Aug. 7, 2026
By Julia Buskirk, Vernon Reporter
VIROQUA, Wis.––Friday morning, Viroqua’s Nelson Agri-Center’s wrestling ring was filled with wrestlers decked out in bright, shiny uniforms, from Macho Man to Nelson Agri-Center Champion Hulkmania, posed under a big sign declaring “SAWYER SLAM”.
The ring was made of 335 white gallon buckets, the creation of Aaron Nemec, an employee at Nelson’s and the creative mind behind the store’s annual Bucket Sale display, which raises money for the Children’s Miracle Network in La Crosse.
Each year, the store honors a local child whose life has been impacted by the Children’s Miracle Network by creating a display inspired by the child’s interests. For Sawyer Clements, this year’s honoree, that’s wrestling and sled-hockey.
Sawyer and his family have had to spend a significant time in hospitals as Sawyer lives with the complications of Cerebral Palsy, which has included blood transfusions and internal surgeries as a young boy to recover from internal bleeding, and ongoing seizures.
The Children’s Miracle Network has supported Sawyer’s passion for sled hockey by paying for ice time for his team, and providing gas cards to his family so he can attend practices.
Beside sled-hockey, Sawyer is also a big wrestling fan, which inspired the event Friday. Mid-morning, Sawyer and his parents walked into Nelson Agri-Center to cheers from his extended family, friends, employees, and shop goers surrounding the bucket-built wrestling ring.
For the store, this year’s celebration hit close to home, as Sawyer’s grandma, Cindy Clements, has been an employee there for 33 years.
“They went above and beyond this year, it’s awesome,” Cindy Clements said. “It’s amazing how much they’ll put out just to acknowledge Sawyer.”
Staff and friends dressed up as wrestlers, and a video from WWE legend Mick Foley wished Sawyer the best of luck in his future endeavors. The store also gifted Sawyer small-engine repair tools, as he hopes to go on to become a small-engine mechanic.
“We’re really grateful for everybody that turned out for him, we’re really overwhelmed. It’s so sweet, Sawyer loves wrestling, and this is over the top!” said Amanda Clements, Sawyer’s mother.
Nationwide, Ace Hardware stores compete for the best display, and Viroqua’s own Nelson Agri-Center has come in second and third the past two years.
“I love being creative and this is a chance to work some magic,” said Aaron Nemec, the creator of the display. He expressed appreciation for the store giving him the freedom to come up with the project.
Over the past 3 years, Nelson’s Agri-Center has raised around $25,000 between their two locations for Children’s Miracle Network at Emplify Health in La Crosse. All money raised stays local.
The bucket sale, which entails a $5 donation for a bucket with 20% off anything that fits in it, runs through Sunday, August 9.
Julia Buskirk reports, paints, and writes fiction in Southwestern Wisconsin. She is a graduate of UW-Madison where she studied Conservation Biology and Journalism.
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