Rural Route December|January 2020-2021

Rural Route WISCONSIN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION®'S

december | january 2020-2021 • vol. 26 no. 6 | wfbf.com

INSIDE Shawano Farmers Donate

TREES FOR THE TROOPS Page 22

WFBF

ANNUAL MEETING YFA CONFERENCE

and

Recap

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WISCONSIN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

contents vol. 26 no. 6

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DECEMBER | JANUARY 2020-2021

30 WIFarmBureau

BOARD MEMBERS NAMED

Kevin Krentz elected WFBF President.

CATES EARNS AWARD

Dick Cates recognized for service to Wisconsin agriculture.

BARTHOLOMEWS HONORED

Waukesha County couple recognized for dedication to Farm Bureau.

YFA AWARD WINNERS

Excellence in Agriculture and Discussion Meet winners chosen.

FARM BUREAU PROUD

Top membership workers recognized for their help.

TREES FOR TROOPS

Shawano County members donate Christmas trees for troops.

WFBF QUILT

Member designs Farm Bureau themed quilt.

MENTAL HEALTH

Member shares story and resources for mental health.

OPINIONS

Columns from Bragger, Duvall, Setzer, Newton and Atkinson.

AG IN THE CLASSROOM

Top teacher recognized for ag literacy work.

RURAL MUTUAL

Top 10 causes of loss on farm.

COVER PHOTO BY AMY ECKELBERG

ONLINE LIBRARY

Read our previous issues at wfbf.com/read.

wfbf.com

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EDITOR'S NOTE

H

ave you ever heard the song "Angels Among Us?" I recently heard this song while driving home and it made me think about the year we've had and how others might relate to how I felt when hearing it.

The song's lyrics talk about helpers who seem to reach out at the right time.

This year has been full of challenges and hardships but somehow, we have made it through with the help of others.

If you've read past editor's notes, you know my family hasn't been omitted from those challenges. My husband and I have been the receivers of quite a bit of help this year from many angels. While we struggle with the loss of our daughter, we have found some relief by spreading unexpected joy in a variety of different ways.

Hopefully if you take a moment to reflect, you too can think of people who have helped you through this challenging year. Maybe you find yourself wanting to give back during the holiday season. I encourage everyone to think about how you can use your time, talent or financial

resources to make a positive impact for someone you know, a total stranger or maybe your community. Find a way to be the angel someone else needs this holiday season.

Heading into a season that is meant to exemplify hope and love, I think we all are looking to our angels even more.

As you flip through the pages of this Rural Route, I think you'll find some hope in this issue.

On page 30, you'll read an incredible story of a woman who has had many helpers, but she uses her story about her husband's suicide to bring hope to others. You'll also learn more about the creation of the Farmer Angel Network as her community rallied support for other farm families.

On pages 22-23, you'll read about the Hanauers who play a special role in many military families' holiday celebrations through their participation in the Trees for Troops program.

On page 26, you'll read about a Farm Bureau member who gave her time to design a special gift for the WFBF office.

There are many pages filled with information from our first virtual WFBF Annual Meeting and YFA Conference.

There were many angels who helped us make this event successful. It was quite something to see our more than 200 delegates discuss policy completely online.

No matter what 2021 brings us we should rely on our angels and each other.

Wishing you and your family a blessed new year filled with love, hope and peace.

Amy Eckelberg Rural Route Editor Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation

Editor Amy Eckelberg - 608.828.5706 Designer Lynn Siekmann - 608.828.5707 Contributors Sarah Hetke - 608.828.5711 Marian Viney - 608.828.5721 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) wfbf.com info.demingway@wfbf.com WFBF Board of Directors Kevin Krentz, Berlin (President) Dave Daniels, Union Grove (Vice President) Arch Morton Jr., Janesville Robert Nigh, Viroqua Joe Bragger, Independence Rosie Lisowe, Chilton Brian Preder, Weyauwega Ryan Klussendorf, Medford Peter Kimball, Baldwin Lynn Leahy, Plover (Promotion and Education Committee Chair) Emily Johnson, Orfordville (YFA Committee Chair) Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation's Rural Route (ISSN 1082-1368) (USPS 39940), 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 Casey McNeal at 800.798.2691 ext. 334 or casey@iafalls.com.

For general inquiries, contact Amy Eckelberg at 608.828.5706 or aeckelberg@wfbf.com.

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WISCONSIN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

NEWS

Kevin Krentz Elected President of WFBF K

evin Krentz was elected president of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation and Rural Mutual Insurance Company. Krentz is a dairy farmer from Berlin in Waushara County.

Krentz was first elected to the WFBF Board of Krentz Daniels Morton Directors in 2012 to represent District 5, which includes: Adams, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Juneau, Marquette, Waushara and Winnebago counties.

Kevin is president of Krentz Family Dairy, Inc. He started his farming career in 1994 when he purchased his father's 60 cows. He grew the farm to 600 cows and 1,300 acres of crops.

Kevin and his wife, Holly, have one daughter and three sons.

Dave Daniels from Union Grove in Kenosha County was re-elected to serve as vice president.

Arch Morton Jr. of Janesville in Rock County was re-elected to a three-year term on the board representing Bragger Lisowe District 2 (Columbia, Dane, Dodge, Green, Rock and Sauk counties).

Joe Bragger of Independence in Buffalo County was re-elected to a three-year term on the board representing District 4 (Buffalo, Eau Claire, Jackson, La Crosse, Monroe and Trempealeau counties).

Rosie Lisowe of Chilton in Calumet County was re-elected to a three-year term on the board representing District 6 (Brown, Calumet, Door, Kewaunee, Manitowoc and Sheboygan counties).

Nine of the 11 members of the WFBF board of directors are farmers elected in each of Farm Bureau's nine districts. These nine individuals also make up the board of directors for the Rural Mutual Insurance Company.

Leahy Johnson Rounding out the WFBF's board are the chairs of WFBF's Young Farmer and Agriculturist and Promotion and Education She succeeds Kelly Oudenhoven of Outagamie County as Committees, both of which serve a one-year term on the board.

YFA Chair.

Lynn Leahy of Plover in Waushara County was elected to Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation Board Directors who a one-year term as the chair of the Promotion and Education were not up for re-election included: Dave Daniels of Union Committee and will serve as the representative on the board.

Grove in Kenosha County, Robert Nigh of Viroqua in Vernon She succeeds Darby Sampson from Jackson County.

County, Kevin Krentz of Berlin in Waushara County, Brian Emily Johnson of Orfordville in Rock County was elected to Preder of Weyauwega in Waupaca County, Ryan Klussendorf a one-year term as chair of the Young Farmer and Agriculturist of Medford in Taylor County and Peter Kimball of Baldwin in Committee and will serve as the representative on the board.

Pierce County.

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NEWS

Wisconsin Farm Bureau Delegates Set Policy for 2021 M ore than 200 delegates at the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation's virtual 101st Annual Meeting established new policy directives for the organization.

Farm Bureau delegates adopted the policies that will be included in the organization's policy book in 2021.

Resolutions were submitted by delegates as part of a grassroots policy development process.

Changes to the 2021 dairy policy include support for elimination of size and calorie restrictions for milk/dairy products in milk vending machines in schools. There was also support for overhauling the dairy pricing system that would benefit the farmer by aligning farm gate prices with retail and wholesale prices. Delegates reaffirmed existing policy for dairy farmer profitability including research and development for growth management, Grade A dairy farm equipment transitions and opportunities to remedy high plate counts.

Changes were made to WFBF policy regarding meat processing including support for the creation of a meat processing facility tax credit to increase the capacity and availability of local processors and retailers. There was also support for creation of incentive programs to encourage students to pursue careers in meat processing. Delegates supported developing a grant program to help local butcher shops upgrade to federal inspection standards and to also help new start up processing plants including on-farm processing.

On the delegate floor, members supported a state program to provide technical resources, funding assistance and low interest loans for the development of new, or the upgrade of existing local, smaller-scale slaughter plants, meat processing plants and other small, local food processing facilities. They also supported the state adding more meat inspectors to allow for increased local meat packing and slaughter plant capacity.

With the pandemic bringing to light the need for rural internet connectivity, delegates supported additional appropriations and accelerated implementation of expanded high quality cellular, broadband, fiber optic and telecommunications coverage in rural areas to enhance rural education and agribusiness needs. Additionally, delegates voted to support federal policy to provide broadband availability to everyone.

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Delegates from the Wisconsin Farm Bureau's 61 county Farm Bureaus also supported: • Increased availability of natural gas in rural Wisconsin.

• Requiring individuals and entities digging in road right of ways or easements to notify property owners before digging.

• Farm to School programs to promote buying local foods and education of food production, nutrition and the environment.

• Increased education efforts of modern agriculture and food production at the elementary and secondary levels.

On the federal level, delegates supported: • Increasing the butter fat content from 80 percent to 82 percent for the federal order butter standard.

• Clarification and standardization of food expiration terms, by the FDA, to reduce needless food waste.

The federal resolutions will be forwarded to the American Farm Bureau Federation for consideration at its annual convention next month.

WISCONSIN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

Wisconsin Lawmakers Receive Friend of Farm Bureau Award S ix of Wisconsin's federal lawmakers were recognized with the Friend of Farm Bureau award.

Every two years, lawmakers who have advocated for agriculture during the previous congressional session are recognized with the award presented by American Farm Bureau with nomination and approval from the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Board of Directors.

This year's recipients are Senators Ron Johnson (R-WI) and

Johnson

Baldwin

Kind

Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) along with Representatives Ron Kind (D-WI), Mike Gallagher (R-WI), Glenn Grothman (R-WI) and Bryan Steil (R-WI).

"The recipients of the Friend of Farm Bureau award have supported policies or taken special action that benefit Wisconsin farm families," said former WFBF President Joe Bragger.

"Having elected officials who support agriculture is essential to a bright future for our farms and rural communities."

Gallagher

Grothman

Steil

Wisconsin Farm Bureau Applauds Gray Wolf Delisting O

of Interior's n Oct. 29, the Department of Interior announced the announcement event. delisting of gray wolves from the Endangered Species "I had heard List in the Upper Great Lakes region at an event hosted about wolf attacks at the Minnesota Valley Wildlife Refuge in Bloomington, in the Northwoods Minnesota. of Wisconsin but "Wisconsin never dreamed it farmers would happen to and rural us," Calaway shared. residents have "As a farmer, I dealt with don't want to see nightmare the wolf population situations eliminated, but I do with wolf want to see the wolf attacks on population managed pets and so we can coexist livestock and in harmony." even wolf Wisconsin's gray sightings as wolf population has children play WFBF District 8 Coordinator grown from 14 in in the yard Ashleigh Calaway spoke 1985 to more than or wait for with Department of 1,000 as of the latest the school WFBF District 8 Coordinator Ashleigh Calaway shared her wolf Interior Secretary David L. story.

Bernhardt.

DNR count in the bus," said spring of 2020. former Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation President Joe Bragger added, "This is a wolf management success story.

Bragger. "We applaud the Department of Interior for this longWe have successfully managed the wolf population beyond the overdue announcement that will return gray wolf population recovery goal of 350 animals statewide. We now ask that the management authority back to the state DNR." Wisconsin DNR establish a hunting season to keep the wolf WFBF member and District 8 Coordinator Ashleigh Calaway provided a brief testimony during the Department population at a healthy level."

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NEWS

Cates Receives Distinguished Service Award County with son Eric, his wife, Kiley, and their daughter Shannon and her husband, Dan. "Farm Bureau is about people working together to get a job done. There are always some who stand out because of special contributions they have made to Wisconsin agriculture and Dick is one of those outstanding people," said former WFBF President Joe Bragger.

In 1995, Dick helped create the Wisconsin School for Beginning Dairy and Livestock Farmers, which is a program within UW-Madison's Farm and Industry Short Course and Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems that teaches young farmers what they need to know when starting their farming businesses. This program has assisted more than 600 young and not-so-young individuals to start, or move towards, their dream to farm.

Dick retired from this work in 2018, but during the 23 years, he also developed and taught courses in grassland ecology, pasture management, managed grazing and agroecology within the College of Agricultural & Life Sciences at UW-Madison.

