Bucky on parade: Wilton native contributes to Madison public art project

Lyga with her completed Bucky statue

Rachel (Kiel) Lyga, a Wilton native and a 1995 Royall High School graduate, designed one of the Bucky Badgers for Madison’s “Bucky on Parade” art display.

Madison Area Sports Commission planned the event to raise money for the commission, Garding Against Cancer and other community charities. The free public art display brought 85 life-size Bucky Badger statues to Madison and surrounding Dane County.

 Artists who wanted to participate submitted their own designs, and the sponsors could choose from the designs which one or more they wanted to sponsor.

Lyga designed the leader of the University of Wisconsin Marching Band. Mid-West Family Broadcasting, owner of Z93 in La Crosse and other radio stations, chose to sponsor “Major Bucky,” her design. 

After submitting the design, it had to be approved by the University of Wisconsin and by the sponsor before work on it could be started.

  Because some of the money from this project was being used for cancer research, Lyga decided she could use her talent for this cause, having lost her aunt, mother and father-in-law to cancer.

The design and the fabrication for the 85 Bucky’s was done by the FAST Corporation ofSparta.

Lyga spent many hours at FAST and at home working on her Bucky to get the design and details to match the UW marching major. She had the arm changed to hold the baton, added tails to the coat, and carved the hat and plume to make it look like the real major. 

Lyga also participated in a project called “Herons on Parade” a few years ago in La Crosse.

 Lyga said she would love to pursue art as a career, as she graduated from Western Technical College in La Crosse with a degree in graphic design.  Finding out it was hard to make a living at it, she went on to further her education, graduating with a master’s degree from Viterbo.  Her full-time job is working for Mayo in Rochester, Minn., as a senior analyst and enjoying her art as a hobby.

Art seems to be in the family genes, as Lyga’s cousin, Julie (O’Rourke) Hancock, also designed one of the Buckys.   Hancock designed “Farmer Bucky” in honor of her family occupation. Hancock also designed one of the cows that were displayed in Madison a few years ago.

  The Buckys will be on display in Madison and surrounding areas until Sept. 12, when some will be auctioned off and the rest have been purchased by their sponsors.

For more information and maps of the locations of the Buckys, go to buckyonparade.com.

Comments are closed.

  • Strains of spring 

    March 22nd, 2024
    by

    Brookwood Junior/Senior High School hosted its spring concert Thursday.  Esther Wooten and Drew Powell provide percussion for the senior high […]


    Pretrial conference for Barton yields no updates, more charges possible

    March 22nd, 2024
    by

    Monday’s pretrial conference for former Wilton clerk/treasurer Leigha Barton, who was charged in January with counts related to embezzlement from the village, resulted in no new developments, according to Monroe County District Attorney Kevin Croninger. 


    Royall hires new principal

    March 13th, 2024
    by

    Kole Huth will serve as the new Royall Middle School/High School Principal, the board of education decided at its meeting Monday. 


    Crowd attends meeting on Ontario development projects

    March 13th, 2024
    by

    No one quite expected the crowd of about 25 people to show up at Monday evening’s Ontario’s regular monthly board meeting. What drew so much interest was a hearing held about the new 12-unit apartment building under construction on Church Street.


    Kendall OK’s $2.1 million downtown project

    March 13th, 2024
    by

    Kendall approved a $2.1 million downtown (South Railroad Street) infrastructure project, which will occur in conjunction with the state’s reconstruction of Highway 71, at its regular meeting Monday. 


  • Norwalk police chief resigns

    March 13th, 2024
    by

    After nine years with the village, Police Chief David Jones submitted his resignation to the Norwalk Village Board, which it accepted at its Tuesday meeting. 


    N-O-W School Board approves expenditures, applications for college-credit program

    March 13th, 2024
    by

    The N-O-W School Board approved student applications to Brookwood’s fall college credit program totaling a little over $27,000 in tuition and materials.


    Wilton board candidates take part in reception

    March 8th, 2024
    by

    On Saturday, the Wilton Public Library hosted an open reception with the candidates for the Wilton Village Board.


    Royall boys earn first conference title in 11 years

    February 29th, 2024
    by

    The Royall boys basketball team clinched the Scenic Bluffs Conference title outright with a win over Bangor 53–37 on Feb. 22.


    Royall girls gain first regional title in 47 years

    February 29th, 2024
    by

    The Royall girls basketball team marked history in its program, as the team earned its first regional title since 1977.


    Wilton, N-O-W work out details of softball-field project

    February 29th, 2024
    by

    To refine an agreement allowing the Norwalk-Ontario-Wilton School District to use Wilton’s new softball field, school representatives met with the Wilton Village Board on Tuesday. 


  • Archives