[bright music] - Announcer: The following program is a PBS Wisconsin original production.

- Deb Nicolaus: There is not a better mascot in the United States-- well, actually in the world-- than Buckingham U. He's the best mascot.

Just watch him.

- Narrator: He is Bucky Badger.

- Brian Adam: Bucky Badger's on another level when it comes to mascots.

- RoseAnn Donovan: Bucky is an icon.

Bucky has crossed generations.

Bucky has stood the test of time.

- Narrator: With a tale that stretches back to the origins of the Badger State, from a wild animal on the sideline... [badger growls] - Doug Moe: That took off, and the rest is history.

[laughs] - Narrator: ...to a symbol of Wisconsin.

- Matt Lepay: Bucky is a mascot of the people.

Bucky is for everyone.

- Fan: He embodies what this state is about.

- Bill Sachse Jr.

: We all wanna be like Bucky.

- Narrator: A big personality with an even bigger heart.

- Lucas Douglas: The things we get to do as Bucky is unlike any other experience.

It's amazing.

- Josette Jaucian: Bucky is definitely larger than life.

[laughs] [group chants "Bucky!"]

- Narrator: Bucky!

[crowd cheers] [whistle blows] - Announcer: Funding for Bucky!

is provided by: the Dancing Goat Distillery, Robert J. Lenz, Charles H. and Barb A. Merry, Dr.

Henry Anderson, Lau and Bea Christensen, Cynthia and David Shaw, Elizabeth Olson, the Alfred and June Kohlwey Family Foundation, donors to the Focus Fund for Wisconsin Programs, and Friends of PBS Wisconsin.

[marching band cadence] [crowd cheers] [wind blows] - Narrator: East of the mighty Mississippi, a land of rolling hills, lush prairies, towering pines.

Wisconsin!

Home to a wild and majestic creature.

Bucky Badger!

[record scratching] [upbeat polka music] - Go, Bucky!

- RoseAnn: Bucky Badger is part of Wisconsin's identity.

It's who Wisconsinites are.

That perfect combo of fierce and inviting, friendly, but not to be messed with.

- Go, Bucky!

- Mike Koval: Badgers are seriously one of the most beloved institutions in our state.

- Narrator: Badgers pop up everywhere.

[popping] We actually put one on top of the statue on top of our capitol.

We even name badgers after other badgers.

- Beth Petersen: Right now, our two badgers at the Henry Vilas Zoo are named Kaminsky and Dekker, after some famous basketball Badgers.

- Matt: And a step back, three straight on.

Got it!

Ice cold-blooded!

Sam Dekker.

The badger represents toughness.

Like, don't mess with a badger.

[crowd cheers] [whistle blows] - Narrator: Yep, that checks out.

- Beth: On the other hand, they can be really fun and sometimes a little bit silly.

Just like Bucky.

- Narrator: The old "work hard, play hard" Wisconsin mentality, wrapped up in a lovable furry menace.

- Brian: Wisconsinites have a ton of pride in their state, and Bucky represents the state of Wisconsin.

- Mike: We are the Badger State.

Bucky is literally a mission with us.

- Everybody loves Bucky.

- Bucky!

- He's royalty.

Wisconsin royalty.

[crowd cheers] - Go, Badgers!

[chiming sound] - Narrator: Bucky's regal lineage began in the hills of southwestern Wisconsin, but not because of his cousin, the North American badger.

The Badger State took its name from something else underground.

[gentle music] - Doug: Before statehood, lead ore miners would burrow down for the lead.

And, of course, the badger with its claws was really known as a digger.

Pretty soon, the miners started being referred to as badgers.

- Narrator: The name stuck.

The badger quickly became identified with Wisconsin, and Wisconsin with the badger.

- Doug: Statehood comes in 1848.

The badger is seen on the state flag.

And we become known as the Badger State.

[bright music] - Narrator: In 1889, football came to the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

The early teams were known as the Fighting Badgers.

Coach Phil King took the helm in 1896 and became the first coaching legend at Wisconsin, racking up a 65-11-1 record.

- Justin Doherty: He was the winningest football coach at Wisconsin for a really long time, until Barry Alvarez surpassed him roughly 100 years later.

Phil King set that tone for the grittiness, the toughness, the Upper Midwest hardworking culture that Wisconsin football became known for.

- Narrator: Blue-collared characteristics defined the program, and also its namesake.

- Justin: The badger probably is the perfect mascot, the perfect symbol for Wisconsin.

It's a smaller animal, but it's tough, and it's not an animal you're gonna wanna deal with.

[badger hisses] - Narrator: Yeah, not everyone got the memo, though.

[playful music] - Doug: A UW student named Lloyd "Babe" Spencer was a well-known character on campus.

He would bring a badger on a leash to football games.

- Narrator: Babe Spencer and his badger Billy were fan favorites during Coach King's era at the turn of the century.

Before games, Spencer led his badger onto the field with the marching band close behind.

- Doug: There's photographs of him, red sweater, white pants.

He's got a badger on his shoulder.

[laughs] He became very much a part of the atmosphere and was beloved on campus.

- Narrator: Babe Spencer's tradition carried on for decades.

A live badger would be brought into Camp Randall at times to excite the crowd.

However, the wild animal could become, you know, wild.

[badger hisses] - Beth: A live badger as the mascot is a pretty terrible idea.

[chuckles] - Doug: There's some news accounts of them getting loose and creating havoc at Camp Randall.

- Beth: They can excavate a den within just a minute or two.

- Narrator: Pesky badger holes dug into the field and reports of the occasionally bitten cheerleader led to a pivot in the plan in 1948.

- Doug: They brought in a raccoon, which that's not friendly either.

[laughs] But they brought in a raccoon and claimed it was a badger in raccoon fur.

They even had a name for it, Regdab, which, of course, was "badger" spelled backwards.

Brilliant, right?

- Narrator: Surprisingly, Regdab did not catch on.

The football team was also in a rut.

With school spirit at a low, it was time for a change.

[crowd groans] [upbeat percussion music] The athletic department hired Art Lentz as its publicity director in 1946.

He took charge of changing the atmosphere and morale on campus.

- Doug: Lentz was an interesting guy.

He did the radio broadcasts of Badger sports.

- Art Lentz: From all over the state, they come to cheer the Badgers.

People from Janesville, Park Falls, from the Fox River to the Mississippi.

- Doug: And eventually, ended up becoming head of the U.S.

Olympic Committee.

He also came up with a phrase: "Let's get that badger up off its belly."

- Narrator: Lentz wanted the football team back on their feet and the team's mascot to join them, standing proudly.

- Doug: Immediately, we began seeing drawings of a badger upright in a black sweater, looking a little bit like the Bucky we came to know and love later, but not quite.

- Narrator: Lentz put his upright badger on athletic department letterhead and football publications.

But something was in the water.

Other upright badgers began popping up in the school yearbook, newspaper, and homecoming decorations.

By 1948, there was a big badger breakthrough.

- Doug: On the bottom-right corner of an athletics department publication, there was the badger that we all know now, chest puffed up, in the red and white sweater, and his fists clenched.

- Narrator: The star of our show: Bucky Badger.

[crowd cheers] But we're gonna have to back up our story here, people.

That mascot still didn't have a name.

We'll get to that.

And it was actually drawn eight years earlier, in 1940.

[dreamy music] - Doug: Arthur Evans was a California-based illustrator who drew the first Bucky Badger as we know him today.

The company that Evans worked for had a contract with Brown's Book Store in Madison to design some decals with a badger on them, and the store would use them for commercial purposes.

- Narrator: Evans also drew mascots for Michigan and Purdue.

But, look, don't blame him.

Not everyone can bat a thousand.

Anyhow, Evans' iconic badger hibernated in obscurity for eight years until Art Lentz made him a celebrity, placing him on the cover of the 1948 Football Facts and Centennial Sports Review.

- Doug: The first illustration took off and the badger stood up, and the rest was history.

- Narrator: A hit on campus, the drawing would soon come to life with the help of a couple of UW students from Sheboygan North High School: Bill Sagal and Bill Sachse.

