Annual Report 2014
Working forYou
A Message from Steve Freese
“We have much to be proud of as Farm Bureau members.”
It has almost been 10 months since I joined WFBF as your Chief Administrative Officer, and it has been an exciting and rewarding experience for me. I appreciated the warm welcome you gave me as I traveled to 22 county annual meetings last fall to introduce myself and to get to know as many members as I could. I look forward to attending many more as I go for my goal of attending all 61 annual meetings. I recognize the strength and success of WFBF is our members. It starts on the county level as we work to grow our membership and continue to represent the interests of farm families and rural Wisconsin. I was privileged to work with and learn from Roger Cliff for four months prior to his retirement. It was like old times as we worked very close during my time in the State Assembly to accomplish many things for the people we each represented. His insight and experience has been very helpful for me since I took over the reins from him in January. We have much to be proud of as Farm Bureau members. Six consecutive years of membership growth is a great accomplishment. Meeting members at listening sessions across Wisconsin has been a rewarding part of our current strategic planning
process. The listening sessions produced 2,000 recommendations from members. We are working on recommendations for the final strategic plan to be enacted soon. Farm Bureau scored a great success by having the State Legislature pass a bill that allows farm equipment to be legally driven on roads. This victory wouldn’t have happened without our dedicated members and talented government affairs team. Whether you attended Ag Day at the Capitol, or contacted your legislator by telephone, email or letter, you made this legislation a reality. With your continued support, Farm Bureau will continue to provide the voice for farmers and the vision for agriculture. Thank you for the opportunity to serve you as your Chief Administrative Officer.
Steve Freese Chief Administrative Officer Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation
Membership The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation’s membership grew for the sixth straight year, finishing 2013 with 44,881 members. Farm Bureau’s record of membership success is a direct result of teamwork between WFBF and its affiliate companies, and the valuable benefits that each provides to our members. Once again, Farm Bureau’s network of volunteer membership workers across the state was instrumental to our membership growth, signing up 845 new members while helping to maintain a renewal rate among voting
members of nearly 94%. Meanwhile, more than 2,200 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 of 92%. 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
Proud of You
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Rural Route
benefits and to support the work of the organization. WFBF ended the 2013 membership year with 24,145 voting members and 20,736 associate members. Forty-eight of the 61 county Farm Bureaus reported an increase in voting members, while 41 counties reported increases in total membership. The 2014 membership year concludes on September 30, and thanks to the commitment of Farm Bureau volunteers and the support of our affiliate company personnel, Farm Bureau is poised to grow seven years in a row!
Wisconsin farm bureau federation
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 500 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, 14 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 San Antonio, Texas. Nicole Reese of Rock County finished in the top 10 of the national Excellence in Agriculture contest, while Corey and Miranda Leis of Monroe County competed in the national Achievement Award contest. Chris Pollack from Fond du Lac County finished in the final four of the national Discussion Meet contest. Tim Clark, a forage product manager for Dairyland Seed from Beaver Dam, 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 Ronald McDonald Houses in Milwaukee, Madison and Marshfield. Women’s committees in 29 counties worked to engage consumers by promoting the Our Food Link Program developed by the American Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Program. Our Food Link replaced Food Check-Out-Week and is now a year-round program that county Farm Bureaus can use to effectively reach consumers of all ages and backgrounds with information about today’s agriculture. In addition to holding district meetings where local members develop leadership skills and network, more than 300 women attended the 2014 Wisconsin Ag Women’s Summit at the Marriott West in Madison. The Summit is a joint venture of WFBF, Badgerland Financial and UW-Extension. Nicole Adrian, a certified pharmacy technician and Grant 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 VIII 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 Minnesota Farm Bureau. They will graduate at the WFBF Annual Meeting in December before taking a capstone trip to Washington, D.C. in June to impact agricultural policy with their newfound leadership skills. That’s exactly what members of Institute Class VII did when they traveled with the WFBF Board of Directors to Washington, D.C. in April. Prior to their visits with Wisconsin’s congressional delegation, they met with officials at the American Farm Bureau, leaders from USDA and the Embassy of Great Britain. 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, 114 Farm Bureau members from across the state have graduated from the program, and more importantly, grown from their Institute experience.
