In 2002, Wisconsin's Governor created the State Commemorative Quarter Council, consisting of 23 members around the state. Thousands of Wisconsin citizens submitted their design ideas to the Council, and the Council then submitted nine designs to the U.S. Mint.
The U.S. Mint approved five designs, which the Council then narrowed to three finalist designs.
Governor Jim Doyle presented the three finalists for a public vote in September 2003, and the agricultural theme was the overwhelming winner. The Governor then submitted the winning design to the U.S. Mint, making Wisconsin the first state to have an agricultural theme on its quarter.
The U.S. Mint began producing the quarter in early October. Wisconsin is sending a delegation headed by Secretary of Financial Institutions Lorrie Keating Heinemann to the official "striking" ceremony, being held at the Denver Mint on October 12, 2004 .
The quarter will be officially released to the public at an exciting Release event at Wisconsin State Fair Park in West Allis the morning of October 25, 2004.
M&I Bank, the official sponsor of the Wisconsin Quarter Release, will make quarters available for sale (cash only) in $10 rolls at the Release event, and all financial institutions in Wisconsin will receive the quarter by the beginning of the following week.