[groovy music] - Bill Sachse: When I got out of the United States Navy in 1946, I went down to Madison and registered, and became an active student.

I rowed on the Wisconsin freshman crew and on the varsity eight for the next three years.

- Bill Sachse Jr.

: My dad enjoyed his time there because it was a large class.

The country was starting to boom and the future was looking bright for these kids.

- Narrator: Adding to the excitement, the UW football team hired a new coach in 1949, Ivy Williamson.

Hopes were high for Williamson to turn around the program.

[whistle blows] At the center of Badger fever on campus was Bill Sachse, who volunteered to organize the football team's pep rallies.

- The pep rallies drew big crowds.

A typical crowd was several thousand students in front of the Memorial Union.

This thing was right up his alley.

He was a born salesman.

- Narrator: Sachse was always looking for a clever hook to bring in the crowds.

And for homecoming that year, he was cooking up an idea that would change the course of Badger history.

- When he was walking through the Memorial Union, he saw a display of African masks, and he thought they were beautiful pieces of art.

Then he realized that he had the gimmick for the homecoming of 1949.

- Bill Sachse: I thought to myself, boy, if we could have a papier-mâché badger head made and we could put that on one of the cheerleaders, we would have a real live badger.

[crowd cheers] - Narrator: Sachse was no artist, so he enlisted the help of a friend, Connie Conrard.

- Sachse: Connie was an art major.

And I said to her, "Connie, could you make a papier-mâché head of a badger?"

And she said, "Get me a picture, I'll make you a head."

- Narrator: The construction was underway, but one thing was missing.

- Bill Sachse: I needed somebody to wear that head.

And the only guy was my classmate, Billy Sagal.

- Sagal was perfect to wear the head and become our new mascot.

[groovy music] - Deb: Even though my dad was only 5'2" and tiny in stature, he walked in the room, he filled it.

He had a real mischievous side.

He was a bit of an imp.

[chuckles] He was born to be a mascot.

- Narrator: Bill Sagal grew up in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin.

A son of Polish immigrants, he was one of six boys.

His father passed away when he was 16.

To help his family with money, Sagal left home.

- Deb: He jumped on a train with not a penny in his pocket, and he joined the circus.

- Narrator: A gifted acrobat, his specialty act was the teeterboard.

- Deb: My dad would stand on the low end, and then somebody would jump on the high end, and then he would do flips into the air and land into a chair.

[crowd cheers] - Narrator: After enlisting and serving in World War II, Bill Sagal enrolled at the University of Wisconsin.

There, as head of the cheerleading squad, his athletic prowess became the stuff of legend.

- Even had a nickname, the jumping jack of Camp Randall.

- Narrator: And that brings our story back to the other Bill, Bill Sachse, and his papier-mâché badger head.

He asked Bill Sagal to be the new mascot at the homecoming pep rally.

What followed was a date with destiny.

- Bill Sachse: Connie had this magnificent but rudimentary head, and it was painted red and white.

It was fantastic.

- A photo was taken of my dad kind of lowering the head.

Sagal kind of holding it as it was coming down, and Connie holding a paintbrush as though she's putting finishing touches on the head.

And that photograph of the three of them was the birth of Bucky Badger.

- Narrator: Well, almost.

This new mascot didn't have a name, so Sachse started a contest to come up with one.

[bright organ music] There was just a little problem.

- Bill Sachse: The names started to come into The Daily Cardinal, and they were wild.

Sylvester Badger or Wilhelm Badger.

There were some screwy names and they weren't gonna fit.

- Narrator: For inspiration, Bill Sachse looked across the pond.

- Bill Sachse: There were a lot of stuff going on at that time at Buckingham Palace, and I thought, boy, what a great name.

We would call him Buckingham U. Badger.

And his nickname would be Bucky.

- The middle name U. was just the letter.

It was really meant to be like the word you.

You are a Badger, this is your mascot.

- Narrator: Hang on a second.

But what about the naming competition?

- Well, he had fixed the contest, basically.

- Narrator: In hindsight, the right move.

Sachse ended up giving the Delta Gamma sorority credit for the winning name: Bucky Badger.

- This was gonna be a mascot for the people, for the fans, the students, the alumni, Badgers.

- Narrator: On November 11, 1949, an enthusiastic crowd gathered for UW's homecoming pep rally.

- Bill Sachse: It was jammed!

Biggest crowd I ever saw.

- Narrator: Bill Sachse took center stage, making the introduction of a lifetime.

- Sachse: "The big moment is here," I said.

"Our new mascot is Bucky," and a big cheer went up.

And down comes Sagal.

["On Wisconsin"] - He comes out like a boxer doing, you know, punches and fighting.

[chuckles] - And it was just a blast.

It was just a blast.

- Narrator: The celebration continued with the homecoming football game.

There, Bucky Badger appeared at Camp Randall for the very first time.

- Bill Sachse: It was serendipity.

Sagal wore the head for the rest of the game, and from then on.

I don't think I saw his face for two more months.

- Narrator: The Badgers beat Iowa 35 to 13.

Just saying, facts matter.

But it was the Wisconsin fan base who really won out.

- What started out as a gimmick for homecoming became Bucky Badger forever.

[upbeat music] - Matt: Think of what Bucky has seen through the years.

He has seen great teams.

He's seen really not great teams and everything in between.

But Bucky perseveres.

- Lucas: It's a testament just to how much Bucky's beloved by the entire state.

It's a pretty special honor that we get to embody this character that people love.

- Narrator: Students have carried on Bucky's legacy for decades, and it all starts with a little bit of belief.

- Timothy Reiss: When you believe that you're Bucky, everyone believes you're Bucky.

- RoseAnn: The moment you put that costume on, you are Bucky Badger.

It is go time.

- Mike: Boom, you're on.

- Timothy: And you're just locked in as Bucky.

- You're not a guy in a suit.

You have Bucky's personality and you're just running around having fun.

[crowd cheers and applauds] - Brian: When we walk into a wedding, the room goes nuts.

When you walk into a school, the kids cheer.

And when you run out the flag at Camp Randall, the fans all get loud.

[crowd cheers] But the coolest part about being Bucky is you can make people smile and you can make people laugh.

- That ability to be uplifting is so important, and Bucky can do that.

Hi, I'm David Hoffert, a volunteer here at PBS Wisconsin, joined by no other than Buckingham.

You badger the subject of tonight's program and we together.

I think I can speak for you, if I may, are here to ask you to help PBS Wisconsin produce local programing like you're watching tonight by making a pledge of financial support.

The number is there on the bottom of your screen, 1-800-236-3636.

And here's the simple reality no other television station would ever have been able or willing to make a documentary about you.

I guess it's not really a documentary.

It's a biography, right?

This must be bringing up all sorts of memories for you.

I heard a rumor that Bucky doesn't like me to tell, but just between friends that he's 85 years old.

So imagine the content that is yet to come in tonight's broadcast.

What we need you to do in the meantime is to give us a call 1-800-236-3636.

>> Hi, I'm Linda Berman, a volunteer here at PBS Wisconsin.

And it is an honor and a joy and so much fun to be here with Bucky and other special guests who you'll see shortly.

But the most important thing is you pledge your support.

Right now, we've got wonderful volunteers here in the studio waiting to talk to you and to explain what wonderful gifts we have for you.

If you call the $10 a month level, you can get the Bucky DVD.

The program you're watching now is a Blu ray or DVD combination.

At $12 a month, we have this adorable ten inch mini Bucky.

I mean, this is this is a child's dream because you can carry it around.

It's not going to overshadow the child.

$15 a month.

We have this incredible sweatshirt I heart PBS, but it's the heart is Wisconsin.

So you know where your heart is.

And our heart is too.

Now, I want to explain that at $25 a month, you can get the DVDs, you can get the plush Bucky as well as the sweatshirt.

We also have something special because we know that the story of Bucky is one you want to share with your family, but it's like, no, we can give you five copies so you can give these as holiday gifts to your friends.

Because the story of Bucky, all ages, from kids to people my age, even enjoy hearing about Bucky.

