Cheesehead Nation

“It literally started because my new boyfriend had a striking resemblance to Aaron Rodgers and at that time — we’re going back like 15 or 16 years ago — I’m  ashamed to admit it now, but I didn’t know who Aaron Rodgers was at that time,” said Petersen.

“So everywhere we went people were doing double-takes and he’s a die-hard Packers fan born and raised in Northeast Wisconsin so he absolutely knew who Aaron Rodgers was.”

Petersen said her boyfriend at the time, now her husband, would often play into the role and make the most of people’s confusion.

“He had people convinced that he was related. We would actually go places and he was Googling on his phone Aaron Rodgers’ family and who he could pretend to be to get people to believe this story even more. He came up with this story about how he moved here from Chico, California, and his brother Aaron lives in the area,” said Petersen.

“It was always funny and then we would go to Packers games and it would happen there. We went the year the Packers won the Super Bowl. We traveled to Atlanta for the NFC Championship game. I think it was in Atlanta and everyone there thought that he was legitimately Aaron Rodgers’ brother. It all was born out of this resemblance of my now husband to Aaron Rodgers but then it just took me in a totally different direction because it’s not so much that he cared about that, but he just loves football and I think because it is so much of the culture here and it’s ingrained in this community,” said Petersen.

As Petersen’s relationship with her husband grew, so did her relationship with the Packers.

“Our first Christmas together I bought Packers stock for him so he could be a part-owner and it hangs on the wall in our house now,” said Petersen.

Being native to the Chicago area, Petersen said that the unique experience of being a Packers fan in Northeast Wisconsin is really what drew her into the community.

“Coming from Chicago we’re spoiled. It’s a big city and you have all these different sports teams. It’s easy to get lost in that in a bigger city but then to come here and see how the whole community is so connected to the Packers and it’s really the culture here. Sunday mornings you go to the grocery store and everybody is wearing their jerseys on Packers Sunday and the game is like broadcast overhead every radio station turns into the Packers game,” said Petersen.

“That doesn’t happen in Chicago. You get to go to a Packers party and hang out with your neighbors and hang out with the community and come to Lambeau and have the tailgating experience.”

Although she’s converted to the Wisconsin way, Petersen said she enjoys getting the best of both worlds from her family’s dedication to the Bears.

“I love how I can bring my family from Chicago who love the Bears to have that fun-loving rivalry in a beautiful space. It’s a lot of fun and I just really embraced it to the point where I learned about the sport and am into it now. My husband enjoys that aspect, too because I can guess plays now and kind of have a clue about certain things that are going to happen and he’s like ‘huh, you didn’t know that 15 years ago,’” said Petersen.

Petersen said that she has even worked her passion for the Pack into her work life now.

“The new business that we just started is just another way to tie into the community. I try carrying the same thing that I learned from the Manitowoc grocery store on game day to our Hospital on Packer Sundays — my staff wears green and gold jerseys or scrubs to hope that we extend that level of  comfort to the community and even the Packers game is on in the ER,” said Petersen.

According to Petersen, her work’s football obsession goes even further than just their Sunday attire.

“From my football ignorance to now having graduated to participating in my first fantasy football league, it’s really funny. Our hospital, the Green Bay Area Hospital, is having a fantasy football league and they asked me to participate and I was a little bit hesitant, but also like what the heck why not. I have my first draft this weekend. It’s a ;snake draft’ — whatever that means. I’m excited to navigate this for the first time. I had to come up with a team name so I have the Petersen Pounders as my team name and it’s just a fun way for our little community to engage in the season and have some involvement,” said Petersen.

Like most Packers fans from the area, Petersen said that she has a few favorite memories from Lambeau Field.

“I would say over the years I’ve probably been here at least like a dozen or more times because my husband also owns a business in the community, and often from his vendors will get tickets. We’re spoiled a little bit — we’ve had like the outdoor experience where it’s freezing cold and you have to sit in the bleachers to the box seats which are arguably not the true experience, but I’m a person who doesn’t necessarily want to freeze outside, so it’s kind of nice to have the option to come in. We have like several family photos taking the elevator up and we’re taking that picture from above the stadium and things like that,” said Petersen.

Petersen said that her family’s game day experiences have been unforgettable.

“My whole family was here for a Bears vs. Packers game and we were outside at Stadium View participating in different games they had going on before we actually came into Lambeau. We were across the street but I just have a crazy memory of how they singled out my brothers because they were wearing Bears jerseys and got them to participate in a flashing contest where they had to raise their shirts to get beads. It was sort of like a Mardi Gras thing but they were spinning it on the males. My brothers did participate and then they got green and gold beads to wear over their Bears jerseys and they were like good sports about it,” said Petersen.

According to Petersen, your first game day experience at Lambeau Field is unlike any other sporting event.

“The first time I brought my daughter here, it was really cool because for her first Packer game they have buttons and like this whole experience. They recognize that maybe you haven’t been here and if you stop at the desk they outfit you and they are so excited that it’s your first time here and they kind of embrace you.  At the time my daughter was probably 12 years old and is now 22, but she had her jersey on and they make sure you hit all the key places within the stadium and where to take pictures and things like that and they gave her swag and a neat experience that I don’t think you would ever get in Chicago,” said Petersen.

Although she has been a converted fan for many years now, Petersen said their is one player she will never abandon as her all-time favorite.

“I have to go with Aaron Rogers just because that’s kind of where my love affair began. Although, last season we also met Jordan Love and he was really cool. We were actually in Milwaukee for a Bucks game and I believe he was also attending the Bucks game, but beforehand we were out at a bar where you can throw darts and play games ahead of time. He came in and was completely awesome. My daughters recognized him and my husband approached him and asked if he would say hello to my daughters and take a picture and he was so gracious. My husband sent them a round of drinks and he took a picture and then my daughters posted it on social media, so that was really cool. He is very, very kind and sweet and then before they left, he came over and thanked my husband for the round of drinks so he was very genuine,” said Petersen.

As the regular season begins, Petersen said she can’t wait to see how the team performs this year.

“I’m hoping that they have a very successful winning season. With my family and the rivalry between the Packers and the Bears it’s always fun to see that and I believe they will have a very successful, winning season because with my family and the rivalry between the Packers and the Bears, that’s always fun to see and for the Bears-Packers game, we’ll be there for that. That’s always a game of more significance than just the rivalry, too. I hope we do well and it turns into something,” said Petersen.