This Wisconsin Farmer Literally Turned His Cornfield Into A Lake

"Field of Dreams" on Water: The Story Behind Wisconsin's Blue Moo Lake

Did you know a Wisconsin dairy farmer literally dug a lake in the middle of his cornfield?

I had no idea, but this is some peak Wisconsin story-type stuff.

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Building a Waterskiing Haven in the Middle of a Cornfield

KARE11.com shared the story of Blake Heller, who created Blue Moo Lake 20 years ago because his daughters loved to water-ski and needed somewhere to practice.

So Heller got to work, hiring a neighbor with an excavator and starting to dig a trench that measured half a mile long and 130 feet wide. Once Heller was done digging, an underground spring naturally filled the lake. He said the entire project took a little less than three months.

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From Backyard Trench to World Champion Barefoot Waterskier

Turns out, all the work Heller put into the manmade lake paid off. I've only gone water skiing once in my life, and that was with two skis strapped to my feet. I can't even imagine looking down at those skis and thinking, "You know what? I don't need these."

His daughter, Elaine Heller Fatla, became an elite barefoot water skier, setting a world record for the longest barefoot water-ski jump and winning two world championships in the sport. She was also inducted into the USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Hall of Fame in 2024.

Fatla and her husband built a home together just last year. Of course, it's on Blue Moo Lake, complete with a dock, beach, and as much barefoot skiing as you can handle.