So this is a great opportunity.

But it starts with your call.

1-800-236-3636.

>> Hi, I'm Eric Greiling.

I'm the director of friends of PBS Wisconsin.

Bucky Badger is iconically Wisconsin.

And just like David said, we here at PBS Wisconsin are here to explore all of Wisconsin as thoroughly as we can to highlight this, to share it with you, to find the iconic things that are so much Wisconsin, whether that's food, traditions or culture or history or natural beauty.

We're here to share that with you.

But it depends upon your support, and one of the best ways you can support is by becoming a sustainer.

Being a sustainer just means you sign up to make an automatic monthly gift.

It continues as long as you want it to, and you have the knowledge that you are supporting PBS Wisconsin month after month, allowing us to bring you programs like this.

Become a sustainer today by going online or giving us a call and support programs like this.

Let us say thank you with one of the wonderful gifts that Linda shared with you.

Please give us a call at 1-800-236-3636.

>> So let's talk for a moment about why it matters that you call and make a pledge.

As you're probably aware, federal funding for public media has recently gone away.

And in the case of PBS Wisconsin, that's several million dollars that we now have to account for differently in budgeting here at the station.

Now, I'm just a volunteer, a volunteer here.

But I can tell you, talking to the staff, what hasn't gone away is the sense of mission or the the devotion to the work.

But, you know, senior leadership are making tough decisions right now.

For example, how much of the budget goes to acquiring and distributing the the national PBS broadcasting that you appreciate?

And how much can we devote to making truly hyper local programing like this for you?

So when you call, you are stating your values.

You're voting with your dollar.

You're saying, I want more programs like these homemade documentaries.

That's why you should call 1-800-236-3636.

>> And who best to tell you about the story of Bucky is the one and only Bucky.

Yes.

And this is the story of Bucky.

At $10 a month, we can get this wonderful DVD Blu ray of the Story of Bucky.

That's your opportunity.

At $12 a month, you can get a mini Bucky, a ten inch Bucky like little Bucky here and Bucky here.

But you only get the little one for $12 a month I'm sorry.

Yeah that's it $15 a month.

You get the sweatshirt which we have online iHeart, PBS Wisconsin.

And that's of course yes I know you you do to you heart I love it.

At $25 a month, you can get baby Bucky.

You can get the DVD.

You can also get the sweatshirt.

Now, for those who want the story of you to share with their family, at $20 a month, you can get five of these five.

Can you count them?

One, two, three, four, five?

No, I think you passed that.

It's okay.

Five.

It's alright Bucky.

It's been a big night for you.

It's very exciting.

But if you call right now, Bucky will even sign our "Airwaves" magazine.

So this better be at the $25 a month.

Bucky will autograph the airwaves magazine.

Right, Bucky?

That's right.

But you have to start with 1-800-236-3636.

>> Just like David told you, we are.

>> Facing some challenging times here at PBS Wisconsin with the with the elimination of federal funding.

But there is a bright spot.

It is the generosity of viewers like you who have called us, who have written to us, who have gone online and said what PBS Wisconsin brings to their homes, to their communities matters.

The programs like this about Wisconsin for Wisconsin matter.

And we can do this together.

We are here to stay, but we're here to stay because of your support, your generosity.

Whether you're a new member calling in for the first time, saying, this matters.

I like programs like this.

I like the work that you do here at PBS Wisconsin.

It matters in our community.

Maybe it's the work that we do that goes beyond the broadcast, our education work, the work we do to maintain emergency alert systems all around the state.

All of that matters.

And all of it is because of you.

If you're already a sustainer or a member, a generous donor, please consider giving us an additional gift during this break.

During this program, we can say thank you with some of the lovely gifts that Linda mentioned.

And it all starts with your call to our volunteers.

1-800-236-3636.

>> It is now my distinct honor to be on set with Charlie Behrens.

You may know him as the creator of the Manitowoc Minute.

You may know him as the narrator of this documentary tonight.

Charlie, I, on behalf of all the folks here at PBS Wisconsin, we were so thrilled when you agreed to be the narrator for this program.

But, you know, I'm a fan of yours.

I'm a little starstruck, actually, right now.

>> Oh, really?

Oh, that's.

>> You're you're a busy guy.

So what of all the things you can be working on, what drew you to working on this program in particular?

>> Well, for starters right here.

Okay.

Do I get donations?

Donate ten bucks.

Ten bucks.

Right.

>> I think it's ten bucks.

>> A month.

Ten bucks a month?

Yeah, totally worth it.

Very soft.

But, you know, I went to school here, and I, I did the commencement, which was really cool.

And, you know, if they, if they let me do the commencement, you just you got to do whatever they ask after that, whatever they ask.

>> Well that's good.

That's keep that in mind, folks.

He's he's on the hook now.

>> I am absolutely only ten bucks a month, you guys.

Come on.

I mean, it's 12 bucks.

Okay?

With 12.

That's a different story.

But, you know, I think it's still a good deal.

>> So.

>> So what I did there.

>> I, I do what, you know, I think everything else is a good deal too, right?

You know what I think is a good deal is $100 a.

>> Month, $100.

Guys, go get the WD 40, spray it on your wall, let the credit card come sliding right out.

You won't regret it, I promise you that I really do.

>> So okay, here's here's a question for you.

You're about the same height as I am, which means.

>> Six one.

>> Well, okay, fine.

You win.

>> In heels.

>> But which means that you would have been eligible to be Bucky Badger.

Did you ever look into that?

>> I did, I had ambitions of being a Bucky Badger.

>> What?

What held you back or were you.

I mean, maybe you were.

>> No, no.

Pretty much laziness, procrastination that got in the way.

Sure.

But I so when you look at Bucky out there on the field, you know that he put one foot in front of the other.

Yeah.

And also I couldn't do enough push ups.

>> Oh yeah.

>> Yeah.

>> Well we'll talk more about push ups in a moment.

But give us a call 1-800-236-3636.

>> So right now it's an opportunity to call our volunteers who are on the phone banks and Bucky Business, Badgers, and Beyond back there helping them is what we could say.

At $10 a month you can get the Bucky DVD, which is the wonderful story and history narrated by Charlie Berens.

At $12 a month, you can get the ten inch Bucky plush toy and it is adorable.

At $15 a month, we have the sweatshirt I. And it's the state of Wisconsin with a heart PBS because we love PBS Wisconsin.

At $25 a month, you can get them all.

You can get the Blu ray DVD story, you can get the plush Bucky.

You can also get the sweatshirt now at $20 a month, you can get five.

This is real special.

Five of the ten five of excuse me of the DVD Blu rays.

This is so that you can share them and give them as gifts, because no one's going to be happy with just one, because everybody's going to want to see it this way.

You can give everybody their own.

Now you can use the QR code with your phone on the screen now or talk to our volunteers.

They're wonderful and they're busy with Bucky, but I'm sure they'll talk to you at 1-800-236-3636.

>> So many great ways for us to say thank you to you when you make your call and become a member or add to your membership.

So many ways to feel good about giving, from knowing that you're doing your part to support PBS Wisconsin and keep this service alive.

Let's keep PBS Wisconsin strong together.

Maybe it's the sensation of you're responding to Charlie Baron's call to go ahead and give $100 a month, WD 40, that credit card and give us a call.

Go online, use the QR code.

The important thing is that you give.

Now give during this show and show your generosity for the work that we do.

We have so many ways to say thank you at all of the gift levels that Linda described.

We'll say thank you with a subscription to our "Airwaves" magazine, and you'll have access to Passport, a deep catalog of additional programing that's available to you when you use that PBS app on any of your devices, give us a call 1-800-236-3636.

>> So, Charlie, you've talked some about how actually your your accent was a was a hindrance in the beginning of your career going into news, but then you've clearly turned it into an asset.

And there's just there's clearly something about Wisconsin people, Wisconsin ideas that that resonates.

What, what how would you say Wisconsin fits into the broader landscape of of the world?

>> Oh my gosh.

I mean, everyone wants to be us, you know, for starters.

And they just didn't know it yet, you know, or they don't.