Previously, Dick served on the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Board of Directors and the USDA Secretary's Advisory Council for Beginning Farmers and Ranchers. Dick serves on the boards of the Town n Dec. 5, Richard (Dick) Cates Jr. was presented the 'Distinguished Service to Wisconsin Agriculture' award of Wyoming, Spring Green Fire District, Upland Hills Health for his outstanding, long-term contributions to Wisconsin's Foundation and the Sand County Foundation. Additionally, agricultural industry during Wisconsin Farm Bureau the Cates family has been recognized for their soil and water Federation's conservation work through virtual 101st Annual "Farm Bureau is about people working together to get a various awards since 1998 and Meeting. job done. There are always some who stand out because are members A Wisconsin native, Dick of special contributions they have made to Wisconsin of the Iowa County has been agriculture and Dick is one of those outstanding people." Uplands surrounded - Joe Bragger, former WFBF President Farmer-Led by agriculture Watershed his whole Project and the Lowery Creek Watershed Initiative. life. He earned his Ph.D. degree in soil science from UWMadison. He and his wife, Kim, returned to the family farm "Dick's commitment to the agriculture community is with a determination to turn it into a successful business. admirable because he leads by example," said Bragger. "He is Dick and Kim co-own the Cates Family Farm LLC in Iowa extremely deserving of this award."

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WISCONSIN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

Bartholomews Receive 'Distinguished Service to Farm Bureau' Award W

aukesha County's Robert (Bob) and Carol Bartholomew have received the highest award that Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation bestows upon its members.

Carol Bartholomew was presented the 'Distinguished Service to Farm Bureau' award during the organization's virtual 101st Annual Meeting on Dec. 5.

"For their commitment to making Farm Bureau a strong organization in Waukesha County and in Wisconsin, I am pleased to present our Distinguished Service to Farm Bureau Award to Bob and Carol," said former WFBF President Joe Bragger. "Although Bob passed away earlier this year, his legacy and the work that he did continues to thrive and help future generations of members."

Bob and Carol were actively involved in Farm

legislators continue to attend meetings to keep Farm Bureau members informed. Bob also helped start the county Ag in the Classroom program and enjoyed visiting fourth-grade classrooms to teach students about agriculture. Bob and Carol also served as general leaders for their local 4-H club.

Bob and Carol attended AFBF Annual Conventions from 1987 to 2014. In addition, Bob served as a delegate to the WFBF Annual Meeting for many years. He served on many state committees and he was involved in the first steps of use-value assessment with state legislators and other county Farm Bureau directors.

Carol served as chair of the county women's committee for 18 years. She was the chair of the publicity and newsletter committee from 1987 to 2008. Carol also was the county historian and did a majority of the research for Waukesha County Farm Bureau's 75th, 80th and 100th anniversaries.

Bob and Carol enjoyed the silent auction and reception at the 2018 WFBF Waukesha County Farm Bureau President Annual Meeting and YFA Conference.

Tom Oberhaus said, "When individuals think of Bureau for many years. During his time as county president, Farm Bureau they think of Bob and Carol Bartholomew and Bob invited guest speakers to several board meetings and the the many contributions they made and continue to make. They county annual meeting. The tradition has continued and UWembody the definition of 'Farm Bureau Proud' and are most Extension and county sheriff personnel; local, state and national deserving of this recognition."

DECEMBER | JANUARY 2020-2021

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NEWS

10 Semi-Finalists Advance in Ag Innovation Challenge T

he American Farm Bureau Federation, in partnership with Farm Credit, is advancing ag innovation by supporting start-ups from across the country through the 2021 Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge. AFBF and Farm Credit today announced the 10 semi-finalist teams in the competition.

"The hard-working entrepreneurs recognized today are committed to providing solutions for some of the biggest challenges facing agriculture," said AFBF President Zippy Duvall.

"This includes supporting farms, ranches and rural economies affected by the COVID-19 pandemic."

The competition provides an opportunity for individuals to showcase ideas and business innovations in agriculture. This is the seventh year of the Challenge, which was the first national business competition focused exclusively on rural entrepreneurs launching food and agriculture businesses.

The 10 semi-finalist teams were awarded $7,500 each. They are: 1. A griHood Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland. Team lead: Richard Francis 2. A gro Empresas Black Belt, Coamo, Puerto Rico. Team lead: Luis Raimundo Bures Martinez 3. Arbré Technologies, Inc., Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Team lead: These are screen shots from Arbré Technologies Inc.'s presentation. To view the video, visit Matthieu Vollmer bit.ly/AgInnovation10.

4. B oldCypress LLC, Oran, Missouri.

Team lead: Nathan Holmes 5. B utter Meat Co., Perry, New York. Team lead: Jill Gould representatives on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021, to win: 6. Harvust, Walla Walla, Washington. Team lead: Riley Clubb • Farm Bureau Entrepreneur of the Year, for a total of $50,000 7. Insulights.com, Akron, Iowa. Team lead: Bill Brown • People's Choice Award, for a total of $20,000 8. Parasanti, Thrall, Texas. Team lead: Max Adams The top 10 semi-finalist teams will participate in pitch 9. R ow Shaver Systems LLC, Great Bend, Kansas. Team lead: training and mentorship from Cornell University's SC Johnson Dave Button College of Business faculty, and network with representatives 10. TerraClear Inc., Grangeville, Idaho. Team lead: from the Agriculture Department's Rural Business Investment Trevor Thompson Companies.

Farm Bureau would not be able to recognize and support The 10 semi-finalist teams will compete during the AFBF these rural businesses without generous funding provided Convention on Friday, Jan. 8, 2021, to advance to the final by sponsors Farm Credit, Bayer Crop Science, Farm Bureau round where the four finalist teams will receive an additional Bank, Farm Bureau Financial Services, FMC Corporation and $7,500 for a total of $15,000. The final four teams will compete John Deere. live in front of Farm Bureau members, investors and industry, To learn more about the Challenge, visit fb.org/challenge.

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WISCONSIN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

Erons Receive Wisconsin Leopold Conservation AwardÂŽ and Melissa Eron of Stevens Point have been selected as J ohn the recipients of the 2020 Wisconsin Leopold Conservation

AwardÂŽ.

Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the award recognizes farmers and foresters who inspire others with their dedication to land, water and wildlife habitat management on private, working land.

In Wisconsin, the $10,000 award is presented annually by Sand County Foundation, American Farmland Trust, Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation and Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin.

The Erons were revealed as this year's award recipient at the Nov. 19 meeting of the Board of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection in Madison. They received $10,000 and a crystal award for being selected. A video celebrating their conservation success premiered during the virtual WFBF Annual Meeting on Dec. 4.

"Wisconsin Farm Bureau is proud to work with the Sand County Foundation to recognize and highlight farmers for their outstanding conservation efforts," said former WFBF President Joe Bragger. "The Erons are extremely deserving of this honorable award. John is known as the go-to conservation person in his area of the state and has great compassion in caring for the land. As farmers, John and Melissa understand the importance of working with a variety of groups so together we can make the land better for future generations."

The first Wisconsin Leopold Conservation Award was presented to woodland conservationist Gerry Mich of Appleton in 2006. The 2019 recipient was Jeff Lake of Boyceville in Dunn County.

The Leopold Conservation Award in Wisconsin is made possible thanks to the generous contributions from Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, WFBF, Compeer Financial, Culver's, McDonald's, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, We Energies Foundation, Wisconsin Corn Growers Association, Wisconsin Corn Promotion Board, Wisconsin Land and Water Conservation Association, Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association.

Sand County Foundation presents the Leopold Conservation Award to private landowners in 20 states with a variety of conservation, agricultural and forestry organizations. Other finalists were: Mike Berg of Lafayette County, Charlie Hammer and Nancy Kavazanjian of Dodge County, Brian Maliszewski of Trempealeau County and John and Dorothy Priske of Columbia County.

For more information about the award, visit leopoldconservationaward.org.

DECEMBER | JANUARY 2020-2021

About John and Melissa Eron The Eron's conservation story is one of innovation and ingenuity. Their farm's heavy clay soils were often wet during the spring planting season, dry by summer, and wet again by fall.

John devised a common sense (though untested) plan: he'd capture and store runoff water and use it later to irrigate crops.

John renovated used excavation and irrigation equipment. He dug a series of strategically placed ponds in partnership with the Portage County Land Conservation Department, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Drain tiles were directed to the ponds.

Any flooding from the ponds is directed via pipes to a wood chip bioreactor to remove nutrients.

John excavates sediment deposits in the ponds and recycles those nutrients back onto his fields, which reduces his need for fertilizer while boosting yields and profitability. The positive results have prompted the Erons to install similar water and nutrient recycling systems on their other farms.

This 'closed system' the Erons created protects Mill Creek.

This Wisconsin River tributary that runs through their farm has long been on a list of phosphorus-impaired waters. As president of the Farmers of Mill Creek Watershed Council, John leads farmer-led efforts to promote farming practices that ensure clean water and healthy soils.

The Erons manage soil moisture and health through the use cover crops and no-till planting. They are growing fewer row crops by experimenting with raising alternative forages for area dairy farmers.

Field corners and other hard-to-farm areas are planted with native wildflowers and grasses to create pollinator and wildlife habitats. The Erons have worked with their county's conservation staff to develop a program that educates youth about native plants and the importance of pollinators. They understand that the future of agriculture must consider the environment, and future agriculturalists must be educated about it today.

John serves as the appointed Weed Commissioner for Portage and Wood counties, where he works with local and regional stakeholders to combat wild parsnip and other land-based invasive species. He also serves on the local school board and chairs the planning commission in his township. The Erons, who diversified their business by converting a former dairy barn into an event venue for weddings and other gatherings, are parents to two young children. wfbf.com

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NEWS

Poll Shows Americans' Unwavering Trust in Farmers and Approval of Sustainability Practices A majority of U.S. adults have a positive view of farmers' sustainability practices, and an overwhelming majority trust farmers, according to a new national public opinion poll from the American Farm Bureau Federation.

The survey of 2,200 U.S. adults found that more than half (58 percent) rate the sustainability practices of U.S. farmers positively, with broad agreement from a majority of adults across demographic groups.

Nearly nine in 10 adults (88 percent) trust farmers, a 4 percent increase from AFBF's June 2020 polling, which is evidence the public recognized that food supply chain challenges brought on by the pandemic were not within the control of farmers.

The survey also explored public attitudes about the environmental sustainability achievements of farmers, as well as future direction to advance climate-smart farming. Overall, the public agrees farmers shouldn't be expected to bear the financial burden alone. More than four out of five adults (84 percent) say environmental sustainability and economic sustainability are both important for farmers, and most adults say both are very important. More than four in five adults (84 percent) also say feeding the world and farmers passing farms on to future generations (83 percent) are important.

"Americans have a high level of trust in farmers, and they understand that we're committed to protecting the soil, air and water," said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. "We want to leave the land better than we found it for our children and grandchildren, as well as our nation. Our survey demonstrates that Americans are impressed by advancements in climatesmart farming and we look forward to building on that success."

Support for farmers' sustainability efforts swelled when government data was shared about achievements. More than eight in 10 Americans (81 percent) were impressed when they learned that, according to the Environmental Protection Agency and Agriculture Department, farmers have put 140 million acres in conservation programs, more than doubled the amount of renewable energy sources they use, and nearly tripled the amount of food grown in the last 70 years with the same or fewer resources.

Looking to the future, the survey explores how Americans think sustainability efforts on farms and ranches should be funded. Seventy percent of adults say government incentives to encourage farmers to adopt additional sustainable agricultural practices would be effective. More than three-quarters of adults believe it is important for the government to fund science-based research (76 percent) and improve

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infrastructure (78 percent) to support agriculture.

At a time when some corporations are making sustainability commitments that include or impact agricultural production, a bipartisan majority of adults (62 percent) say corporations should compensate farmers for the additional cost of implementing environmental practices to help achieve sustainability goals.

The survey also revealed there is still work to be done to increase awareness of agriculture's comparatively small contribution to greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. More than four in five adults (84 percent) were not able to correctly identify agriculture's impact. On a brighter note, nearly half of adults (45 percent) correctly ranked agriculture as the smallest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions by economic sector. According to the latest EPA data, agriculture accounts for 10 percent of total U.S. emissions, far less than the transportation, electricity production, commercial and residential, and industry sectors.

WISCONSIN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

DECEMBER | JANUARY 2020-2021

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YFA Members Win Awards

Natasha Paris Earns Excellence in Ag Award N

atasha Paris was selected as the winner of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau’s Young Farmer and Agriculturist Excellence in Agriculture Award at the organization’s virtual 101st Annual Meeting on Dec. 5.

Natasha Paris is an agri-science teacher and FFA advisor at Ripon High School. She and her husband, Jordan, own ParKelm Farm, a pasture-based livestock operation.

“This contest highlights individuals and how they have positively impacted Wisconsin agriculture and Farm Bureau and inspire others to do the same,” said former WFBF President Joe Bragger. “Natasha is an outstanding advocate for agriculture.”

Paris has been a Farm Bureau member since 2015 and serves as the YFA chair and vice president of Green Lake County Farm Bureau.

