [11] Closed (merged into Blair-Taylor)
Independence Independence, WI Public143Indees  1959 [1] 2023 [26] Dairlyland (coop with Gilmanton)
Alma Alma, WI Public65Rivermen  1971 [5] 2009 [20] Dairyland (coop with Pepin)
Taylor Taylor, WI PublicN/ATrojans  1977 [7] 1989 [10] [11] Closed (merged into Blair-Taylor)
Gilmanton Gilmanton, WI Public39Panthers  1977 [7] 2023 [26] Dairyland (coop with Independence)
Luther Onalaska, WI Private (Lutheran, WELS)228Knights  1991 [13] 1997 [15] Coulee

Former football-only members

SchoolLocationAffiliation Enrollment MascotColorsSeasonsPrimary Conference
Augusta Augusta, WI Public226Beavers  2011-2013 Cloverbelt

Membership timeline

Full members

Dairyland Conference

 Eastern Division Western Division Large Schools Small Schools

Football members

Dairyland Conference

Membership map

Dairyland Conference
Dairyland Conference
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30km
19miles
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List of state champions

Fall sports

Boys Cross Country
SchoolYearDivision
Cochrane-Fountain City1984Class C
Cochrane-Fountain City1993Division 3
Cochrane-Fountain City1994Division 3
Cochrane-Fountain City1995Division 3
Cochrane-Fountain City1996Division 3
Girls Cross Country
SchoolYearDivision
Cochrane-Fountain City1996Division 3
Cochrane-Fountain City1998Division 3
Cochrane-Fountain City1999Division 3
Cochrane-Fountain City2022Division 3
Football
SchoolYearDivision
Osseo-Fairchild1977Division 4
Osseo-Fairchild1981Division 5
Osseo-Fairchild1982Division 5
Augusta1989Division 6
Eleva-Strum2007Division 7
Girls Volleyball
SchoolYearDivision
Immanuel Lutheran2024Division 5

Winter sports

Boys Basketball
SchoolYearDivision
Eleva-Strum2008Division 4
Cochrane-Fountain City2025Division 5
Girls Basketball
SchoolYearDivision
Gilmanton2001Division 4

Spring sports

Baseball
SchoolYearDivision
Eleva-Strum2024Division 4
Boys Golf
SchoolYearDivision
Eleva-Strum1989Class C
Eleva-Strum2008Division 3
Boys Track & Field
SchoolYearDivision
Whitehall1986Class C
Girls Track & Field
SchoolYearDivision
Whitehall2008Division 3

Summer sports

Baseball
SchoolYearDivision
Whitehall1986Single Division

List of conference champions

Boys Basketball

SchoolQuantityYears
Eleva-Strum231961, 1962, 1965, 1966, 1982, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2014, 2015
Whitehall191961, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1999, 2000, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2013, 2020, 2022
Blair-Taylor151992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2019, 2020, 2021
Alma Center Lincoln81963, 1967, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2020
Osseo-Fairchild81970, 1971, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1981, 1983, 2025
Melrose-Mindoro71998, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2023, 2024
Blair 61960, 1963, 1964, 1972, 1973, 1974
Cochrane-Fountain City61987, 2010, 2013, 2017, 2024, 2025
Gilmanton61994, 1995, 1998, 2001, 2011, 2012
Alma41975, 1989, 1990, 1996
Independence41987, 1988, 1999, 2018
Pepin/
Alma		42010, 2016, 2017, 2023
Immanuel Lutheran 32004, 2021, 2022
Luther21995, 1996
Augusta 11986
Independence/
Gilmanton		0
Taylor0

Girls Basketball

SchoolQuantityYears
Blair-Taylor161993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2012, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025
Independence151987, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2019
Alma Center Lincoln121979, 1980, 1981, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2021, 2022, 2023
Eleva-Strum121989, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2004, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2025
Cochrane-Fountain City101987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1997, 2015, 2016, 2024, 2025
Whitehall101984, 1985, 1987, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2014, 2024
Melrose-Mindoro72000, 2001, 2008, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
Augusta 31983, 1986, 2015
Gilmanton31993, 2002, 2005
Immanuel Lutheran 32006, 2012, 2013
Osseo-Fairchild31980, 1981, 1982
Alma21986, 2003
Pepin/
Alma		12012
Blair 0
Independence/
Gilmanton		0
Luther0
Taylor0