But, you know, as soon as you kind of see, like, especially where Bucky comes from, you know, it's it's hard to not want to be right here spending $12 a month on this beautiful toy.

See, I got you see.

>> Yeah.

Okay, here we go.

>> No, but, I mean, I went to school here, and you do have the Wisconsin idea, the idea of of helping others and and moving things forward and, you know, forward.

We got that in the whole slogan there on the.

>> Wisconsin idea and forward in one.

>> I got them all.

>> You're doing good.

>> I got them all $13 a month now, guys.

No, but it's just it's an honor to, like, be part of this thing.

And we have great sense of humor here, too, because we don't take ourselves too seriously.

I mean, you know, we we are cheeseheads to baptisms here, you know, so I think that's part of what I do anyways.

But I think that that's part of it.

We just have fun and we care about people and we take care of each other.

>> So give me a do me a favor, go put on your cheesehead and then call 1-800-236-3636.

>> And we'll take another look at the wonderful thank you gifts we have before we get back to seeing Bucky's story.

And just to remind you, it's an opportunity.

You can use your QR code, you can go online.

But we all have here in the studio with our wonderful volunteers.

So a $10 a month you can get the DVD Blu ray.

The Story of Bucky.

It is narrated by Charlie Berens.

At $12 a month, we have the wonderful Bucky plush toy.

At $15 a month, you can get the sweatshirt at $25 a month.

You can get all of those at $20 a month.

That seems backwards.

You can get five of the DVDs, but most importantly, you are going to get your "Airwaves" magazine with no matter what level you pledge at.

This is a great opportunity for you.

We are having so much fun here and Bucky keeps walking around the studio.

You never know where Bucky is going to be.

Here comes Bucky.

Bucky come on up okay here's Bucky.

And we're going to say give us a call right now at one (800) 236-3636.

>> Well Charlie thank you so much for joining us here.

And congratulations on an incredible documentary.

Bucky.

Thank you for being here.

We're going back to see more.

- Josette Jaucian: I am going to get you guys signed in in a minute.

We are gonna all start out in here for station one, and you're gonna max out on push ups.

The biggest thing is just making the judges laugh and just have a good time.

All right, let's do it.

- Down!

- As the Spirit Squad director, I'm in charge of the cheerleaders, the dance team, and the Bucky Badger team.

- All: Bucky!

- Josette: Typically, we'll have six to eight students playing Bucky Badger.

We try out for the new team every April.

- Cecil Powless: They put you through push ups.

They put you up in an elevator where the cheerleaders grab you and lift you 20 feet into the air.

You're at dancing stations, at prop stations, and they actually put you in the Bucky head.

- Timothy: A little intense, but it's a lot of fun.

It's a lot of fun.

- You're not gonna use it to-- - Narrator: Bucky alums help with those tryouts, looking for the newest members to add to their pack.

- What do you do for fun?

- Narrator: Each year, the new Bucky team works to embody a single character.

- Josette: It's really stressed at the beginning that we are one team and we are one character.

- Timothy: That's one of the things we spend a lot of time, especially with our new rookies on.

- Cecil: Be able to train them up ourselves and pass on the traditions and pass on the mannerisms.

- Narrator: A belief in each other and in the magic of Bucky Badger helps the team bring him to life.

- It's inexplainable, but you're just like, you really just become Bucky.

- Lucas: You're seeing out of the mouth, but it feels like you're seeing out of the eyes, and you'll go and look in a mirror.

All you see is Bucky staring back.

It's just surreal.

- Photographer: All right, Bucky, right over here.

[whoo-hoo!]

Bucky, big smile, big smile.

- Narrator: Now, to become the mascot, the Bucky team must rely on more than just his movie star looks.

They need to exude an attitude that is larger than life.

- Brian: Bucky Badger is on another level when it comes to mascots.

He's good looking, he's strong, great dancer, lots of persona, and he's representing the greatest state and greatest university in the country.

♪ Hey, hey, hey, hey ♪ - Matt: Yeah, Bucky is the ultimate extrovert.

Whether Bucky knows you or not, will fist bump, high five, put an arm around you.

Personality plus, plus.

- Narrator: Over the top and always the life of the party.

- RoseAnn: Your personality has to be bigger than life.

You're covered in fur, so it has to be exaggerated.

[crowd exclaims] - Sometimes I think about it, and I was like, "Man, if I did this as a regular person, I'd look ridiculous."

But to Bucky, it looks normal.

That's just what Bucky does.

- Josette: I think there's a lot of people that would describe Bucky Badger as cute.

- Brian: Best-looking mascot there is.

- Timothy: Suave.

- Cecil: Very suave.

- Timothy: Very.

- That's a good word, a good word.

- Timothy: Bucky's got some swagger when he walks, a little, you know, his shoulders are moving, his head's bobbing.

He's got the elbows up.

- Narrator: That ain't Bucky's only move.

Cue the oom-pah-pah.

[bright polka music] - RoseAnn: Bucky knowing how to polka, that's just being a Wisconsinite.

It's like going to a supper club.

It's drinking a beer, having a cheese curd.

If you're a Bucky, you know how to polka.

[chuckles] - Bucky can be a little mischievous.

He likes to have a little fun.

He likes to maybe poke fun at other mascots.

Steal an opposing team's cheerleader.

- Josette: Bucky is definitely very charming, and the more mischievous he can be, people will love it even more.

But he just needs to know where that line is and not get in trouble.

[chuckles] - Narrator: Now, that line was pushed pretty far during a football game in 1999 against Michigan State University.

- I noticed out of the corner of my eye, the Michigan State cheer flag was sitting on the ground.

Grabbed the flag, sprinted down to our end zone, threw the flag on the ground, stomped on it, and then I was done with it.

- Narrator: Oh, but the Spartans weren't done.

Nope.

A Michigan State cheerleader, this guy bolted right after Bucky.

- Brian: Didn't really see him until the last second, and form tackle just laid me out.

I've never been hit that hard in my life.

- Narrator: The two of them were separated and taken off the field.

But Bucky, [scoffs] he wasn't about to go out like that.

You kidding me?

- I came back on the field wearing a boxing robe that read "Big Bad Bucky" and two big boxing gloves ready to fight.

[ring bell chimes] Bucky doesn't back down.

- Crowd: One, two, three, four!

- Narrator: It's not all fun and games for Bucky Badger.

There's a tough job to do here, people.

- Putting on a suit of fur and a carbon fiber head on top of your shoulders is exhausting, especially in the heat.

- Mike: Back in my day, they were only going with the model of two Buckys.

It would not be untoward that I would do a basketball game, two hockey games, and a home football game against the Gophers all within 72 hours.

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!

- Cecil: It's a million miles an hour.

You're doing anything and everything in between.

You kind of get caught up in the moment and it's a ton of fun.

- If Bucky's having fun, the fans are having fun.

[air horn] [crowd cheers] - Narrator: That fun-loving attitude of both Bucky and the Badger fan is a time-honored tradition.

- Hockey Announcer: And listen to this Badger crowd go wild.

- Narrator: And in the Bob Johnson hockey era, the party was just getting started.

- Badger hockey fans in the 1970s really embodied what we think of as Wisconsin sports fans today.

[hockey buzzer sounds] Back in those days, the Dane County Coliseum was kind of a legendary venue.

And you walk in, and they're doing the sieve chant.

[crowd chants] And Bucky's there, and the band and Mike Leckrone.

It was cool, it was, it was just a cool experience for a hockey fan.

- Hockey Announcer: Takes another shot, scores!

- Mike: People wanna be a part of something positive.

People wanna be a part of something bigger than themselves.

- Narrator: In Wisconsin, we call that the Badger spirit.

It's about tradition, about celebrating both sports and life.

- RoseAnn: Bucky's role has exploded.

He's the photo op at the wedding.

He is at the parades, he's at fundraisers.

He's doing so many good things that aren't just tied to sports.

- This one has a clear and colorless liquid.

- Cecil: Bucky is a cultural symbol.

Wisconsin is just a very joyful place, a place that's full of people that are very proud of where they're from.