Leadership is whatforweYou Reaped Opportunities AUGUST august || SEPTEMBER september 2013 2014
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Public Relations A Voice for Farmers. As the voice of agriculture, Farm Bureau continues to be who the media calls when they need information about farm and food news. Over the past year, 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 the press releases and social media posts that are produced by the Wisconsin Farm Bureau’s staff. 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. An online version of Rural Route can be found at 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 legislative issues, Farm Bureau programs and applications for various events are just a click away. Issues of county publications are also available digitally.
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Social Media
To connect with other Farm Bureau members and hear about events and news, just click ‘like’ on the ‘Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation’ Facebook page. In addition, there are Facebook pages for the Farm Bureau Foundation Institute, Ag in the Classroom and YFA program. Farm Bureau is active on Twitter (@WIFarmBureau) by tweeting news and farm facts. Want to meet a farm family, get some ideas for supper or learn the latest ag education tool? You can find those and more on our Pinterest boards (pinterest.com/ wifarmbureau). You can view photos from Farm Bureau events on our Flickr page (go to www.WFBF.com and click on the “fr” tab above the search bar). Videos are also available on our YouTube channel.
Marketbasket
Farm Bureau’s WFBF Marketbasket Survey Spring 2014 retail food price survey remains $50.04 for 16 items a popular 13 cents item with .3% increase from March 2013 media outlets statewide. The information about the average price of a set of pre-determined 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 supply and demand, trade and weather. The 16-item marketbasket includes bagged salad, orange juice, apples, potatoes, chicken breasts, sliced deli ham, bacon, ground chuck, sirloin tip roast, eggs, milk, shredded cheddar cheese, bread, flour, toasted oat cereal and vegetable oil. wfbf.com
Promoting withYou Rural Route
County Newsletters
Forty-six 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.
Ag Newswire
This “subscription only” email is sent to Farm Bureau members and to 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 more than 2,700 Farm Bureau members and nearly 250 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 and request to be added.
Wisconsin farm bureau federation
Governmental Relations A Vision for Agriculture. WFBF works for Wisconsin farm families to represent their interests. WFBF’s strength is the grassroots network of informed, politically-active members who contact their elected officials on issues, attend Ag Day at the Capitol and travel on Farm Bureau trips to our nation’s capital.
In Madison
Implements of Husbandry
WFBF worked hard to pass legislation that allows farm machinery to operate legally on Wisconsin roads. It was critical to update our laws to meet farmers’ needs while respecting local governments’ responsibility to maintain roadways. There was a widely-held misconception that implements of husbandry (IOH) were exempt from size and weight regulations. Recent enforcement of size and weight limits of IOH prompted WFBF to work other ag groups, town and county interests, legislators and the governor to pass IOH legislation. The new law includes: • A vehicle class called agricultural commercial motor vehicles that are exempt from registration and can use dyed fuel. • Increased road weight limits for IOH by 15 percent for axle and gross vehicle weights. • Allows tillage, planting and harvesting equipment to be over axle weight, but allows towns and counties to opt-in to a permitting program. If towns and counties elect to do so, they must issue a no-fee permit for an approved route. • Lengths for IOH are: single vehicles up to 60 feet; two-vehicle combinations up to 100 feet; and three-vehicle combinations up to 100 feet if operated below 25 miles per hour or up to 70 feet in operated at a speed above 25 miles per hour. • Length limits for Ag CVM: single vehicles up to 45 feet; two-vehicle combinations up to 70 feet; and vehicle combinations up to 100 feet if operated at 25 miles per hour or up to 70 feet at a speed above 25 miles per hour. WFBF will continue to work with the DOT and UW-Extension to host meetings to inform farmers and local government officials on this law.