Football

SchoolQuantityYears
Augusta 111959, 1961, 1972, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 2021
Eleva-Strum111960, 1963, 1965, 1969, 1970, 1973, 1987, 2004, 2007, 2014, 2015
Whitehall111967, 1968, 1974, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1985, 1992, 2006, 2009, 2012
Melrose-Mindoro101988, 1997, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2009, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
Osseo-Fairchild91968, 1970, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984
Blair-Taylor81998, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2019, 2020, 2024
Independence71962, 1964, 1971, 1974, 1975, 1994, 2001
Cochrane-Fountain City51966, 1994, 2000, 2014, 2024
Luther31991, 1993, 1995
Pepin/
Alma		32022, 2023, 2024
Alma/
Gilmanton		21990, 1996
Alma12005
Independence/
Gilmanton		12014
Alma Center Lincoln0
Blair 0
Blair/
Taylor		0

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Blanchard, Ken (16 November 1958). "Battin' the Breeze (see "Dairyland New Tag")". La Crosse Tribune. p. 15. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Four Area Grid Loops Open Schedules Friday". Eau Claire Leader-Telegram. 14 September 1961. p. 13. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  3. 1 2 Gunderson, Jim (28 March 1962). "Gunning for Sports (see "More Conference Changes")". La Crosse Tribune. p. 21. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  4. 1 2 Gunderson, Jim (5 July 1962). "BRF Joins S-C Loop". La Crosse Tribune. p. 20. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  5. 1 2 "Lincoln Football Prospects Good". Eau Claire Leader-Telegram. 20 August 1971. p. 8. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  6. ↑ Pickett, Jim (3 September 1971). "Alma Center Lincoln Eyes End of Long Grid Drought". La Crosse Tribune. p. 18. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Lisser, Bill (30 August 1977). "Mel-Min, C-FC switch to Dairyland". La Crosse Tribune. p. 37. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  8. ↑ "Whitehall turns back Osseo-Fairchild". La Crosse Tribune. 6 December 1985. p. 21. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  9. ↑ Taschner, Tony (23 August 1986). "Stanley-Boyd has experience to rebound". Chippewa Herald-Telegram. p. 30. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Smith, Linda (20 September 1988). "Blair, Taylor schools begin consolidation". La Crosse Tribune. p. 10. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  11. 1 2 3 4 "It's Wildcats for Blair-Taylor". La Crosse Tribune. 6 January 1989. p. 9. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  12. ↑ "Augusta eyes final title in Dairyland". Eau Claire Leader-Telegram. 20 September 1989. p. 20. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  13. 1 2 Quast, Steve (12 April 1990). "Onalaska Luther prepares to join Dairyland Conference". La Crosse Tribune. p. 29. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  14. ↑ "Indees romp past Lincoln". La Crosse Tribune. 16 December 1992. p. 5. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  15. 1 2 Kabelowsky, Art (13 January 1996). "Move could affect Onalaska Luther". La Crosse Tribune. p. 7. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  16. ↑ Cohen, Andrew (20 April 1996). "Area leagues next on WIAA agenda". Wisconsin State Journal. p. 33. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  17. 1 2 Holmes, Kirk (24 April 1999). "Ramblers, Lancers, Macks get the OK". La Crosse Tribune. p. 16. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  18. ↑ Nelson, Loren (26 November 2000). "Becker keeps Gilmanton humming along". Eau Claire Leader-Telegram. pp. 28 (Basketball 2000 insert). Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  19. ↑ Ziemer, Joe (11 January 2007). "Fall Creek better than WCC mark (see Standings)". Eau Claire Leader-Telegram. p. 25. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  20. 1 2 3 Brommerich, David L. (5 April 2009). "Pepin, Alma enter co-op". Eau Claire Leader-Telegram. pp. B3. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  21. 1 2 Ziemer, Joe (11 December 2014). "Keep an eye on Appleby". Eau Claire Leader-Telegram. pp. D3. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  22. ↑ "Dairyland - Large Basketball (Standings)". MaxPreps. 27 January 2025. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  23. ↑ "Dairyland - Small Basketball (Standings)". MaxPreps. 17 January 2019. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  24. ↑ "Dairyland - Large Basketball (Standings)". MaxPreps. 5 March 2022. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  25. ↑ "Dairyland - Small Basketball (Standings)". MaxPreps. 6 March 2022. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  26. 1 2 3 4 "Dairyland - Small Basketball (Standings)". MaxPreps. 3 March 2024. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  27. 1 2 Tabbert, Nick (6 December 2023). "Osseo-Fairchild, Elk Mound closing in on conference shifts". WQOW.com. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
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