- Crowd: ♪ When you say Wisconsin ♪ - Cecil: And to have that boil down into a mascot is pretty cool.

- Crowd: ♪ You've said it all ♪ [marching band note] - Narrator: The badger, the symbol of Wisconsin, but for over a hundred years, only informally.

In 1956, a group of children from Jefferson, Wisconsin, were learning about the state bird, state flower, state tree, when siblings Leslie Smith, Greg, Erik, and Kristin Gilbertson noticed a big furry oversight.

- Kristin Gilbertson: We discovered that the Badger State did not have an official state animal.

[crowd exclaims] We did not think that this was right.

So in our childish indignation, we said, "We have to do something about this."

It was called the Bucky Badger Bill.

- Narrator: Assemblyman Byron Wackett agreed to introduce a bill on behalf of the children to make the badger Wisconsin's official state animal.

- Doug: There was some pushback.

Some folks up north wanted the white-tailed deer.

- Kristin: They introduced a competing bill.

Oh, we were angry.

[laughs] Outraged, you know, childhood outrage.

- Narrator: The legislature had a playful debate over which animal should represent Wisconsin.

[crowd boos] Leaving nothing to chance, Kristin and her siblings summoned the courage to make their case for Bucky, testifying in front of the Wisconsin Assembly.

- I was eight years old.

I was a little sprout.

One by one, we had to go up and explain why we thought the badger should be the state animal.

- Narrator: They pointed to the early history of the miners and the badger on the state seal.

The kids even warned that the badger doorknobs in the capitol would need to go, and that the face of Wisconsin would be no more.

- Even back then, Bucky was everywhere.

It's very hard to change a mascot, once a mascot is beloved by the people it represents.

- Narrator: Yep, those kids had a point.

And the state legislature agreed, [gavel bangs] passing the Bucky Badger Bill.

[children cheer] Heck, even a compromise left everyone with a win.

- The compromise was the white-tailed deer was named the state wildlife animal, and the badger was the state animal.

- Narrator: In June of 1957, Governor Vernon Thompson signed the Badger Bill into law.

- I think what happened was inevitable.

Wisconsin has been the Badger State forever.

I wouldn't say it was a wrong that was being righted.

It was just something being made official.

- Doug: How appropriate that it was some kids who got the ball rolling.

Because of course, Bucky's beloved by kids.

- Kristin: I am really proud of what we did.

We stepped up for Bucky.

- Narrator: Oh, you betcha.

[funky music] - Brian: Kids in Wisconsin have grown up loving Bucky.

- Josette: Kids see him just as a big, lovable stuffed animal.

They will mob him wherever he goes and follow him and give him hugs, high fives.

- Narrator: Bucky knows how to draw a crowd, but he also needs to keep his darn head on a swivel.

- Timothy: Kids will come up and hug your leg, and you're like, "Oh, my gosh, there's a kid there."

And like, I had no clue that there was a kid there.

- Brian: Your vision in that suit is really limited.

Your vision is here.

So there's definitely been times where you've kicked kids on accident 'cause they come running up to you thinking you can see them.

- Literally, you feel like you're Turkish taffy being thrown in 16 different directions, and it's a great feeling to have.

It's a great feeling to have.

- Narrator: Bucky also has the ability to create little magic.

- Many kids are just in awe, just kind of a state of wonder.

Seeing Bucky was always something uplifting and just joyful.

- Timothy: Bringing that joy and happiness into people's lives, that's, like, our main job.

♪ That's right ♪ [monitor beeps] - Narrator: Sometimes, that job isn't all that easy.

- Kids can bring us down to earth real quickly in terms of their vulnerabilities.

You're meeting with a kid at the children's hospital, and you can see within all the other stuff that this poor child's going through, there's actually a light that sparkles in their eye.

There's a connection, if only for a moment or two, to take the gloom and doom out of the air.

- Josette: We actually had a Bucky several years ago that has pictures of when he was a child in UW Hospital, and he remembers the joy that Bucky brought to him when he was a kid.

So, he was always volunteering for those types of events 'cause he knew what that felt like.

- Hey, sweetheart.

- Mike: It's a great rally cry when Bucky Badger can be so many things to so many people, but especially those who are the most vulnerable in our midst.

- Hi, Bucky.

- Narrator: Old Bucky seems to have a knack for being there when he's needed most.

- Matt: Ron Dayne from seven yards out, and the Badgers take the lead again.

- Deb: In the state of Wisconsin, so many family gatherings are around a television with the Badgers on.

- Matt: The Wisconsin Badgers win it.

- It gives you an opportunity to spend a little more time together.

- Narrator: A little more time together was just what the family of Bill Sagal, the first Bucky Badger, needed in the spring of 2000.

- Justin: The '99-2000 men's basketball team just got on this incredible run that Badger fans that were here at the time will never forget.

- Narrator: Dick Bennett's unlikely Badgers captured the fans' imagination, rallying at the end of the regular season to sneak into the NCAA tournament.

- Matt: Part of the story line going in was, could they win a game?

Could they win a game in the NCAA tournament?

Could they push through?

- Narrator: Oh, they won, all right, even punching their ticket to the Sweet 16.

Badger fans had a reason to believe, with their team sitting on the cusp of history.

But for the Sagal family, that moment was bittersweet.

- Deb: My last conversation with my father was when we made it to the Sweet 16.

- Narrator: Bill Sagal, the original Bucky Badger, passed away two days after the upset over number one Arizona.

Going into the Sweet 16, the Bucky team carried a heavy heart.

- There's a special little bond between the other Bucky Badgers, and I wanted to honor Bill at the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight games.

- Deb: Bucky walks out, and he has a black armband on to mourn my father, which, you know, there were no words at that time about how that helped start the healing.

- Narrator: The Badgers took down powerhouse LSU in the Sweet 16.

- Oh, the Badgers were important.

We were willing them to get us through this.

We really were.

- Matt: The Badgers and Purdue will battle it out Saturday, with the winner going to the Final Four.

- They're playing Purdue, a team they matched up pretty well with.

- Matt: And Purdue takes the lead, 32-31.

- It was a nip and tuck game.

Wisconsin was behind, and John Bryant hit some shots.

Everybody just made plays.

- Matt: 13-footer in the lane, good.

Roy Boone with the jumper.

- Matt: And then when it got down to the final seconds, to myself, it's like, "Oh, my God, they're gonna, they're gonna actually do this."

- Matt: Four seconds.

Smith steps back, launches a three, off the back rim.

No good.

Kowski taps the rebound, Lewis is there, up right hand.

No good!

Wisconsin wins the game!

I can't believe I'm gonna say it, but here it comes!

The Wisconsin Badgers are going to the Final Four!

- Everyone was just over the moon.

And you can't believe it.

Like, the Badgers, who snuck into the tournament, are going to the Final Four.

- Narrator: It was the Badgers' first trip to the Final Four in nearly 60 years.

- Matt: Hugs and kisses all around on the floor of the Pit in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

- And the fans started chanting for Bucky.

- Crowd: Bucky, Bucky, Bucky!

- Brian: So I climbed up that ladder, cut down a piece of the net, squeezed that thing tightly inside my paw until we left the arena.

- Matt: The wait was worth it.

Incredible.

[gentle piano music] - To honor the original Bucky was pretty special.

- Deb: Bucky doesn't die, but the person that decided to put the head on for the first time did.

And so, they decided to honor the origin of who Bucky was.

- Brian: Bucky embodies everything the state of Wisconsin is all about.

- Deb: He's a connection between people, and I think that's what we all need.

And that's the essence of Bucky.

[upbeat music] - Bill Sachse Jr.

: Bucky was a student's gift to Wisconsin.

Buckingham U. Badger.

You are Badgers.

This mascot is one of you.

- RoseAnn: Bucky represents so much more than just sports.

Bucky is Wisconsin.

Young, old, rich, poor, whatever, you are a Badger.

- Narrator: You don't need a furry suit or a giant melon to see the world through the eyes of Bucky Badger.

[upbeat music] - Anyone can be Bucky at heart.

- Go, Bucky!

