Rural Route by Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation

Rural Route wisconsin Farm bureau federation’s

august | september 2013 • vol. 19 no. 4 | www.wfbf.com

40 Years at Farm Bureau

A look at Roger’s Remarkable Run

Freese to Succeed Cliff in 2014 Meet Members: Mueller, Schauf New Member Benefit - AgriVisor

WFBF’s 2013 Highlights

Page 13

“WHY DO I USE FS?” “I think of myself as a progressive farmer. Someone who understands that using business analysis and paying close attention to details is probably more important than it ever has been. Why do I use FS? FS gives me everything I need.

Brian Hora

Corn and soybean grower

It starts with the seed. It’s a complete system from start to finish with the inputs I buy from FS. From fuel, fertilizer and crop protection, to new technologies and new ways to become more efficient. Do we think we’re all the way there yet? No. There’s more potential for bigger yields. And with FS, we’re going to find ways to get there.”

T H E LO THE TH L LOCAL O CA A L AN A ANSWER N SW W ER E T TO O Y OUR YO UR R WORLD W OR O R LD D OF O F NEEDS. N E ED NEED NE D S. YOUR

™

contents 6

features

articles

Cliff

Former legislator named WFBF’s new Chief Administrative Officer.

Roger Cliff looks back at his 40year career with Farm Bureau.

Annual Report A summary of Farm Bureau’s programs and successes.

D.C. Trip Institute grads put their leadership skills to test on Capitol Hill.

Schauf Meet World Dairy Expo’s Woman of the Year.

capitol watch Farm bill, immigration reform, stray voltage and raw milk all on legislative docket.

Mueller State Women’s Committee Chair at home on the farm.

Freese

vol. 19 no. 4

departments 5

news

Members

member benefits

Opinion

Leadership

ag in the classroom

foundation

Rural Mutual

Agrivisor New member benefit and market commentary.

COVER AND EDITOR’S NOTE PHOTOS BY KATHY WILEMAN, STUDIO 115

Make Plans to Attend the WFBF Annual Meeting. august | september 2013

37 www.wfbf.com

Rural Route wisconsin Farm bureau federation’s

Editor’s Note

{from Casey Langan}

can still vividly remember the once just a 23-year-old embarking on a excitement I felt while leading a Holstein career, unsure of where it all might lead. around a show ring more than two He certainly didn’t know the issue of use decades ago. Yet, this summer’s trip to the fair has been less about nostalgia and more about the future. As our son Eli gets his first encounters with farm animals, it’s like seeing these familiar critters with new eyes. It also re-enforces the need to invest in agriculture’s future. With that same blend of nostalgia and optimism, this issue of Cousin Haley shows Eli her fair rabbit. Rural Route features Roger Cliff on its value assessment of farmland would follow cover. How many people can say without a him throughout his career. By successfully doubt that their career positively impacted engineering its passage into law, Wisconsin each and every Wisconsin farmer? Roger farmers have saved hundreds of millions of can. dollars in property taxes. Is there any way to repay him for his Roger at the helm. efforts? Well yes, the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation’s 40 by 40 campaign is underway to commemorate Roger’s 40 years on the job by raising $40,000. At Roger’s request, the proceeds will benefit Farm Bureau programs that educate and build future agricultural leaders, like the collegiate Farm Bureau chapters, Institute leadership course and Ag in the Classroom. Good leaders like Roger always keep their eye on the future. This summer I’ve been reminded by Roger’s retirement and Eli’s fair experience that memories are nice, but it’s what you do for the future that matters most. It is a little surreal to think that in a few months Roger will hand over the Thanks for reading, reins to his successor Stephen Freese and put in his last day of work. With 40 Casey Langan years of institutional knowledge about our Rural Route Editor organization, ag policy and politics, Roger Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation has become the dean of Farm Bureau. Yet, as our feature story explains, he was

Rural Route

Editor Casey Langan 608.828.5711

Assistant Editor/Designer Sheri Sutton 262.949.2418

Contributor Amy Manske 608.828.5706

Address of Publication Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation PO Box 5550 1241 John Q. Hammons Dr. Madison, WI 53705-0550 Postmaster: Send address changes to Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation PO Box 5550 Madison, WI 53705-0550

Contact Information 608.836.5575 800.261.FARM (3276) www.wfbf.com info.demingway@wfbf.com “Like” us on Facebook facebook.com/WIFarmBureau Follow us on Twitter twitter.com/WIFarmBureau

WFBF Board of Directors Jim Holte, Elk Mound, (President) Richard Gorder, Mineral Point, (Vice President) Dave Daniels, Union Grove Jerry Bradley, Sun Prairie Joe Bragger, Independence Kevin Krentz, Berlin Rosie Lisowe, Chilton Wayne Staidl, Peshtigo Don Radtke, Merrill Jane Mueller, Fall Creek (Women’s Committee Chair) Teresa Hanson, Shell Lake (YFA Chair) Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation’s Rural Route (ISSN 39940) (USPS 1082-1368), the official publication of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation, is published six times per year in February/March, April/May, June/July, August/ September, October/November and December/ January. Subscription of $5 is included in Farm Bureau dues. Periodical postage is paid at Madison, Wisconsin. All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or part without written consent. For advertising rates and information: Wisconsin accounts contact Slack Attack at 608.222.7630 or barbara@slackattack.com. National accounts contact Hurst & Associates at 800.397.8908 or hurstp19@comcast.net. For general inquiries, contact Casey Langan at 608.828.5711 or clangan@wfbf.com.

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news

Freese is WFBF’s Next Chief Administrative Officer

tephen Freese has been hired by the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation as its Chief Administrative Officer. Freese will oversee all day-to-day operations and staff for the Madison-based, Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation, which is the state’s largest general farm organization. “I am very excited to be given the opportunity to make a positive difference for farm families and rural Wisconsin with our state’s premier farm organization,” Freese said. “Stephen’s strong background in public service, management of a non-profit organization and personnel make him uniquely qualified for this critical position with the Wisconsin Farm Bureau,” said Jim Holte, Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation President. Freese has served as Chief Executive Officer for the Circus World Museum in Baraboo since 2007. He was responsible for all aspects of operations at the National Landmark Historic site including maintenance, grounds upkeep, advertising, special events and customer service. Prior to that, Freese represented the 51st Assembly District in the State Assembly from 1991 to 2007. He was elected by his caucus as the Speaker Pro Tempore of the Assembly, 1995 to 2007, writing and enforcing the rules of the body, and presiding over the proceedings of the State Assembly. During his tenure he also received the “Friend of Agriculture” award on several occasions from the Farm Bureau’s Volunteers for Agriculture political action committee. Prior to the Assembly, Freese served as an elected board supervisor in Grant County and the Town of Jamestown. More

recently Freese served as a member of the Wisconsin State Historical Society’s Board of Curators and the Potosi Brewery Foundation’s Board of Directors.

“I am very excited to be given the opportunity to make a positive difference for farm families and rural Wisconsin with our state’s premier farm organization,” Freese said. Freese still helps manage a farm near Hazel Green that has been in his family since 1874. The Grant County native has a degree in political science from the University of Wisconsin– Platteville. He and his wife, Dawn, have two children and reside in Dodgeville. Freese succeeds Roger Cliff, who will retire this year from a 40-year career with the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation. Cliff first worked as a lobbyist and then as chief administrative officer over the past decade. Freese begins his duties with the Farm Bureau on August 19.

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Farm Bureau

Suburban . Commercial . Agricultural . Horse Barns & Arenas

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Toll Free 800. 558. 7800 waltersbuildings.com

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Farm Bureau won’t quite be the same once

By Casey Langan

Roger Retires

A six-year-old boy rode along with his father as he recruited Farm Bureau members in southwest Wisconsin in the 1950s. Today that boy is putting the finishing touches on a successful 40-year career with the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation.

“I

remember him arguing with farmers but I never knew what it was about,” Roger Cliff said with a laugh. Cliff will retire as WFBF’s Chief Administrative Officer on December 31, 2013. He began his career with WFBF in 1973 as a lobbyist. For the last decade he has been responsible for day-to-day operations of the WFBF and its subsidiary organizations. Born in Madison, Roger’s parents rented a farm near where the state Agriculture Building stands today. He considers himself a native of Lancaster in Grant County. It is there his parents bought a farm a short time later. When he was five, Roger’s mother passed, and his father sold the farm to relatives. Roger graduated from Lancaster High School in 1968 and met his future wife, Cathy, while both were students at UWPlatteville. She, a Boscobel native, was an education major who was active in drama. The twosome was in the same marriage and family course back then. Today they have three grown children and seven grandchildren. A political science major, rather than policy or politics, Roger was interested in how governments functioned. He also flew single engine planes in college and joined the U.S. Air Force

Rural Route

because he wanted to fly jets. Boot camp was followed by flight school. That career path would have meant six years of active duty (the Vietnam War was still going on) and long stretches without seeing his new bride. Ultimately, his vision might have prevented him from being a jet pilot, so he took an honorable discharge. “I know I made the right decision,” he said before admitting he still looks upward in wonder when a ‘corvette in the sky’ flies over.

First Day at Farm Bureau Roger remembers reading his predecessor’s newsletters in high school. Roger’s father, Lee, worked for the Grant County Farm Bureau as a county organizational director. It was Lee Cliff who first heard WFBF’s job opening for a lobbyist in 1973. After landing the job, Roger purchased a brief case. “That was a big purchase for us back then,” he recalled. Cathy Cliff likes to tell the story of Roger nervously packing pens and pencils in that briefcase for his first day. WFBF’s offices at the time were in what is now the Madison College building across from West Towne Mall. He had his own office in the new building on the edge of town. At just 23, he found himself the new kid on the block amid a mostly older staff. “I was thinking this would be my first (but not last) job. I really thought I would do other things,” he said. He had bypassed an offer to work for a fledgling real estate company because he felt it was too risky. Choosing Farm Bureau turned out to be the right decision. Roger would serve

wisconsin farm bureau federation

as the back-up to Bill Kasakaitas, one of the top lobbyists working in Madison. “He was a great teacher and mentor and completely different than me in size and style,” Roger said. “Bill was a little guy with a booming voice. He was a great speaker and debater.” Bill was also near the end of his career. He would retire just four years later. Roger was tapped as the chief lobbyist at 27. “Some of the old timers will tell you they weren’t so sure I would succeed,” Roger said. “I learned quickly that there was no bluffing a farmer. They would test me by asking questions that they already knew the answers to.”

Big Issues Were Big Tests

Politics and Politicians During his career, Roger has worked with eight governors (Lucey, Schreiber, Dreyfus, Earl, Thompson, McCallum, Doyle and Walker) and hundreds of legislators to shape agricultural policy. He said some of the talk about today’s great political divide is a bit over-rated.

“One of the biggest things the farm community needs to do in the future is step up politically with time and money,” Roger said.

His first big assignment was promoting a 1974 statewide referendum on a “Things were partisan back then too,” he said in reference to constitutional amendment to change the uniformity clause the 1970s and 80s, “but there was more socializing by people for taxing farmland. Property taxes on farmland were high. working on the affairs of the state before. Prior to changes to Such a change would open the door for implementation of use the ethics laws, lawmakers knew each other more personally. value assessment of farmland. Armed with a slide projector, he That’s lost now.” traveled many a mile between farm and Rotary meetings across “The left and right have moved further apart and that tension the state. is not offset by social gatherings,” he said. “The impersonal “I always remember it being a landslide,” Roger chuckled, nature of social media has also made it easier to be nasty during “but in reality the numbers were closer than I remember.” a campaign.” While the referendum passed, getting use value assessment “Legislative Council study committees were a bigger deal of farmland implemented proved to be a tougher task. Roger back then,” he said. “A balance of interests, including lobbyists, had a hand in a chain of events in the 1990s that led to full would spend nearly a year working on a key issue. Legislative implementation in 2000. leaders would then stand behind the committee’s work.” “Given the trajectory property taxes were on under the Roger served on a committee charged with rewriting the market value system, something would have had to happen,” he state’s eminent domain laws. It was a big and contentious issue said. “Land valued at $5,000 per acre today would have likely as more highways were being built, namely the I-43 corridor in been taxed at $100 per acre versus the 3 or 4 dollars that is paid eastern Wisconsin. Roger sought out to ensure farmers were now.” paid and treated better by the Department of Transportation. As time passes, some lose sight of what was achieved. “Some have no concept of where they would have been without use value assessment,” he said. Roger remembers the 1970s as a time when land-use and property taxes were big issues in rural Wisconsin. By 1977, the idea of a farmland preservation credit was floated. Roger says the bill’s original language was a mess. Farm bill originally opposed the bill, which led to needed revisions. “That was one of my first big tests,” Roger recalled. “I had a handful of senators and the governor upset with me.” Looking back on the farmland preservation credit, he said it did provide some property tax relief, but feels it’s debatable how much farmland was preserved. Like use value assessment, another key legislative achievement that Roger helped advocate for was the creation of Wisconsin’s right to farm law. “Each of those issues impacts every single farmer Roger and Cathy have three grown children and seven grandchildren. in the state,” Roger said. “Right to farm’s impact is Pictured are Lindsey (daughter) and Will Hamielec, Cathy, Roger, Monica, harder to pinpoint than use value, but I guarantee Carter (son) and Travis Cliff (son). many more lawsuits against farms would have happened without it.”

