GRASSROOTS IN ACTION

Farm Bureau prides itself on being a grassroots organization. Members belong to one of the 61 county Farm Bureaus. Throughout the state, local members advocate for Farm Bureau and agriculture in a variety of ways. Here are some of the activities and projects happening locally.

Racine County Agriculture Ambassador Program

In 2012, Racine County Farm Bureau started an Agriculture Ambassador program. Those interested apply for the position and the new Agriculture Ambassador begins the term at the county annual meeting in September, while the outgoing Agriculture Ambassador gives a farewell speech. Some of the duties include parades, participating in the county fair, going into classrooms to teach about agriculture and social media. This year’s Agriculture Ambassador is Chase Pirocanac and she achieved her goal of getting more than 700 'likes' on the Agriculture Ambassador Facebook page. Because her in-person events are limited, she has been touring a different farm or local agriculture business each month. In January, she toured Harry Hansen Meat Service.

Grant County Pork Chop Dinner

The Grant County Farm Bureau Pork Chop Dinner was held on Aug. 11, 2020. The event featured a drive-thru format at the Grant County Fairgrounds in Lancaster. Each meal included: a marinated pork chop from Weber Meats, potato salad and cookies from Ma’s Bakery, cheese curds from Carr Valley and Prairie Farms chocolate milk from Fishnick Dairy. Udder Brothers Creamery served delicious hand-scooped ice cream for dessert. Grant County Farm Bureau also partnered with the Wisconsin Pork Association to sell pork bundles full of nutritious pork products. Columbia County Online Fundraiser

Columbia County Farm Bureau raised more than $1,500 by holding an online fundraiser via Facebook from Nov. 6-13, 2020. In a year where COVID-19 canceled the county fair and one of Columbia County Farm Bureau's largest fundraisers, the fair food stand, it had to think outside the box to generate funds to continue to give scholarships, support Ag in the Classroom and continue county operations. Board directors gathered locally-sourced items to host a silent auction. Lot items included: • Dinner for four at Sassy Cow Creamery, sponsored by Sassy Cow

Creamery, Baerwolf Family • Build your own cheese and sausage tray, sponsored by Dreamstone

Dairy, Joel and Stephanie Hammerly • Homemade pies, sponsored by Columbia County Farm Bureau

President Jayne Nakielski • Hunting land for gun deer season, sponsored by Dalton Grain

Farms/3-D Angus Naturally Fed Beef, Cal and Joanne Dalton • Farm table bundle, sponsored by Lewiston Farmstead, Heinze

Family • Produce baskets, sponsored by Alsum Farms and Produce • 25 pounds of freezer beef, sponsored by Walk-Era Farms, John and

Marci Walker Thank you to those who generously donated items and bid to help Columbia County Farm Bureau.

Price County Placemats

Price County Farm Bureau in partnership with Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin created and printed 2,500 placemats to disperse to local restaurants and meal on wheels programs throughout the county.

Green Lake County Farm Bureau hosted its first virtual livestock judging contest on Jan. 22-24. Members judged eight classes of livestock and presented oral reasons on one of the classes. Members from six counties participated, with prizes being awarded to YFA and seasoned members. In the YFA division, third place: Tony Klotzbuecher, Waupaca County; second place: Chad Bruss, Green Lake County; and first place: Aaron Wachholz, Marquette County. In the seasoned division, third place: Pete Badtke, Green Lake County; second place: Meredith Paul-Bowers, Waupaca County: and first place: Liz Gartman, Sheboygan County. The award for the best set of reasons went to Alissa Grenawalt of Green County. Thank you to those who participated.

Sheboygan County Game Night

Sheboygan County YFA hosted a Card and Game Night on Feb. 27 at the Greenbush Town Hall. The event was open to all Farm Bureau members, not just YFA. Members played sheepshead and other games and enjoyed a free chili supper.

District 4 Local Producer Shopping Guide

The District 4 Local Producer Shopping Guide was first developed in the spring of 2020 as a response to food shortages in result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. County leaders in District 4 created an online form and asked community members to submit recommendations for farmers with goods and produce available for purchase. The guide was published on county Facebook pages and websites, in the District 4 newsletter and then was created into a brochure that was shared with Rural Mutual Insurance agents, UW-Extension Offices and agricultural businesses throughout the district’s six counties. The Waupaca and Outagamie County Farm Bureau Young Farmer and Agriculturist committees cosponsored a bowling event on March 4 at the New London Lanes in New London. Eighteen attended this fun family event. It was a great opportunity for young members to get together with old friends and make new ones while enjoying pizza and beverages, with a little friendly competition thrown in for good measure.

Barron County ‘Thank a Farmer’ Campaign

Food brings everyone to the table, and National Ag Week was the perfect time to thank those hard-working farmers who put food on the table. Barron County Farm Bureau teamed up with Rural Mutual Insurance Company agents Eva Curtis, Greg Hayes, Tyler Holten and Christina Jacobson to make that happen. Members of the Barron County community were invited to ‘Thank a Farmer’ with a simple nomination. Efforts were highlighted on local radio station WJMC, press releases in county newspapers and Barron County Farm Bureau’s social media. Multiple winners were randomly drawn to receive gift certificates to dine at one of the county’s fine dining establishments complements of the county Farm Bureau and Rural Mutual Insurance agents. Barron County Farm Bureau’s ‘Thank a Farmer’ campaign was well received by the community with nearly 40 nominations received. The nominees were mentioned and the winners were drawn on WJMC as part of the National Ag Week publicity. Thanking our Farmers, supporting our local restaurants and celebrating agriculture’s fantastic story made this effort a winwin-win.

SHAWANO COUNTY'S5MINUTES NEIL CHRISTIANSON

Please share a little about yourself.

I grew up in the township of Navarino and I was the middle child of five with three sisters and one brother. I graduated from Bonduel High School and studied in the farm management program at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College. I live in the same house that I grew up in and have been farming full-time since 1977.

When you were growing up what did you want to be?

A farmer. Why? Because you are your own boss and no two days are ever the same. Tell us about your farm and your responsibilities.

I own and operate a 200-cow dairy. My role is herdsperson and I do all the feeding. I guess it was in my DNA. I am the second generation at this location. You participated in the WFBF Leadership Institute in 2018. Please share the four top takeaways that you learned and have used either in your role as president of Shawano County Farm Bureau or other ways that you advocate for agriculture.

• The class participated in the Clifton StrengthFinder, which helps discover a person’s strengths and then we learned how to use our strengths in the best way. I found out I am an Includer. Includer means you always want to include everyone in the things you do, and you do not want to leave anyone out. You are an accepting person and you cast very few, if any, judgments on people. • As a farmer you have a story to tell, just tell it. • Now, I’m more comfortable in front of a crowd. • I try to make the county board meetings short and to the point, and I make meetings fun. What is one agricultural experience that has defined you?

In 1976, I participated in an artificial insemination training session. I have been breeding my own herd now for 46 years. The training helped me understand more about animal husbandry. If you could change one thing what would that be?

The weather.

What is one Farm Bureau experience that you are most proud of?

Most definitely the WFBF Leadership Institute. I made some lifetime friends in the class.

Neil in front of his barn quilt. His quilt was number 302 to be put up in Shawano County. It was sponsored and gifted to Neil by his kids, Jennifer and Blair, for Father’s Day. The quilt is named Community Pastime because a lot of his neighbors learned to ski there and basically grew up there. The long skis on his left are his jumping skis and the skis on his right are his downhill skis.

Please share some of your Norwegian heritage. What is your favorite Norwegian meal?

Well, I guess it would have to be skiing, I have been on skis pretty much my whole life, and taught skiing lessons for years at the local ski hill.

During my younger years, I enjoyed ski jumping at our local hill but later it was turned into a downhill ski hill. I joined the Iola Ski Jumping Club and filled my bucket list by continuing my jumping career for a few years. There is nothing like feeling a rush of adrenaline flying off the ramp at 40 miles per hour and landing 120 feet down the hill.

My favorite Norwegian meal is Norwegian meatballs and of course, Lefse. What is your favorite way to eat Lefse?

I use butter and regular sugar and then heat it in a microwave for a few seconds.

Is there anything else that you want to add?

My Farm Bureau experience has been nothing but positive, maybe some kind of divine intervention. I never thought I would be this involved in this organization.