‘She’s an angel’

Bob Steenlage couldn’t help but interject as Sherry Reck-Haines was being interviewed. 

“She’s an angel,” Steenlage said during an interview with Reck-Haines over her vehicle’s speakerphone. 

Reck-Haines was in the process of driving Steenlage home from a medical appointment in La Crosse. Steenlage said Reck-Haines has taken him to the hospital 23 times since a Jan. 17 crash. He said the career nurse has found mistakes in medications that “could’ve potentially killed me.” 

Though, Reck-Haines doesn’t necessarily agree with Steenlage, “I’m not an angel, I’m just a human being… a nurse.”

Reck-Haines, 74, has lived in Arcadia for her entire life. She recalled riding on the Broiler-Dairy Days queen float as a child. She would pretend to barbeque chicken in a plastic chicken pit as the “queens” would waive to the crowd. 

The annual Arcadia celebration has always been important to her, in part because of her famous father, Ernie Reck. He was known as Arcadia’s showman, a musician, radio host, politician, and promotor for all things Arcadia. This year, though, Sherry is the star of the show as the 2025 Broiler-Dairy Days Parade Marshal. 

Following in her father’s footsteps was not an option for Sherry. 

“I couldn’t carry a note in a bucket,” she said. “That was heartbreaking for my dad.”

But she found her calling and has helped more families than one could ever dream. That, she said, is because of her upbringing. 

“I had a wonderful family, a mom and dad who taught me how to survive and work hard,” Reck-Haines said. “And I have become a heck of a good nurse.” 

While music may have been her father’s passion, Reck-Haines takes pride in the fact that she was able to take care of her family and community members as they aged. “It was the biggest treasure I had in my life, I got to take care of my whole family.” 

Reck-Haines said she was taught to “love my neighbor as myself… and everybody is a neighbor to me.” That was a lesson she took to heart even before her 53-year nursing career began. She remembered consoling crying children on the playground of the Arcadia Catholic School. 

“The nuns would tell my parents, ‘She’s so busy taking care of everybody,’” Reck Haines said. “If Sister would be a little mean to somebody, I’d say, ‘It’s OK, we’ll be OK.’”

Reck-Haines knows she could still work and make “big time dollars” for a medical facility, “But I choose to be out in my community to help.” 

Steenlage noted that after she gets him home, Reck-Haines had to run back out to help another family. She credits her husband, Jerry, with being patient, though she added he is also an active community member. 

“We are community people and we should be community people,” she said. 

For her work in the community, Reck-Haines received the Arcadia Area Chamber of Commerce’s Lifetime Achievement award last January. Ironically, it was presented by Sarah Slaby, Steenlage’s daughter on the same day he was involved in the crash. 

Reck-Haines has long been known as friendly and personable, traits she said she got from her father and attending all of his promotions. Like her father, she loves Arcadia. 

She loves Broiler-Dairy Days because it is a community function. She’s happy that the Miss Arcadia Pageant still runs and that the talent show is still a part of the annual festival. The Memorial Day weekend holiday is a good time to visit with classmates who come back to Arcadia for the celebration. 

“Arcadia is my home and will always be my home,” Reck-Haines said. “I grew up in Arcadia. I had a wonderful family and wonderful friends. I couldn’t ask for anything better. I have to say that growing up in Arcadia is the best thing I ever could’ve done.” 

Broiler-Dairy Days kicks off in Arcadia Friday

The milkshakes will be cold and the chicken hot at the unofficial start of summer, Broiler-Dairy Days in Arcadia, this weekend. 

One major change to this year’s event will be with Sunday’s Grand Parade. Due to construction in the downtown area, the parade won’t run its usual route right down Main St. Instead, it will begin on Washington St. and then head toward Main St. where the rest of the route will run as usual, ending in the parking lot by the Arcadia High School football and baseball fields. 

Lifetime Arcadia resident and caregiver Sherry Reck-Haines will be the Grand Marshal of the parade, which begins at 1:30 p.m. Following the parade, a raffle drawing will be held in the downtown area with a $2,500 top prize. 

The event features fun for all ages, prizes, food, and beverages galore. It all begins at 4 p.m. on Friday with Happy Hour, featuring $2 beer. That’s where Ron Pronschinske will play polka music from 5 to 7 p.m. and the official introduction of the Festmasters — Jay and Lori Moe — from 6 to 7 p.m. takes place. 

Slow-pitch softball begins at 6 p.m. on Friday and runs through the weekend. That is one of just several athletic competitions. Volleyball, pickleball, soccer, and bean bag tournaments will be held on Saturday. A basketball tournament and fun run/walk will be on Sunday. The high school rodeo also begins at 6 p.m. and runs throughout the weekend. 

Stipes Carnival figures to keep the youngsters busy, with “all you can ride” wristbands from 6 to 10 p.m. on Friday, noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, and 3 to 5 p.m. on Sunday. 

A pedal tractor pull will take place near the Arcadia Lion’s Club Pavilion at 10 a.m. on Saturday. 

There will be a variety of entertainment with The Monday’s hitting the Pavilion stage from 8 p.m. to midnight on Friday. Gundo will play from 6 to 8 p.m. on Saturday before Corey Wise closes the night, playing from 9 p.m. to midnight. Latino bands will play from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Sunday. The annual talent show will also be held in the pavilion, taking place from noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday. 

One of the largest draws for the event is the food. Featuring what is considered the largest chicken pit in North America, chicken will be grilled all weekend with brats and hot dogs also being served inside the pavilion. Guerrero Mexican food truck will open near the Pavilion after the parade on Sunday. 

Members of the Arcadia FFA will serve milkshakes from noon to 7 p.m. on Saturday.