In Washington, D.C. Farm Bill
2014 saw the long-sought passage of a new farm bill. The Agricultural Act of 2014 makes major changes in commodity, dairy and conservation programs, crop insurance options, and new opportunities for specialty crops, bioenergy, organic and beginning farmers. Some changes to commodity programs include: • Repeal of direct and countercyclical payments, and the Average Crop Revenue Election program. • Creates two new crop insurance programs: Price Loss Coverage (PLC) and Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC). PLC payments are provided to farmers with base acres of certain crops when market prices fall below the reference price. With ARC farmers choose county-based or individual coverage. • Revises payment limitations to $125,000 for each individual actively engaged in farming. • Revises Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) eligibility rules. The new AGI is $900,000 with no distinction between farm and nonfarm income. • Creates a new price support program for dairy farms that includes the Margin Protection Program (MPP) and the Dairy Product Donation Program (DPDP). • The Livestock Indemnity Program, Livestock Forage Disaster Program and Emergency Assistance for Livestock Program were all made permanent. In the farm bill’s conservation title, the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program consolidates the functions of wetlands, grassland and farmland protection programs.
Water Resource Reform Development Act (WRRDA)
WFBF scored another legislative victory this year with passage of a bill to update our nation’s lock and dam system. WRRDA addresses the maintenance and funding mechanisms for inland waterways and harbor infrastructure. The Mississippi River’s lock and dam system exceeds the age it was designed for by almost 30 years. Most locks are undersized to meet the typical 15-barge towing system. Maintenance and upgrades of locks and dams is funded by the Inland Waterways Trust Fund. This tax of 20 cents per gallon on barge fuel generates about $85 million annually. Federal assistance provides the remainder of this budget. Passage of WRRDA allows upgrades of the lock and dam system to begin.
No matter what size, commodity or management style, Wisconsin Farm Bureau works hard to represent you.
weYou Exposure is whatwith Reaped ‘Ag’vocating
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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
Essay Contest
Trinity Pesko of Phillips 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 gardens provide many healthy food choices for us.” A total of 2,467 Wisconsin students wrote essays for the competition sponsored by the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation, Frontier-Servco FS and We Energies.
White-Reinhardt Educator Scholarships
the Classroom efforts are carried out by the county’s AITC Committee. Among the counties that submitted 2013 activity reports, the average committee consisted of five members and utilized additional volunteers for farm tours, classroom presentations or other events. The expenditures for those county AITC programs reporting in 2013 were $147,223. Approximately 13,840 volunteer hours were contributed to conduct a variety of local AITC activities.
Project Funding
The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation awarded 10 matching grants totaling $4,150 and 12 mini-grants totaling $1,200 to Wisconsin schools and organizations to use for agricultural literacy lessons and activities.
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Sheila Everhart, Rock County and Ashley Prue, Brown County were recipients of the White-Reinhardt Educator Scholarships offered through the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture. Each received a $1,500 scholarship to attend the National Ag in the Classroom Conference held in Hershey, PA in June. Educators nationwide attend the conference to learn to incorporate real-life agricultural applications into science, social studies, language arts, math, and nutrition lessons.
Other AITC Activities, Resources and Recognition
• First Peas to the Table was selected as the Wisconsin Farm Bureau’s 2014 Book of the Year. • The “My American Farm” Kiosk continues to be used by county programs, groups, and events. Use of the “My American Farm” App was introduced and will be utilized on tablet devices.
EducatingwithYou Rural Route
• 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. • 74 Soybean Science Kits were utilized by 7,261 students. Soybean Science Kit training was offered to agriculture education advisors and volunteers in February. • Coordinated summer teacher training with the University of Wisconsin-River Falls offering a two-day bus tour and a one day classroom session.
Wisconsin farm bureau federation
Farm Bureau Foundation Wise Investments Supporting agricultural education programs and developing agricultural leaders is the guiding principle of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation.
Fundraising accomplishments:
• The 2013 Wisconsin Ag Open raised more than $9,000. • The silent auction at the 2013 WFBF Annual Meeting raised $16,147. The YFA 50-50 raffle raised $1,278 • The WFB Foundation held a 40-by-40 campaign to recognize the accomplishments of Roger Cliff. The 52,124.80 that was raised surpassed the $40,000 goal. All contributions will benefit the WFB Foundation and Wisconsin collegiate Farm Bureau chapters at UW-Madison, UW- Platteville and UW- River Falls. • The Foundation is also sponsored by the Learn and Lead campaigns, memorial and “in honor of ” gifts, and donations from individuals, county Farm Bureau and corporations.