Whoo!

- He can be a lightning rod of unity for people.

- You get 17,000 people in this building, and you have 17,000 people who want the same thing.

[crowd cheers] Where else can you get that?

- Narrator: They don't call Wisconsin the Badger State for nothing.

- They know how to work hard.

They play hard, and love making people laugh and smile.

- And what is something that combines all of that?

[crowd cheers] - Fan: Bucky!

- It's Bucky.

[upbeat music] - Kids: [chanting] Bucky, Bucky, Bucky, Bucky, Bucky, Bucky!

Yeah.

Is there?

>> You can bring your bucket with you then.

>> Hi, I'm David Hoffert, a volunteer here at PBS Wisconsin, and we have just concluded watching the Bucky documentary.

I, I hope I hope you appreciate it as much as I did.

You know, it really gave me an appreciation for Bucky, but also and this may be like a taboo topic, but for the people behind Bucky or inside Bucky or however you want to think about that.

But like the people who bring this to life, right?

And I think understanding their stories and understanding the the cultural impact of this icon that we have in our state is, is really meaningful.

And and it's really personal for a lot of us in Wisconsin.

So my ask of you is that if this if this meant something to you, that you make a pledge of financial support, tell the staff at PBS Wisconsin that local programing like this matters to you.

The numbers there on your screen.

1-800-236-3636.

>> Hi, I'm Linda Berman and this has been a thrilling evening being with Bucky Badger and just watching the story and the history of Bucky.

I'm a second generation and my son is a third generation badger, and this is the kind of program that I want to share with him.

And at $10 a month, this wonderful DVD Blu ray is one I am going to share with him at $12 a month.

We have this adorable ten inch little Bucky Badger.

This plush toy children all ages including 70s, 80s and 90s would still like this $15 a month.

We have the iHeart, which is the state of Wisconsin PBS because PBS Wisconsin is the heart of our state.

At $25 a month, you get all of them, you get the DVD, you get the little plush toy, you get the sweatshirt.

Now we have a special at $20 a month and it sounds like we're going backwards.

You can get five copies of the DVD so you can share them.

You can give them as gifts.

The holidays are coming.

This is your opportunity to let everybody enjoy the story of Bucky.

But the most important thing you should know is that it all starts with you and your call.

This very special production.

We even have a special, special feature for you coming up.

But the most important thing is your pledge of support.

So you can do that right now at one (800) 236-3636.

>> Hi, I'm Eric Greiling.

I'm director of friends of PBS Wisconsin.

We want to say thank you to you when you make your call, when you show your pledge of support.

And this is a member challenge break.

That means if you call in and offer your support as a member, a new member, your gift can go twice as far.

Thanks to the support of existing members of PBS Wisconsin.

So show your support for this kind of programing Wisconsin programing.

That's fun.

That's poignant, that matters.

Let us say thank you with one of these wonderful member gifts.

And also know that during this member challenge break, your gift goes even further.

We want to hit 50 gifts during this this pledge break.

And we've got some really special treats for you.

So stick with us.

We've got guests, we've got special encore additional footage to share with you.

I also want to thank our producers of this program, Grant Fenster, John Hornbacher.

Programs like this take months, sometimes even years, to work.

We actively choose to make them for you and your support is what makes it possible.

Take advantage of this challenge.

Break.

Take advantage of saying we like Bucky.

Let us say thank you with these gifts.

Starts with your call one (800) 236-3636.

>> And indeed there is actually more coming.

We have we finished the official documentary.

But during this challenge break, we're going to show you some bonus footage that we've put together highlighting RoseAnn Donovan, who you saw in the documentary, so stay tuned for that.

I mentioned earlier the importance of local programing, and how only PBS Wisconsin would have made a documentary like the one you've been watching tonight.

Well, there's more to come, right?

The producers here are already working on Wisconsin Hometown Stories John McGivern Jerry Apps all those programs that you have come to expect and rely on, and they're made possible by your donations.

We are up to eight calls during this challenge break.

Now is the time to join them.

1(800)2 3636360.

>> We're having our own challenge break here.

We no no no no no.

Now we know you're going to call in and pledge your support.

This is the challenge break.

More than just an arm wrestling challenge, I have to say.

Yeah.

Okay.

You won.

Anne Donovan coming.

The producers saw this documentary in the works making it and said, wait, there's some special things we need to go back to.

There are special people we need to interview and that is coming up.

But I want to remind you, at $10 a month, you can get the story of Bucky right on the DVD.

You and the history of Bucky.

At $12 a month, you get little Bucky.

It's a plush toy.

You can see even Bucky is beloved for Bucky.

$15 a month.

You get the sweatshirt.

I heart Wisconsin in PBS because PBS Wisconsin is in my heart and has been for the last 49 years.

Yes.

And I want to say at $25 a month, you can get the little Bucky, you can get the DVD, you can get the sweatshirt with all pledges.

You will also get "Airwaves" with Bucky on the cover.

Yes.

For this month and remind you, at $20 a month, you can get five of the DVDs.

Oh.

Hi, Bucky.

Bucky likes my sweatshirt because I'm wearing your face.

Yes, but you can call and pledge and have five DVDs to share with your family to give them as wonderful gifts.

Remember, it's a challenge break.

We're at ten calls now.

We know we can get more.

This is the time we've got Bucky.

Business, Badgers, and Beyond going to go back to the phone, but you can call us.

I don't know if he'll say much, but he's saying call now.

One (800) 236-3636.

>> Some great and unique ways for us to say thank you when you call with your pledge of support during this program or go online, use that QR code that's on your screen to make a gift of support for this program.

Right now, we can say thank you with these unique gifts for this unique program.

And it is a challenge break.

We want you to call in now so that you take advantage of that challenge, and your gift can go even further.

We're on our way towards our goal of 50 calls during this break.

If you don't get through right away, please be patient.

Our volunteers are doing their best to keep up.

Go ahead and go online if you like.

And and just know that we do depend upon you to bring you programs like this, programs that celebrate Wisconsin, programs that unite us together, but also reveal some of the poignancy behind a story we thought we knew.

Going even deeper with Bucky, we want to say thank you, but we need your support.

We're going through some challenging times here, but we are committed to continuing to bring stories like this about Wisconsin for Wisconsin, and we can stay strong together.

It starts with your support using that QR code, going online, or giving us a call at 1-800-236-3636.

>> Linda's been talking about some of the great thank you gifts that are available to you when you call 1-800-236-3636 but remember, there are other benefits as well.

Any of the levels that Linda's been talking about comes with "Airwaves" magazine, your monthly program guide.

I don't know about you, but it's getting harder and harder just to get a simple TV guide of what's going to be on coming up.

But you know what?

The one that matters is PBS Wisconsin.

And that one comes to your mail and also PBS Passport where you can go get on demand programing through your streaming device, programs that are, that are on air, programs that are not on air or haven't been on air for a long time, all of those are additional member benefits.

And of course, really what matters here is the feeling you get of being a supporter.

Being a member of PBS Wisconsin, making all of this possible for you and your family and your neighbors and the entire Wisconsin community.

Give us a call 1-800-236-3636.

>> And I just want to remind you, at $10 a month, you have the DVD of the story you're watching now, the history, the story behind, and all the wonderfulness of being Bucky Badger $12 a month.

We had the ten inch adorable little plush Bucky and we got Bucky.

Bucky seal of approval, $15 a month.

We have those wonderful sweater.

I want to say something about it.

It is Navy and it's got raglan sleeves.

It is unisex.

It's got a slim fit, but it can also have a looser fit.

The make sure you talk to your volunteer to ask more about that.

At the $25 a month level, you get all of these wonderful gifts the DVD, you get the plush Bucky, you get the sweater, and of course, you get "Airwaves" magazine with every pledge of support.

Now, I just want to let you know what's coming up.

We have a very special feature.

We've been tantalizing you with this.

As I said, the producers saw absolutely wonderfulness out of RoseAnn Donovan and her story, and this is something we're sharing with you.

She has not seen it yet.

This was literally just finished.

So you get to see the premiere of this.