She will compete at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Annual Convention in January. In addition, she can participate in the 2021 YFA trip to Washington, D.C. GROWMARK, Inc., will offer the winner either an all-expense paid trip to the GROWMARK

Annual Meeting or $1,500 credit towards goods and services at the local FS Cooperative.

Other participants included: Stephanie Abts of Manitowoc County; Julie Wadzinski of Barron County; and Kellie Zahn of Shawano County.

The Excellence in Agriculture Award is presented to a Farm Bureau member between the ages of 18 and 35 who is actively engaged in agriculture but derives the majority of his or her income from an off-farm agricultural career. The winner is selected based on his or her knowledge of agriculture, leadership in Farm Bureau and other civic organizations.

As part of the Excellence in Agriculture competition, Paris gave a virtual presentation.

Julie Sweney Tops YFA Discussion Meet

Last December, Sweney participated in the Final 4 of the 2019 YFA Discussion Meet.

Sweney of Dodge County was selected as the winner of the Julie 2020 Wisconsin Farm Bureau Young Farmer and Agriculturist

Discussion Meet contest during the organization’s virtual 101st Annual Meeting on Dec. 5.

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The Discussion Meet contest is a panel discussion in which Farm Bureau members between the ages of 18 and 35 are judged on their ability to express their ideas and opinions and reach a solution on current issues affecting agriculture.

Sweney grew up on her family's dairy farm in Dodge County. She is a 2011 graduate of the WFBF Leadership Institute and serves on the Dodge County Farm Bureau board of directors as membership chair. Julie enjoys being a member of Farm Bureau so she can help promote agriculture within her community. She is the director of marketing and communications at FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative, serving dairy farmers throughout the Midwest.

Sweney will represent Wisconsin during the American Farm Bureau Annual Convention in January. The winner also can participate in the 2021 YFA trip to Washington, D.C. GROWMARK, Inc., will offer the winner either an all-expense paid trip to the GROWMARK Annual Meeting or $1,500 credit towards goods and services at the local FS Cooperative. Along with awards from Farm Bureau, Rural Mutual Insurance and GROWMARK, the winner was presented a chainsaw courtesy of Grainger.

The other Discussion Meet finalists were Riley Bricco, Waupaca County; Erin O’Toole, Kewaunee County; and Natasha Paris, Green Lake County.

WISCONSIN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

rence? e f n o c e h t t u o y most ab jo n e u o y id d t W ha

ce n e r e f n o C A F 2020 Virtual Y

CHRISTA HOFFMAN

JOHN LYONS

AMY SILVER

ANDREW DALSANTO

ASHLEY HENKE

"While the virtual YFA conference can never replace the in-person event, I was able to watch more sessions and more of the YFA competitions. Being online, it was more convenient to tune in. There were still so many ways to stay connected."

"We really had a great time during trivia night. We also enjoyed being able to watch the Discussion Meet and Excellence in Ag presentations at our leisure."

"I really enjoyed the opportunity to hear from different types of farms across the U.S. We learned about tulip production in Oregon, raising cotton in Georgia and growing almonds/walnuts in California!"

"Although it was a bit different, I loved that we proved that we can be one unified voice for Wisconsin farmers while working through a virtual platform for the 101st WFBF Annual Meeting. We were able to adapt, work through and move forward together."

"I loved learning and seeing all the different types of agriculture in different states! My kids enjoyed it as well!"

DID YOU MISS OUT? Watch the Discussion Meet, Excellence in Agriculture presentations and farm tours at wfbf.com/2020-virtual-yfa-conference.

CONGRATULATIONS Congratulations to these Farm Bureau members who won cash courtesy of Rural Mutual Insurance Company for their participation in the conference.

Winning $500

Christa Hoffman, Shawano County

Winning $100, each

Kellie Zahn, Shawano County Ashley Henke, Marquette County Amy Silver, Green County Brittany Steffes, Iowa County Taylor Gracyalny, U W-Madison Collegiate Farm Bureau

Thank you to everyone who participated!

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2020 Marks

13th Year of Membership Gain for WFBF

The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation wrapped up the 2020 membership year on Sept. 30 with total membership of 47,213 members, a gain of 111 compared with last year. This year's membership gain marked WFBF's 13th straight year of membership growth.

F

Lincoln Counties. Twenty-nine county Farm Bureaus reported arm Bureau membership is comprised of voting and associate members. Voting members are farmers, people an increase in voting members. The largest increases came in with direct involvement in production agriculture and owners Dodge, Barron and Columbia counties. of agricultural property. Associate members are individuals "Membership growth is a high priority for any association, and especially for an organization like and businesses who join Farm Bureau to utilize services Farm Bureau that represents farmers and agriculture and benefits and to support the work of in general," said WFBF's Executive Director of the organization.

Bayfield WFBF finished the year with Member Relations Bob Leege. "It's gratifying to see 23,112 voting members and 24,101 that despite the difficulties that we've experienced Superior Shores in 2020, Farm Bureau membership has associate members.

(Douglas, Bayfield, Iron, Ashland) Douglas remained steady and strong."

Twenty-nine of the 61 county Farm Iron Bureaus reported a membership Ashland gain, led by Dane, Portage and Burnett

Sawyer

Polk Burnett Farm Bureau

Price

Polk

2020 MEMBERSHIP

23,112 voting members 24,101 associate members

Rusk

Barron

Lincoln

St. Croix

Chippewa

Dunn

Rural Route

Oconto

Marathon Pierce

Door

Shawano

Clark

Eau Claire Buffalo

Wood

Portage

Waupaca

Outagamie

Brown

Jackson Manitowoc

Trempealeau

Waushara

Adams

La Crosse

Monroe

Both Voting and Total Gain Voting Gain Only Total Gain Only

Juneau

Marquette Green Lake

Fond du Lac

Vernon Sauk Crawford Richland

Washington

Columbia Dodge

No Gains Iowa

Dane

Jefferson Waukesha

Grant Lafayette

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Marinette

Langlade

Taylor

Green

Rock

Walworth

Racine Kenosha

WISCONSIN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

Membership Volunteers Earn

Farm Bureau Proud Club Status

W

Trayton Greenfield

Karyn Schauf

Kelly Oudenhoven

Joe Bragger DECEMBER | JANUARY 2020-2021

ith the close of the Farm Bureau membership year on Sept. 30, WFBF reported its 13th consecutive year of membership growth. A driving force behind this string of success has been the membership outreach efforts of Farm Bureau volunteers around the state who are committed to helping the organization meet its goals.

This dedicated group of volunteer membership workers who invited their friends and neighbors to join the organization helped add more than 470 new members to WFBF's membership rolls during the 2020 membership year.

For more than 35 years, the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation has honored a select group of volunteer membership workers who sign at least five new Farm Bureau members during the membership year, which begins on Oct. 1 and ends on Sept.

30. Known as the Farm Bureau Proud Club, this group included 38 membership workers from 24 counties in 2020.

With the WFBF Annual Meeting being held virtually this year due to COVID-19, the traditional Farm Bureau Proud Banquet honoring these membership workers could not be held. However, each member of the Farm Bureau Proud Club was presented with a special thank you gift in November.

The Farm Bureau Proud gift boxes contain a variety of items, most of which are proudly produced and marketed by Farm Bureau members throughout Wisconsin.

"It's great to see the commitment of our membership workers year after year," said Bob Leege, Wisconsin Farm Bureau's Executive Director of Member Relations. "This group takes a lot of pride in bringing new faces into our organization and helping to build Farm Bureau's influence. We look forward to bringing the group together again in future years recognize them and honor their work in front of the entire delegation at the WFBF Annual Meeting."

Once again, Fond du Lac County Membership Chair Trayton Greenfield led the way among all membership volunteers with 30 new members signed.

Other top 10 membership workers included Joe Bragger (20), Scott Breitrick (15), Monica Schwittay (14), Mike Harms (9), Al Klapoetke (9), Reuben Hopp, Scott Schreffler and Randy Wokatsch (8 each) and Eunice Yanke (7).

Dean Bergseng

Sue Thelen

Rob Wirth

Eunice Yanke wfbf.com

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e Selfies from th

g n i t e e M l a u n 101st WFBF An Since we weren't able to gather in person at the Kalahari, Farm Bureau members were asked to submit a selfie watching the virtual 101st WFBF Annual Meeting. It was a fun way to stay connected and see friends through social media. Here are some of the photos that were shared with WFBF! Christa Hoff m

an

owiasch

Brenda D sse

rt Klu

Robe

Gloria Regan

ndorf

Leslie Svacina Kellie Zah n

Stephanie H

ammerly

Mary Hoo

kham

Katherine

Peper

Lisa

lski

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ie Jayne Nak

ner

Gant

y Lynn Leah

LEADERSHIP

Leadership Boot Camp Goes Virtual O n Nov. 14, WFBF Promotion and Education Committee hosted their annual Leadership Boot Camp. The Leadership Boot Camp training series was designed to serve as a fast-paced, challenging, one-day training session based on topics the WFBF Leadership Institute covers.

Although 2020 marked the fourth year of the training series, this was the first time it was held virtually. It was originally planned to take place in-person at Heartland Farms in Hancock.

By holding the training virtually, members were able to participate from the comfort and safety of their own homes.

In addition to keeping members' health and safety in mind, the virtual format allowed members from across the state to participate without the need to travel long distances.

"We were excited to offer the same high-quality content without the need to travel and while keeping everyone's health and safety in mind," said Darby Sampson, 2020 WFBF Promotion and Education Committee chair.

Local-level engagement with elected officials was the topic of this year's Leadership Boot Camp. WFBF's Director of Local Affairs Steve Boe and Director of Governmental

• Wisconsin Towns Association wisctowns.com/resources/town-websites • Directory of Wisconsin School Districts (public and private) dpi.wi.gov/directories • Wisconsin Counties Association wicounties.org/counties.iml • Contact Steve Boe with additional questions on local issues: sboe@wfbf.com

Relations Tyler Wenzlaff led the training with assistance from the Promotion and Education Committee. Attendees were provided examples of where to find information on town or county websites, tips for keeping track of local issues and how to contact elected officials. Attendees also heard directly from several elected officials what they believe are the most effective ways for constituents to have their voice heard.

AGENDA FRIDAY, MARCH 12 LEADERSHIP • ENGAGEMENT • ADVOCACY • DEVELOPMENT

Join us for the 2021 Virtual Ag LEAD Summit MARCH 12

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

9:00 a.m.

Welcome and Keynote Speaker PAUL WESSELMANN The Ripples Guy 10:15 a.m.

Breakout Sessions 11:15 a.m.

Breakout Sessions 12:00 p.m.

Lunch Break 12:30 p.m.

Keynote Speaker HANNAH THOMPSON-WEEMAN Animal Agriculture Alliance 1:45 p.m.

Breakout Sessions 2:45 p.m.

Closing Messages 3:30 p.m.

Adjourn

REGISTRATION

Wesselmann

PRESENTED BY:

Thompson-Weeman

Rural Mutual

Registration will be available in early 2021.

For the latest updates, visit wfbf.com/events/ ag-lead-summit

Insurance Company

DECEMBER | JANUARY 2020-2021

wfbf.com

19

LEADERSHIP

Members Chosen for State Committees Promotion and Education Committee

K

athy Muth from Washington County, Brenda Dowiasch from Eau Claire County and Steven Mueller from St. Croix County have been appointed to the Wisconsin Farm Bureau's Promotion and Education Committee by the organization's Board of Directors. Their terms started after the virtual WFBF Annual Meeting.

"I am excited to see the new ideas and enthusiasm that Kathy, Brenda Muth and Steven will bring to the Promotion and Education Committee over the next three years," said former WFBF President Joe Bragger.

Kathy farms with her husband, George, their son, Peter, and daughterin-law, Gina. They milk 250 cows in the town of Cheeseville. Kathy serves as Washington County Farm Bureau's Ag in the Classroom co-chair and enjoys facilitating learning opportunities centered around agriculture. She Dowiasch previously worked for Professional Dairy Producers where she learned about all aspects of the dairy industry.

Brenda grew up on her family's farm in western Wisconsin which sparked her love of agriculture. She works for the USDA Farm Service Agency as a member of the farm loan team serving north central Wisconsin. She is an active member of the Eau Claire County Farm Bureau, Augusta FFA Alumni and the local Mueller trapshooting team.

Steven, along with his family, grows crops on 700 acres in St. Croix County. After milking cows for 25 years, his family recently transitioned into cash crops. In addition to farm work, Steven works off the farm at a warehouse facility in Hudson. He also serves on the St. Croix County Farm Bureau board of directors. Steven and his wife, Ashley, have a daughter named Aria.

The Promotion and Education Committee is a group of nine leaders who represent the nine Wisconsin Farm Bureau districts.