The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation funds:
• Ag in the Classroom • Young Farmer and Agriculturist Program • Women’s Program • Farm Bureau Leadership Institute • Collegiate Farm Bureau chapters at UWMadison, UW-Platteville and UW-River Falls
The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation supports:
• 4-H Key Awards • The Wisconsin Agribusiness Council’s “This Business Called Agriculture” and “An Agriculture Career for You” booklets. • Wisconsin Ag Education Workforce Development Council’s career website: whyag.com. • Wisconsin Environmental Education Foundation for educational resources and projects. • Wisconsin FFA’s Discussion Meet awards and Food for America program. • Farm Bureau’s FFA Farm Forum which provides leadership training for FFA members. • Scholarships to Farm Bureau members enrolled in Leadership Wisconsin. • Wisconsin Cranberry Discovery Center’s educational displays and tours.
Farm Bureau Staff ADMINISTRATION Jim Holte, WFBF President Stephen Freese,
PUBLIC RELATIONS 608.828.5700 608.828.5644
Casey Langan, Executive Director Sheri Sutton,
608.828.5701
Amy Manske,
Chief Administrative Officer
Becky Schollian, Executive Assistant
Director of Communications
608.828.5708 608.828.5703 608.828.5713
OPERATIONS Jeff Fuller,
608.828.5715
Treasurer and Executive Director of Operations
Steve Mason, General Accountant Jill Bennwitz, Administrative Assistant
608.828.5706
Communications Coordinator
GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS Paul Zimmerman, Executive Director Rob Richard, Senior Director Karen Gefvert, Director
608.828.5711 262.949.2418
608.828.5720 608.828.5705
Lynn Siekmann,
608.828.5707
MEMBER RELATIONS
866.355.7341
Kelly Sime, 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
Administrative Assistant
Bob Leege, Executive Director Deb Raemisch, Director Dale Beaty,
Patti Roden, District 1 Coordinator
866.355.7346
Ashleigh Calaway, District 8 Coordinator 866.355.7348 608.828.5710 608.828.5712 608.828.5714
Katie Mattison, District 9 Coordinator
866.355.7349
Darci Meili, Administrative Assistant
608.828.5704
Director of Training and Leadership Development
Wendy Kannel
Foundation Director, AITC Coordinator
608.828.5719
we with Support is whatAg Reaped You Supporting
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2014 Board of Directors
Jim Holte
President District 9, Elk Mound
Don Radtke
District 8, Merrill
Bayfield Douglas
Wayne Staidl
District 7, Peshtigo
Superior Shores Iron
Rosie Lisowe
Ashland
District 6, Chilton
Sawyer
Joe Bragger
Price
District 4, Independence
Polk
Rusk
Lincoln
Barron
Chippewa
St. Croix Dunn
Eau Claire
Buffalo
Portage Wood
Brown Waupaca
Jackson
Waushara
Adams La Crosse
Monroe Juneau
Vernon Crawford
Richland
Nicole Adrian
Iowa Grant Lafayette
Richard Gorder
Vice President District 3, Mineral Point
Leading with You
Marquette Green Lake Columbia
Sauk
Women’s Chair, Platteville
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Door
Shawano
Clark
Trempealeau
District 5, Berlin
Oconto
Marathon
Pierce
Kevin Krentz
Marinette
Langlade
Taylor
Green
Jerry Bradley
Rock
District 2, Sun Prairie
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Calumet Manitowoc Winnebago Fond du Lac
Sheboygan
Tim Clark Dodge
Jefferson
Dane
Kewaunee
Outagamie
Washington Ozaukee
YFA Chair Beaver Dam
Waukesha Milwaukee
Walworth
Racine Kenosha
Dave Daniels
District 1, Union Grove
Wisconsin FARM farm BUREAU bureau federation 8 WISCONSIN www.wfbf.com FEDERATION