It's a very short little documentary, but it's something you're going to so enjoy.

So please stay tuned.

There's very special feature.

It's coming up right now.

So stay.

But you can give us a call as soon as it's over, but stay watching because this is something special.

>> RoseAnn Donovan has always been the life of the party.

>> My personality is animated.

What in the world are are.

I think if you would ask anyone from back in the day or my current students, everyone would say the same thing loud, energetic, emotional.

>> In the fall of 1978, RoseAnn and her over-the-top personality enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, officially becoming a badger.

[MUSIC] >> Did I have any concept of what was to come?

[MUSIC] I certainly did not.

>> Ha RoseAnn pledged a sorority and reveled in Greek social life.

[MUSIC] Yet she was on the hunt for more adventure.

>> Many of my friends, my sorority sisters, and some of our guy friends were in fraternities and they all happened to be cheerleaders and just talked about how much fun they had and game days and getting to do all kinds of fabulous things.

>> But a suggestion from a friend would soon change the course of Roseanne's college life.

>> One of the guys said, well, Roseanne, why don't you try out for Bucky?

And I'm like, well, Bucky, I can't try out for Bucky.

Bucky's a guy.

I said, no, I don't think it says anywhere that it has to be a guy.

You just have to be tall enough.

And I'm like, oh my gosh, I'm gonna do that.

>> In the spring of 1981, RoseAnn dug into preparations for the Bucky Badger tryouts.

>> I thought, if I'm going to go for it, I'm going to go for it.

>> RoseAnn brought her fighting Badger spirit to the audition, and a little something extra.

>> One of the judges like, on cue said, well, you know, one of the traditions is that Bucky goes to the opposing side and, you know, picks up one of the cheerleaders.

And I just looked at him and said, wait right here.

I run over to the door.

I fling the door open.

There's my roommate, Kelly.

I hoist her up and run around the room and she's cheering.

Go Badgers!

I think the panel of judges just were like, what in the world just happened?

>> The group of aspiring Bucky's waited in the bleachers for the judge's verdict.

>> You know, drum roll.

And they announced the first guy.

His name was Mike Mathias and Elkins.

Yay!

Way to go.

And people are screaming and cheering and all this.

And our second Bucky Badger for the 1981 82 season is RoseAnn Palmisano dead silence.

And I just remember, like, walking out, like, what in the world just happened?

>> It turns out RoseAnn had just joined an exclusive Badger Club.

>> As far as I know, I am the first woman who has gotten the honor to play a Bucky Badger.

>> RoseAnn was soon relishing that honor as Wisconsin's furry, big headed mascot.

>> When you are Bucky, you are truly a celebrity.

Around here.

People busted out and are screaming Bucky.

>> Bucky, Bucky.

>> And that photo op.

You know the little one looking up and wanting an autograph and just to see the faces light up was really it was really amazing.

>> RoseAnn spent her senior year at UW becoming Bucky for basketball and hockey games and a countless other memorable events.

[MUSIC] >> I think my favorite part about being Bucky was that every time I put that suit on, it was going to be a different experience.

Whether it was at a game, a big win or a heartbreaking loss, or it was a parade to see kids excited and screaming, it was always something fun and uplifting and just joyful.

>> After graduating, RoseAnn reign as Bucky came to an end, but she always remained a badger at heart.

>> When I see Bucky now and I'm like, oh my gosh, I did that.

It is kind of hard to believe.

Yeah, that was really amazing.

[MUSIC] That was really amazing.

[MUSIC] >> And we are back still in the middle of a challenge break, still with an opportunity to have your money doubled.

But I have standing with me now the one, the only RoseAnn Donovan, the very first female Bucky Badger.

Thank you so much for joining us.

>> You're welcome.

>> Boy, it's an honor to be here.

>> We heard you say in that in that clip that, you know I can't be Bucky.

Bucky's a guy.

How did you get over that hump to actually go and try out?

>> You know, I think for anybody who knows my personality, that just was a challenge when somebody was like, Bucky's a guy, but like, really?

And then when I investigated, it was like, well, no, it doesn't say anywhere.

Just have to be tall enough.

And I'm five nine.

I was tall enough.

And so kind of on a dare I did it.

>> And here we are, and here we are.

Here we are.

>> So, so, so what was it like to, I mean, both to be Bucky and also to be this kind of groundbreaking Bucky.

>> You know, I think to be Bucky at the time, I didn't fully appreciate what a big deal it was.

And I'm learning more and more.

And even through this journey, being the first female and the response I have gotten just at some of our events, it is a big deal.

It is a big deal and just really, really a fun part of my college experience.

And, you know, went on, I was a teacher, educator for 43 years, so I performed.

I like being in front of a crowd.

And so it all fits.

Anybody who knows me like this tracks.

This is not a surprise.

>> Did did your students know that you were once Bucky?

Were you able to reveal your secret identity during.

>> No.

While I was Bucky, no.

But after when I went into the classroom, that was always one of the very fun things that I got to share with students.

I would always do kind of an opening circle.

And what's something an interesting fact about yourself and students would share?

I was homecoming queen, or I broke a football record and I would say, wait for it.

>> Yeah, right.

Well, we're going to have more from RoseAnn in just a moment, but give us a call 1-800-236-3636.

>> And just want to remind everybody that you will get "Airwaves" magazine with no matter where you Bucky.

You need to turn it upside the other way.

There you can get your "Airwaves" magazine.

And we are so happy to say that with every pledge of support, you will get the story of Bucky.

You will get the "Airwaves" magazine.

You can read it upside down.

You will get the great plush little.

I've got two.

Bucky's here.

Two?

Yeah.

You and this one.

Yeah, the plush toy.

And that's $12 a month.

$15 a month.

You get the adorable sweatshirt I heart.

Wisconsin is perfect.

Not to worry.

$25 a month, you can get everything.

The whole package, the DVD, the plush little Bucky, the the beautiful sweatshirt.

And at $20 a month, you can get five copies of the DVD so that you can give them as gifts.

Now, this is a challenge, Bucky.

No, you can't eat it.

Challenge break.

Bucky.

How many calls do we have right now?

Da da da da 47 calls.

We know we can get at least 50 before the break is over.

This is an opportunity to double the money.

So give us a call 1-800-236-3636.

>> Thank you Linda.

It is a challenge break and we're on our way.

Our our volunteers are super busy on the phone.

If you call in 1-800-236-3636, be patient.

We'll get to you or go online to pbswisconsin.org or use that QR code on your screen.

When you do, it will pull up the gifts for you and you can see right there and you can choose.

And speaking of choosing, you don't have to choose between a DVD and Blu ray, because when you select a DVD as your thank you gift, we'll include both a DVD and Blu ray.

And that's true with the five set DVD Blu ray as well.

At $20 a month, five DVDs and Blu rays.

That's five each DVD and Blu ray, so you don't have to choose whether it's a DVD or Blu ray, and it gives you the opportunity to share Bucky as a gift.

So if you've got a lot of Business, Badgers, and Beyond in your life, it's a lot of gifts you can share out.

If you have people who are associated with other mascots, you can send them the Bucky DVD and let them know what really matters.

And what are the best mascot in the country is really like and behind the scenes story.

So QR code, go online, give us a call, let us say thank you to you for your support.

It's a challenge break.

We've exceeded our goal and we're going to keep going.

So please do give us a call 1-800-236-3636.

>> You know Eric, it's funny you mentioned that because I was actually sitting at lunch today at work with a colleague who it turns out was a different Big Ten mascot.

We will not name the school because that's not what matters right now.

I still have with me RoseAnn Donovan and RoseAnn.

What was the most memorable experience you had as Bucky Badger?

>> You know what I think probably there there were two.

I think the the coolest was filming a commercial back in the day, and it was for a car dealership.

I don't remember which one.

So sorry out there, but I actually filmed it with a live badger.

What?

And under the costume they had me all like with these sleeves, protective sleeves on because of of the claws and this gigantic badger running around Camp Randall.

So that was probably the coolest.

The most memorable would have been getting to start the first Crazylegs race.

>> The first one.

