09/03/2026
VIROQUA, Wis. – Sheriff Roy Torgerson and Coroner Betty Nigh report a fatal farm-related incident occurred on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, in the Town of Viroqua.
Just before 12:30 PM, the Sheriff’s Office 911 Dispatch Center received a call from a farm located on Cherry Grove Road. The caller reported that the farm owner was possibly trapped inside a grain bin.
While in the process of unloading shelled corn from the bin, the grain had caked or ‘bridged,’ and the farmer entered the bin to help get the grain flowing into the unloading auger when the collapse occurred, trapping him beneath a large amount of grain.
The farmer, Raymond J. Ackman, age 74, was located and freed from the grain after extensive rescue efforts but died at the scene.
Our hearts goes out to the Ackman family as they face this unimaginable loss. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers during this incredibly difficult time. We are truly humbled and deeply grateful for the tremendous response from the many firefighters, emergency medical responders, volunteers, concerned neighbors, friends, and partnering agencies who came together during this incident. They worked tirelessly and selflessly throughout the rescue effort, demonstrating the very best of what it means to serve and support one another in a community. While the outcome is heartbreaking, their efforts should never go unnoticed. On behalf of the Sheriff’s Office, Coroner’s Office, and the entire community, we want to express my sincere appreciation to every person who responded and helped in any way.
At the scene were the Viroqua Fire Dept. (Lead fire department), Viroqua Emergency Medical Responders, Tri-State Ambulance/Gundersen Ambulance, Westby-Christiana Fire Department, La Farge Fire Department, Vernon County Emergency Management, Cashton Fire & Rescue, C**n Valley Fire Department, Gundersen AIR, the Sheriff’s Office, Town of Viroqua, Vernon Co. WI, and many other volunteers.
The first unit arrived within five minutes of the call, and all units were clear from the scene by 4:30 PM.
Sheriff Roy Torgerson
Coroner Betty Nigh