All in the Family

august | september 2013

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organization. Some groups have lots of money, but don’t have the structure,” he said. “Having a volunteer network of thousands of people willing to do whatever is needed is great, but you also need staff support and financial resources to maintain and strengthen that,” he said. “I think we have a great staff that wants to do a good job for members and farmers in general,” Roger Last year Roger was named a said. Distinguished Honoree by the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s College of He called WFBF’s Agricultural and Life Sciences. County Services Program a “phenomenal success” at strengthening county Farm Bureaus and said support for WFBF from Rural Mutual Insurance Company and GROWMARK FS was critical to that success. He takes pride in the Pinnacle Award that WFBF was awarded at the American Farm Bureau Annual Convention last winter. It was the first time WFBF had been recognized as the top state Farm Bureau Proud Farm Bureau in its membership category. “I’ve told my predecessor Stephen Freese that he’s walking “Our big difference is our grassroots structure of county into a good situation. Things are in good order and he should boards and committees. Other groups envy that about our rely on his management team, which has great capability,” he said. “I’ve also encouraged him to get out and meet the Farm Bureau leaders around the state. I had the help of 30 years of knowing everyone when I stepped into the CAO role.” WFBF has had just four presidents during Roger worked with countless politicians on behalf of farmers. When asked Roger’s tenure. It’s remarkable continuity amongst to name a few that stand out in his memories, here’s who he picked. associations, even amongst other state Farm Gov. Tommy Thompson: “A big personality and a lot of fun,” was how Bureaus. Roger remembers the former governor. “We go back to his early days in “They were all good people and the right people the State Assembly, where the two of us were at small town hall meetings at the right time,” Roger said. “Don Haldeman put where someone would have to stoke the wood stove on a winter night.” a lot of faith in me to name me the top lobbyist at After his rousing stump speeches, Roger found him a tough act to follow. 27. Dan Poulson groomed me for management, He also enjoyed budget briefings at the Governor’s Mansion over beers. naming me Corporate Secretary and Assistant to Gov. Marty Schreiber: He was the first governor Roger met with one on the President. Bill Bruins picked me as the Chief one. They disagreed on the funding of the state’s veterinary school. Roger Administrative Officer shortly after becoming jokes that he’s since told him that “he’s now a much better lobbyist than he president. Jim Holte has been appreciative that I was governor.” stayed on another year to ensure some continuity.” Gov. Lee Dreyfus: He was a colorful governor, and not just for his “Forty years should be enough,” he said with a trademark red vest. “He was a better public speaker than executive. He smile. “I’m at the point where it feels right.” loved a crowd.” Yet, later on he says the thought of not going to State Sen. Mike Ellis: “I spent many days at the capitol listening to him work anymore feels “weird.” pontificate with the window shades down and his sunglasses on,” Roger “A retired farmer can usually go jump on a recalled. “He might come off as gruff to some, but he’s a good-hearted guy tractor if they want to, but I’m not going to come who really cares about policy and people.” in for a day,” he said of the finality of retirement. State Sen. Tom Harnish: He was the first Senate Agriculture Committee What’s next? chairman Roger worked with. “He was funny. A character with a story for “I know the political and ag arena in this state. everything.” He now works for the Wisconsin Towns Association. Is there something more I could or should do?” he State Rep. Gervase Hephner: “He was a maverick in the Democrat asks. “I haven’t figured that part out yet.” caucus and a good supporter of Farm Bureau policy in the 1980s.” WFBF’s Paul Zimmerman worked for the Chilton lawmaker as a legislative aide. When the rewrite was complete, a DOT leader publicly expressed that he didn’t think anymore highways would be built as a result. Roger took that as a compliment of sorts. Another change that took place under Roger’s watch was the formation of WFBF’s political action committee, the Volunteers for Agriculture. “As a lobbying organization, it was odd before it was created. It just didn’t sell well to lawmakers, asking them to take tough votes and then later saying we don’t get involved in elections,” he said. “I always felt it was important to stand by your friends and as such, from the time the VFA started out, we endorsed on both sides of the political aisle,” he said. “It has given us heartburn over the years, as some ag-friendly incumbents might not be that popular with farmers back home, but not supporting them would be a terrible signal to send.” It also attracts the ire of legislative leadership when the VFA has endorsed ag-friendly candidates in crowded primary races. “My life would have been easier without a political action committee, but it was the right thing to do. Farmers have to be at the table in elections,” said Roger, who added that finding farmers and farm-friendly candidates to run for office in the future will remain important. “One of the biggest things the farm community needs to do in the future is step up politically with time and money,” he added.

Those Who Stand Out

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wisconsin farm bureau federation

Committed to

Wisconsin.

BOB MeyeR’s roots run deep in Wisconsin agriculture. He grew up on a dairy farm in Clark County, was active in 4-H and FFA, and served as a state FFA officer. Bob was manager of a feed mill and farm supply company for eight years before returning to radio in 1986. Today, four brothers, and 12 nieces and nephews are active farmers involved Bob Meyer in everything from a 1,600-cow dairy to Wisconsin farm organic egg production in the Badger Broadcaster State. Four nieces and nephews are high school agriculture teachers. With each generation, the Meyer family roots grow deeper and deeper in Wisconsin soil. For more than 25 years Bob Meyer has been a trusted voice for Wisconsin agriculture.

Committed to

Agriculture. BrowNfield, founded in 1972, includes Brownfield Ag News radio network, BrownfieldAgNews.com and Brownfield Mobile. We provide news, markets, weather, event coverage and feature and commentary programming relevant to those who live and work on farms and in rural communities in the United States, and to those with an interest in U.S. food and fiber production.

Bob is part of the Brownfield team of ten award-winning agricultural journalists, all Broadcast Council members of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting, who along with an ag meteorologist, Washington D.C. policy analyst and two market analysts are solely responsible for the creation of the Brownfield Ag News products.

Wisconsin AffiliAtes

• Adams WDKM-FM 106.1 • Amery WXCE-AM 1260 • Antigo WACD-FM 106.1 • Baraboo WBDL-FM 102.9 • Beloit WGEZ-AM 1490 • Berlin WISS-AM 1100 • Berlin WISS-FM 97.3 • Dodgeville WDMP-AM 810 • Dodgeville WDMP-FM 99.3 • ft. Atkinson WFAW-AM 940 • ft. Atkinson WSJY-FM 107.3 • Hartford WTKM-FM 104.9 • Janesville WCLO-AM 1230 • Janesville WJVL-FM 99.9 • la Crosse WLFN-AM 1490 • lancaster WGLR-AM 1280 • lancaster WGLR-FM 97.7 • Marshfield WDLB-AM 1450 • Marshfield WHTQ-FM 96.7 • Minocqua WLKD-AM 1570 • Minocqua WMQA-FM 95.9 • Monroe WEKZ-AM 1260 • Monroe WEKZ-FM 93.7 • Oconto WOCO-AM 1260

BrownfieldAgNews.com

• Oconto WOCO-FM 107.1 • Platteville WPVL-AM 1590 • Prairie du Chien WQPC-FM 94.3 • Racine WRJN-AM 1400 • Reedsburg WRDB-AM 1400 • Reedsburg WNFM-FM 104.9 • Rhinelander WHDG-FM 97.3 • Rhinelander WOBT-AM 1240 • Rhinelander WRHN-FM 100.1 • Rhinelander WRLO-FM 105.3 • Rice lake WAQE-AM 1090 • Rice lake WJMC-AM 1240

• Richland Center WRCO-FM 100.9 • Ripon WRPN-AM 1600 • stevens Point WYTE-FM 106.5 • Viroqua WVRQ-AM 1360 • Waupaca WDUX-AM 800 • Waupun WFDL-AM 1170 • Wausau WBCV-FM 107.9 • Whitehall WHTL-FM 102.3 • Whitewater WKCH-FM 106.5 • Wisconsin Rapids WGLX-FM 103.3

Capitol

Watch Farm Bureau advocates for you in Madison and Washington D.C.

Farm Bill Squeaks By in U.S. House

Immigration Reform’s Fate Rests on House Action

Following a failed vote on the farm bill, the U.S. House narrowly passed a farm bill that only included farm provisions, without food assistance and nutrition programs which make up the lion’s share of funding. Here’s what WFBF President Jim Holte had to say about the vote: “No matter how many legislative twists and turns, the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation remains committed to meaningful reform within the next U.S. farm bill. Here in Wisconsin, agriculture represents more than $59 billion in annual economic activity. The next farm bill must provide the flexibility and certainty for livestock and crop growers to manage their own risk, while making market-based decisions that positively impact the fiscal health of their farms, and our state and local economies. Wisconsin Farm Bureau members have been seeking true farm policy reform for years. While the vote in the House was far from an ideal process, we ask that politics be laid aside as a conference committee seeks consensus on a farm bill that can be signed into law. We still see this as a real opportunity to transform our farm bill into policies that reflect agriculture’s future.”

The U.S. Senate passed a comprehensive immigration reform bill in June. It includes two separate pathways for foreign agricultural workers. 1. The Blue Card Program would allow existing and experienced farm workers a pathway to citizenship. It applies to workers that are here without permission and those here under the H2A program. It would provide legal authorization to work and travel in the United States and requires a multiyear commitment to continue working in agriculture for approximately five years. After criteria such as paying fines, passing a background check, no violent criminal history, payment of back taxes and additional requirement criteria, they may be eligible for green card status. 2. The Guestworker Visa Program replaces the current H2A program and controls the long-term access to a stable guest worker supply. This option allows entrance to additional, non-experienced foreign labor through a threeyear visa as an agricultural employee on either a contract or at-will basis. This allows laborers to migrate and follow the seasonal harvest patterns and provides the stability dairy farmers would need with the contractual work option. Additionally, the comprehensive package includes a labor cap at 112,000 visas issued annually for each of the first three years for a total of 336,000 visas. There is also a provision that allows the U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary the ability to adjust the flow of laborers under certain conditions. There are also wage standards set in four different skill categories within agriculture including a mandatory annual mark-up of between 1.5 and 2.5 percent. The dairy category starts their wage rate at $11.37 per hour. After the August recess, the U.S. House is expected to take up comprehensive immigration reform in four or five smaller pieces of legislation and send them together to the Senate in hopes that the legislation is similar enough to create a conference committee for a compromise between the two versions. “Either of these options may work for Wisconsin farmers,” said Karen Gefvert, WFBF’s Director of Governmental Relations, “but the essential issue for farmers is to have access to a legal, consistent workforce when they need it.”

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wisconsin farm bureau federation

Stray Voltage Legislation Would Curb Farmer Lawsuits Assembly Bill 257 provides a civil liability exemption to electric service providers for damages to livestock from the transmission, distribution or sale of electricity to a farm. That is if clear and convincing evidence is shown that the electric service (to the farm where alleged damage occurred) is operated and maintained in compliance with all applicable engineering and safety standards. State regulations currently establish an acceptable “level of concern” of 2-milliAmps of electrical current. The regulations also state that an electrical service provider cannot contribute more than 1-milliAmp towards the level of concern. If it does, it is responsible for reducing the unwanted electrical current below the establish threshold. There have been stray voltage lawsuits where dairy farmers have been awarded damages from electrical service providers even though the amount of unwanted current from the utility was below the 1 milliAmp threshold. In some cases, WFBF has filed legal briefs supporting the dairy farmers in their attempt to recover damages. WFBF member policy opposes granting immunity to electrical service providers in stray voltage cases, therefore WFBF is opposed to AB 257.

Raw Milk Returns

on the web Senate Bill 236 would allow Wisconsin farmers to register with For additional information on these items and other legislative and the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection to sell regulatory issues check out our website at www.wfbf.com/legislation. unpasteurized milk directly to consumers on the farm. If registered, a dairy farmer would not be required to obtain a milk producer license or a grade A permit as long as they do not send any milk to a dairy plant and sell only unpasteurized dairy products on the farm. The following criteria would need to be met: • The dairy farmer or consumer must provide a clean container. • The milk or milk product is labeled with the name of the milk producer and that the milk or milk product is not pasteurized. • The dairy farmer must post a sign stating: “Raw milk products sold here. Raw milk products are not pasteurized.” • The unpasteurized milk complies with the DATCP rules for grade A milk concerning appearance and odor; bacterial count, drug residues, Contact your somatic cell count, temperature and pesticides local Demco dealer today. and toxic substances. We want to be your • The dairy farmer complies with the DATCP provider for sprayers, rules concerning the water supply for dairy saddle tanks, operations. grain carts, All other DATCP rules governing the operation of dairy farms do not apply to a registered dairy and wagons. farmer who does not have a license or a grade A permit. Based on our member policy, WFBF does not support this legislation.

Get to know

august | september 2013

1-800-543-3626 • www.demco-products.com • Boyden Iowa www.wfbf.com

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Capstone Trip Takes Members to D.C.

By Amy Manske

ith all different ages and hometowns, 13 Wisconsin Farm Bureau members took to the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, June 19 to speak with legislators. In Wisconsin Farm Bureau’s leadership training Institute class they learned public speaking skills, leadership skills and how to properly address current agricultural topics. Very well prepared, these class graduates spoke to their legislators about their concerns for the future of agriculture. In Congressman Mark Pocan’s office, Kelly Sime of Stoughton spoke about her family’s dairy farm in south central Wisconsin and what the farm bill meant to them as a family and a business. Institute class members Kathleen Papcke of Elkhorn and Bill Barlass of Janesville chatted with Congressman Paul Ryan about immigration reform, which just happened to be debated that same day. Traveling to Washington, D.C. was the capstone of the Institute experience, where members enjoyed touring our nation’s capitol and put their leadership skills to the test. Left: The Institute class placed a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier during a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. Below: The group of Institute class members, WFBF Board members and staff met for a photo in front of the Canadian Embassy.

Above: Congressman Reid Ribble met with members to discuss the farm bill, immigration reform and dairy policy. Right: Kelly Sime talked with Congressman Mark Pocan about her dairy farm and why the farm bill is important to her. “My favorite part was getting together with my congressmen and senators because it is something I normally wouldn’t get the chance to do,” Katelyn Haglund, an Institute class member from Outagamie County said. Besides the important visits on Capitol Hill, the class members visited the American Farm Bureau Federation, the Canadian Embassy, Mount Vernon, Arlington Cemetery, numerous monuments and memorials and toured the Capitol. To find out more about becoming a participant in the Farm Bureau Institute go to wfbf.com. Left: The Institute class enjoyed visiting the monuments around Washington, D.C.

