Trek 100: What a polka DJ on a farm looks like

The Trek 100 charity bike ride raises money for the MACC Fund to research and fight childhood cancer and blood disorders. Since 1990, Trek has raised over $22 million for the Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer. On June 7, 2025 we polkaed for the cause.

When I arrived at Englewood Grass-Feed Beef farm in Fall River, WI, Trek employees had already set up big tents for the “Polka Peddler’s Pit Stop” where hundreds of cyclists would take their second and fourth break of the day. Event organizers thought of every detail and rider’s need.

Brats and pretzels were offered alongside traditional race food like cut oranges and bananas. The shotski station offered vintage skis and Solo shot cups filled with Sprecher’s new energy drink. There were Hammerschlagen games and Instagrammable painted cows to pose by. Trek event organizers even thought of the tiniest details like bringing a magnet on a stick to search for Hammerschlagen nails that may have fallen on the pasture.

The highlight of the day was seeing people dance. Whether it was a few couples dancing or just heads bopping along to the beat on the way to get a brat, I loved watching people enjoy the music. Wave after wave of cyclists took energy shots off of vintage skis and high-fived each other. Now every time one of their cycling team members sees a shotski, they will think about their memory of the fun times along a long, rural bike ride.

I was flattered to be invited to be a part of Trek’s event. Making polka music echo across the pastures in Columbia County, Wisconsin felt like I was reminding the green hills what farms used to sound like with polka music on the radio.