>> Okay.

>> And we didn't know at the time it was going to be an annual event.

I think now it's on number 45.

So it's been a while.

Yeah.

And I actually got a letter from Arlie Mucks thanking me for for starting that first race.

So that was pretty cool.

>> So so here you are a Bucky alumni.

I mean, do you stay in touch?

Is is this a community that forms.

Not all of them were your year, but right.

>> And I think because I was the only female that I know of, I do think there is a community.

This has really brought me closer and in touch with many.

I plan to play in the Bucky Open golf outing next year.

So the reason to up my game a little bit, but it's just been a really fabulous experience.

>> Thank you so much for being with us.

And we are going to ask you to call 1-800-236-3636 and keep those calls coming.

>> Come on in Fiji call.

>> And I just want to show you our little plush Bucky and oh, whoa.

[APPLAUSE] See what your calls are doing.

It's made Bucky stand on his head.

If Plush Bucky can do it, so could Big Bucky.

So your calls are so important.

They are 55 calls now you can see it.

We know we can get we're going to go to 70.

This is such an exciting evening.

Being here with the Bucky's is outstanding.

And it's your opportunity to call so you can get the Bucky DVD.

And if I talk fast enough, he'll stay on his head $10 a month.

You can get the DVD, CD all at once.

At $15 a month, you get the plush.

Bucky right here is standing on his head.

And $25 a month, I'm sorry, $15 a month.

You get the sweatshirt, the the blue sweatshirt.

I Wisconsin heart PBS Wisconsin, $25 a month.

You get the sweatshirt, the Bucky, the DVD, $20 a month.

You get the five pack of the DVDs.

Bucky's made it on his head.

Show him Bucky is on his still on his head.

Yay, Bucky!

But your calls will keep them there.

1-800-236-3636.

>> Hit it Eric.

>> The score is 57.

That's going to be, I think, 57 push ups.

Is that how that works?

At least 58 push ups.

So please keep your calls coming.

1-800-236-3636.

Let's push that push up.

Count up as far as we can go.

And we want to say thank you to you.

I also want to thank the donors who gave to this project on the front end of it, without knowing what it would look like, without knowing how much we could cover about Bucky's, share about Bucky, share the history, the rich history, the poignancy, and of course, underscore the fact that we absolutely have the best mascot in the country.

Those donors really make this work possible, but so do you.

Your gift of support makes a huge difference.

Together we can keep PBS Wisconsin strong.

We will be here.

We will allow you will your gift will allow us to continue to bring this kind of programing programing that focuses on Wisconsin.

And speaking of Wisconsin programing, we've got another treat for you, another story about mascots, one from Wisconsin Life.

So we want to keep bringing you this programing.

We're going to share it with you.

Now give us a call 1-800-236-3636.

>> You just kind of have to move your hands and hope for the best.

Simply no other job like this I can think of.

>> Flexing like a winner.

>> The most important thing, I think, is to have fun.

[MUSIC] >> Got it all.

Got it, got it, got it all.

>> So I'm a little bit like a superhero in a way.

>> Winner, winner.

>> You have everybody in the stadium looking at you and you just run out.

It's a big responsibility, I'd say.

>> Winner.

>> Olympics Mascots was created at some point back in the 1960s, and we have 250 ish total employees.

[MUSIC] >> They reached out to me and they're like, hey, do you want to be a mascot sewer?

And I'm like, I have never heard of anything like that before.

So sure, why not?

[MUSIC] >> We've probably done 25 to 30,000 mascots through the years.

We did a forklift like a wearable forklift costume, and it had the forks in the front that just kind of went up and down, and a hidden button on the other side for like the backup noise, full body robot, top to bottom, the racing sausages coming through here, we probably make new ones every, I don't know, five years.

We were working on a very high profile project right now that I can't tell you about.

[MUSIC] >> Most of our costumes are in between 60 to 120 hours, with the average of them being probably in the 70 to 80 hour range.

We consider, like the performers activity level, we we go a lot by like height range to to make sure it fits like a certain height range of person.

There's a lot of different aspects that I'll kind of go into it.

[MUSIC] >> So when I see the picture, I have to navigate how I'm going to make this a 3D thing.

I go on to the mannequin, I start measuring out things so that I know what the proportions are.

So I know how to make something what it should look like on the form.

>> So a lot of it's fur we fur tempo, double knit are probably the big ones that we use.

I particularly like when we do fur costumes, just because it's cool to put different colors together and different textures.

>> We work with hundreds of customers every single year.

Pro sports teams, collegiate sports teams, restaurants, brands, different characters, you know, represent everything down to even elementary schools.

>> One, two, three.

[MUSIC] Give it to me.

>> It's a very strange sometimes to just be like watching a Packer game or something, and a commercial comes on.

It's like I made that, you know, it's like, you know, it gives me a certain level of pride.

And just like this costume made it onto TV and looks pretty good, feels like art come to life, like our art that we're working on here, you know, becomes this full scale realized thing.

[MUSIC] >> And then it's like, you forget about all of that hard work and you're like, wow.

Like, this is what it comes down to at the end.

>> The people that work here are just amazing.

It's the reason why I come back every day.

It's the reason why I have a smile on my face.

It's the reason why I love coming to work, because it's a great group of people and we get to make some really fun stuff.

>> Wow.

>> This has been amazing.

Bucky.

How many on our challenge break?

Da da da da 71 calls.

This is outstanding.

This has just been an exciting evening.

I just want to remind you, at $10 a month, you get the story of Bucky, the history $12 a month.

You get the little Bucky plush toy, the ten inch adorable toy, $15 a month.

You get the it's a blue sweatshirt that says, I heart PBS and it's Wisconsin the heart.

At $25 a month, you get the Bucky story, you get the plush Bucky, you get the shirt.

And at $20 a month, you get the five pack of Bucky's.

This is great.

How about we're at 72?

We can make 75 calls.

Yes, Bucky.

Yes, this is a great thing.

But it starts with your call at 1-800-236-3636.

Take it away.

>> Bucky and I just have so many thank yous to say thank you to all the volunteers on the phone bank tonight who have answered 73 calls and counting.

Thank you to Charlie Berens.

Thank you to Bucky.

Bucky, Bucky.

Bucky, Bucky, Bucky, Bucky, Bucky and Bucky.

And most importantly thank you to you.

Thank you for making it possible for programs like this to exist anywhere on your television dial at PBS Wisconsin.

It's all because of you.

And it's not too late to be because of you.

In particular, when you call 1-800-236-3636 and when you go to pbswisconsin.org, there's even there's even a QR code on your screen if you know how to work those things.

Which frankly, sometimes I still can't figure it out, but I bet, I bet these guys know what they're doing.

What matters is that programs like this happen, and we know that you want them when you call.

That's that's your vote in all of this.

I mean, when you remember, you also get a member survey.

But that's the vote that tells us that this is this is what matters to you.

And and it's what makes public media right.

PBS public broadcasting service.

It's what makes the public in public broadcasting.

So on behalf of so many people who they didn't give a microphone to.

And that's why I'm still talking.

What what I'm asking you to do right now is give a call and make a pledge of financial support.

The number again.

One (800) 236-3636.

Surrounded by more Bucky's than I will ever be in my entire life combined.

Probably.

It's been quite a fun night.

It's been a hectic night.

Hectic because you've been calling.

We appreciate you so much and thank you and keep, keep it coming.

Thanks for your support.

["If You Want to Be a Badger" by UW Marching Band] - Narrator: Okay, Bucky, that's a wrap.

And watch out for deer out there.

They're still mad you beat 'em out as the state animal.

[crowd cheers] [whistle blows] - Announcer: Funding for Bucky!

is provided by: the Dancing Goat Distillery, Robert J. Lenz, Charles H. and Barb A. Merry, Dr.

Henry Anderson, Lau and Bea Christensen, Cynthia and David Shaw, Elizabeth Olson, the Alfred and June Kohlwey Family Foundation, donors to the Focus Fund for Wisconsin Programs, and Friends of PBS Wisconsin.

[marching band cadence] [crowd cheers]