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wisconsin farm bureau federation

Annual Report 2013

Reaping august | september 2013

what we

Sowed

www.wfbf.com

A Message from

Roger Cliff

“You can take pride in Farm Bureau’s success too.”

After 40 years with this organization, I am preparing to retire at the end of the year. I will leave feeling proud about the many good things that happened under my watch as your chief lobbyist for 31 years and the last nine years as WFBF’s Chief Administrative Officer. I feel good about what I am handing over to my successor, Stephen Freese. You can take pride in Farm Bureau’s success too. It all starts with your membership; as members are our organization’s lifeblood. Our county Farm Bureaus are stronger and more active than ever, with a growing legion of dedicated volunteer leaders all across the state and five consecutive years of membership growth. Our three collegiate Farm Bureaus are flourishing. WFBF has a great staff that wants to excel. Last but not least, WFBF is in a much stronger financial position than when I moved into this position. I feel like I’m going out on top. At this year’s American Farm Bureau Annual

Membership The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation capped off five straight years of membership growth in 2012, finishing the year with 44,169 members. WFBF membership is comprised of voting and associate members. Voting members are farmers, people with direct involvement in production agriculture, and owners of agricultural property. Associate members are individuals and businesses who join Farm Bureau to utilize services and benefits and to support the work of the organization.

Once again, Farm Bureau’s network of volunteer membership workers across the state was instrumental to our membership growth, signing up more than 700 new members while helping to maintain a 95% renewal rate among voting members. Meanwhile, more than 1,950 new associate members joined Farm Bureau, thanks to the efforts of our Rural Mutual Insurance agents, who helped contribute to an overall membership retention rate that exceeded 90%.

Meeting, Wisconsin received its first Pinnacle Award, which is given to the best state Farm Bureau in each membership class. It’s a great feeling to retire after winning the Farm Bureau’s version of the Super Bowl trophy. Whether it be Wisconsin football or agriculture, we are not ones to simply rest on our past glory days. We strive for better days ahead. With your continued support and involvement, I am confident that WFBF will continue to succeed at providing a voice for farmers and a vision for agriculture. Thank you for the opportunity to serve Wisconsin farm families over the past four decades.

Roger Cliff Chief Administrative Officer Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation

WFBF ended the 2012 membership year with 23,721 voting members and 20,448 associate members. Fifty-one of the 61 county Farm Bureaus reported an increase in voting members, while 32 counties reported increases in total membership. The 2013 membership year concludes on September 28, and thanks to the commitment of Farm Bureau volunteers and the support of our affiliate company personnel, Farm Bureau is poised to grow six years in a row!

Success is what we Reaped

YFA - Women’ s - Institute

Growing Leaders

Young Farmer and Agriculturist Program

Farm Bureau’s Young Farmer and Agriculturist (YFA) program offers leadership development experiences for members between the ages of 18 and 35. A total of 344 YFA members attended last December’s YFA Conference portion of the WFBF Annual Meeting at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells. To help build the next generation of rural leaders, Rural Mutual Insurance Company sponsored 100 WFBF members as first-time attendees, as well as 24 Collegiate Farm Bureau members, to the informational, educational and fun event. The YFA program also recognizes young members for their agricultural knowledge, farming accomplishments and leadership skills through three leadership contests. Last year, 16 members completed the Achievement Award application, 27 competed in the state Discussion Meet contest and 12 completed the Excellence in Agriculture application. Wisconsin’s winners of those three contests represented their peers at the American Farm Bureau Annual Meeting in Nashville, Tennessee. Jenny Dierickx of Dane County competed in the national Excellence in Agriculture contest, while Green County dairy farmer, Jeffrey McNeely competed in the national Achievement Award contest. Katie Reichling, a graduate student from Lafayette County, competed in the national Discussion Meet contest. Teresa Hanson, a dairy nutritionist for Crystal Creek, Inc. from Shell Lake, leads the nine-member state YFA Committee.

Women’s Program for Leadership and Education

Members of this program promote agriculture through a number of channels. Over the past year they advanced ag literacy among Wisconsin youth by assisting with the annual Ag in the Classroom essay contest and purchasing Ag in the Classroom children’s books for schools, libraries and childcare facilities. Women’s committees in 29 counties worked to engage consumers by promoting Farm Bureau’s Food CheckOut Week and helping with 29 beef promotion events across the state. In addition to holding district meetings where local members develop their leadership skills, network and socialize, more than 350 women attended the 2013 Wisconsin Ag Women’s Summit at the Marriott West in Madison. The Summit is a joint venture of WFBF, Badgerland Financial and UW-Extension. Next year’s Wisconsin Ag Women’s Summit will be March 14-15 at the Marriott West in Madison. Jane Mueller, an Eau Claire County farmer, leads the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation’s nine-member state Women’s Committee.

Check out how YOU can get involved at wfbf.com/ programsevents.

Wisconsin Farm Bureau Institute

The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Institute is a year-long leadership experience which provides premier personal growth and leadership training to develop the next crop of county Farm Bureau leaders. The 14 members of Institute Class VII have completed sessions on personal leadership development, media training and how the Wisconsin Farm Bureau functions. Their remaining sessions include studying local and state government in Madison and examining national and international ag issues at the offices of the Iowa Farm Bureau. They will graduate at the WFBF Annual Meeting in December before taking a capstone trip to Washington, D.C. in April to impact agricultural policy with their newfound leadership skills. That’s exactly what members of Institute Class VI did when they traveled with the WFBF Board of Directors to Washington, D.C. this past June. Prior to their visits with Wisconsin’s congressional delegation, they met with officials at the American Farm Bureau, leaders from USDA and the Canadian Embassy. Their capstone trip also included participating in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery and touring Mount Vernon. As of this year, a total of 100 Farm Bureau members from across the state have graduated from the program, and more importantly, grown from their Institute experience.

Leadership is what we Reaped august | september 2013

www.wfbf.com

Public Relations

A Voice for Farmers.

As the voice of agriculture, the Farm Bureau continues to be who the media calls when they need information about farm and food news. Over the past year, the Farm Bureau received more than 300 media requests from print, radio, television and web-based reporters from local, state, national and international media outlets. Many of these press contacts were generated by more than 200 press releases and radio reports that are produced by the Wisconsin Farm Bureau annually. In addition, the Farm Bureau’s public relations division delivers its messages to members and the consuming public through a number of other channels.

Rural Route

The Wisconsin Farm Bureau’s Rural Route is published six times annually for voting Farm Bureau members. The publication focuses on Farm Bureau’s legislative work, events, educational efforts, sponsorships and exclusive member benefits. Rural Route can also be flipped through on our website: www.WFBF. com.

Website

The Wisconsin Farm Bureau’s website (www. WFBF.com) serves as an interactive resource for members, agricultural leaders and media. Information about farm markets, weather, legislative issues, Farm Bureau programs and applications for various events are just a click away. Radio reports are available for listening and on-farm videos and interviews are available for watching. Issues of our state and county publications are also available digitally.

Social Media

County Newsletters

Marketbasket

Ag Newswire

To connect with other Farm Bureau members and receive up to the minute updates on events and news, just click ‘like’ on the ‘Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation’ Facebook page. In addition, members of the Farm Bureau’s Institute, Ag in the Classroom and YFA programs all have Facebook pages. Farm Bureau also gets its message out through the use of Twitter @WIFarmBureau. You can find photos from our events on our flickr page (go to www.WFBF. com and click on the “fr” tab above the search bar) and watch our videos on YouTube. Check out the photos, graphics and ideas we have pinned at pinterest.com/ wifarmbureau.

Farm Bureau’s retail food price survey remains a popular item with media outlets statewide. The information about the average price of a set of predetermined food items is collected by Farm Bureau members across the state. The Marketbasket’s findings show trends in prices paid by consumers and their correlation to trade, weather and the supply and demand issues that factor into food prices.

Forty-eight of our 61 county Farm Bureaus now have their newsletters published by the state Farm Bureau office. This is a feature of the County Farm Bureau Services Program. The quarterly newsletters promote local events, provide information on what county Farm Bureaus are doing on the grassroots level, as well as highlight individual members.

This “subscription only” email is sent to Farm Bureau members and to Wisconsin media. It provides an easy to read snapshot of farm, food and rural news on the state and national levels. It also highlights Farm Bureau activities and the organization’s involvement with key legislative issues. The Ag Newswire is sent to nearly 2,600 Farm Bureau members and nearly 300 reporters for print, radio, television and web-based news outlets. Are you receiving it yet? If not, send your name and email to clangan@wfbf.com.

Awareness is what we Reaped

Governmental Relations

A Vision for Agriculture.

WFBF continues to work on behalf of Wisconsin’s farm families, providing key representation on a variety of state and federal issues. The organization’s true strength is the grassroots network of informed and politically active members who contact their legislators on issues, attend Ag Day at the Capitol in Madison and travel on Farm Bureau sponsored trips to our nation’s capital.

In Madison

In Washington, D.C.

State Budget

ATCP 50

Farm Bill

Elections

Immigration

WFBF advocated for items important to The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, agriculture in the 2013-15 state budget: Trade and Consumer Protection proposed • Maintained funding for the Buy Local, revisions to ATCP 50 (the agency’s portion Buy Wisconsin program, and county land of Wisconsin’s nonpoint source pollution and conservation department staff. prevention and abatement program). The • Created a dairy processor grant program revisions are necessary to be consistent to promote with nonpoint growth of the performance No matter what size, commodity or dairy industry. modifications • Continued approved by the management style, Wisconsin Farm cost sharing Department of Bureau works hard to represent you. for farmers to Natural Resources implement in 2010. The conservation practices. revisions establish conservation practice • Reduced agrichemical cleanup program options for farmers to meet new and fees by 20 percent. updated performance standards adopted • Increased county fair aids. by DNR. WFBF worked with DATCP to • Provided $248,400 in annual funding for ensure the conservation practices and the UW-Extension Discovery Farms. technical standards are workable. Several • Continued to fund UW-Madison’s farmers expressed concerns at public fertilizer research. hearings about the reliability of the • Provided $250,000 annually for the phosphorous index for pastures. DATCP is livestock premise registration program. working to resolve this issue. Final adoption of ATCP 50 should occur this winter.

Implements of Husbandry

Laws addressing farm equipment have not been updated for more than 50 years. Local roads were not designed to accommodate today’s heavier equipment. Citations for exceeding road weight limits and improper axel-weight configurations resulted in a Department of Transportation working group (on which the WFBF served). This panel was tasked with evaluating current agricultural equipment laws and finding a balance between what current roads can tolerate and modern farm equipment. Recommendations could result in legislation this fall.

The Volunteers for Agriculture (WFBF’s political action arm) endorsed several State Senate and Assembly incumbents who support agriculture in the 2012 general election. The VFA also endorsed State Supreme Court Justice Pat Roggensack for her reelection last spring. The VFA sent postcards to voting members encouraging their vote for ag-friendly incumbents. Newspaper and radio ads were run in selected races.

Passing a farm bill in 2013 is the WFBF’s top legislative priority. Despite the U.S. House voting down its farm bill proposal earlier this summer, the WFBF and a wide coalition of others will continue to support passage of a bill that eliminates direct payments and utilizes the savings for risk management programs and crop insurance. WFBF also supports streamlining programs like the Conservation Reserve Program by narrowing eligibility criteria to focus on environmentally-sensitive lands. WFBF supports dairy policy reform by the elimination of milk price support programs and replacing them with a Passing a farm margin insurance bill in 2013 is proposal. The the WFBF’ s top new program should be legislative priority. market-oriented, encouraging farmers to manage their own risk while remaining market competitive.

Wisconsin dairy farmers need a year-long, experienced workforce to help milk cows. The Senate has passed a WFBF-backed comprehensive immigration reform package, while the House is splitting immigration reform into four or five smaller bills. These bills contain new programs to address agriculture’s labor shortages with a legal and documented workforce.

Exposure isiswhat whatwe we Reaped Advocacy august | september 2013

www.wfbf.com

Ag in the Classroom

Planting Seeds

The Agriculture in the Classroom (AITC) program provides Wisconsin teachers and their students with the tools to teach and learn how their next meal travels from the farm to the fork. The goal of the program is to help students gain a greater awareness of the role of agriculture in the economy and society, so that they may become citizens who support wise agricultural policies.

Local Efforts

There are 74 local AITC coordinators in 61 Wisconsin counties with organized AITC programs. The local Agriculture in the Classroom efforts are carried out by the county’s AITC Committee. Among the counties that submitted 2012 activity reports, the average committee consisted of five members and utilized additional volunteers for farm tours, classroom presentations or other events.

the team ranked in the top five and was recognized at the National AITC Conference in Minneapolis in June. They included Jenna McCann, Jamie Christianson, Nancy Toberman, Tracy Haupt, and Kathie Thompson.

Project Funding

The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation awarded 16 matching grants totaling $6,250 to Wisconsin schools and organizations to use for agricultural literacy lessons and activities.

Essay Contest

The expenditures for those county AITC programs reporting in 2012 were $151,221. Approximately 14,428 volunteer hours were contributed to conduct a variety of local AITC activities.

Teachers Recognized

Each year the Wisconsin Farm Bureau recognizes a teacher for their efforts in educating students on the importance of agriculture. Teachers of all grade levels and subject areas, with the exclusion of certified agriculture education instructors, are eligible to apply for the award. A team of teachers from the Merrimac Community Charter School was recognized as Wisconsin’s winner. When sent to the USDA for the National AITC competition,

Carter Schmitt of CochraneFountain City was the winner of the Agriculture in the Classroom’s essay contest. Wisconsin fourth and fifth graders were asked to write a 100 to 300 word essay with the theme, “Wisconsin farms help me eat a healthy lunch by...” A total of 1,996 Wisconsin students wrote essays for the competition sponsored by the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation, Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, Frontier FS and We Energies.

•

Other AITC Activities

• How did that get in my lunchbox? was selected as the Wisconsin Farm Bureau’s 2013 Book of the Year. • Purchased a “My American Farm Kiosk” that is being used by county programs, groups and at events. • Wisconsin Dells High School selected for American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture’s “Agriculture in a Growing World” grant program. • Washington Middle School in Oconto Falls selected for American Farm Bureau Foundation for “Agriculture’s

•

Feeding Minds, Cultivating Growth Opportunity” grant program. Develop agricultural career workshop resources in conjunction with Wisconsin Ag Education Workforce Development Council utilizing a National FFA Alumni Local Program Grant. Offered county AITC information meetings, training sessions and workshops, reaching more than 400 people. This included a two-day training for Soybean Science Kits, Wisconsin AITC and commodity group resources. 69 Soybean Science Kits were utilized by 4,943 students. Soybean Science Kit training was offered to agriculture education advisors and other teachers in June. Coordinated Summer Teacher Training with the University of Wisconsin-River Falls offering a two-day bus tour, classroom sessions and Soybean Science Kit training.

Ag Literacy is what we Reaped

Farm Bureau Foundation

Wise Investments

Supporting agricultural education programs and developing agricultural leaders is the guiding principle of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation. The Foundation accomplishes this by providing vital financial support to the Ag in the Classroom program, Farm Bureau Institute, and the Wisconsin 4-H and FFA organizations.

Foundation fundraising accomplishments: • • • •

The 2012 Wisconsin Ag Open raised more than $9,922. The silent auction at the 2012 WFBF Annual Meeting raised more than $16,631. The YFA 50-50 raffle raised $2,471 and the Money Wars raised $742. The Learn and Lead campaigns, memorial and “in honor of” gifts, and individual, county Farm Bureau and corporate donations continue to support the Foundation. The WFB Foundation has launched a new campaign - 40 by 40 to recognize the accomplishments of Roger Cliff as he retires as our CAO. With a goal of raising $40,000 by the end of the WFBF Annual Meeting, a minimum gift of $40 is required to be involved in the campaign. Suggested gifts are $40, $400, $1400, and $4,000 but any give of $40 or above will be appreciated. All contributions will benefit the WFB Foundation and Wisconsin Collegiate Farm Bureau chapters at UW-Madison, UWPlatteville and UWRiver Falls.

40by 40

The Foundation’s support included: • •

•

• • • • •

Wisconsin Farm Bureau

Farm Bureau Staff Administration

Sponsoring the 4-H Key Awards for youth for the 39th year. Supporting “This Business Called Agriculture” booklets produced by the Wisconsin Agribusiness Council. Supporting the Wisconsin Ag Education Workforce Development Council’s career resource - www.whyag.com. Providing support to the Wisconsin Environmental Education Foundation for educational resources and projects. Providing financial support for the Wisconsin FFA’s Discussion Meet awards and Food for America program. Co-sponsoring the Farm Bureau’s annual FFA Farm Forum which provides leadership training for FFA members. Contributing to the Wisconsin Rural Youth Scholarship. Providing scholarships to Farm Bureau members enrolled in Leadership Wisconsin. Offering continued support for the Wisconsin Cranberry Discovery Center’s educational displays and tours.

Public Relations

Darlene Arneson

Jim Holte, WFBF President 608.828.5700 Roger Cliff, Chief Administrative Officer 608.828.5703

Casey Langan, Executive Director 608.828.5711

Becky Schollian, Executive Assistant 608.828.5701

Amy Manske,

Governmental Relations

Lynn Siekmann,

Paul Zimmerman, Executive Director 608.828.5708 608.828.5713 Karen Gefvert, Director

Sheri Sutton, Communications Director 262.949.2418 608.828.5706

Communications Coordinator Administrative Assistant

608.828.5707

Member Relations

Operations

Bob Leege, Executive Director 608.828.5710

Jeff Fuller, Executive Director 608.828.5715

Deb Raemisch, Director 608.828.5712

Steve Mason, General Accountant 608.828.5720

Dale Beaty, Director of 608.828.5714 Training and Leadership Development

Jill Bennwitz, Administrative Assistant 608.828.5705

Foundation Director, AITC Coordinator

608.828.5719

Patti Roden, District 1 Coordinator 866.355.7341 Becky Hurley, District 2 Coordinator 866.355.7342 Gretchen Kamps, District 3 Coordinator 866.355.7343 Steve Boe, District 4 Coordinator 866.355.7344 Becky Hibicki, District 5 Coordinator 866.355.2029 Kimberly Rusch, District 6 Coordinator 866.355.7345 Wes Raddatz, District 7 Coordinator 866.355.7346 Lindsey Prahl, District 8 Coordinator 866.355.7348 Wendy Kannel, District 9 Coordinator 866.355.7349 Darci Meili, Administrative Assistant 608.828.5704

Support is what we Reaped august | september 2013

www.wfbf.com

(First row, left to right) District 2 - Jerry Bradley, District 6 - Rosie Lisowe, Young Farmer and Agriculturist Chair - Teresa Hanson, Women’s Committee Chair - Jane Mueller, District 1 Dave Daniels, (Back row, left to right) District 4 - Joe Bragger, District 8 - Donald Radtke, District 9 President James Holte, District 3 - Vice President Richard Gorder, District 5 - Kevin Krentz and District 7 - Wayne Staidl.

2013 Board of Directors Teresa Hanson

Jane Mueller

Young Farmer and Agriculturist Chair Shell Lake

Jim Holte

Women’s Committee Chair Fall Creek

President District 9, Elk Mound

District 8, Merrill

Bayfield Douglas

“

Don Radtke

Wayne Staidl

District 7, Peshtigo

Superior Shores Iron

Rosie Lisowe

Ashland

District 6, Chilton

Sawyer Price Polk

Rusk

Lincoln

Barron

Marinette

Langlade

Taylor Chippewa

St. Croix Dunn

Eau Claire

Pierce

Portage Wood

Monroe Juneau

Kevin Krentz District 5, Berlin

Waushara

Adams La Crosse

Brown Waupaca

Jackson

Joe Bragger

District 4, Independence

Door

Shawano

Clark

Trempealeau Buffalo

Vernon Crawford

Richland

Marquette Green Lake Columbia

Sauk

Iowa Grant

Richard Gorder

Oconto

Marathon

Lafayette

Green

Vice President District 3, Mineral Point

Jerry Bradley

District 2, Sun Prairie

Calumet Manitowoc Winnebago Fond du Lac

Dodge

Jefferson

Dane

Rock

Kewaunee

Outagamie

Sheboygan

Washington Ozaukee Waukesha Milwaukee

Walworth

Racine

We can be proud of what we have achieved together all across our great state. -Jim Holte, WFBF President

”

Kenosha

Dave Daniels

District 1, Union Grove

Unity is what we Reaped 20

august Rural| Route september 2013 wisconsin farm bureau www.wfbf.com federation 20

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august | september 2013

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Meet Board Member:

Jane Mueller By Casey Langan

Jane Mueller spent the last 33 years on an Eau Claire County dairy farm. Such stability is a bit of a shock to the system for a former, self-described “army brat.”

“I

didn’t grow up anywhere,” she said of her upbringing that involved 28 moves before she graduated from high school. Eau Claire is where she was born, where her grandmother lived and where her family listed as their official residency during all of those moves. She returned there to attend college. During that time she was introduced by a friend to her future husband, Doug, who enjoyed a more stable upbringing on farm that had been in his family since 1906.

Community Minded • Jane and Doug were both graduates of Leadership Wisconsin (formerly the Wisconsin Rural Leadership Program). “We had a deal. Both of us kept getting nominated, so after the kids were old enough to be in school, I said, ‘Why don’t you go and then I’ll go afterwards.’” Doug was part of Class 9 (2000-2002) and Jane was in Class 10 (2002-2004). • Jane directs two choirs as the music coordinator at St. Raymond’s Church. • As a dairy ambassador for the Eau Claire County Dairy Promotion Committee, she, a local builders group and the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board are set to open a farm display at the Children’s Museum of Eau Claire. It features a plastic cow that milks, half-sized barn with haymow, small utility tractor and tractor simulator. • The Muellers hosted a barn dance fundraiser in May for a scholarship in memory of Doug where two students who want to study agriculture from Eau Claire Memorial High School receive $500 scholarships. • Jane is a recent recipient of the Concern for Community Award from the Eau Claire Energy Cooperative. • Doug and Jane received the Distinguished Service to Farm Bureau Award in 2007.

Rural Route

“He never had a different bedroom,” Jane said with a chuckle. “As newlyweds we moved into the bedroom he grew up in.” In the years that followed, she taught middle school math and religion at a Catholic school. Together, they milked 60 Holstein cows and farmed 530 acres of hilly terrain. They raised three children: Meg, 30, is a large animal veterinarian in nearby Osseo; Peter, 25, has returned full-time to the farm; Steven, 20, is an agricultural engineering student at UW-River Falls who also shows an interest in farming. Jane serves as chair of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau’s Women’s Committee. She speaks to other farm women about planning for their futures and what to do when the unexpected happens. It’s wisdom that she learned the hard way. Doug went to the doctor with a back ache in 2006 and went home with a prognosis of an aggressive form of prostate cancer and two to six years to live. Instead, he died 15 months later. “We had a year’s notice,” Jane said of the process the family was forced to undertake. “Everything on the farm was home-built, home-grown. Nobody but Doug knew how everything worked on the farm.” He started making lists and a relative helped put together operating manuals for everything on the farm, which were critical for volunteers who lent a hand when Doug fell seriously ill during the 2007 harvest season.

wisconsin farm bureau federation

Bringing the World to Their Farm The term “agvocacy” might be new, but the Muellers have been living it for years. Doug and his father, Ken, always kept pride in keeping the farm always ready for visitors. In addition to tours for thousands of people from elementary schools, colleges and 4-H clubs, the farm has played host to these unique visitors: • A busload of Swedish farmers traveling from the World Dairy Expo to the Mall of America. They didn’t speak English, but recognized the names of cattle sires. • Bill signing ceremonies for governors Thompson and McCallum. • Former U.S. Congressman Steve Gunderson flew to the farm via helicopter with another congressman while touring the locks and dams along the Mississippi River. • A Nigerian businessman driving along I-94 wanted to know what farms were like. So the local chamber of commerce sent him to the Muellers.

• A missionary took their antique cream separator and corn sheller to Africa because that equipment was considered current there. • Bad weather forced a scheduled visit by President George W. Bush to an indoor venue in Eau Claire. For 10 years the Muellers hosted foreign journalists through a partnership between Macalester College in St. Paul and the World Press Institute. In addition to guests from Romania, China and Germany, there was a Hindu from Nepal who taught the Muellers about their homeland’s unique burial practices; A man from Liberia who had spent time in a refugee camp in Kenya; and a Mongolian woman with ultra-communist views. “At first she was sure we were all evil,” recalls Jane, “but at graduation she cried at the realization of how deceived she had been.”

“Be proactive and think about if you have everything covered,” is her advice to other farm families. Jane is thankful the Muellers had gone through the legalities of ensuring a smooth farm transition years prior to Doug’s illness. It’s a process she’s going through again as she prepares for the next generation to farm. Feeling a need to carry on the farm’s legacy, Jane says she never really considered selling the cows. “Even during a stressful year like this, we get it done,” she said during the wet spring of 2013. Jane and son, Peter, are assisted by a farm manager, Larry Duerkop, at Mueller Hilltop Acres. At 91, family matriarch Kathleen Mueller, is still part-owner of the farm and an active gardener. As for the future, Jane says the family is mulling over changes to their milking barn. She would like to eventually see a herd of at least 100 cows with a milking parlor.

Farm Bureau Pride

Kathleen, Jane and the late Doug Mueller are shown at a party celebrating a century of farm ownership by the Muellers. “I love my Farm Bureau family and getting to know people,” Jane says with enthusiasm and pride. Doug and his father, Ken, both served as the Eau Claire County Farm Bureau president for decades. Early on, Jane got involved with the women’s committee and “Farm Bureau has always been an extension of the farm. Ag in the Classroom on the local level. It is part of us,” said Jane who now represents west-central “It was my teacher interest more than anything,” she said. “I Wisconsin’s District 4 on the state Women’s Committee. She was didn’t like seeing curriculums and text books that did not pertain chosen to lead the committee last December. As chair, she also to modern agriculture. I’m an educator at heart. It saddens me serves on the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation’s Board of to see misperceptions about farming. Farmers at some point lost Directors. the reputation by some in our society as good stewards of the “What we grow might be different, but the family, community, land. Our story has been drowned out by others.” weather, safety and pricing issues are basically the same,” she “It’s the best of both worlds of who I am: a teacher and a said of the other dynamic farm women she meets at state and farmer,” Jane said of her Farm Bureau involvement. national gatherings.

august | september 2013

www.wfbf.com

Members

Farm Bureau

Photos and recipes courtesy of the Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association.

Ingredients and Steps

Cranberry Pumpkin Muffins

Dressing: 8 oz yogurt, plain, fat free 1 C. cucumber, peeled, seeded and chopped 1 tbsp. honey 1 tsp. lemon juice 1 tsp. tarragon, dried 1 tsp. chives, chopped 1/4 tsp. garlic, minced 1/4 tsp. salt 1/8 tsp. white pepper, ground

Preheat oven to 400째F Cream: 1/4 C. margarine (softened) 1 1/4 C. sugar Add: 2 eggs (one at a time) 1 C. canned pumpkin Sift together and add to wet ingredients: 1 1/2 C. flour 1/4 tsp. baking powder 1 tsp. baking soda 1/4 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. cinnamon 1/2 tsp. nutmeg 1/2 tsp. ground cloves Fold in: 1 C. chopped cranberries (fresh or frozen) 1/2 C. chopped walnuts Spoon the batter into muffin cups, filling close to top. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Makes 12-18 muffins.

Salad: 2 C. (4 oz) spinach leaves, washed 1 1/2 C. (4 oz) spring greens, washed and torn 1 1/3 C. (6 oz) cranberries, sweetened dried 1 anjou pear, cored and cubed 1 yellow bell pepper, seeded and cut into thin strips 1 C. toasted candied walnuts (homemade or store bought) 1/4 C. green onions, thinly sliced Process dressing ingredients in food processor or blender until smooth. Place salad ingredients in large bowl. Toss with dressing. Sprinkle on 1 cup curried hazelnuts. Makes 4 servings.

Cranberry Pear Salad 24

Rural Route

wisconsin farm bureau federation

Photo submitted by Krista Dolan, Dodgeville, WI

Photo submitted by Maggie Bryan, Elk Mound, WI

Send in YOUR Photos Wisconsin Farm Bureau members live and work on some of the most beautiful pieces of land. On this page we would like to highlight those sights and special moments with your families and friends. Please email your photos (high resolution jpgs, 4x6 inches at 300 dpi) to ssutton@ wfbf.com. Due to the high volume of photos we receive, we are unable to include every photo.

Photo submitted by Abby Schulte, Belmont, WI

Photo submitted by Barbara Ott, Wonewoc, WI august | september 2013

Photo submitted by Becky Kramer, Eastman, WI

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aryn K t e e M chauf S Photos by Wendy Kannel

Q&A with World Dairy Expo Woman of the Year and Barron County Farm Bureau President

Tell us about your family: My husband Bob and I have four sons. They

grew up helping in the various aspects of our farm, giving all of them a good work ethic and an entrepreneurial spirit. Christian and Zachary are in business together developing promotions and marketing events for their clients. Jacob, the youngest, works for them and Gabriel is a funeral director with O’Connell Family Funeral Homes in Hudson and Baldwin, WI. Christian graduated from UW-Madison and the other three graduated from the University of Minnesota. Last year, we added two wonderful young women to our family when Zachary married Brooke who is a teacher, and a month later Gabriel married Katie who is a beautician. Tell us about your farm: Bob and I started farming near his home area in Richland Center. Upon the death of my grandfather, my family asked if we would be interested in moving up to my family’s home farm in Barron. We began by purchasing the home 80 acres and renting the rest. Today our farm consists of 1,150 acres, 859 of which are tillable. I live in the same house I lived in when I was about 4-years-old and my dad was a herdsman for my grandpa. Like Grandpa, we especially enjoy the challenge of breeding registered Holsteins. We have hosted several sales over the years as marketing is an important aspect of our business. The last couple were leaning toward phasing out of dairying, but we just enjoy those great Holsteins too much…we’re back to milking almost a full barn again (80 stalls) with a 30,000+ average. In addition to corn, hay, soybeans and canning beans, we not only continued but greatly expanded a shavings

Rural Route

business my grandfather had started. We deliver over 1,200 semi loads of bedding to turkey, horse and cattle farms each year and boiler fuel to our local school and hospital. What on your farm makes you most proud: Honestly, it is our farm help that makes me most proud. Nine of our employees have been with us over 12 years and six of those have been with us over 18 years. Dare I say we have grown old together? Our Indianhead crew feels like family and we’re very proud and appreciative of them. We’ve always said the quality of our life depends on our help – and we’ve been blessed! This is no one-man show! What is your biggest challenge: Personally, my biggest challenge is the bookkeeping. Like many other farm wives, I seemed to ‘inherit’ it and I often pouted, “This is NOT what I signed up for!” Plus, government rules and regulations just keep increasing. It was maybe around year 30 that I quit my complaining and just decided to try to do my best, there’s no way around it. It unfortunately takes up a great portion of my time. What made you decide to farm: I can’t help but think some of us are just born with a love of the land. Living next door to my grandpa when he cash cropped, I worked for him and lived on the seat of a tractor. Although I wanted to farm, my dad told me I wasn’t mechanical enough to be successful and that I’d better get a vocation to support myself in case I didn’t find a farmer for my partner! So, my degree is in Elementary Education. Fortunately for me I found that farmer! Bob and I crossed paths when I was Alice in Dairyland. My aunt, Jean Hegna, gets credit for that!

wisconsin farm bureau federation

What do you enjoy most about Farm Bureau? I strongly believe in the three main goals that Farm Bureau exists for – to develop future leaders in agriculture, educate our future generations about agriculture and to provide a voice legislatively for those of us actually in the business of agriculture. All three are essential for a healthy future for agriculture. Over the years this organization has earned a reputation of professionalism and excellence, has proven itself to be a credible source on ag issues and is an available avenue for any farmer or agribusinessman to express themselves. I have always been proud to be a member of this organization. What advice do you have for young farmers: Young farmers would do well to get as much experience as they can before they become financially responsible for their own decisions! They are often anxious to get going and start building their own equity, but I think they would be further ahead in the long run by learning from someone else’s failures, successes or management style. Get away from the family farm. Work for someone else for two-four years and arm yourself with a strong business education. What has been one of your greatest accomplishments: To raise sons with a strong faith and of strong moral character was, I believe, my most important responsibility in my life. I am very proud and happy of the young men they are and the strong relationships they have with each other. I expect them to be positive influences wherever they find themselves in life. Definitely I was only one part of their upbringing but I am grateful to count it as one of my greatest accomplishments. What does farming mean to you: As a girl I had a poster hanging in my room. I can still recite it: “Let us never forget that the cultivation of the earth is the most important labor of man.” Daniel Webster. In fact, I used that quote for the first talk I gave in the Alice in Dairyland finals (1977!). Farming used to be my first passion in life…today, my faith and family have bumped it into third position, but it is still a passion of mine. I see farming as an opportunity – an opportunity to be involved in providing a necessity of life, an opportunity to work with our Creator in the miracle of His creation, and a serious responsibility to always maintain a role of stewardship. I just feel so fortunate to be a farmer, but I am pessimistic about our future. While it is exciting to see the influence of agriculture expand, I am saddened to watch it seemingly move away from local ownership, true family ownership. I am a great believer that whenever man has a personal investment in whatever we may be talking about – health care, our utility bills, our natural resources – we are better decision makers, better stewards. Our rural communities are far better off with numerous individual farms supporting numerous suppliers. Agriculture’s role in creating the strong rural communities Wisconsin is

august | september 2013

especially known for cannot be understated and I am afraid we are headed for irreversible changes as fewer entities own larger tracts of land. Perhaps I am small minded, but I think the social impact of these changes on the community are going to be far more devastating than we are expecting. Bigger is NOT always better. What are some of your goals for the future? One of our goals is to be able to transition this farm to our next generation, that they too would care for and pass on an appreciation for the land. We would love it if family would want to continue in this great world of agriculture. On a personal side, I used to be quite involved in raising and training dogs. It’s always been my dream to train a dog for search and rescue and help in that way. What do you want your legacy to be? I am not interested in building a legacy for myself. My legacy would be that I was a person who was not afraid to live her beliefs – that I lived out my faith as God would have wanted me to, serving and helping others reach their potential in whatever way I can, that I have done my part to make this world a better place.

www.wfbf.com

on the web

Member Benefits

Savings for your Family or Business

View additional WFBF Member Benefits and more details on our website at www.wfbf.com/benefits-membership.

Wisconsin Farm Bureau offers benefits and services to its members, covering a range of options that respond to the needs of farmers, families and businesses in Wisconsin.

Auto/General Motors Discount

Supplies & Products

ase IH - Eligible Farm Bureau members will receive an incentive discount ($300 to $500) when purchasing qualifying Case IH equipment from participating dealers. The discount can be used with other discounts, promotions, rebates or offers that may be provided by Case IH or a Case IH dealership. Go to www.fbverify.com/case to see the eligible models and print your certificate.

eneral Motors - Eligible members may receive a $500 discount on qualifying Chevrolet, GMC or Buick vehicles they purchase or lease.

Health

S-Growmark Patronage - Members who are patrons of their local FS cooperative are eligible to receive patronage dividends when patronage is paid.

criptSave® - ScriptSave is a prescription drug savings card available to you at NO COST as an added feature of your membership. Call 800.700.3957.

rainger Industrial Supply - Grainger Industrial Supply is the nation’s leading maintenance, repair and operational supplies distributor. Receive a 10% discount on all Grainger catalog items. For a free catalog call 608.221.3861. When ordering use the Farm Bureau account #855922019.

troke Detection Plus - Stroke Detection Plus offers preventative medical screenings at a discounted price to Farm Bureau members. These ultrasound screenings help detect blockages that can lead to stroke, aortic aneurysms and other artery diseases. For more information, call 1.877.732.8258.

Protection

eward Protection Program - Farm Bureau pays a $500 reward to people providing information leading to the arrest and conviction of individuals for arson, theft or criminal damage to a member’s property that is posted with a Farm Bureau reward sign or sticker.

ffice Depot - Save up to 80% on Office Depot Preferred Products along with reduced prices on ink, paper, office supplies, toner, stamps/daters, pens, pads, furniture and much more. Members get free next day delivery with free shipping on orders over $50 and terrific copy and print pricing. Visit wfbf.com/officedepot.

Financial

griPlan Medical Reimbursement Program - The AgriPlanNOW! program is based on Section 105 of the IRS code and can allow farmers and other selfemployed individuals to deduct 100 percent of their family’s medical expenses through their farm or business. To learn more about AgriPlan and/or sign up, go to www.tasconline.com or call 888.595.2261.

ccidental Death Policy - Members receive $1,500 in accidental death insurance for themselves and their spouse, and $500 for minors. The policy increases in value for consecutive years of membership up to $3,500.

Insurance

ural Mutual Insurance Company - Offering a full line of insurance and financial products for your personal, farm and business needs exclusively for Wisconsin Farm Bureau members. Our rural Wisconsin heritage assures that you’ll find in us the strong values you expect and deserve. Visit us on the web at www.ruralins.com to find your nearest Rural Mutual agent.

arm Bureau Financial Services is a dynamic multi-state insurance and investment organization serving individuals and families in not only rural areas, but also suburban and metropolitan. You can get more information about the financial services from your local Rural Insurance agent. Learn more about Farm Bureau Financial Services at www.fbfs.com.

Communication

griVisor - WFBF members can receive a 35% discount on daily grain, livestock and feed input marketing advice, as well as current market quotes and updates. Call 800.676.5799.

he Country Today - With every new subscription or renewal purchased by a Farm Bureau member, The Country Today will donate $5 to the Ag in the Classroom program. Call 888.833.9268. *WFBF member benefits may be changed or discontinued at anytime without notice.

arm Bureau Bank - Take advantage of Farm Bureau Bank’s FDIC insured checking and savings accounts, money market accounts, certificates of deposit, credit cards and vehicle and home loans. Go to www.farmbureaubank.com.

Travel

AA - Farm Bureau members save 20% on AAA membership and the enrollment fee to join AAA is waived. Farm Bureau members who already belong to AAA can receive the discount on their next renewal. In both instances, call 877.731.3315 and be prepared to give them the group code “WI07.”

VIS Car Rental Discount Program - You can save 5%-25% on Avis’ daily and weekly rates. To receive these discounted rates, all you need to do is use your Avis Worldwide Discount number: A298849. To rent a car and enjoy benefits visit Avis.com or call Avis at 1.800.331.1212.

hoice Hotels International, Inc. - Members save an average of 20% at participating Choice Brand Hotels. Call 800.258.2847 to make the required advance reservation. Request WFBF member rate using ID# 00209870.

yndham Hotel Group - Members save 20% off the best available rate at more than 5,000 participating locations throughout North America. Mention Farm Bureau ID# 8000004288 when making your reservations. Call 877.670.7088.

Presenting a Private offer for farm Bureau memBers

$500 on top of most current offers1

Member Benefits

New WFBF Member Benefit - AgriVisor

isconsin Farm Bureau Federation and AgriVisor have teamed up to offer AgriVisor’s E-Visor Service at a discounted rate to all Wisconsin Farm Bureau members. This includes morning, mid-day and closing market commentary along with the daily fundamental and technical advice on corn, beans, wheat, hogs, cattle and feed inputs. “With the volatility in the grain and livestock markets, Wisconsin Farm Bureau was looking to partner with a trusted source that has a proven track record, someone they could depend on to provide their members with reliable marketing information,” said Cory Winstead, AgriVisor account manager. AgriVisor is an agricultural risk management firm that is focused on managing farmer risks by delivering in-depth market analysis and recommendations, helping to improve the farmer’s long-term profitability. AgriVisor is a part of the GROWMARK

family of companies, which allows AgriVisor to provide additional resources for the customer’s benefit. AgriVisor is a full-service provider, from research and pricing strategies, to brokerage service relationships – a farmer’s partner in agricultural business. And it is this very partnership that brought about another very important collaboration. “We are excited to be adding AgriVisor’s valuable services to the menu of member benefits that save Farm Bureau members money,” said Jim Holte, Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation President. Farmers will be able to receive this added benefit simply by being a member of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau and paying the discounted rate. In order to take advantage or learn more about this new partnership go to wfbf.com/benefits-membership or www.agrivisor.com.

Grain Marketing Plan More Important than Ever By Cory Winstead, AgriVisor account manager

find the concept and study of Risk Management very interesting and a very serious topic for farmers. In looking at past articles I have put together for other publications, I noticed that many of the risks in there from two years ago correlated to a lot of the same risks we are experiencing today. Many factors impact today’s market … the dollar, oil, fund money, Europe, South America, exports, China, weather, yield projections, technical indicators and traders, just to name a few. All of these factors have one important thing in common - they are 100 percent out of our control! This current market we are in is a weather market, and we are all looking at weather maps and models trying to decipher what the next 10 days will look like. Will it be hot and dry? Will it be cool and dry? Will it be cool and wet? Do the models even read the same? What about El Nino and La Nina? Bottom line is we are not sure how this growing season will turn out. With that said, farmers need to prepare a marketing plan to protect against the worst case scenario. This is the one thing a farmer

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can have complete control over. Consider the following as you put together your grain marketing plan: 1. Know your production cost. 2. Create a marketing plan identifying profitable levels to make sales. This provides a starting point to selling some of your crop above break-even levels. 3. Diversify how you sell your grain. Sell small incremental percentages you are comfortable with based on your Actual Production History. Do not be afraid to make forward sales at good profitable levels. Sell grain on your own as well as using professional analysts to market some of your grain. Familiarize yourself with export and domestic delivery markets if you use on-farm storage. 4. Sell up to your guaranteed level of crop coverage if you can make sales at a profit. 5. Remain committed to your plan, but understand there may need to be some adjustments along the way due to unforeseen circumstances. Marketing grain in today’s extremely sensitive and volatile market can be challenging for anyone, regardless of experience and expertise. The five points referenced above are just a starting point. There are a number of tools out there, including working with an AgriVisor representative, that will help you build a plan and reduce your risk to market volatility.

wisconsin farm bureau federation

opinion

As Dairy Reform Evolved, So Has Our Stance A Message from WFBF President Jim Holte

t’s been said that farm organizations never change their positions. So it surprised some when the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation’s Board of Directors recently supported the Goodlatte-Scott dairy amendment during the U.S. farm bill debate. WFBF has always been rock solid on its support for overhauling federal dairy policy. As the debate has spilled over from one year to the next, the reform options have evolved. So has our position. WFBF originally backed the Dairy Security Act, a plan to give dairy farmers the choice of enrolling in margin insurance and dairy market stabilization programs or opting out of the federal dairy program. DSA would eliminate the Milk Income Loss Contract and price support programs. We believed it was grounded in fiscal and political reality while giving farmers the tools to navigate milk’s increasingly volatile seas.

august | september 2013

There’s no shortage of finger-pointing on Capitol Hill’s recent farm bill fiasco. Yet, there’s no question that dissension among dairy interests on the DSA’s supply management component was a reason the farm bill stalled in 2012. WFBF has historically opposed supply management for dairy, but supported the DSA because it was voluntary and appeared the most realistic option for a government awash in red ink. The counter-proposal to the DSA was the Goodlatte-Scott amendment. It would establish a margin insurance program without supply management controls. We were initially concerned that this amendment would cause an oversupply of milk and government costs would skyrocket. The truth is, both concepts were flawed. Both were excessively lucrative, allowing farmers to purchase a level of coverage that guaranteed a profit. Analysis from a reputable dairy economist said that farmers could expect a 200 to 400 percent return for every dollar spent on premiums. We supported lowering the maximum amount of coverage. Government’s role should be to provide tools for farmers to manage their risk, not guarantee profit. The DSA left itself open to manipulation by owners of multiple farms who could move cows around to avoid the supply management component while collecting payments. Then the Congressional Budget Office determined that the DSA would cost more than the amendment. Our discussions with dairy leaders and

economists made it clear that DSA’s supply management component would not reduce milk supplies as originally thought. It would also benefit other dairy states over Wisconsin. Why limit growth in a state where our cheese plants and processors still need more milk and we can facilitate more cows? One more thing happened that switched our support to the GoodlatteScott amendment. Both plans took into account feed-cost ratios and it turns out the ratios were virtually the same in 2009 and 2012. However, those years treated Wisconsin and Western dairy farms differently. All dairy farmers were bleeding equity due to low milk prices in 2009. With higher milk prices in 2012 (even with a drought), things were not as dire in the Midwest compared to the West because we grow our own feed. Given these developments, WFBF’s directors agreed that the Goodlatte-Scott amendment (while still far from perfect) was the most cost-effective way for the federal government to provide a safety net via risk management tools for dairy farmers to address volatility and low prices. Any reform should not put dairy farmers and processors at an economic disadvantage to their peers elsewhere; rather it should promote expansion of dairying in Wisconsin. President of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation since 2012, Jim Holte is a grain and beef farmer from Elk Mound.

www.wfbf.com

opinion

Institute: A Challenge Worth Accepting Guest Column by Cindy Bourget

Coming from all walks of life and of all different ages, participants become like a family, giving you a safe place to practice your new skills. The six sessions cover everything from giving speeches and doing radio interviews to how to better reach customers and legislators. The classes are set up to make sure they are well worth the time you take out of your busy lives. As the class goes on, you realize that you want to make time for the Institute.

“I already know how to talk to my legislators and customers.”

“I

don’t have time.” “I already know how to talk to my legislators and customers.” “I already know about Farm Bureau.” “I don’t need to be a leader right now.” Since starting Farm Bureau’s leadership Institute, these are some of the objections that I have heard when recommending the experience to others. I will admit, I had these same thoughts when I filled out the application last summer.

“I don’t have time…” While six sessions may seem like a daunting commitment, by the end of each session you will find yourself wishing you had just a little more time.

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Ok, I’ll level with you here, I thought I did too. I thought wrong! I hope we all know the importance of talking to these people, most of us do not know how to do it effectively. The Institute has taught me how to connect quickly and in a meaningful way to folks from all walks of life. We in agriculture are the minority, so I shouldn’t need to tell you that this is an invaluable skill.

“I already know about Farm Bureau.” While this may be true, the Institute has allowed me a look into the innerworkings of Farm Bureau to obtain a deep understanding of why we do what we do. This may not seem important but it’s crucial. We need to be able to know how to support our organization

and each other. Saying, “I already know about Farm Bureau,” is like counting your chickens before you even know how many eggs you have!

“I don’t need to be a leader right now.” If not now, when? If not you, who? The beauty of the Institute is that it not only teaches you how to be a Farm Bureau leader, but it gives you the skills and confidence to be a stronger leader within your business and life. It builds the skills you already have. I know we all have busy lives and the idea of becoming a leader in one more thing can seem overwhelming. That’s another fantastic aspect of the Institute, it teaches you how to manage your commitments so all areas of your life can thrive. I recommend the leadership Institute to every Farm Bureau member, regardless of age or experience. I wish everyone would utilize this great opportunity! If you have any questions, or if you are even slightly considering attending the Institute, feel free to contact me at cynthia.bourget@ces.uwex.edu. The Wisconsin Farm Bureau leadership Institute is a challenge worth accepting! Cindy Bourget is a 4-H program assistant for Dunn County UW-Extension and a member of the 2013 Institute Class VII.

wisconsin farm bureau federation

Wisconsin Health Care on the Road to Reform Guest Column from Eric Borgerding

ealth reform has been in the headlines for months. From the local coffee shop to the hospital board room - conversations are taking place about the impact the law will have in our state. Quite honestly, Wisconsin health care providers were already well down the road to reforming health care long before it became the law of the land. Wisconsin is nationally recognized for providing some of the highest quality, safest and most accessible patient care in the country. That’s not to say we can’t improve, because we certainly can. With or without health reform, hospitals are focused on improving quality, moderating costs and raising the health status of our communities. That’s not to say health reform is without challenges or that it won’t bring changes to Wisconsin that we didn’t ask for. But we think Wisconsin is well positioned to manage the coming changes. That’s because Wisconsin has one of the most highly integrated, or coordinated, health care systems in the country. Meaning physicians, hospitals and other care providers work together to make sure that patients receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time. If health care is coordinated, it is less costly, more efficient and delivers better outcomes. When care is coordinated it is less likely that a patient will be readmitted to the hospital. Last year, Wisconsin hospitals reduced their readmissions by more than 15 percent. In states where care is less integrated, or more “siloed” (pun intended), it’s difficult to achieve

august | september 2013

those types of results. Our health care systems invest heavily in family physicians, nurse practitioners and other “primary care” providers because they are the first point of entry into this more coordinated system - they are the patient’s navigator and partner. Health reform introduced us to a new concept – the health insurance exchange. Under the new law, people earning up to $46,000/yr ($94,000/yr for a family of 4) will be eligible for government-subsidized premiums if they purchase insurance through the exchange. In theory, exchanges are also a way for consumers to compare, select and purchase an insurance plan, similar to how we buy airline tickets on Travelocity. In reality, purchasing health insurance, even if heavily subsidized, is more complicated than buying a plane ticket. There are copays and deductibles to consider, as well as how accessible the physicians and hospitals are that are included in the plan you might select. Will health insurance exchanges affect how you purchase insurance and will they result in more people having insurance? It’s hard to say since there is so little concrete information available about exchanges. That’s a concern given that exchange enrollment is supposed to begin in less than three months. We do know that the Wisconsin state budget calls for moving some 90,000 low-income people who are now in Medicaid into the new exchange. Some are predicting large premium increases in Wisconsin, especially for those who are relatively healthy. Others speculate that many employers will drop coverage altogether,

in favor of allowing people to connect on their own with coverage in the exchange. The bottom line is this is an uncertain time in health care. We can agree that we cannot have more expensive insurance or fewer people with insurance and more people coming into hospital ERs for basic care. In spite of these challenges and uncertainties, Wisconsin hospitals, clinics and health systems will continue to put patients first and will not be deterred from their commitment to improve care and achieve better outcomes for their patients. That is the good news for everyone who lives in Wisconsin.

Eric Borgerding is the Executive Vice President for the Wisconsin Hospital Association.

www.wfbf.com

opinion

Waste Not, Want Not: Time to get Reaquainted with Leftovers Guest Column from Robert Giblin

p until recent times, the weekly ritual of planning meals played itself out in homes across the country. Meals were painstakingly thought out. Moms clipped coupons from the Thursday night paper and carefully planned the weekly grocery shopping trip. At meal time, everyone at the table was expected to be a member of the “clean plate club.” Even the family dog might happily to do its part, cleaning up table scraps. Leftovers were packed as lunches or eaten at other meals later in the week. Little went to waste. Lifestyles have changed dramatically and so has the amount of food waste we generate. Numerous experts have proclaimed the need to double the world’s food supply in the next 40 years to meet a growing population and changing dietary demands. However, because of food waste, doubling the food supply actually will require tripling production from fewer resources.

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According to a report issued in January by the UK-based Institution of Mechanical Engineers, “Global Food: Waste Not, Want Not,” up to half of all food produced goes to waste. Waste occurs at all levels of the food chain, from production, to harvesting, transportation, processing, retailing and restaurants and by consumers. The UK report echoes studies previously released by other organizations, including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Various sources show that a lot of food is produced but never consumed in North America and Oceana – nearly 40 percent of grain products, half or more of seafood, fruits and vegetables, and onefifth of meats and milk. The good news is that because of everimproving farming practices, very little of that loss is in farming and production in the U.S. – just 2 percent of grains, 11 percent of seafood, 20 percent of fruits and vegetables, 3 percent of meat and 3 percent of milk. Higher losses in fruit and vegetable production are due to retail, restaurant and consumer expectations of perfection; nutritious, safe and “tasty but ugly” produce never leaves the field. The consumer side is another story: 27 percent of grain products, 33 percent of seafood, 28 percent of fruits and vegetables, 12 percent of meat and 17 percent of milk go to waste in the U.S. The UK report says that as the development level and per capita income of a country increases, the food loss problem generally moves further up the chain, toward consumers. Thus, the U.S. is among the most efficient and least wasteful in farming and production, but the most wasteful at the consumer end.

Further, close to 20 percent of the U.S. food supply is lost in households, restaurants and foodservice. In restaurants, portion sizes have increased dramatically over the past 30 years. Yet, on average, diners leave 17 percent of meals uneaten and half of all leftovers are not taken home. At home, U.S. families throw out onequarter of the food they buy. Yet every day, about one in six people – 50 million people – in the U.S. are “food insecure.” Reducing food losses by just 15 percent could feed half of them. Fortunately, small changes can yield big payoffs. Analysts estimate that reducing food waste can help the average family of four find an extra $1,350 to $2,275 annually. That’s a nice bonus in tough economic times. For consumers, reducing waste does not mean major dietary changes, guilt, or doing without. It starts with little steps: meal planning, small reductions in portion sizes, taking home and eating restaurant leftovers, accepting slightly imperfect produce, and storing and cooking with an eye toward reducing waste. Reducing waste in the food system is a continuous improvement process, involving cooperation and efforts at all levels. It also requires education, but not from a formalized program. It may be as simple as asking our parents or grandparents, “How did you used to do this?” Robert Giblin is a contributor to AFBFs Focus on Agriculture series. He writes, speaks and consults on agricultural and food industry issues, policies and trends.

wisconsin farm bureau federation

Is Wisconsin Seeing Another Farmland Bubble?

Guest Column from Bruce Jones

idwest farmland values have risen dramatically. According to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, in 2011 and 2012 Iowa farmland values rose nearly 23 and 25 percent, respectively. In Illinois it was 16 and 18 percent, respectively. Wisconsin’s values also rose by a healthy 8 and 7.5 percent during those years. Increases in farm real estate values are triggering memories of the conditions that created a bubble in the farmland market in the 1970s. That bubble eventually burst; triggering a financial crisis in the agricultural economy in the early 1980s. The economic downturn caused severe financial hardships for many farm families and it resulted in a rash of

farm bankruptcies and foreclosures. Particularly hard hit were those who bought land at the peak of the market and then saw farmland values drop by 40 to 50 percent in the span of three to four years. These farm families lost most if not all of their equity and were typically forced out of business because they were not able to meet the collateral and repayment standards of lenders. Today, some people are worried that another bubble may be forming in the farmland market. This concern is based on land values rising in the same manner they did in the 1970s. While we are seeing land values rising at robust rates, that does not necessarily mean another farmland bubble is forming. august | september 2013

Basic finance principles say farmland values should increase as returns from land (net income) rise and/or interest rates fall. Conversely land values should fall in response to declining returns to land or increasing interest rates. Lately, returns to land have risen dramatically (largely thanks to high corn and soybean prices) and interest rates have reached historically low levels. It makes sense that farmland values would rise. Bubbles occur when asset values do not move as they should in response to the variables that determine their value. In the case of the 1970s bubble, farm real estate values continued to rise even as net farm incomes fell between 1975 and 1980. Since 1991 the positive relationship between farm earnings and land values, suggested by finance theory, has been observed in Wisconsin’s farmland markets. This is comforting as it suggests the farmland market is functioning in a rational manner. If this were not the case, we would see growth in land values

outstripping growth in farm income like it did in the 1970s when land price rose in the face of falling farm income. It appears that there is not a bubble in the Upper-Midwest’s farmland market. What remains to be seen is whether interest rates will stay low and farm income will stay high. There is a good chance interest rates will start creeping up in the near future as the Federal Reserve

starts cutting back on the expansionary monetary policies it has been using to help stimulate the U.S. economy. The Fed will be careful not to let interest rates rise too high or too fast, because this would very likely stymie economic growth or, even worse, drive the economy back into recession. This controlled growth in interest rates will put downward pressure on farmland values; but it should not trigger a collapse in land values similar to the early 1980s. A collapse of that magnitude would only occur if farm incomes dropped dramatically. Farmland values are likely to be most affected by corn and soybean prices. If their prices remain high, farm incomes should stay up at the levels that have given us current land prices. If corn and soybean prices start sliding downward, farmland values will do the same. If farmland values don’t go down with grain prices, that could be a sign a bubble is forming, one that would eventually burst as all bubbles eventually do. Bruce Jones is an agricultural economics professor at UW-Madison.

www.wfbf.com

opinion

USFRA: Uniting to Build Trust in American Farms and Ranches Guest Column by Nancy Kavazanjian

magine a future where farmers and ranchers are trusted by consumers, admired by legislators, revered by popular culture. That’s the vision of U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA), a group launched three years ago to unify and address misunderstandings about modern agriculture. It is the first broad-based, industry-wide effort aimed at rebuilding trust in today’s farming systems. Building trust isn’t easy. It takes time and effort. It involves getting non-farmers to know us and realize we embrace many of the same values. It means demonstrating how we, as farmers, are honest people doing the right things.. It demands we do things differently and USFRA does that in several ways.

Aligning production agriculture USFRA represents all of U.S. production agriculture and has 80 affiliates and industry partners. This unification effort is making a difference, as Michael Pollan acknowledged during a California food labeling rally. He said: “Until agriculture

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had the good sense to get organized and fund Food Dialogues, I and other critics could pretty much say anything they wanted in the media--no serious challenge. Now it’s becoming a different story, since media knows that there is a more formidable counter-voice for everything that is said.”

USFRA has taken conversations to consumers via Anderson Live and other television shows, through The Food Dialogue events, and with a very active web presence at FoodDialogues. com. A documentary telling the story of production agriculture is slated to premier early next year.

Sharing & amplifying messages

Long-term commitment

USFRA links the industry with common messaging. Many national, state and commodity organizations run communications training programs and public speaking is a large part of Farm Bureau leadership training. USFRA doesn’t supersede these programs, which are vitally important to industry success. Rather, the Alliance combines resources to raise our collective voices.

Dialogue not monologue The way communication occurs is a major tactical change. USFRA looks for connections to start conversations. We talk about future possibilities and tell personal stories. We still need data and science for support, but don’t lead with it. Here’s an example. On a recent flight my seatmate, an oil engineer working in Saudi Arabia, said he intends to farm his 500-acre Ohio farm organically when he retires. I asked how he would grow, fertilize and market crops. He wasn’t sure. I explained how technology helps me grow crops without plowing and how this is more sustainable due to reduced soil erosion and fuel use. I also discussed the new, high oleic soybean that produces healthier vegetable oil. That’s the type of dialogue for which we strive.

This is a long-term movement; not a public relations campaign. Because trust is about gaining consumer confidence, it must be targeted and long-term. USFRA targets urban centers with the greatest opportunities to embrace and engage influential consumers and pop culture. We also offer tools for local affiliates to reach consumers in smaller cities. Finally every farmer can, and should, join the conversation. 1. Comment via Facebook; at a store, restaurant or theater; on a bus, train or airplane. 2. Talk about a smell that reminds you of food or, lightheartedly of the farm. 3. Talk about a farm-related news item. 4. Then, listen and when possible, acknowledge and discuss how you do things and what the future holds for even better, more caring and more sustainable agriculture. Trust is earned when you engage, acknowledge and share. Start earning your trust today. Join our conversation at FoodDialogues.com. Nancy Kavazanjian is a corn grower and Farm Bureau member from Beaver Dam who serves on the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance Board of Directors.

wisconsin farm bureau federation

2013 Annual Meeting w Gro s. wer

Leading Gr o

December 6-9 in g

Lea d e r s.

Kalahari Resort and Conference Center, Wisconsin Dells 94th Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation Annual Meeting 79th Rural Mutual Insurance Company Annual Meeting Young Farmer and Agriculturist Conference

Agenda

94th WFBF & 79th RMIC Annual Meetings

Friday, December 6

Sunday, December 8

Young Farmer and Agriculturist (YFA) Conference Begins

7:30 a.m. 8:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m.

2:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 7:30 p.m.

8:30 p.m.

YFA Committee Meeting – Ebony Registration Opens – Registration Booth 3 First-timers’ Orientation Session – Acacia YFA Welcome Dinner – Ballrooms A/B/C/F/G/H District YFA Meetings Collegiate: Banyan District 5: Guava District 1: Cypress District 6: Aralia District 2: Wisteria District 7: Marula District 3: Portia District 8: Aloeswood District 4: Tamarind District 9: Tamboti Reception and Entertainment: Bumblefist – Ballrooms A/B/C/F/G/H

Saturday, December 7 7:00 a.m. 8:00 a.m. 8:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m. 10:50 a.m. 11:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. 12:00 p.m.

YFA Committee Reorganization Meeting – Empress Registration Opens – Registration Booth 3 YFA Breakfast and Program – Ballrooms A/B/C/F/G/H Workshops (6) Break Workshops (6) YFA Luncheon – Ballrooms A/B/C/F/G/H Discussion Meet Judges Luncheon and Orientation - Cypress

WI Farm Bureau Federation (WFBF) Annual Meeting Begins 12:00 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 2:00 p.m. 2:30 p.m. 3:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m.

8:30 p.m.

Producer Club Luncheon – Suites I, VIII Discussion Meet Quarterfinals I – Acacia, Bamboo, Crown Palm, Ironwood, Banyan Excellence in Ag Practice Session – Portia Achievement Award Interviews – Desert Rose, Mahogany WFBF Women’s Committee Meeting/Reorganization – Ebony Trade Show Opens – Suites II, III, IV, V, VI, VII Discussion Meet Quarterfinals II – Acacia, Bamboo, Crown Palm, Ironwood, Banyan Excellence in Ag Presentations – Portia Discussion Meet Semifinals – Banyan, Ironwood Farm Bureau Reception – Suites II, III, IV, V, VI, VII Trade Show Closes Farm Bureau Extravaganza! Featured Entertainment: James Wedgewood – Ballrooms A/B/C/D/E/F/G/H Trade Show and Silent Auction Open (until 10:00 p.m.)

Make Plans to Attend Don’t miss this exciting chance to network with Farm Bureau members from across Wisconsin. Registration packets for the events are available from your county Farm Bureau or by calling WFBF at 800.261.FARM.

Leading Growers. Growing Leaders

Morning Devotional – Tamarind, Guava Registration Opens – Registration Booth 3 Resolutions Processing – Empress Discussion Meet Finals – Suite I, VIII Buffet Brunch and General Session – Ballrooms A/B/C/D/E/F/G/H

YFA Conference Ends 12:30 p.m. 1:00 p.m. 2:15 p.m. 2:30 p.m. 2:30 p.m. 4:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 7:00 p.m.

Trade Show and Silent Auction Open (until 5:00 p.m.) Workshops (4) Break Workshops (4) Policy Development Committee Meeting – Empress Reception – Suites II, III, IV, V, VI, VII Silent Auction and Trade Show Ends Farm Bureau Awards Program – Ballrooms A/B/C/D/E/F/G/H Packer Tailgate Party Buffet and Game – Ballrooms A/B/C/D/E/F/G/H/ (until 10:30 p.m.)

Monday, December 9 7:00 a.m. 7:00 a.m. 8:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m.

10:30 a.m.

Registration Opens – Registration Booth 3 Breakfast/General Session – Ballrooms A/B/C/F/G/H District Manager Meeting – Empress District Caucuses: District 1: Wisteria District 6: Aralia District 2: Portia District 7: Marula District 3: Tamarind District 8: Aloeswood District 4: Guava District 9: Tamboti District 5: Mangrove Resolutions and Business Meeting – Ballrooms A/B/C/F/G/H

2013 Sponsors: Rural Mutual Insurance Company

Entertainment YFA YFAConference ConferenceEntertainment Entertainment Friday, Friday,December December6, 6,8:30 8:30p.m. p.m.

Workshops Bumblefist Based in Eau Claire, Bumblefist is a rock band that is sure to please the crowd. With musicians from various backgrounds and a motto of “rock at random”, they will keep you guessing as they switch from songs from Bon Jovi, to Pink, to Kings of Leon to Miranda Lambert.

Saturday

Improving Dairy and Beef Sustainability

Grow Your Vision and Take Charge of Your Future

Livestock Sustainability Consultant Livestock Sustainability Consultancy

District 2 Coordinator Wisconsin Farm Bureau

Jude L. Capper, Ph. D.

Becky Hurley

Financing a Start-up Farm

Farm Bureau 101

Credit Delivery Director Badgerland Financial

AFBF YF&R Committee Member

Kevin Doherty

Rick Roden

Farm FarmBureau BureauExtravaganza! Extravaganza! Saturday, Saturday,December December7, 7,5:30 5:30p.m. p.m.

James Wedgewood James Wedgewood will use amazing comic ventriloquism, outrageous characters and hilarious audience participation to make this year’s Farm Bureau Extravaganza a truly memorable event.

Keynote Speakers YFA YFAConference ConferenceKeynote KeynoteAddress Address Saturday, Saturday,December December7, 7,10 10a.m. a.m.

Livestock Myths and Misconceptions Jude L. Capper, Ph.D.

Livestock Sustainability Consultant Livestock Sustainability Consultancy This presentation will give farmers the facts and figures needed to counter the many arguments and misconceptions currently leveled against livestock production. Topics to be discussed include the real impact of “Meatless Mondays”, the environmental and health impacts of soy juice versus dairy and grass-fed versus corn-fed beef, and the true impact of buying local foods on our individual carbon footprints.

WFBF WFBFAnnual AnnualMeeting MeetingKeynote KeynoteAddress Address Sunday, Sunday,December December8, 8,10 10a.m. a.m. Farm Bureau Update

Bob Stallman, President

American Farm Bureau Federation We are very excited to have American Farm Bureau President Bob Stallman visiting our Annual Meeting this year. Stallman is a cattle and rice grower from Columbus, Texas. Prior to becoming AFBF President, Mr. Stallman was president of the Texas Farm Bureau. He became a member of AFBF’s Board of Directors in 1994. President Stallman will update us on what American Farm Bureau is currently working on and what lies ahead.

Growing Leaders for a Better YFA Program

Farm Bureau 202: Contests, Awards and so much more!

WFBF YFA Committee Chair

District 2 YFA Committee Representative

Teresa Hanson

Andrea Brossard

Sunday Farm Bureau Estate and Business Succession Planning Jared Nelson

Wisconsin Regional Financial Consultant Farm Bureau Financial Services

Richard Bollenbeck Attorney Bollenbeck Fyfe, S.C.

Health Care Reform: 2014 and Beyond Dan Rashke

CEO, President and Owner Total Administrative Services Corporation

Jason Westphal

Governmental Affairs Director Total Administrative Services Corporation

Farm Equipment on Wisconsin Roadways Dan Bahr

Legislative Associate Wisconsin Counties Association

Myth-Busting Perceptions about Livestock Sustainability Jude L. Capper, Ph.D.

Livestock Sustainability Consultant Livestock Sustainability Consultancy

Tweeting About Annual Meeting Do you use Twitter? Please use #WFBFAM13 before, during and after the event and follow @WIFarmBureau.

WFBF/RMIC Annual Meeting

ag in the classroom

Summer Events

Bus Tour

The summer AITC training bus stopped at Seneca Foods and Maple Valley Orchards in Gillett, Springside Cheese Factory in Oconto Falls, Hums of Faith Alpaca Farm in Oconto, Farmers Market on Broadway and Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary (where the group is pictured) in Green Bay, Schopf’s Hilltop Dairy and Country View Maple Syrup Farm in Sturgeon Bay. Mark Strohschein, agriculture education instructor at Green Bay East, is surrounded by alpacas at Hums of Faith Alpaca Farm in Oconto. The teachers were able to see a newborn suri (baby) along with a spinning demonstration at the farm operated by Jim and Laurie Konyn.

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National AITC Conference

Sauk County Farm Bureau was the recipient of $2,500 of America’s Farmers Grow Communities funds. County president Karen Reisinger, Don Meyer and Bev Meyer pose with Deborah Patterson, Monsanto representative, at the National Ag in the Classroom Conference in Minneapolis. Through the Monsanto Fund’s America’s Farmers Grow Communities, farmers can register for the opportunity to contribute money toward their favorite non-profit community organization.

wisconsin farm bureau federation

Maple Syrup

Deb Staats of Country View Farms, Sturgeon Bay, explained how they produce maple syrup. The teachers and participants were able to see the equipment, the certified kitchen, and then sample and shop at the farm’s store.

Say Cheese

Green Bay agriculture instructor Betty Krcma and Green Bay science teacher Rick Berken are having some fun with Springside Cheese Factory tour guide as she shows one of the cheese wheels they were producing for June Dairy Breakfasts.

august | september 2013

Be sure to like “Wisconsin Ag in the Classroom Program” on Facebook.

www.wfbf.com

news resources for teachers

ag in the classroom NEWS educational resources AFBF Food and Farm Facts and Activity Cards (www.agfoundation.org/index. php?action=orders) – The 2013 Food and Farm Facts series features interesting and educational facts about food in America - how and where it is grown, and who produces it. Color photographs and USA Today-style graphics illustrate the many fascinating facets of today’s agriculture. The series includes a 32-page book with map insert. Activity Cards sold separately are a new collection of 12 easy-to-implement activities support learning with Food and Farm Facts and were developed for grades 4-6 and 7-12 using National Learning Standards & Common Core. Curriculum areas include: math, science, social science, health and language arts. Each activity card includes step-bystep instructions, discussion questions and an estimated time for completion. WI Standards for Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (www.standards.dpi.wi.gov) – Looking for new resources for your local schools, home school curriculum or Ag in the Classroom program? Academic standards specify what students should know and be able to do. Wisconsin has academic standards for 21 separate content areas, and adopted Common Core State Standards for English language arts and mathematics in 2010. In addition, Wisconsin adopted Common Core State Standards for Literacy in All Subjects. The new Agriculture, Food and Natural Resource Standards for K-12 grades will be posted online in August. Wisconsin Career and Technical Education have a rich history in preparing young adults for the next steps in their lives - postsecondary education and the world of work. You can learn more about Career and Technical Education in Wisconsin at cte.dpi.wi.gov. 42

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Book of the Year Chosen First Peas to the Table by Susan Grigsby has been selected as the 2013-14 Wisconsin Farm Bureau “Book of the Year.” At a fourth grade level, this hardcover book tells the story of Maya who is excited when her teacher announces they will plant a school garden like Thomas Jefferson’s garden at Monticello - and they’ll have a “First Peas to the Table” contest, just like Jefferson and his neighbors had each spring. Maya plants her pea seeds with a secret head start - found in Jefferson’s Garden Book - and keeps careful notes in her garden journal. Her friend Shakayla, however, has plans of her own for the contest. Grigsby’s light-hearted classroom story also presents scientific and historical information. Illustrator Nicole Tadgell’s watercolors add both appeal and botanical accuracy. Books can be ordered by visiting wisagclassroom.org and clicking on “Order Forms.” Essay Topic The 2013-14 essay contest topic is “Wisconsin gardens provide many food choices for us.” WFBF’s Women’s Committee works with AITC to select the book of the year and the essay contest topic. The 4-5th grade essay contest will run until April 1, 2014. Materials are being developed and will be available online by September 1. AFBFA Grants and Scholarships Watch agfoundation.org for Mini-Grant application information and for teacher and volunteer National Ag in the Classroom scholarships. Applications are typically due mid-October. The 2014 National Conference is June 23-27 in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The scholarship program provides travel funds to attend the national conference and then use the information gained to expand their outreach to students regarding food, fiber and fuel. The Mini-Grant program funds projects that will increase agricultural literacy. County and state Farm Bureaus may apply for grants of up to $500 for classroom education programs for grades K-12 to initiate new programs or expand existing programs to additional grade levels or new subject areas.

wisconsin farm bureau federation

foundation

Amery FFA Earns Food for America Award

he Amery FFA was named Top Chapter in Wisconsin More than 40 FFA members assisted about 140 for Food for America. first grade students and parent volunteers in The chapter’s planting more than 1,000 trees in the Amery program School WFB focuses on Forest. Foundation Before agricultural Director planting, the awareness Darlene students through six Arneson and parents well-planned congratulated received an and executed Amery FFA at education events. Their the State FFA on the Convention in FFA Advisor importance Photo by Empire Photography June. is Derrick of Meyer. The preservation, chapter feels As many of today’s recycling, consumers do not understand their program and the responsibility they have to sustain the important relationship our forests. Here a senior FFA member is essential to between agriculture, food helps the students plant a tree. This past a successful and science, the Amery year, Amery FFA planted 30,000 natural FFA program FFA conducted a program grass and other plants along a new trail in as well as the to teach that connection. Amery to enhance the beauty of the trail. well being of They targeted the eighth agriculture grade class with “A Battle Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation within their of the Eggs” to learn about is the sponsor of this contest. Each community. agriculture and a scientific method. All 117 students had a chance to year, Wisconsin Ag in the Classroom helps Throughout assist the FFA officers in learning various ways to smash the eggs. review the written applications and coordinates the year, they interviews for the top ten chapters. organize “A Day with Agriculture,” Day on the Farm, Eighth Grade Experiment Day, Tree Planting, Farm in the City Day, and What is Food for America? a County Fair Educational Tent. All six activities teach about agriculture, food products, environmental awareness, and safety. Food For America is an educational program focusing on Their Farm in the City Day and County Awareness programs agricultural literacy in elementary schools and communities. It is were created to expose city and county community members a program developed to assist FFA members and all agricultural of all ages to animals, plants and food. Their goal is to have education students in leadership skill development as they reach 100% of their chapter membership involved in at least one Food out to youth, peers and their entire communities by sharing the For America activity and to work with at least four different world of agriculture. Chapters and FFA Alumni can download community groups while performing these activities. resources directly from the FFA at ffa.org/FFAResources/ ffalearn/foodforamerica. Many FFA chapters work closely with their local Ag in the Classroom programs for resources, volunteers and coordinating activities. Other chapters that were recognized included: runner-up: Stevens Point FFA, third place: Lodi FFA, fourth place: Holmen FFA, other finalists: Adams-Friendship, Badger, Manawa, Prairie Farm, Thorp and Waupaca. To learn about the WFB Fountation, visit wfbf.com/aboutwfbf/foundation.

foundation

Wisconsin Farm Bureau at State FFA Convention

WFBF Director of Member Relations Deb Raemisch was awarded the Honorary State FFA Degree, which is the highest degree that the Wisconsin FFA bestows on non-members.

Former WFBF President Bill Bruins received the Distinguished Service Award, which honors individuals for their outstanding support of agricultural education and FFA.

Photos by Empire Photography

Rachel Leege of the Sauk Prairie FFA received top honors in the State FFA Discussion Meet. The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation sponsors the Discussion Meet Contest (modeled after WFBF’s contest) on the district, sectional and state levels. WFBF President Jim Holte presented the award.

Promote your Farm, Business or Events

onsider purchasing a Farm Bureau sign for your farm, shop, or to use at events. These single-sided 18” x 24” heavy aluminum all-weather signs are ideal for indoor or outdoor use and can be personalized with up to 14 characters per line. Order two signs if a double-sided sign is needed. Purchase your own personalized Farm Bureau member sign and support the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation. With each sign purchased, $5 is contributed to the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation to support agricultural education and agricultural leadership programs in Wisconsin. The cost is $45 per sign. Orders received will be processed in a group at the end of each month. Signs should be printed by the middle of the next month. If needed sooner, contact Darlene Arneson at darneson@ wfbf.com or 608.828.5719. Order forms can be found at wfbf.com/aboutwfbf/foundation/farmbureau-member-signs.

Foundation’s Wisconsin Ag Open is September 9

full slate of 144 golfers are expected at The Oaks in Cottage Grove supporting the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation. Sponsors and golf contests help raise funds that support agricultural leadership, youth, education and other programs. Didn’t get your registration in for this year’s event? Watch for the 2014 information and mark it on your calendar.

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wisconsin farm bureau federation

40 by 40 Campaign

elp us acknowledge Roger Cliff’s 40 years of service to Wisconsin Farm Bureau and its members by being a member of the 40 by 40 campaign. The campaign will run until the 2013 WFBF Annual Meeting with a goal to raise $40,000 to benefit the Wisconsin Collegiate Farm Bureau Chapters. To give to the campaign you must give $40 (other donations will be taken but not as part of the 40 by 40 campaign). Suggested donations are $40, $400, $1,400 and $4,000. The donations will benefit the WFB Foundation and the UW-Madison, UW-Platteville and UW-River Falls Collegiate Farm Bureaus. For any contribution you make (over $40), you will receive a lapel pin and be listed as a donor in publications and on the WFB Foundation web page. You will also receive recognition at the 2013 WFBF Annual Meeting. All materials can be found at wfbf.com/aboutwfbf/ foundation/40-by-40-campaign.

40by 40

Hello Darlene, Thank you for your organ izational leadership of the 2013 Farm Bureau Ag in the Classroom Bus tour. I enjoyed the lea rning opportunities that you planned and car ried out for us. Thanks to the Wisconsin Farm Bu reau and countylevel Farm Bureaus for the ir financial and other commitments to growing Wisconsin’s agricultural knowledge base among var ied professionals! Mark Strohschein, Green Bay East Agriscience/ Natural Resources Instru ctor-FFA Advisor

Wisconsin Farm Bureau

Hi Darlene,

You should have recei ved the Ag in the Classroom Matching report by now for our Seed to Table project. The harvest this year will be so much better than last year...over 30 quarts of raspberries so far and they are everbearers so we will harvest until frost. Thanks for your help and commitment with this program. Keith Gundlach, Randolph Cambria – Friesland FFA Dear Darlene Arneson,

WFBF Annual Meeting Silent Auction

et your items ready and be sure to bid at the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Annual Meeting WFB Foundation Silent Auction. Due to the generosity of members, county Farm Bureau programs, businesses and sponsors, a large selection of items will be offered again this year. Bidding starts on Saturday and will end Sunday night. If you wish to donate an item to the Silent Auction, forms can be downloaded at wfbf.com/about-wfbf/ foundation. Betty Engel note cards and children’s books will also be available for sale in the trade show area.

august | september 2013

Thank you for your spons orship of the FFA Discussion Meet at the upc oming State FFA Convention. I have enjoyed preparing for the contest and competing at the District and Section levels and look forward to the State meet. Thanks for your continued suppor t of FFA. Rachel Leege, Sauk Prairie FFA

Dear Darlene, Thank you for helping sponsor the book “This Business Called Agriculture”. We appreciate everything. We learned a lot. We are almost done with the book. Thank you, Chloe and Isabel, 4th graders Sacred Heart School, Reedsburg

www.wfbf.com

rural mutual

Earn Extra Cash with Rural Mutual

re you looking for some extra spending cash? As a Farm Bureau voting member, Rural Mutual is giving you an opportunity to earn $500. If you refer a candidate for Rural Mutual’s insurance sales agent position that is hired and within good standing after 30 days, you could earn $500. No prior insurance experience is required, but a background in sales or agriculture is preferred. We currently have opportunities available throughout Wisconsin. To refer someone for this position, please contact: Adam Ross, Agent Recruiting Specialist, 715.498.2688, aross@ruralins.com.

One of Nation’s Best Insurance Companies

or the fifth consecutive year, Rural Mutual Insurance Company has been recognized as a “Ward’s 50® Top Performer.” The recognition bestowed by the Ward Group, “a leading provider of benchmarking and best practices research studies for insurance companies,” chooses its recipients after a financial performance analysis of over 3,000 property-casualty companies based in the United States. “We have been doing business in Wisconsin for more than 78 years, so our stability is truly a credit to the people of this great state,” says Peter Pelizza, CEO of Rural Mutual. “Premiums paid here, stay here so everyone benefits.” The Ward Group considers multiple criteria for its award including trends in a company’s financial strength over the previous five years. In March, Rural Mutual released its 2012 financials, which featured a strong showing in key industry indicators such as direct premium growth, combined ratios and new policies. Pelizza notes, “This recognition means that we are better prepared than most to live up to our promise to our policyholders. That truly is the most important thing we do.”

You Will Not Want to Miss Your County Annual Meeting When harvest begins in fields across Wisconsin, so does the harvesting of local Farm Bureau policy. In September and October, county Annual Meetings will occur all across Wisconsin. It is at these meetings where Farm Bureau shows its grassroots nature. Members build the resolutions that will eventually become Farm Bureau policy,

conclude their final debate on resolutions and vote. These meetings may also include guest speakers, highlights of the past year, and recognition of volunteers and award winners. Find the date, time and location of your county Farm Bureau annual meeting at wfbf.com/programs-event/events.

Letting the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than putting it back in . #RuralWisdom For more inspiration see our “Rural Wisdom” each Friday at twitter.com/WIFarmBureau.

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Nutritional Forage Management Manufacturing Services Programs

Feed Delivery

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wisconsin farm bureau federation

The DAYs ARe long buT The office hAs A PReTTY sWeeT vieW.

They work the land sun up ‘til sun down – every day rain or shine. Chances are, you don’t think twice about the many ways America’s farmers and ranchers enhance our everyday lives. We rely on them for everything from comfortable clothing to quality meats and fresh produce. That’s why we continue to thank the farm families who work and care for this great land.

www.fbfs.com/SayThanksToAFarmer /SayThanksToAFarmer

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Insurance plans designed exclusively for Wisconsin.

Rural Mutual Insurance Company

Premiums Paid Here, Stay Here To Keep Wisconsin Strong. Rural Mutual Insurance values whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important in life. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why we have been protecting families, businesses and farms exclusively in Wisconsin for over 75 years. And since Rural Mutual Insurance does business in only one state, premiums paid here, stay here to keep Wisconsin strong. Check out our competitive Town & Country Auto program, featuring a GOOD STUDENT DISCOUNT and MULTI-POLICY DISCOUNT. With Rural Mutual Insurance, you can rest a little easier knowing there are people nearby you can trust with your insurance. Call us at 877-219-9550 for a competitive insurance quote and see how our coverages and price compare. Or visit us on Facebook or on our website at www.ruralins.com to find an agent near you.

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$500

Earn as a voting F arm Bure au member for a refe rral to Rural M utual for an insurance sales age nt!*

*See article on previous page for more information.