Committee members develop, implement and promote projects and programs which build awareness and understanding of agriculture and provide leadership development for the agricultural community. The committee's chair sits on WFBF's Board of Directors as the program's representative. The Promotion and Education Program is funded by the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation.

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Young Farmer and Agriculturist Committee

K

eith and Savannah Henke of Jackson County, Sara Menard of Adams County and Lauren Kostello of Manitowoc Henkes County have been appointed to Wisconsin Farm Bureau's Young Farmer and Agriculturist Committee by the organization's Board of Directors. Their terms began at the end of the virtual YFA Conference on Dec. 5.

"It is exciting to see these young Menard members stepping up and assuming a leadership role in our organization," former WFBF President Joe Bragger said. "The YFA program is designed to build the next generation of Farm Bureau leaders and these appointees will surely rise to the occasion."

Keith and Savannah Kostello were recently married and live in Black River Falls. Keith grew up on a dairy farm in Stanley before pursuing a degree in industrial mechanics at Chippewa Valley Technical College. He works for Millis Transfer driving freight throughout the Midwest. Savannah did not grow up on a farm, but her grandfather's farm was just down the road. She showed Brown Swiss at the county, state and national levels in addition to being an active member of 4-H and FFA. She earned a degree in dairy science and agricultural business from UW-River Falls. She is a graduate of WFBF's Leadership Institute. Savannah is the operations manager WISCONSIN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

YFA Committee continued at the Land O' Lakes Animal Milk Solutions plant in Black River Falls.

Additionally, she is pursuing a master's degree in organizational leadership and development.

Sara may not be a Wisconsin native, but agriculture runs deep in her roots.

Her father, an FFA advisor, is the reason she became interested in agriculture from a young age. She was active in 4-H and FFA showing livestock and participating in cooking competitions.

Sara attended Louisiana State University where she met a food science professor who guided her education and career path. After earning a master's degree from Kansas State University in food science, Sara received a job offer from Grande Custom Ingredients in Fond du Lac and has called Wisconsin home ever since. She works as a senior food scientist at Brakebush Brothers in Westfield where she works with national restaurant chains to develop new chicken offerings.

Lauren is a crop insurance agent for Investors Community Bank based out of Manitowoc. In this role, she provides agricultural insurance products, including crop, livestock and milk insurance, throughout Wisconsin.

Lauren grew up on her family's dairy farm near Ashland and was an active member of her local 4-H club where she showed cattle and horses. She graduated from UW-River Falls with a bachelor's degree in agriculture business with a dairy science minor. Lauren serves on the Manitowoc County Farm Bureau board of directors and is a graduate of WFBF's Leadership Institute.

The WFBF YFA Committee consists of nine couples or individuals (ages 18-35) from across the state.

Its goal is to get more young farmers and agriculturists acquainted with and involved in Farm Bureau. They carry out a variety of statewide initiatives, such as conferences, contests and award programs. The YFA Program is funded by the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation.

DECEMBER | JANUARY 2020-2021

wfbf.com

21

Shawano Farmers Donate

Trees for the Troops

By Amy Eckelberg

hawano County Farm Bureau members, Dan and Julie Hanauer own Hanauer's Tree Farms LLP, a family-owned, award-winning grower of Christmas trees. The business specializes in selling wholesale trees, specifically evergreens.

The business started with Dan's parents, Veronica and the late Dan Sr. In 1957, when Dan Sr. graduated from UW-Madison with bachelor's and master's degrees in botany and horticulture, he did not envision starting a tree farm. In 1966 he and Veronica planted some Scotch pine Christmas trees on land acquired for a future home site. It was then Hanauer's Tree Farms was born.

Through the years, the six Hanauer children worked with the trees. Countless hours were spent as a family shearing, mowing, fertilizing and doing other tasks. The first trees were ready for market in 1977. These trees were sold retail adjacent to a clothing store the Hanauer family owned and operated.

The original plot of trees had been gifted to Dan and his brother Dave with the agreement to maintain the trees and retain the profits for college expenses. When the brothers earned scholarships to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, the tree money was not needed for college and the decision was made to invest it in additional tree farms.

Once Dan completed his active duty obligation to the U.S. Army and transitioned to the U.S. Army Reserve, he joined his parents full-time on the farm.

"It worked out well," Dan admitted. "I had about 10 years of military obligation and that's how long it took the trees to mature."

Under Dan Jr. and Julie's management, the farm has grown to more than 500 acres.

"My dad taught me confidence," said Dan. "He taught me to believe in what you do and don't be afraid to promote yourself and the worth of your product."

Through the years the couple has had to defend their prices.

Julie added, "What many people don't understand is that there is a whole progression to these trees. It's years of labor. You have to pay for that."

The Hanauer's trees are available as cut Christmas trees, container trees or balled and burlapped and they offer Balsam Fir, Fraser Fir, Canaan Fir, Colorado Spruce and White Pine.

"We believe in specialized diversity," said Dan. "We specialize in evergreens but within that context, we offer the most diverse mix of carefully selected species, varieties and cultivars."

They sell a lot of large trees and take a variety of special orders, including the large tree that sits in the center of the ice

22

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rink at Titletown in Green Bay. While the business is mostly wholesale, meaning their busy times are the weeks leading into Thanksgiving, their 'cut your own' section opened Nov. 27. Traditionally known as 'Black Friday', Julie cleverly calls the day 'green Friday.'

Julie said, "That is my favorite part. Everyone who comes is just so happy. We are part of family traditions."

Julie noted that the entire family gets involved in the 'cut your own' portion including their son Jack and daughter Sophie.

Trees for Troops

Through the years the Hanauers have become involved in the nationwide Trees for Troops program. They, alongside other Wisconsin Christmas tree growers, donated real Christmas trees to the program that started in 2005.

This year the Hanauers donated 50 trees. During the last 16 years, they have donated 800 trees to the program.

"As a retired Army officer, the Trees for Troops program is near and dear to my heart," said Dan. "We relish the fact that we can make the holidays a little brighter for those experiencing the stress of military life."

Each year, according to their website, Trees for Troops collects between 15,000 to 17,000 real Christmas Trees from 27 states and delivers them to military families across the U.S., as well as soldiers serving overseas. The program is sponsored by the Wisconsin Christmas Tree Producers Association, the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation and FedEx Corp.

WISCONSIN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

This truck was loaded with an order for Missouri. Each truck can hold about 1,000 trees.

Dan added, "The cards and letters we receive from military families who get our trees are touching and heartwarming."

Proud Farm Bureau Members

Longtime Rural Mutual Insurance customers, Dan and Julie have been Farm Bureau members for more than 25 years.

"Rural has always been really good to us," said Dan. "We've been with the company for a long time."

Julie added, "Our agents, Norb Stauber and Ben Albrecht treat us so well. Plus, I really like the member benefits. The discounts are nice.

Why Buy a Real Christmas Tree?

These trees are called 'balled and burlapped.'

These are used for landscaping needs. With proper equipment they can be dug and placed in a new location, creating a landscape with trees many years faster than planting small trees.

DECEMBER | JANUARY 2020-2021

• Buying a real Christmas tree is an environmentally sound choice.

• Christmas trees are real, natural products.

• Christmas tree farms stabilize soil, protect water supplies and provide refuge for wildlife while creating scenic green belts.

• Often, Christmas trees are grown on soils that could not support other crops.

• A benefit to the atmosphere, Christmas trees absorb carbon dioxide and other gases, emitting fresh oxygen. For every real Christmas tree harvested, two to three seedlings are planted.

• Real Christmas trees are an all-American product, grown in all 50 states, including Alaska and Hawaii.

• Real trees are a renewable, recyclable resource.

Artificial trees contain non-biodegradable plastics and metals.

*Information taken from Wisconsin Christmas Tree Association (christmastrees-wi.org) wfbf.com

23

n Farm B nsi u co

ÂŽ

au re

Wi s

Last chance: Support the Centennial Campaign!

Cen

ten nia

l

All contributions must be received by Dec. 31. Donate online at wfbf.com/centennial/ centennial-fundraising. Campaign details are on the website.

Thank you to Rural Mutual Insurance Company for matching all donations between $50 – 10,000 Insurance Company (up to $100,000).

Rural Mutual

Your donations help support these members and groups:

Leadership

Institute

Ag in th e

Promotio n and Education

Classro o

m

Young F a

rmer a Agricult nd urist

Centennial Donations Sept. 28 to Dec. 2, 2020 $50-$199 DONATION Dean and Susan Andersen Matthew Graff Ben and Bette Harbach Wendy Kannel Ryan and Cheri Klussendorf Alena Landwehr

Arch Morton Jr. Jessie Singerhouse Leslie Svacina Sveda Farms LLC Clark County Farm Bureau Dunn County Farm Bureau

$200-$499+ DONATION Dave and Kim Daniels Eugene Hansen Jim and Susan Hanson

Robert Klussendorf Marathon County Farm Bureau Taylor County Farm Bureau

Lincoln County Farm Bureau Outagamie County Farm Bureau Price County Farm Bureau Superior Shores Farm Bureau

Wood County Farm Bureau

$500+ DONATION

Joe and Noel Bragger Edith Lauscher in memory of Paul Lauscher 24

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WISCONSIN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

DECEMBER | JANUARY 2020-2021

wfbf.com

25

FARM BUREAU MEMBER DESIGNS

R

ecently, Rock County Farm Bureau member Ronna Morton-Ballmer finished a Farm Bureau-themed quilt that will adorn the WFBF office.

About a year ago, Ronna was contacted to see if she would be interested in taking on the project for the Farm Bureau.

"It's really been a pleasure to have this project entrusted in my hands," said Ronna, who has invested "somewhere between 50 and 100 hours into the quilt. I've worked on it, off and on, for more than six months."

Ronna uses combinations of color, texture and design, which were the basics of the home furnishings project area that she excelled in as a 4-H member and in 1976, attended the National 4-H Congress representing the area of home management.

"I love to create and personalize each quilt--no two are alike," added Ronna. "I try to incorporate as many little things that will catch someone's eye and draw them into the quilt, using fabrics and patterns that tie into the theme and interests of the person, or group in this case."

Ronna added that she doesn't follow a pattern and that she enjoys seeing the completed project come together.

"With quilts, you start small, with many unique pieces," said Ronna. "As the quilt comes together, larger pieces are formed and you see progress. It's so rewarding to see it come together in the end, a work of art."

As far as selecting the fabric for the Farm Bureau quilt, she knew the Farm Bureau colors were red, white and black so she started searching for farmthemed fabrics that were in that color scheme.

"When I couldn't find official Farm Bureau fabric, I opted to center the quilt on agricultural products and themes that pertained to our beautiful and diverse state," explained Ronna. "I incorporated different products into the quilt, i.e., cows, pigs, chickens, barns, windmills, tractors, milk cans, eggs and crops, but I needed to stay within the color scheme, so it wasn't easy."

She added a bandana print, a woodgrain and other textures and found a red, black, gray and white panel print and coordinating tile-print fabric at Twin Turtle Quilts in Clinton with words and phrases that reflected the 'down-to-earth,' family-based, heart-of-the-home feel.

"My hope was that it would draw people into the quilt and that they would connect with the rural roots and family feel

26

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By Marian Viney

of the Farm Bureau organization," said Ronna and added that selecting just the right fabric is, "right up my alley."

She cut the panel print and used it to center the quilt and added a Farm Bureau t-shirt from her daughter's collection. She also added a centennial square to acknowledge Farm Bureau's 100-year mark.

"It's been a pleasure to work on this project and I hope that the quilt will provide a backdrop and conversation piece at the Farm Bureau office once it reopens," said Ronna.

Sassy Farm Chicks in Orfordville, owned by two farm ladies, Rhonda Streich and Tina Wellnitz, used a computerized longarm quilter to add a farm-themed design with corn, tractors and cows once Ronna finished piecing the top.

After it was quilted, she added the rod pocket and binding.

Growing up on a dairy and crop farm southeast of Janesville, Ronna was a member of 4-H and FFA. She graduated from Clinton High School and attended UWMadison and graduated from Farm & Industry Short Course.

She later returned to UWMadison, UW-Rock County and then earned her bachelor's degree from UW-Whitewater. For 25 years, Ronna was a sales manager for Tupperware, leading one of the top teams in the nation. She has served as a 4-H project leader for nearly three decades, serves as a judge at many fairs throughout Wisconsin and serves on the Rock County 4-H Fair Board. Ronna also is a substitute teacher for four school districts.

WISCONSIN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

DECEMBER | JANUARY 2020-2021

wfbf.com

27

SPREAD MORE

WITH THESE MEMBER BENEFITS

For complete details, visit wfbf.com/membership/member-benefits.

Farm Bureau members who are agricultural producers and patrons of their local FS cooperative are eligible to receive patronage when patronage is paid.

Special member pricing and free shipping. Visit wfbf.com for more details.

Members receive an incentive discount ($300 to $500) when purchasing qualifying Case IH equipment from participating dealers.

Through an exclusive program offered by Yamaha Motor Corp., USA, Farm Bureau members receive a factory direct rebate of $250* on the purchase of a new *Yamaha 4WD ATV, Side-by-Side or Snowmobile. Fill out the rebate form at bit.ly/3inykme. You need your Farm Bureau member number to complete the form.

Rural Mutual

*You must be a paid Wisconsin Farm Bureau member at time of purchase to receive the $250 rebate.

Insurance Company

To find a Rural Mutual Insurance Company agent, visit ruralmutual.com or call 877.219.9550.

Members are eligible for a complimentary John Deere Rewards upgrade (Platinum 1 status) – which unlocks the best loyalty rewards including valuable equipment discounts. Visit JohnDeere.com/FarmBureau today to register!

Save up to 80% on Office Depot Preferred Products along with reduced prices on ink, paper, toner, stamps/daters, pens, pads, furniture and much more.

Members qualify for a variety of discounts on new purchases. Visit wfbf.com to print your certificate and for details on models and discounts.

Take advantage of Farm Bureau Bank's FDIC-insured checking, savings and money market accounts, certificates of deposit, credit cards and vehicle and home loans.

Visit farmbureau.bank.

You can get more information about the services Farm Bureau Financial offers from your local Rural Insurance agent. Learn more at fbfs.com.

Accidental Death Policy • AgriVisor • Life Line Screening • Avis • Budget • Ford • ScriptSave • $500 Reward Protection Program Choice Hotels • AgriPlan Medical Reimbursement Program • Office Depot • Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Visit wfbf.com to find out more about your membership benefits! *WFBF member benefits may be changed or discontinued at anytime without notice.* 28

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WISCONSIN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

MEMBERSHIP

Benefit From AgriVisor W

isconsin Farm Bureau members can receive a 35 percent discount on daily grain, livestock and feed input marketing advice, as well as current market quotes and updates by using AgriVisor.

AgriVisor is a full-service agricultural advisory firm that offers a complete set of agriculture risk management tool and marketing services that are unique in the industry.

The following is an overview of services that AgriVisor's staff offers to help farmers manage risk: •A griVisor's Market Information and Analysis: Through the cash strategist page offered in FARMWEEK and Iowa Spokesman publications, DTN and Wisconsin Farm Bureau 's Rural Route, AgriVisor staff continues to offer excellent reporting of news, analysis and broadly applicable recommendations that readers have relied on for 40 years.

•M arketing Advice and Commentary: AgriVisor offers agricultural market updates three times each day. AgriVisor staff also offer daily fundamental and technical advice along

DECEMBER | JANUARY 2020-2021

with broad recommendations for corn, soybeans, wheat, hogs and cattle.

• Insight: A managed bushed program with pricing by experts by AgriVisor and participating analysts at ProFarmer and Roach Ag. • Traditional Brokerage Services: Through the affiliation with MID-CO Commodities, AgriVisor offers full-service retail brokerage including frequent trade recommendations, market information and timely trade execution.

• Crossover Solutions: Hybrid cash grain contracts with a participating grain elevator to help you diversify and manage risk effectively.

Farm Bureau members should go to agrivisor.com and click on E-Visor to sign up or call 800.676.5799 to learn more.

wfbf.com

29

Suicide: When Life's Burdens Are Too Much to Bear

By Sarah Hetke

"Suicide doesn't just impact that one person; it impacts the whole family."

Brenda Statz, Sauk County Farm Bureau member

O

ct. 8, 2018, is a day that will haunt Brenda for the rest of her life.

"That was the day Leon [her husband] attempted suicide for the third time and ended up taking his life."

Brenda explained that Leon was struggling to adjust to their new life after selling the dairy herd. The couple transitioned from milking cows to raising beef cattle and crops.

"He always said he felt like he was a failure."

Leon had two suicide attempts before he died. Brenda said after each attempt he was admitted to the hospital for a short time. While in the hospital, Leon's suicidal thoughts would become more controlled. Brenda's concern though was how she and her sons were supposed to support Leon when he returned home.

"I felt like every time I asked for information or resources so that we could better support him at home, there was nothing useful provided to us."

These challenges have become a point of advocacy to Brenda as she continually talks about the need to support the family and provide resources to help them navigate the stressful and confusing time.

"I hope the health care system will make changes to support the family so they can help their loved one heal."

Leon's battle with depression was lengthy and impacted every member of the family including Brenda and their children – two sons and a daughter.

"Our daughter tried so hard to help him see that he was loved," Brenda recalled. "His brain just wouldn't let him feel good anymore. While holding his grandson, he once said, 'I wish I could feel but I can't feel anything anymore.' It broke our hearts. He tried so hard, but the illness was bigger than he could handle."

Not long after Leon's death, Brenda received a request to speak at a local event about mental health and the impact of suicide on her family.

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Brenda shared that it was not an easy decision to agree to attend the event and it took some coaxing. She feared how difficult it would be to relive such a traumatic event in such a public setting.

"I decided I needed to do it because maybe I could save someone else's life or save someone from the pain I was experiencing. We need to speak out so those who struggle know it is OK to seek help."

Ever since that day, Brenda has been an outspoken mental health advocate.

She has shared Leon's story at countless events and touched the lives of hundreds, if not thousands of people. She is passionate about changing the way families of those who attempt suicide are supported.

"Sure, the person who attempts suicide needs support, but the family needs resources and information that they can use at home."

For any farmer who is struggling because of a transition, financial strain or for any other reason, Brenda has some powerful advice.

"Find your joy and live life. Your family needs you. Your friends need you. Even if you don't feel it right now, you are loved by those around you."

If you or someone you know are experiencing severe depression or thoughts of suicide, call the 24/7 Wisconsin Farm Center Farmer Wellness Hotline at 888.901.2558 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800.273.8255.

To learn more about the Farm Neighbors Care program, mental health or rural resilience, visit wfbf.com/rural-resilience.

WISCONSIN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

Rural Resilience Resources The resources and information below are available to help all Wisconsin farmers and agriculturists. Whether you or someone you know is struggling with chronic stress, depression or thoughts of suicide keep these resources in a place you can easily reference. Never underestimate the power of a simple check in to ask someone how they are doing.

Farmer Angel Network The Farmer Angel Network was created after Leon lost his battle with depression. The Loganville community and Leon's loved ones and supporters banded together to create a group focused on helping farmers and farm families battling chronic stress, depression and thoughts or suicide. Brenda has been an active member of the group sharing Leon's story and helping other farmers realize it is OK to talk about their struggles. Dorothy Harms and Randy Roecker, also Loganville farmers and Sauk County Farm Bureau members, also have been instrumental in coordinating programs, events and resources for the Farmer Angel Network.

The group has a series of upcoming virtual presentations tailored for farm families including sessions titled, "I am the farm," "Financial capabilities and Farm Center resources," Breaking the stress cycle" and "Health and wellness."

To learn more about the group or the upcoming programs search for "Farmer Angel Network" on Facebook. Note: event registrations will be posted soon.

Wisconsin Farm Center The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection's Wisconsin Farm Center offers free resources and services to all farmers within the state. These services range from free mental health counseling vouchers and tele-health sessions to beginning farmer resources, farm finance review, job hunting assistance, legal information and much more.

The Farm Center recently started a 24/7 Farmer Wellness Hotline that can be reached at 888.901.2558. The hotline is available for farmers experiencing depression or thoughts of suicide or those who just need a listening ear and don't know where else to turn. Wisconsin farm families also can request free in-person mental health counseling vouchers or free tele-health or web-based counseling from a licensed mental health professional. All mental health professionals have been screened by Wisconsin Farm Center staff to ensure they have at least a basic understanding of agriculture and the unique stress associated with owning a farm.

Farm Center staff also launched a podcast called 'Rural Realities' that features farm and rural mental health experts speaking on a variety of topics ranging from how farm kids experience stress to discussing farm transition.

You can learn more about all the Wisconsin Farm Center services and resources by visiting bit.ly/WIFarmCenter.

Warning Signs of Stress in Farmers Warning signs people show when under stress vary by the individual. Consider their demeanor, words and behavior in the context of what is normal for them. Signs commonly observed in farmers under stress include: • Changes in emotions – show little enthusiasm or energy for the future, anxiety, loss of spirit, depression, loss of humor.

• Changes in attitudes and cognitive skills – become more frequently critical or agitated over small things, lack concentration, have trouble making decisions.

• Changes in behavior – become quieter than usual, have trouble sleeping, do not join friends for coffee; miss meetings with farm staff, suppliers or the banker.

• Changes on the farm or ranch – reduce care given to farm animals, machinery or fields, or themselves, increase in accidents.

Other potential warning signs might include any change in routine behavior or appearance, injury or prolonged illness or increased drinking or drug use. Farmers may also express negative thoughts about themselves ("I'm a failure," "It's impossible to make it in this business climate") and even disclose they are considering including suicide.

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OPINION

2020: A Year to Remember

A Message from WFBF's Joe Bragger

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ast year we celebrated 100 years of Wisconsin Farm Bureau. What a way to start a new century than to have 2020 hit us with its challenges.

We met those challenges head-on like farmers do, with a commitment to deal with uncertainty and move forward.

I have a treasured book, "The Farm Bureau Through Three Decades" by Orville Merton Kile. This well-worn book has '1948, Wilmer J. Rosenow' written on the cover.

Wilmer served as Buffalo County Farm Bureau president. What makes it special are the notes stuck inside, meeting dates and "Don't forget to pay the Ernie Reck Polka Bank $80 for annual meeting."

The book was found in the garage of another Buffalo County Farm Bureau President Charlie Ripley by his son Edward Ripley, the current county president.

Farm Bureau is in our past, present and future. There is no doubt that our present is a difficult time. This year, Farm Bureau members have been instrumental to our success.

As our membership struggled with stress and uncertainty from the downturn in the agriculture economy and COVID-19, I am inspired by the actions to help others and their communities.

Farm Bureau's success rallies around its members and county leadership. I want to share just some of these stories with you.

At the onset of the pandemic and a desire to help food pantries, Buffalo County members worked through the Pepin County Dairy Promotions Board to distribute 2,400 gallons of milk and 1,000 pounds of cheese to food pantries and hosted drive-by milk and cheese giveaways.

The Green County board of directors contributed funds to the Brodhead FFA 80 Gallon challenge to support the community.

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Dane County members continued to support their mission of farm safety by hosting a virtual screening of SILO followed by a question and answer session. They donated six rescue coffer dams and trained thousands.

Ozaukee County received a $20,000 donation to help farmers. Board members identified and distributed the funds locally.

Racine County worked with Kwik Trip. They provided coupons for dairy products and held a cream puff sale.

Iowa County hosted a steak-andburger night in place of its Farmer Appreciation Day. Two thousand dollars were raised and distributed to the Pointer Pantry, which provides meals to students in need.

Grant County worked with a processor to provide beef to food pantries.

Winnebago County hosted a drive-by steak fry to promote beef while sharing goodwill and awareness of Farm Bureau.

Shawano County had started planning the Brunch on the Farm but it was canceled. To promote agriculture, they worked with sponsors to send 500 letters to farmers that included $10 in chamber bucks, thank-you cards from students and a Culver's gift card.

District 8 created an Agriculture Emergency Incident Guide that allows people to volunteer during emergencies safely and effectively. Members co-hosted a program for firefighters, first responders and police regarding livestock handling.

District 8 also led the effort to delist wolves.

Members in District 6 presented more than $6,000 in scholarships to students.

Members in Rusk and Sawyer County have worked for years on wildlife damage.

Early this year, members testified before the Senate Appropriations Committee and the Assembly Appropriations Committee about the importance of

changes to the wildlife damage program.

Rural Mutual Insurance agents also helped their communities with donations and collaborative efforts to help farmers and their customers.

WFBF and Rural Mutual formed the Farm Food Support Fund to help those in need. The fund provides support to farmers and encourages consumption of milk and agricultural products to ensure that farmers have a place to sell products, and provide Wisconsinites access to nutritious, high-quality foods.

While I can't recognize all of the activities, everyone did their part. We are proud to be a Farm Bureau family that even as we struggle, we support our communities and agriculture. That's who we are because that's how we started.

It's amazing, yet not surprising, after the examples that the name Farm Bureau comes from a community.

In 1911, the Binghamton New York Chamber of Commerce believed that for a community to do well those that supported it had to do well. This led to creating a group of farmers who gathered with the name Farm Bureau after other bureaus in the chamber of commerce.

They knew what farmers and Farm Bureau could mean to the community.

This became the first Farm Bureau in the nation: Brome County Farm Bureau.

From the beginning of our organization and even today, our members lead by example while advancing policy to create more opportunities for farmers to be proud members of their rural communities.

I'm certain that if we wish to go forward, we must go forward together.

Bragger was elected president of Wisconsin Farm Bureau in 2019 and served through 2020. Bragger is a dairy and poultry farmer from Independence.

WISCONSIN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

A Sustainable Harvest

A Message from AFBF President Zippy Duvall

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s farmers, we know we are part of a bigger story. We are caretakers of the land for a time, following in the footsteps of generations before us. My farm didn't start with me and, Godwilling, it won't end with me either.

Sustainability is personal for me as a farmer: I've got my hands in the dirt that my parents and their parents before them farmed. And that soil, the lifeblood of my farm, is healthier now than ever before because of the care we have taken to farm better each day. Agriculture's sustainability story is one of progress, and it's not finished yet.

U.S. agriculture has made great strides, in the last several decades especially, when it comes to leaving a smaller footprint on the land we farm. American farmers 30 years ago would have needed 100 million more acres to match production today. That progress has come thanks to better seeds, technology and climatesmart farming practices that protect the soil, conserve water, retain nutrients, prevent runoff and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, U.S. agriculture contributes less than 10 percent to overall GHGs by industry, and we're working to get that number even lower. Farmers are also doing more to recapture carbon and convert waste into clean energy with innovative tools like methane digesters and voluntary conservation programs that preserve grasslands, forests and wetlands.

We need to do a better job of telling this story. Consumers are eager to hear from farmers and have a high level of trust in the people who grow their food.

A recent survey by American Farm Bureau shows that trust has increased over this year to 88 percent: that's almost nine in 10 Americans. That same survey also found that while most folks couldn't accurately identify agriculture's low impact on GHGs, their support grew when presented with the facts. More

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than 80 percent were impressed to learn that farmers have put 140 million acres in conservation programs, more than doubled renewable energy sources used on the farm, and nearly tripled food production in the last 70 years with the same or fewer resources.

The public also agrees that sustainability means keeping family farms in business for generations to come, and that the work of sustainability should not fall solely on the farmer's shoulders.

Farmers and ranchers haven't made these impressive strides alone, and we can't move forward alone either. Investments in agricultural research and innovation will continue to be critical in taking us to the next phase of climate-smart farming. At Farm Bureau, we also know the importance of coming together across the industry and reaching outside our fencerows to partners who share our goals for strengthening sustainable agriculture.

Just last week we announced a historic alliance with organizations representing farmers, ranchers, forest owners, the food sector, state governments and environmental advocates, called the Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance. The founding members are diverse, but we are united around the goal of developing and promoting voluntary, market- and incentive-based climate solutions. At the American Farm Bureau, we are proud of agriculture's sustainability story, and we believe that we can continue to build on that success together. This new alliance was formed in February and has been working diligently to develop 40 recommendations built around three key principles: 1. S upport voluntary, market- and incentive-based policies.

2. Advance science-based outcomes.

3. P romote resilience and help rural economies better adapt to changes in the climate.

As momentum builds around climate action, agriculture can continue to play a positive role in reducing emissions and protecting our natural resources, and we want to lead the way in finding solutions that promote sustainability on and off the farm. Voluntary and market-based conservation efforts have a proven track record of success on and off the farm, and together we will continue to work for policies that respect farmers and support positive change.

There's still much work to do, not only on climate but on other critical issues facing rural America and the farm economy now and in the coming year.

But as I reflect on harvest time, I am reminded that the seeds sown will yield a fruitful harvest. Farmers and ranchers never shy away from hard work. That perseverance has carried us through many a hard time, grown us closer as communities and carried us on in hope of better harvests to come.

President of the American Farm Bureau Federation, Duvall raises beef cattle, hay and poultry in Greshamville, Georgia.

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OPINION

Harvest Winds Down

A Guest Column by AgriVisor's Karl Setzer

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or the most part, harvest has concluded across the majority of the U.S. Trade is still trying to determine actual crop size though, as yields were highly variable all season. Many regions of the Corn Belt reported above-average yields on corn and soybeans, which was not expected when harvest got underway.

While not as good as last year, thoughts are that this may give us larger crop yields than what the USDA is currently projecting in balance sheets.

The most interest when it comes to production and potential changes to ending stocks is with soybeans. If the

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average U.S. soybean yield increases as little as two bushels per acre it will greatly alter current ending stocks and remove the need for inventory rationing. Even a yield increase as little as one bushel will alleviate much of the current concerns we are seeing on soybean reserves. At the same time, any decrease could put us in a rationing situation.

There is less concern on corn reserves and yields, and we could actually see corn production decrease and ending stocks will still be adequate. This is why we have seen less speculative buying in the corn complex as we have in the soy market.

The one wild card in these estimates is demand, as any increase or decrease may excel or negate production worries.

The question now is what is being done with this year's newly harvested bushels. A large volume of soybean sales took place as soon as harvest got underway. Since then we have seen a slight decrease in movement as farmers marketed just enough inventory so they can store as much as possible. Soybean movement dropped the most in areas where corn production is questionable.

Corn movement has been on the light side during harvest as farmers stored as much as possible to capture market carry.

Even though harvest is just winding down, many farmers and analysts are already looking forward to next year's

production season. The potential shortfall in U.S. soybean production this year to satisfy demand is already causing the market to start pushing for new crop acres.

Recently, we have seen the new crop price spread between corn and soybeans reach 2.7:1. This means it takes 2.7 bushels of corn to equal the value of one bushel of soybeans. Normally, this ratio is 2.5:1. Anything greater than this, such as we have now, tends to favor soybean production. Any indication that soybean plantings may be less than needed and futures will react accordingly.

We also are starting to see more market attention on South American production, mainly in Brazil. Analysts in Brazil and the U.S. are predicting record corn and soybean crops. The question with this is, how much added export competition it will bring the U.S.? The most will probably be on soybeans as China has already purchased a large volume of Brazilian soybeans and has indicated it wants to continue doing so.

We may see less competition on corn exports, even if Brazil produces a record crop. This is from the elevated domestic corn demand in Brazil for feed and ethanol.

Setzer is the commodity risk analyst for AgriVisor, one of WFBF's member benefits.

WISCONSIN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

Farm Bureau Is a Partner on the Path Toward Federal Milk Marketing Order Reform A Message from AFBF's John Newton

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et's start with something we can agree on: 2020 has been an unpredictable year for the dairy industry.

We began the year optimistic that the higher milk prices posted at the end of 2019 would carry into 2020 and help us dig out of the hole created by several years of low milk prices. As we know now though, that light at the end of the tunnel turned out to be a freight train.

COVID-19 resulted in the immediate closure of restaurants and schools across the country, disrupting the dairy supply chain and contributing to a sharp decline in milk and dairy commodity prices.

Following the passage of the CARES Act and USDA's distribution of billions in ad hoc financial support to dairy farmers and the implementation of a very successful Farmers to Families Food Box program, farm income and cheese prices soared – for some.

Large price spreads between class III milk and the other classes of milk contributed to negative producer price differentials and massive de-pooling of milk. Shortly thereafter, farmers across the country began to ask how the current Federal Milk Marketing Order system could be modernized to prevent the unintended consequences brought on by COVID-19 from ever happening again.

Per USDA, changes to the FMMO require a rulemaking that is industrydriven; Changes must be proposed by the industry, not the department. The process must be all-inclusive, allowing for anyone to take part in the rulemakingrelated hearings by providing testimony

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or submitting public comments. FMMO hearings are transparent in that the department's decisions are based solely on the record of the rulemaking proceeding.

And finally, changes to the FMMO must be 'farmer-approved.'

Successfully making constructive changes to the FMMO can be hard.

Proposed changes need thorough economic analysis demonstrating the need to modify the FMMO (economists needed). The proposal likely also needs to be reviewed by an attorney (lawyers needed). Preparing testimony, readying for cross-examination by the department and industry stakeholders, and drafting public comments are painstaking tasks (economists, lobbyists and lawyers needed). Then, for the final changes to be implemented, a majority of dairy cooperatives and independent producers pooling on the order must approve the FMMO (industry consensus needed).

The good news is that Farm Bureau can be a partner. Working at the county, state and national levels, Farm Bureau has the industry experts and resources needed to participate in the process to modify a FMMO. We also happen to have the best ground game in the industry, thanks to the power of our grassroots members working collectively to advance our policy goals.

So what is the first step? In January 2020, voting delegates to AFBF's 101st Annual Convention adopted policy to support giving ALL dairy farmers the opportunity to vote independently and confidentially during an FMMO

referendum process. For those dairy farmers electing not to cast a ballot, if applicable, their cooperative could vote on their behalf. The concept is called modified bloc voting and would ensure that dairy farmers not only have a seat at the table, but that with the help of their Farm Bureau and other industry resources, they can take an active role in shaping the next generation of dairy policy and milk pricing rules.

An important and much-needed first step, modified bloc voting will put the dairy industry and FMMO milk pricing rules in the hands of farmers for the first time in the nearly 90-year history of the FMMO program.

Newton is American Farm Bureau's Chief Economist.

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OPINION

Help to Make the Season Bright A Message from AFBF's Ray Atkinson

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nyone who's spent any time around farmers knows that they are strong, independent and courageous, often in the face of overwhelming odds. Year after year, farmers and ranchers deal with a wide range of issues over which they have no control, including droughts, floods and storms, market disruption from trade disputes, labor shortages, low commodity prices ‌ and the list goes on. This year, the COVID-19 pandemic multiplied the impact of all of these issues and added to the already high stress levels farmers are carrying.

Despite these continuing pressures that build throughout the year, we look forward to the holidays as a time to unwind, relax and spend time with family and friends. There's a certain comfort in tradition, seeing loved ones again and being around the table to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal or Christmas celebration together. But the holidays will look different for many of us this

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year, with smaller family gatherings, and in many cases, no family gatherings or virtual get-togethers instead, due to the impacts of the pandemic.

While we may not be physically close to the people we care about this year, we can still share connections and look out for each other. There are a lot of things we can do to help others who may be experiencing feelings of isolation, loss or loneliness this time of year. It's also important to recognize those feelings in ourselves, and to understand that sometimes it's OK not to be OK. Here are some ways we can refocus our thoughts and have a positive impact on those around us.

Take time to be thankful. It may be hard to see it sometimes, but there's always something to be thankful for.

When it feels like everything is going wrong, take time to consciously focus on the things that are going right. You may be having a particularly bad day, and when that happens it's human nature to focus on the one negative thing that is gnawing at you. Turn it around by focusing on all the good things in your life, the things you're grateful for and you can make a positive change.

Kindle the spirit of the holidays by helping others. I remember reading a story about a man who was helping others in his community who had lost their homes to raging wildfires in the West. While he was out helping with disaster assistance, his own house burned down. The next day he was back out there ‌ still helping his neighbors. When asked why, he said, "Because they still need help." No matter what we are going through, there are always others who

are hurting. It can be uplifting to focus on others and try to find ways to heal their pain.

Recognize signs of trouble in people you care about, and be there for them.

You may notice that a neighbor's farm suddenly doesn't look as kept up as it usually does, or their livestock don't seem to be cared for as well as usual. Many of the typical warning signs of stress involve changes in routines, like friends not meeting at the coffee shop or the feed mill, or not being in church. But with the pandemic putting a stop to a lot of these activities, the warning signs may be harder to spot now. Think about keeping in touch by scheduling a phone call or video call with the people you care about on a regular basis. If they miss a call, check in with them. It's surprising how much this can mean to friends or family members who may be experiencing physical separation as a result of the pandemic. And, maybe when this is all over, you will have started a new tradition and forged new connections.

No matter what we may be going through, it's good to let our friends and loved ones know we care, and there's hope. Just being there for someone we care about may make all the difference this holiday season.

For more information about minimizing the stress that accompanies the holidays, see the practical tips from the Mayo Clinic at bit.ly/mayostresstips. To learn how to spot the warning signs of stress, start a conversation with someone you care about, manage farm stress, get help, and more, visit FarmStateOfMind.org.

Atkinson is director of communications at the American Farm Bureau Federation.

WISCONSIN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

Up the Creek A column by Ken M. Blomberg

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Counting Snowflakes

t starts with a single snowflake.

One flake followed by another and yet another, until a mountain of flakes becomes a blanket. A blanket of snow, which for the most part, eventually makes many folks around our state weary of winter. Large snowfalls stop most in their tracks, and by winter's end, they cry "Enough already."

Many years, record snowfalls pile up across the state, with no end in sight.

Our memory of the winter of 2008, a dozen years ago, will not fade away any time soon. No matter where you turned, snow was on everyone's mind. The total depth in Fond du Lac that season was 80 inches and one weekend storm shattered the nearly 80-year old record. Madison accumulated 87 inches of snow by then, 50 inches above normal. Here along our stretch of the Wisconsin River Valley, nearly 60 inches had fallen, far short of a 1922 high of more than 80 inches, but one for the record book, nonetheless.

Although it's a curse for those nursing sore backs and wielding snow shovels, abundant snow is in fact a blessing in disguise. In short order, warmer temperatures turn feet of snow cover into much needed inches of groundwater, as parched aquifers await a fresh supply of water that avoids running off downstream OCTOBER

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during the melt. Several years of drought conditions can lower lake levels, slow stream flows and render water tables weak. Then droughts turn a corner and precipitation becomes the rule, snowflake by snowflake, raindrop by raindrop.

Individual snowflakes, when put under a microscope, bring the world of art and science into concert. To view a single snowflake, and for that matter, designs made by frost on windowpanes, is to draw the observer into another dimension. To count a billion snowflakes would be laborious.

In 1880, 15-year-old Vermont farmer Wilson Bentley, drew pictures of his 'tiny miracles of beauty' - snowflakes.

By age 20, he devised a method to catch flakes on velvet cloth and photograph the image before the snowflakes melted. Over a lifetime, he recorded more than 5,000 different ice crystal shapes. He long contended that no two snowflakes were alike, each with a unique design and shape. He went on to photograph other forms of water like ice, raindrops, clouds and fog.

Wilson 'Snowflake' Bentley died a single man. Just as well. A woman married to a man whose passion was counting snowflakes would surely have suffered. Mixing the incredible complexity of nature, crystalline science and snowflake art, his legacy brought science and art together, answering yet another piece of nature's puzzle.

Stepping beyond science, we can only grin and bear it and embrace nature's way. As the snow melts come spring, recall the unpredictability and power of Mother Nature and prepare for flooding, as it is likely to follow. And for those of us who live in heavy soils and low-lying areas, let's make sure our sump pumps are in good working order.

Blomberg is a freelance writer and a member of the Portage County Farm Bureau. His books, "Up the Creek" and "Wisconsin Bird Hunting Tales and Letters from Art" are available at amazon.com. wfbf.com

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Gloria Regan, New Holstein

Brian Engel, Bonduel

Jeff Ditzenberger, Argyle

Hayli Haumschild, Pittsville

Leslie Svacina, Deer Park

Gretchen Kamps, Belmont

Send us YOUR Photos

Wisconsin Farm Bureau members live and work with beautiful landscapes and livestock. On this page we highlight those sights and special moments.

Please email your best photos (high resolution jpgs at 300 dpi) to Lsiekmann@wfbf.com. Due to the high volume of photos we receive, we are unable to publish every photo. Photos sent in may be used in other WFBF publications.

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WISCONSIN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

Farm Bureau Glazed Apple Cookies Ingredients

Cookies • 1/2 c. shortening • 11/3 c. brown sugar, firmly packed • 1 egg • 2 c. flour, sifted • 1 tsp. baking soda

Recipe submitted by Amy Silver, Green County

• 1/2 tsp. salt • 1 tsp. cinnamon • 1/2 tsp. cloves • 1/4 tsp. nutmeg • 1 c. apples, peeled and finely chopped

• 1/4 c. milk Glaze • 11/2 c. powdered sugar • 1 Tbsp. butter • 1/2 tsp. vanilla • 21/2 Tbsp. milk

Directions

1. Beat together shortening and brown sugar 4. S tir in apples; then stir in remaining dry until light and fluffy. Beat in egg. ingredients and milk.

2. Sift together flour, baking soda, salt, 5. P lace on cookie sheets and bake at 400 cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. degrees for 10-12 minutes.

3. Stir half the dry ingredients into creamed 6. G laze: Combine glaze ingredients. Beat mixture. until smooth and spread on warm cookies.

Oreo Chocolate Truffles

Recipe submitted by Katie Schmitt, Dane County

Ingredients

• 14 oz. package of Oreos (original, not double stuff ) • 8 oz. block of cream cheese, softened • 12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions

1. In a food processor, blend the entire package of Oreo cookies into fine crumbs.

2. Transfer to a mixing bowl and combine with softened cream cheese.

3. Line a baking sheet with wax paper.

4. F orm tablespoons of the mixture and into a smooth ball by rolling in your hands and place on lined baking sheet.

5. Place the baking sheet in the refrigerator

or freezer until the truffles are cooled through (about 15-20 minutes).

6. Melt semi-sweet chocolate chips.

7. R emove truffles from refrigerator or freezer and dip into melted chocolate, coating all sides and return to wax paper.

* Since these are made with cream cheese, remember to store leftover truffles in the refrigerator. ** You also can consider coating the truffles in white chocolate, chocolate mixed with peanut butter or any other combination that fits your taste.

Orange Cutout Cookies Ingredients

Cookies • 1 c. butter, softened • 1 c. confectioners sugar • 1 egg • 1 tsp. orange rind, grated

Directions

• 1/2 tsp. salt • 21/3 cup all-purpose flour Orange Frosting • 1 tsp orange rind, grated • 3 Tbsp. orange juice

1. In a large mixing bowl, cream butter with confectioners sugar. Beat in egg.

2. Blend in orange ride, salt and flour.

3. Chill until dough is stiff enough to handle.

4. R oll out dough 1/4 inch thick. Cut out shapes with cookie cutters and place on ungreased baking sheet.

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Recipe submitted by Chris Siekmann, Sheboygan County • 1/4 c. butter, softened • 22/3 c. confectioners sugar, sifted

5. B ake at 375 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes until lightly browned at edges.

6. R emove to cooling rack. When cool, frost with orange frosting.

Orange Frosting In a small bowl, cream butter until soft and fluffy. Beat in confectioners sugar, 1 orange rind and orange juice. wfbf.com

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AFBF Convention Going Virtual The 102nd American Farm Bureau Convention will be held Jan. 10-13, 2021.

This year’s convention will bring together farmers, ranchers and industry experts in a virtual format to discuss the top issues facing agriculture.

For the first time ever, registration fees are being waived to give all Farm Bureau members and anyone interested in agriculture the opportunity to experience one of agriculture’s premier events from the comfort and safety of home.

Registration will provide access to live sessions as well as special on-demand programs focused on hot topics in agriculture.

Featured live events include: • AFBF President Zippy Duvall’s annual address • Ag Innovation Challenge • Young Farmers & Ranchers competitions • Foundation Night In, featuring soon-tobe-announced musical performances • Workshops focused on what farmers and ranchers need to know in 2021, with topics ranging from the future of the livestock industry to financial planning for disasters and from standing up for agriculture with effective advocacy to sustainability in 2021 and what it will mean for farmers and ranchers.

All general attendees can register online at annualconvention.fb.org/register.

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WISCONSIN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

AG IN THE CLASSROOM

Rio Teacher Recognized for Agricultural Literacy Work L ori Bongert, a fourthgrade teacher at Rio Elementary School in Columbia County, is this year's recipient of Wisconsin Farm Bureau's Ag in the Classroom program's Outstanding Teacher Award.

Each year the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation recognizes a teacher for his or her efforts in educating students on the importance of agriculture. Teachers of all grade levels and subject areas, with the exclusion of certified agricultural education instructors, are eligible to apply.

"Lori has been working closely with Columbia County's Ag in the Classroom Program for many years with the essay contest and using our materials," said Darlene Arneson, Wisconsin

Farm Bureau's Ag in the Classroom Coordinator.

Bongert has local farmers visit her classroom and help with commodity presentations on corn, soybeans and honey. She has hosted the Wisconsin Spudmobile, Alice in Dairyland and Master Gardeners to enhance her lessons and units. She works with agricultural businesses to furnish sweet corn, cranberries and soybeans for her students to use. She previously received a grant to construct a micro-garden wagon which the entire district uses to learn about growing plants.

Bongert earned her bachelor's degree in education from UW-Platteville and her master's degree from National Louis University. Growing up on a hog farm near Poynette, she shares her love of agriculture and her experience as Fairest of the Fair in 2002 to develop her students' understanding of agriculture and where their food comes from. She taught first-grade in her first year at Rio but has taught fourth grade for the past 11 years.

Bongert will be Wisconsin's nominee for the National Excellence in Teaching Agriculture Award and will receive a $500 sponsorship to attend the 2021 National Ag in the Classroom Conference in Des Moines, Iowa, or to use for educational resources.

For more information about Ag in the Classroom or the Outstanding Teacher Award, contact Darlene Arneson at 608.828.5644.

Wisconsin Ag in the Classroom Encourages Participation in National Ag Day Activity W isconsin Ag in the Classroom is encouraging students in Pre-K through 12th grade to participate in a sticker designing activity to celebrate National Ag Day. National Ag Day will be celebrated nationwide on March 23, 2021.

Due to anticipated COVID-19 restrictions, many celebrations and activities are being planned virtually.

The theme for Ag Day 2021 is 'Food brings everyone to the table.' Students are asked to draw a picture related to this theme to be used on a sticker sheet. The drawings can portray different

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kinds of foods the student likes; what farmers, processors, and others do to bring food from the 'farm to table;' or fun facts about food.

Wisconsin Ag in the Classroom has developed a page that is designed so the images can be printed on a half-page sticker sheet. Students and teachers may consider using the stickers in their local community. Some ideas include attaching stickers to carry-out bags from local restaurants, pizza boxes, grocery store bags and take-home packets for students.

This year's activity will not be judged, but those who share a submission will be entered into a drawing to win prizes.

Entries must be postmarked by March 31, 2021. There are three grade level groups: Pre-K through third grade, fourth through eighth grade and ninth through 12th grade. Through a random drawing, 10 entries from each age category will receive a $10 Culver's gift card. All entries will receive Ag in the Classroom resources.

To learn more or to download resources and supplemental lessons, visit wisagclassroom.org/events-activities/nationalag-day-2. wfbf.com

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AG IN THE CLASSROOM

Ag in the Classroom Program Awards Teacher Mini-Grants W

isconsin Farm Bureau's Ag in the Classroom program has awarded five teacher mini-grants to be used for agricultural literacy lessons and activities. The $100 grants, funded by the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation, provide opportunities for teachers to obtain funding that may not be available through their local school budgets.

The following teachers were awarded grants:

Agriculture Education Station Kirsten Konder - Luck Public Schools, Luck Students in middle school agriculture classes will research one area of Wisconsin agriculture and become well versed in the commodity. They will make a tri-fold display and give presentations to their class, and later, to fourth-grade students during their agriculture units. The displays also will be used during the Luck Ag on the Lawn event in May. The grant will help purchase display boards for each student.

Hydroponic System Stephanie DeVries - Cambria-Friesland Schools, Cambria The grant will be used towards a hydroponic tower garden for middle-high school agriculture classes. The mobile resource can be moved from classroom to classroom in their K-12 building. The garden can help students learn about plant growth, pollination, food environment and hydroponics. The grant will be used to help purchase the structure, mineral blend, rock wool cubes, pots and seeds.

Little Gardens with Big Hopes!

Cheri Oglesby - St. Rose of Lima, Cuba City This pre-K project will allow the students to make a garden in a bucket. Each child will choose the food seeds they would like to plant as they learn about how seeds germinate, grow and produce food. They will learn about soil and compost. This project can be done at school or home. The grant will help purchase the garden tools, watering cans, buckets, potting soil and seeds.

One of the 2018-2019 Mini-Grant recipients: Little Blessings Garden Patch, St. Aloysius Catholic School in Sauk City.

Virtual Adopt-an-Animal Amy Gerhardt - School District of Neillsville, Neillsville The Neillsville FFA will partner with elementary classrooms for an 'Adopt-an-Animal' project. They will have monthly virtual interactions with the elementary classes to help them learn about animals, what they eat, how they are cared for and other topics. The high school students will be learning how to share information using technology, improving communication and speaking skills and creating educational programming while staying within COVID-19 parameters. The grant will be used to purchase a camera tripod, carrying bag, cable and camera.

Wisconsin Farm Bureau's Ag in the Classroom program also has matching grants available to groups and organizations that conduct agricultural literacy projects. Applications are due by March 1, 2021, and can be downloaded at wisagclassroom.org or by contacting Darlene Arneson at 608.828.5644 or darneson@wfbf.com.

Pandemic Possibilities!

Kirstin Thompson - Greenfield Elementary, Baldwin This timely interdisciplinary project will emphasize a balanced literacy approach to teaching students to be self-sufficient during a pandemic and oral history and rural life skill educational opportunities.

The grant will be used to purchase agricultural-based, informational texts that students can use to do their research and give them background information.

They will follow-up with interviews of community members.

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WISCONSIN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

Matching Grants Available Through Ag in the Classroom T

he Wisconsin Ag in the Classroom Program is accepting applications for matching grants, up to $500, that will be awarded to groups conducting activities that promote agricultural literacy in K-12 schools.

Projects that use funds toward an ongoing, sustainable education effort will receive preference over a one-time program. Applicants must have a matching donor for their

project equal to the amount of the Ag in the Classroom grant.

The application deadline is March 1, 2021.

Interested groups or schools can get an application on the Wisconsin Ag in the Classroom website at wisagclassroom. org/grants-awards/grants/matching-grants or can contact the Wisconsin Ag in the Classroom Coordinator Darlene Arneson at darneson@wfbf.com or 608.828.5644.

2020 Matching Grant recipient, Friends of Silverwood Park.

2020 Matching Grant recipient, Edgerton Public Library Farmers Market.

Thank You

to the Following WFB Foundation Donors: (Donations were made between Sept. 28 and Dec. 2, 2020)

• David Henselin • Tim James • Thomas and Katie Roth • Kathleen Hunter in memory of Harold and Vivian Hunter • Edith Lauscher in memory of Paul Lauscher • Racine County Farm Bureau in memory of Beulah Skewes

2020 Matching Grant recipient, Glenwood City.

Founda tion About the

The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation was established in 1988 to provide support for agricultural education and leadership programs. Through donations and other contributions, the foundation invests time and resources to support the next generation of agriculturists.

DECEMBER | JANUARY 2020-2021

2020 Matching Grant recipient, Walworth County Fair. wfbf.com

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Top 10 List of Causes of Loss on Farms

By Chris Schlechta, Safety and Loss Control Manager, Rural Mutual Insurance Company

T

o help keep your family, farm and business safe, we've compiled a list of the top 10 most encountered hazards identified by Rural Mutual Insurance staff. Please use this as a self-inspection to look around your property.

Did you know that 40 percent of small businesses permanently close after a significant loss occurs? About 25 percent of those that reopen will fail within one year, and 90 percent of those that reopen will fail within two years according to the U.S. Small Business Administration. As an insurance company, we can help provide some financial guarantees to protect you from loss, but there are a host of factors that add to these sobering statistics.

It's important to understand that generally no single factor causes a loss. In nearly all post-incident root causes analysis, a list of contributing and causal factors combined to result in the loss. Some of these hazards may seem less impactful than others. When combined with the other factors that routinely are identified in a loss, correcting that one minor hazard may break the chain of factors and events that will lead to a significant loss.

Can You Answer Yes to These Questions?

1. Are portable fire extinguishers provided in adequate number and type, mounted (42-48 inches above floor as measured to the top of handle) in readily accessible locations, and inspected annually with the inspection date noted on the inspection tag? [OSHA 29 CFR 1910.157(e)(3)] 2. Are diesel and gasoline fueling tanks more than 110-gallon capacity located at least 40 feet from the nearest building?

Unless a containment system is provided, consult with Loss Control for assistance with containment systems) [WI Administrative Code SPS 310.630(2)(a)], and protected from vehicle impact? Suitable barriers would be 4 inches in diameter steel pipe filled with concrete, set 3 feet deep in concrete footing with a footing not less than 15 inches in diameter, spaced 4 feet apart and 5 feet from the protected object. [NFPA 30:4.3.7.2] Rocks, concrete blocks/barriers or other barrier devices capable of preventing vehicle contact with the tank also are acceptable.

[Rural Mutual Insurance requirement].

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3. Are eyewash or shower stations provided for the quickdrenching or flushing of the eyes and body within 10 seconds unimpeded travel distance of where corrosive liquids or other injurious chemicals are handled? Testing of these facilities must be conducted and documented weekly. [OSHA 29 CFR 1910.151(c), ANSI/ISEA Z358.1 incorporated by reference].

4. Are machine guards in place on equipment to protect employees from point of operation, nip points and rotating part hazards? [OSHA 29 CFR 1910.212(a)(1), OSHA 29 CFR 1928.57 for farming operations].

5. Are electrical outlets, junctions, raceways, panels, etc.; covered, have knock-out plugs (or blanks) in-place and free of exposed wiring? [OSHA 29 CFR 1910.303(b)(7)(i)].

6. Are compressed flammable gas cylinders stored in a wellprotected, well-ventilated, dry location, at least 20 (6.1 meters) feet from combustible materials? An assigned storage area must provide a method (rope or non-sparking chain) to secure cylinders from accidentally being knocked over. Cylinders shall not be kept in unventilated enclosures such as lockers and cupboards. [OSHA 29 CFR 1910.253(b)(2)(ii)] 7. Are manure pits and lagoons fenced to prevent unauthorized access? If fencing is not feasible, appropriate warning signs should be placed around the perimeter of the manure pit. If warning signs only are installed, the signs must be maintained in a visible and legible condition. Any issues of feasibility are subject to Underwriter/Loss Control approval.

[NRCS Code 382, Item 12] Note: Signs can be purchased from Grainger using your Farm Bureau membership discount: grainger.com/product/ACCUFORM-Chemical-22CY14.

8. Are electrical panels provided with at least 36 inches of clearance and materials not stored in this clear area? It can be helpful to mark this area with yellow lines. Access path to the panels can be no less than 30 inches wide. [OSHA 29 CFR 1910.303(g)(1)(i)(B)] 9. Is the property free of any extension cords used for permanent applications? Extension cords should not be used in place of permanent wiring and should not be run through walls, across aisle ways or attached to the building structure. [OSHA 29 CFR 1910.305(g)(1)(ii)] 10. Are containers (i.e., cans, pails, tanks) labeled with the chemical name and hazard information (i.e., flammable, irritant, carcinogen, etc.)? [OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1200(f )(6)] From our family to yours, we wish you a safe, happy and healthy beginning to the new year.

WISCONSIN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

As the Weather Gets Colder, Safety Risks Are Heating Up

By Chris Schlechta, Safety and Loss Control Manager, Rural Mutual Insurance Company

O

nce again, it's that time of the year when Mother Nature turns off the heat outside, forcing us to turn up the heat indoors.

With the winter season also comes safety risks to be aware of as we heat our homes and businesses. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 48 percent of home heating fires occur during December, January and February. While that isn't a surprise with that being the coldest months in Wisconsin, there also isn't much guesswork to protecting yourself, family or property.

There aren't many things more relaxing than the warmth and smell of a fireplace or wood-burning stove. To truly enjoy it without worrying about the flames escaping their confinement takes a few simple safety tips.

• Ensure your wood-burning appliance has been properly installed by a qualified contractor according to the manufacture's specifications.

• Have your chimney inspected annually by a qualified professional and cleaned if necessary. Approximately 87 percent of the 56,000 residential fires attributed to home heating in a 2011 NFPA study, were a result of chimney fires due to lack of proper cleaning and inspection. A chimney by design isn't made for the high temperatures of direct-flame impingement and will fail quickly allowing the fire to spread into the home.

• Maintain a 3-foot safety zone around fireplaces and woodburning appliances. Don't store any combustible materials within this area. Make sure your floor is protected with a noncombustible floor covering like a hearth pad within this area to catch wayward sparks.

• Burn ONLY clean dry wood. NEVER burn garbage, plastics or other materials. The byproducts of burning anything other than clean dry wood will accumulate in the chimney and may lead to a fire inside the chimney.

• When cleaning a fireplace or woodburning appliance, place ash into a metal bucket and stored outside for a week before disposing of it in a trash can. Embers can retain heat for several days and rekindle causing a fire.

• Have a fire extinguisher nearby in case of emergency.

In addition to the fire risks, carbon monoxide is an ever-present danger with any type of heating appliance using a combustible fuel source. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas and is a byproduct of incomplete combustion.

DECEMBER | JANUARY 2020-2021

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, carbon monoxide poisoning kills more than 400 Americans every year and sends more than 20,000 to emergency rooms.

• Ensure that the chimney, flues and other exhaust pipes for combustion appliances are unobstructed. In addition to animals creating obstructions, special attention should be paid to heating exhaust pipes that horizontally vent through a polyvinyl chloride pipe on the side of the hose during large snowfall events. Drifting snow will quickly cover exhaust pipes and cause exhaust to backup into the house.

• Periodically inspect chimney connections to ensure that connections are properly sealed.

• Any appliances that use a horizontal chimney connection pipe must be properly installed to provide at least a 1/4-inch rise for every 4 feet in horizontal run. This ensures a proper draft is maintained to expel exhaust out of the home.

• Install a carbon monoxide detector on every floor and outside of bedrooms.

• Have your furnace periodically inspected and maintained to identify conditions like a cracked heat exchanger that will cause carbon monoxide to leak into the home.

• When warming up a vehicle, pull the vehicle out of the garage and close the garage door. Vehicle exhaust containing high concentrations of carbon monoxide can accumulate in the open garage and seep into the home.

Taking time to implement these safety tips will help to ensure that your winter heating season is safe. On behalf of our safety and loss control team, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a safe, joyous new year.

wfbf.com

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Dark Web: How to Keep Business Data and Personal Information in the Light I t's estimated the surface web— websites and data visible to everyone—represents less than five percent of the total information and locations on the internet. Beneath the surface lies the deep web—also known as the hidden, invisible and dark web.

In this article, we will shine light on the dark web—what it is, how it's accessed, and what types of information end up there.

What Is the Dark Web? Dark Web may sound like the ominous abode of the Sith lord, but really, it's part of the internet where users are anonymous and information and activity is mostly unregulated.

The dark web was created by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, and a lot of what takes place there isn't criminal. For example, the dark web also is home to journalists, human rights activists and whistleblowers who want to pass information securely and safely.

The anonymity also draws criminals and illegal activity. On the dark web, hackers and cybercriminals trade in identity information, stolen accounts and how-to guides for profiting from fraud. You don't want your personal or business data to end up in the wrong hands, but there are easy steps you can take to avoid that.

How Is the Dark Web Accessed?

Pages in the dark web are not indexed by Google, Bing, Yahoo or other popular search engines used on the surface web.

You can't reach dark web locations using a standard browser like Chrome, Safari or Firefox. Instead, deep web explorers use the TOR browser, which stands for The Onion Router. Today, more than 65,000 unique onion URLs can be found on the Tor network, and about one-half are estimated to be involved in criminal activity. The rest serve legitimate purposes such as chat room communications, marketplaces and file servers.

What Business and Personal Information Is for Sale on the Dark Web? Many unsavory products are sold on the dark web. Some of the kinds of business and personal information transacted online by cybercriminals and identity thieves include: • Fake and Genuine Identities: Criminals sell fake identification documents (i.e., underage access to a bar) as well as identities of real people (i.e., to assume a new identity or to commit fraud).

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• User Logins for Financial Accounts: Just $70.91 can purchase access to a bank account. Thieves can try to transfer money out of a bank, charge up credit cards, take out a loan or perform an account takeover.

• Medical Records: Millions of medical files are for sale and cybercriminals can access records for quality of identity information.

• Business Network Credentials: You don't have to be a hacker to break into a corporate network. And with employees working at home during the pandemic, there were 69 percent more postings selling corporate network access logins during the first quarter of 2020.

• Accounting Department Email Addresses: These are valuable to cybercriminals for phishing campaigns because the addresses belong to the personnel dealing with money in a company.

How to Deep the Dark Web Out of Your Life If you're taking steps to guard the security of your business and personal data, you don't need to worry about the dark web. For individuals, these steps include being careful with passwords, using two-factor authentication and using an identity monitoring service with dark web monitoring. Businesses also should conduct anti-phishing training for employees, deploy network protection and cybersecurity solutions and carry cyber insurance with breach resolution.

To learn more about digital defense tools that you can use to protect your personal information, contact your local Rural Mutual Insurance agent or visit ruralmutual.com.

Computer Business Review, "What is the Deep Web and how to access it," Aug. 4, 2020.

2 International Monetary Fund, "The Truth about the Dark Web," F&D magazine, Sept. 2019.

3 Irish Tech News, "Your Entire Online Identity Could Be Worth Less than €900 On Dark Web, New Report Reveals," Feb. 23, 2019.

4 CBS This Morning, "Hackers are stealing millions of medical records – and selling them on the dark web," Feb. 14, 2019.

5 Positive Technologies, "Access for sale," May 20, 2020.

6 Digital Shadows, Photon Research Team, "From Exposure to Takeover," 2020.

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WISCONSIN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION