Packers Tailgate Tour makes three stops in SE Wisconsin

KENOSHA -- The Green Bay Packers annual Tailgate Tour is underway and Packers are making stops throughout the state - sometimes unannounced! Thursday, May 17th, the Packers made a surprise stop at Nathan Hale High School in West Allis, and then held an evening event in Kenosha at the Boys and Girls Club. But first, they stopped to visit children at Children's Hospital in Madison.

Thursday was Day Three of the five-day tour for the Packers, and it was their first stop in southeastern Wisconsin.

Jordy Nelson and the rest of the guys on the tour entered the Boys and Girls Club in Kenosha and answered questions from fans Thursday night. They also signed autographs and met with fans, like Vernon Ward, who was celebrating his birthday.

"This is fantastic. It`s just like being up at Lambeau Field.  The people, all the Packer fans here, they`re enjoying it. It`s great, it`s fantastic. I love it," Ward said.

While she bought the tickets to the Tailgate Tour for her father, Vernon, Mary Beth Ward was really there for someone else! "Cause Jordy`s going to be here. I'm going to be very discreet and normal, as I can be," Ward said.

Before arriving in Kenosha, the tour made a couple of surprise stops! One was at Nathan Hale High School in West Allis. "We were able to come and kick a field goal on their field. Then Jordy raced another kid. That`s kind of the theme of the trip is every stop we make Jordy has to race somebody. He seems to be winning most of them," Packers kicker Mason Crosby said.

The first stop of the day was at Wisconsin's Children's Hospital in Madison, which really seemed to touch the players. "I don`t think you realize until you go. You think you`ll go hand out some things and that`ll be it," Jordy Nelson said.

They spent time with the kids at the hospital, and even worked on art projects with them, but there was more! "Laying in the bed, once we walk in seeing their eyes light up and the smile obviously comes and it`s just great. Then even their family, because they`re dealing with a lot as well," Nelson said.

The Tailgate Tour continues on Friday and wraps up Saturday, May 19th. Their goal is to get closer to their fans, and keep them excited about the team. For them, this is their chance to give back to their fans and thank them for the support.

Related stories: