Rural Route by Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation

Rural Route wisconsin Farm bureau federation’s

june | july 2013 • vol. 19 no. 3 | www.wfbf.com

June Dairy Month Fact:

Each year she generates $20,000 in economic activity. Rural Health Initiative Brings ‘Kitchen Wellness’ Meet Members: Krentz, Strebel Farm Bill, State Budget and Nonpoint Rule

Let’s create

New FB Policy Page 18

The lifeblood of America. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re the humble heroes who rise before dawn and battle the elements. They put clothes on our backs and food on our tables. Their genuine values and tireless work ethic are an inspiration to us all. We appreciate all that Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s farmers do and invite you to join us in saying thanks at www.fbfs.com/SayThanksToAFarmer.

contents 8

features 8

articles 12

Strebel Shawano County member looking after farmers’ health.

rural health initiative Program brings nurses to farmers’ kitchen tables.

Policy Development Time to grow new Farm Bureau policy.

krentz Meet new district 5 director who farms in Waushara County.

Capitol Watch

departments 6

news

State budget and nonpoint rule revamp near completion.

Members

member benefits

Farm Bill

Opinion

Holte describes WFBF’s stance on current reforms.

Leadership

ag in the classroom

foundation

Rural Mutual

Flavor Try some new dairy recipes this month.

vol. 19 no. 3

immigration reform Farm Bureau lobbyist gives her take on immigration reform.

40by 40 Wisconsin Farm Bureau

Be part of WFB Foundation’s 40 by 40 campaign. june | july 2013

45 www.wfbf.com

Rural Route wisconsin Farm bureau federation’s

Editor’s Note

ometimes it seems we live in an all-or-nothing world. We say we wish our leaders would compromise, but do we really? Are common folks who fail to listen while others with opposing views speak much different than the entrenched politicians? It’s a shame that more of us don’t realize how fortunate we are to have freedom and choices, and that we’re all in this together. This issue of Rural Route covers topics that stir differing opinions (immigration reform and the farm bill). Both are farreaching (if not thorny) issues that require compromise if any progress is ever going to be achieved. On the lighter side, our profile of Farm Bureau member Rhonda Strebel and the work of the Rural Health Initiative is an encouraging example of how agriculture looks out for its own. WFBF President Jim Holte’s column on page 34 notes that in our fractured society, even the topic of food divides us. I wish everyone from the coupon-clipper at WalMart to the self-described ‘foodie’ at Whole

{from Casey Langan} Foods appreciated America’s world-class food diversity and didn’t feel the need to push their food views down everyone else’s throat (so to speak). Within agriculture, one sector of this diverse industry need not tear down another to get ahead. We don’t need to because agriculture is so interrelated. Farm Bureau members are a diverse bunch, representing farms of every size, commodity and management style. Our organization’s success is proof that together they accomplish much more than they could individually. One of the keys to that success is Farm Bureau’s policy development process. Just like on the farm, where the big jobs can require an all-hands-on-deck approach, creating policy that benefits all farmers requires active, engaged members to freely provide their input and opinions. This process defines who we are as a grassroots organization. Finally, each June we celebrate Dairy Month in a state where dairy is still king when it comes to the agricultural economy. For decades our state has seen the number of individual dairy farms decline, but those farms chose to grow crops (that might be fed back to dairy cattle) or raise bull calves from dairy herds as beef cattle. Dairy Month encompasses more than just those who milk the cows and make the cheese, because Wisconsin agriculture is so inter-related. Like I said, we’re all in this together. Thanks for reading, Casey Langan Rural Route Editor Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation

Editor Casey Langan 608.828.5711

Assistant Editor/Designer Sheri Sutton 262.949.2418

Contributor Amy Manske 608.828.5706

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

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

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

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Farm Bureau® Young Farmer and Agriculturist Program

YFA GIVES YOU A LEG UP

Being involved in YFA gives young members an advantage! Farm Bureau’s Young Farmer and Agriculturist program prepares members for their future in agriculture by providing networking opportunities and training on leadership, ag issues, business and more. Three national winners this year will get their choice of a 2014 Chevrolet Silverado or 2014 GMC Sierra, courtesy of GM, to showcase the best of the best in Achievement Award, Discussion Meet and Excellence in Ag competitions. National winners will also receive paid registration to the 2014 YF&R Leadership Conference in Virginia Beach, Virginia, February 7-10. National finalists receive a Case IH Farmall tractor, courtesy of Case IH, and a $2,500 cash prize and $500 in STIHL merchandise, courtesy of STIHL. For more information about YFA competitive events and how you can get involved, contact Dale Beaty at 608.828.5714 or dbeaty@wfbf.com or visit wfbf.com. You may also contact the American Farm Bureau Federation® at yfr@fb.org or 202.406.3600.

june | july 2013

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County Farm Bureaus Earn Cash for Membership

hirty-nine county Farm Bureaus earned recognition for their membership recruitment efforts from October 1 through April 30. County Farm Bureaus that reached their 2013 goal for new voting members during this period receive a $1,000 cash award. “Once again, county Farm Bureau volunteers made a tremendous membership effort in recent weeks, helping to sign up more than 750 new voting Farm Bureau members during the month of April,” said Bob Leege, Executive Director of Member Relations. “It takes a coordinated team effort for a county Farm Bureau to sign enough new members to reach their new voting goal by the end of April. The counties that reached this goal have taken a big step toward achieving membership growth by the end of our membership year on September 30.”

on the web Interested in signing up a new member? Please visit the “Become a Member” page under the Benefits and Membership tab on www.WFBF.com.

(Bayfield) (Douglas)

Superior Shores

(Ashland, Bayfield, Douglas & Iron counties) (Iron) (Ashland)

Sawyer Price Polk

Rusk Barron

Lincoln

St. Croix

Marinette

Langlade

Taylor Chippewa

Dunn

Oconto

Marathon Eau Claire

Pierce

Clark Portage

Trempealeau Buffalo

Wood

Adams

Congratulations to the highlighted counties that reached their 2013 new voting goal by April 30 and qualified for the cash incentive.

Brown Waupaca

Jackson

La Crosse

Door

Shawano

Calumet

Waushara

Marquette Juneau

Vernon Richland

Sauk

Manitowoc

Winnebago

Monroe

Crawford

Kewaunee

Outagamie

Green Lake

Fond du Lac

Columbia Dodge

Sheboygan

Washington Ozaukee

Iowa

Grant

Lafayette

Dane

Green

Jefferson

Rock

Waukesha Milwaukee Racine

Walworth

Kenosha

Read Our Lips: Ventriloquist at Annual Meeting

FBF is proud to announce that entertainer and ventriloquist James Wedgewood will headline Saturday evening’s Farm Bureau Extravaganza, set for 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 7. Known as a talented ventriloquist, Wedgewood is equally talented as an entertainer who always gets his audience involved. His show is simply “The Most Fun You Can Have Without Moving Your Lips!” James Wedgewood will use amazing comic ventriloquism, outrageous characters and hilarious audience participation to make this year’s Farm Bureau Extravaganza a truly memorable event.

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James Wedgwood majored in Theater and graduated with a B.A. degree from Indiana. He picked up the art of ventriloquism at a young age when one of his aunts sent him a plastic dummy and an audio course on how to be a ventriloquist. From then on he studied acting, improv and stand-up comedy before becoming a full-time ventriloquist in 1988. Some of James’ career highlights include: National TV appearances on The Statler Brothers Show and Crook and Chase, first place award in the 13th Annual Jackpot Junction Casino Talent Competition, Best Actor award in Indianpolis, appearance in a Target commercial and making thousands of people laugh.

wisconsin farm bureau federation

Committed to

Wisconsin.

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

Committed to

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

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

Wisconsin AffiliAtes

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

BrownfieldAgNews.com

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

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

Meet Farm Bureau Member:

Rhonda Strebel By Casey Langan

The health of Wisconsin families is very close to Rhonda Strebel’s heart.

he watched her family weather stray voltage problems and the 1980s farm financial crisis while growing up on a dairy farm near the northeastern Wisconsin community of Cecil. “I saw my family go through a bad time,” she recalls with an air of sadness. “I watched my dad struggle with losing something important to him.” Life moved on for Rhonda’s family, but she took that experience with her. After selling their farm, her parents first opened a restaurant called Sally’s Supper Club & Catering in Shawano. After graduating from Bonduel High School, Rhonda received a culinary arts degree and worked as a chef for her family’s business. Today, her parents own another banquet hall, The Main Event Banquet Hall & Catering in Cecil. Rhonda would later receive a sports medicine degree and last year completed her master’s in business administration in health care administration. Her agricultural, culinary, health care and leadership experiences all serve her and others well with her work for the Rural Health Initiative (RHI). The connections she has made are put to use on the local level as well. In December, she was appointed to serve the remainder of a vacated term on Shawano’s city council. She is president-elect of her local Rotary. “I remember being a small town high school graduate who just wanted to get away, but I’ve since come home to Shawano and want it to be a better place,” she said. “This is my time to be busy. This is my time to serve and be able to do these things,” said the graduate of Leadership Wisconsin (formerly the Wisconsin Rural Leadership Program)

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and member of the Shawano County Farm Bureau. “Farm Bureau is a good group to help get the word out and to get to know people,” said Rhonda, who encouraged the RHI’s nurses from Waupaca and Outagamie counties to become Farm Bureau members. When asked what she likes most about her job, she quickly answered, “It’s the relationships with farm families. They become your friends. You soon learn about the weddings, births and baptisms in their lives.” She finds it rewarding to help people make healthy changes to their lives. Until she came to their kitchen, some patients didn’t know of their dangerously high cholesterol levels that could lead to heart attacks. Without the work of the RHI, some of these farm families would have likely found themselves prematurely without a parent.

“Sometimes we just offer a listening ear,” she said. “I wish their had been someone to simply listen to my dad back then,” she said of the formative events that led her on her career path. She has the satisfaction of knowing her job represents a fullcircle event. “It is funny how all your life experiences and paths serve you later in life,” she said, “and just because you start on one path doesn’t mean that is the one you will finish on.”

wisconsin farm bureau federation

She Brings ‘Kitchen Wellness’ to Rural Wisconsin By Casey Langan

Some farmers take care of everyone else’s needs (including their animals), but neglect their own health needs.

hat scenario is what led a group of committed individuals to create the Rural Health Initiative (RHI) nearly a decade ago. Early on, farm wives advised organizers that their husbands would not take the time to visit a doctor’s office. So they devised a program where independently contracted nurses would give basic health screenings in the home. “It follows the normal business model of agriculture,” Rhonda Strebel said. “If you think about it, everyone else comes to the farm: the veterinarian, the salesman; why not the nurse?” “In most homes, lots of decisions (social, physical, financial) are made at the kitchen table. We coined the term ‘kitchen wellness’ to describe what we are providing,” she said. Rhonda was hired in early 2004 as the executive director by the non-profit RHI’s Board of Directors. “It’s our way of caring and giving back to agriculture, which is big business to our state,” Rhonda said. “We have to keep our farmers healthy and safe.” Awards from the national and state hospital associations have recently recognized their work, but what was created in Shawano County is getting even more attention. It was replicated in neighboring Outagamie and Waupaca counties last year; a move that was made easier by strong local support and having many of the same vendors and services as Shawano County. Rhonda works with each county and each operates under its own budget. She notes that the expansion to the new counties means a new educational process. “Often times people perceive this must be for someone else,” she said, “but we let them know it’s not just for livestock farms, it is not just for small or large farms, it’s not just for those with or without employees, those with high or low incomes, those with health insurance or not.”

The qualifications are the recipients must be adults (there are other services available to children), must reside in the service area (county) and must somehow be involved in agriculture. “Beyond the farm, that could be a milk man or hoof trimmer. Some agribusinesses offer this as a service,” she explained. The latest county to show an interest in this concept is Marathon: a geographically large county with many farms that surround its population base of Wausau. The Marathon County Board of Supervisors recently committed to making

“It’s our way of caring and giving back to agriculture, which is big business to our state,” Rhonda said. “We have to keep our farmers healthy and safe.”

june | july 2013

it the healthiest of Wisconsin’s 72 counties. Marathon County differs from Shawano, Outagamie and Waupaca counties as it is home to three large healthcare systems and a different set of agribusinesses. “Something big is going to happen out of that,” she predicted. Marathon County’s interest coupled with an overall increased awareness by leaders in the health of their

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communities, has spurred thoughts of expanding such a service on a regional or statewide scope.

“Often times people perceive this must be for someone else,” she said, “but we let them know it’s not just for livestock farms, it is not just for small or large farms, it’s not just for those with or without employees, those with high or low incomes, those with health insurance or not.” Rhonda said one component of the federal Health Affordability Act requires critical access hospitals (the designation for small and usually rural hospitals) to assess community health every three years. With public health departments also required to do this on a separate schedule, it is leading to more coordinated efforts.

Farm Bureau Podcasts

“How do you look at a county’s health without considering the county’s entire landscape, which includes the health needs of people on farms?” she asked. She summed up the progress of the program with a farm analogy. “We are planting seeds with patients and donors and it is starting to blossom with interest from other counties,” she said. “We haven’t seen the full effect yet, but a good yield is coming.”

Listen to all podcasts at WFBF.COM

“Every county does have agriculture and agriculture’s an important industry to Wisconsin, so with having all of these farm families could this be a statewide or regional program? That’s what we are exploring now. We’re willing to have those discussions with other counties and people to say how could this work for all of us in Wisconsin to better serve our farm families.” Rhonda Strebel on the future of the Rural Health Initiative.

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wisconsin farm bureau federation

Does Living ‘Down on the Farm’ Lead to Healthier Immune Systems in Kids? farm families and the other half from rural families who do not live on farms. For two years, researchers will track the children’s exposure to farm animals and farm-related microbes and then measure the development of cells involved in antiviral responses and tolerance. Dr. Matthew Keifer, director of the National Farm Medicine Center at Marshfield Clinic and a co-investigator on the study, says the research will provide critical insight on how nondisease-causing germs profoundly affect innate immune systems in early life. “It should come as no surprise that we would study the farmer’s lifestyle, one of the healthiest we know of, to search for ways to improve health in the general population,” Keifer said. According to the NIAID, viral respiratory illnesses are the most common illnesses in infants and young children and are an important risk factor for the development of childhood asthma, which affects more than seven million kids nationwide. For more information about the project, please contact 888.512.5488 or 715.389.4373.

xposure to fresh air, plenty of sunlight, and hours of exercise each day are some of the obvious benefits of farm living, but a new study will look at how the dirtier side of farm life may be the real reason why kids who grow up in agricultural environments are far less likely to develop allergic diseases than their more citified counterparts. Funded by a five-year, $5 million grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), researchers at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health and Marshfield Clinic will determine how early exposure to farm animals and farm-related microbes promotes healthy immune development and increased resistance to viral respiratory illnesses in infants. “Our goal is to better understand how specific bacteria and fungi unique to farm environments promote the kind of Call today immunologic development that limits the and make your severity of childhood allergic diseases and reservations! asthma,” says Dr. James Gern, principal investigator for the University of Wisconsin PP Asthma and Allergic Diseases Clinical PPDO Research Center. “Over the years, there Includes inter-island have been great advancements made in the airfare, taxes and treatment of asthma, but very little progress services made in preventing the illness in the first place. We hope that our study will eventually lead to the development of new preventive strategies.” The study will enroll 200 babies from the Marshfield area - half of whom will be from

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june | july 2013

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Capitol

Watch Wisconsin’s next two-year state budget and a water quality rule revamp are both nearing completion. By Paul Zimmerman

Other WFBF comments included requests for additional flexibility in nutrient management planning such as creating a tiered, nutrient management program to recognize that the current nutrient management standard has become needlessly complex. WFBF also noted that the five foot tillage setback should be initially implemented; however, if a given circumstance does not work, it then could be expanded up to 20 feet. DATCP is currently reviewing the public comments and will be making changes to ATCP 50 before the DATCP citizen board reviews them later this year. WFBF will continue working with DATCP to insure farmers’ concerns are addressed.

Farmers’ Concerns Heard on Nonpoint Rule Earlier this spring the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection held five public hearings and collected written comments on its ATCP 50 rule. WFBF supported the new performance standards and the changes to existing performance standards that the DNR adopted in 2011 in its NR 151 rule. ATCP 50 is being updated to reflect these changes. During the hearing process, a number of issues were raised by farmers and county land conservation department staff. Of particular interest was the requirement for nutrient management planning for pastures. Farmers expressed concerns about how this new performance standard would impact their farms. Specifically, they said the model used to calculate the phosphorous index, SNAP Plus, does not adequately work for some pasture situations. In WFBF’s comments to DATCP, it was suggested that alternative methods for implementing nutrient management plans for pastures be considered. In addition, WFBF also suggested that DATCP create a definition for pastured woodlots. By doing so, DATCP could establish different ways to address nutrient management planning for traditional pastures and those that include trees.

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Ag Items in State Budget Take Shape The Wisconsin Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee (JFC) voted in May to modify Governor Scott Walker’s state budget proposal, including a number of items pertaining to agriculture. As of press time, the full State Senate and Assembly were expected to approve these WFBF-supported modifications before sending the two-year budget bill back to the governor for his signature.

wisconsin farm bureau federation

Discovery Farms: The UW-Extension Discovery Farms Program currently receives $248,400 annually from the Agricultural Chemical Cleanup Program (ACCP), which is primarily funded by a surcharge on agricultural pesticide and fertilizer purchases. The JFC voted to continue to fund the Discovery Farms program at $248,400 annually, but the funding will now come from the Agrichemical Management (ACM) fund, which is funded by fees from purchases of household, industrial and agricultural pesticides and fertilizers. Animal Health Staff: Four animal health staff at the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection are currently funded from the ACCP fund. The JFC voted to switch the funding of these positions to the ACM fund. ACCP Fees: The JFC committee voted to reduce the surcharge manufactures and farmers pay into the ACCP fund by 20 percent. Fertilizer Research Funding: UW-Madison currently receives 17 cents from each ton of fertilizer purchased to conduct fertilizer-related research. While the funding for this research was scheduled to be reduced to 10 cents per ton, the JFC voted to maintain funding at 17 cents per ton. ACCP Reimbursement Eligibility: Farm supply businesses and farmers are currently eligible to file claims for reimbursement for the cleanup of agricultural chemical spills. The JFC voted to prohibit new farm supply facilities from participating in the program. Existing farm supply sites and farmers will continue to be eligible.

County Fair Aids: The JFC voted to increase funding for county fairs by $50,000 per year, to $406,400 annually from the General Purpose Revenue fund. Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin Grants: The JFC voted to continue funding for the Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin grant program at DATCP at $200,000 annually and required that grant applicants have a 50 percent match.

on the web For additional information on these items and other legislative and regulatory issues check out our website at www.wfbf.com/legislation.

Call for Applications

Wisconsin 2013

The Leopold Conservation Award recognizes landowners who exemplify the land ethic of Aldo Leopold, translating their love for the land into responsible stewardship and management. The Wisconsin recipient for 2013 receives an Aldo Leopold crystal and a check for $10,000. If you, or someone you know, is a landowner in Wisconsin engaged in and committed to land management practices that increase conservation, we invite your application for the Leopold Conservation Award.

Application Deadline: August 9, 2013 To download an Application Form, visit:

www.leopoldconservationaward.org

Presented by

Sand County Foundation

2012 recipient in partnership with | july 2013 Jimjune & Val Hebbe Wisconsin Farm www.wfbf.com Bureau Federation13

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Farm Bill Progress

Plows Ahead “Wisconsin farmers would like to see a farm bill come to fruition before the fall harvest season.” - Jim Holte, WFBF President

After a string of delays, the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation has great optimism by recent action by the Senate and House Agriculture Committees in Washington.

“T

heir approval of similar versions of a new farm bill is a very promising sign that we will finally see meaningful farm policy reform in 2013,” said WFBF President Jim

Holte. Once the full Senate and House pass their own versions of the farm bill, a conference committee will craft a compromise piece of legislation that will hopefully be signed into law by President Obama. “Agriculture represents over $59 billion in annual economic activity for Wisconsin,” said Jim Holte. “These farm bill proposals provide the right amount of flexibility and certainty as our farmers make decisions that impact the fiscal health of their businesses and our local economies. “Throughout this farm bill process the Wisconsin Farm Bureau has supported placing an emphasis on crop insurance as a responsible risk management tool and the elimination of direct payments to farmers. We are pleased to see bipartisan agreement on this common sense fiscal and risk management strategy.

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“As for the dairy component of the farm bill, we are very glad to see both the Senate and House taking bold steps to move away from antiquated policies of the past and replacing them with a program that meets the needs of the modern dairy industry. This remains the most significant dairy reform package in a generation.” The Dairy Security Act is included in both committee versions of the farm bill. WFBF supports the voluntary margin insurance program to help dairy farmers manage risk and price volatility. Concerns have been raised about requiring farmers who elect to participate in the margin insurance program to also participate in the dairy market stabilization program. The margin insurance program is designed to protect dairy farmers as a temporary safety net during difficult market conditions. “If some method for controlling the federal government’s program costs is not included then the farm bill would merely be creating another government program that interferes with the marketplace,” Holte continued. “If this were to happen, dairy farmers would not be responding to market conditions but rather a government program that artificially keeps prices low with a constant oversupply of milk.

wisconsin farm bureau federation

“If the dairy market stabilization program is removed, the Wisconsin Farm Bureau believes the margin insurance program needs to be modified to place more responsibility in the hands of individual dairy farmers to manage their own risk. To do this, we believe premium costs have to be increased and the level of coverage has to be lowered so dairy farmers respond to the market, not the government. “The Wisconsin Farm Bureau is very pleased that both the House and Senate maintained funding for the Environmental Quality Improvement Program which assists farmers in adopting conservation practices to improve the environment. Wisconsin’s landscape will also benefit from the continuation of the Conservation Reserve Program.” The next farm bill is likely to authorize the protection of at least 25 million acres of our nation’s highly erodible and environmentally sensitive lands. “The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation will continue to examine the merits of both farm bill proposals and remains optimistic that leadership in the Senate and House will schedule a vote on this important legislation in the near future,” said Holte. “Given the bipartisan support on the committee level we are confident that compromise will be reached when leaders from both chambers negotiate a final bill during the conference committee process. Wisconsin farmers would like to see a farm bill come to fruition before the fall harvest season.”

Dairy Breakfasts Connect with others and enjoy a good meal at these Farm Bureau events. Pierce County

Shawano County

LoRan Rolling Acres W1285 County Road U, Plum City June 22 | 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. $5 Adults, $3 children 4-12 Come enjoy: educational tours, hands-on kids’ activities, antique tractor display, calves and automated calf feeding system

Nohr’s Cornerstone Dairy N2903 Nohr Road, Marion June 23 | 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. $7 adult, $4 children 5-12 Come enjoy: worship service 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., polka band, petting zoo, children’s games with prizes, children’s bouncy house, children’s tractor pull with trophies, barrel train rides, beef samples, fried cheese samples, butter making, American Farm Kiosk and mechanical milking cow

Sawyer County Sawyer County fairgrounds Hayward June 22 | 6:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. $6 Adults, $4 children 4-12 Come enjoy: petting zoo, Larry and the Drifters country band, craft sale and flea market, antique tractor display, farm animals and farm equipment

Brown County Wayside Dairy LLC 7937 Stone Rd, Greenleaf June 23 | 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. $6 Adults, $4 Children Come enjoy: a morning at a real working dairy farm, 7 a.m. on-farm church service, horse and wagon rides from parking lot, tram wagon farm tours, children’s activity tent, petting zoo, picture with a calf, concert band, kiddie tractor pull, antique tractor display, culver’s custard cookie sandwiches ($1 donation)

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Calumet County Jerry and Ann Lintner’s Farm W2843 Killsnake Rd, Chilton June 30 | 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission free, food is available for sale Come enjoy: free milk and cheese cups, petting zoo, kiddie pedal tractor pull, farm tour, tractor wagon rides, kids’ games, Addie the Cow

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he American Farm Bureau Federation, in conjunction with the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture, has announced the 2013 Farm Bureau Photo Contest. The contest is open to all state and county Farm Bureau members and staff above 18 years of age at the time of entry, including professional photographers. Photo submissions will be used to accurately portray today’s agriculture and safe practices of farmers and ranchers, and also for future publications and promotions by AFBF and related companies. Photo submissions must exemplify safe practices on the farm or ranch. The contest will run May 20 through Oct. 15 and photos may be entered in three categories: Sharing the Story; Working on the Farm or Ranch; and My Scenic Farm or Ranch. Monetary prizes will be awarded to the top three placing photos from each category. First place winners will be awarded $100, second place $75 and third place $50. New to the contest this year, special $200 awards may be given to photographers showcasing animal care, safety or the Farm

See You at Farm Tech Days

n July 9-11, the Wisconsin Farm Technology Days, hosted by Barron County, will be held at Breezy Hill Dairy in Dallas, WI. You’ll see the latest in agricultural technology, research and practical application of developments for farms and businesses of various sizes. The show will feature field demonstrations, a heritage equipment display, and more than 600 exhibitors will be set up in Tent City. Equipment of every kind, new facility inputs, agronomic and horticultural products and services will be showcased by exhibitors ready to discuss producers’ every need and question. Make sure to stop by the Farm Bureau booth (D166). For more information, visit barronfarmtech.com.

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Bureau Proud initiative in their contest submissions. Judges also will select a “Best in Show” winner for the most dynamic photo entered as well as two-runners up. The Best in Show winner will receive $400, with first runner-up and second runner-up receiving $300 and $250, respectively. “Today’s family farmers and ranchers work hard to provide a variety of food choices that meet consumer demand. They’re also growing more food using fewer resources than ever before,” said AFBF President Stallman. “We look forward to seeing a rich tapestry of submissions from photographers around the country.” Contest winners will be announced Nov. 15 on Farm Bureau’s social media platforms and website, and celebrated at the AFBF Annual Convention in January 2014 in San Antonio. For more information visit fb.org and search “Photo Contest.” Questions about the contest may be sent to photocontest@fb.org. 2012 Winners (above left to right): Michelle Shooter from North Carolina, Sydney Edwards from North Carolina, Mary Ann Renner from California, Laurie J. Link from Missouri and Dani Walker Kreutter from Indiana.

Get to know Contact your local Demco dealer today. We want to be your provider for sprayers, saddle tanks, grain carts, and wagons.

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

Names in the

Farm Bureau members making headlines around the state

Sheboygan County Farm Bureau member Dean Strauss has been appointed to the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection’s citizen board by Governor Scott Walker. He owns and operates Majestic Crossing Dairy in Sheboygan Falls (1,900 cows and 3,000 acres of corn, alfalfa, wheat and soybeans). He chaired the Wisconsin Farm Bureau’s Dairy Policy Committee in 2012 and serves on the board of directors of the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board. Strauss, a 1993 UW-Platteville graduate, served as president of the Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin in 2009.

Jillian Beaty, the Rock County Farm Bureau Board Secretary, was one of the 10 young agricultural leaders chosen to participate in the seventh class of the Partners in Agricultural Leadership honors program. The focus of Farm Bureau PAL program is to enhance participants’ leadership skills and aid them in discovering how they can best use their abilities for the benefit of agriculture. Beaty was qualified for the program after finishing as a national top four finalist in both the Excellence in Agriculture Award and the Discussion Meet. Beaty is an agriculture education instructor at Oregon High School.

Grant County Farm Bureau member Jennifer Digman was selected by a committee of industry leaders for the $2,500 Beginning Wisconsin Cheesemaker Scholarship. Digman, owner of Krayola Sky Dairy in Cuba City, is mid-way through the requirements of earning a cheesemaker’s license and is working to complete her apprenticeship hours. After using the scholarship money to earn her license, Digman has dreams of building an onfarm creamery to craft fresh, hand-dipped chevre, aged mixed milk artisan cheeses and hand-washed Alpine-style cheese.

Zeb Zuehls of Montello has been elected a director of the Wisconsin Corn Growers Association. Zuehls farms 1,300 acres of corn, soybeans, wheat and alfalfa in partnership with his parents. He also runs a custom farming business, offering planting, baling and harvesting service. His first term as a WCGA Director runs through 2015. Zeb is a member of the Marquette County Farm Bureau.

june | july 2013

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2014 WFBF Policy

Development Underway

FBF Policy Development Committee has proposed two resolutions and four issues for county Farm Bureaus to consider during their upcoming policy development process. Please note that the Policy Development Committee has not taken formal positions on these resolutions and topics; but rather, wants to encourage discussion among Farm Bureau members during our policy development process.

“These questions are just a starting point. You may have other issues that you would like to see Farm Bureau advocate. The choice is yours. As a Farm Bureau member, you have access to one of the most unique grassroots policy development structures of any organization in the country.” - Richard Gorder, WFBF Vice President

Proposed Resolutions State Issue: Invasive Species Background: Under current Wisconsin law, the Department of Natural Resources has the authority to regulate invasive species. The DNR is directed to establish and update a list of invasive species and develop plans to either eliminate or limit the spread of invasive species. The DNR has the authority to regulate the potential use of an invasive plant such as reed canary grass. The DNR recently solicited comments about potentially prohibiting the use of reed canary grass in Wisconsin. Proposed Policy: The state Policy Development Committee encourages discussion on the following language that could be added to the end of our current policy on page 13, line 45 regarding invasive species: “We oppose regulating agricultural crops as an invasive species in Wisconsin.”

Federal Issue: Road Weight Limits Background: Current law establishes an 80,000 pound weight limit for vehicles traveling on the interstate, provided they have the proper number of axels and spacing between axels. Semi-tractor trailers meet this requirement. Vehicles exceeding this weight may be eligible for an overweight trip permit provided that it is not a divisible load. Wisconsin law allows vehicles with six axels to exceed 80,000 pounds if they are traveling within Wisconsin. However, this provision does not apply to vehicles leaving the state. Proposed Policy: The state Policy Development Committee proposes the following federal policy recommendation to AFBF: “We support increasing road weight limits on the interstate system to 97,000 pounds for trucks with six axels.”

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wisconsin farm bureau federation

Policy Development Season By Richard Gorder, WFBF Vice President

ust as agriculture is guided by the changing seasons, so is Farm Bureau. Summer marks the beginning of the policy development season for Farm Bureau members. While membership is the foundation for a strong and vibrant organization, it is Farm Bureau’s Policy and Development (PD) process that makes it an effective grassroots group. Just as there are crops to grow each summer, there are also legislative or regulatory issues that impact the way we farm. Specifically, environmental, taxation and regulatory issues impact our farms just as much as the weather does. Last year, Wisconsin’s 61 county Farm Bureaus submitted more than 450 resolutions for the state PD Committee to consider. Actually, the PD process began earlier this year when the state PD Committee reviewed WFBF’s existing policies and addressed emerging issues that may affect our farms. The committee identified topics and developed issue backgrounders to help facilitate discussions at county PD meetings. This year the committee identified three issues for Farm Bureau members to discuss and develop policies.

Technical College System and Structure: Does our technical college system reflect the changes that have occurred in the business world? Does it reflect local needs? Is the system’s structure, governance and funding still relevant? With property taxes funding 55 to 60 percent of your district technical college, do you want to have a greater voice in any of these discussions?

Agriculture Sustainability: Sustainability has become a buzzword with 100 different definitions. More than ever there is a demand to define the word and the management practices associated with it. Do you want to define the context of sustainability or do you want the food industry and consumers to develop the framework and compliance mechanisms for you?

Water Resources: Wisconsin is an agricultural state in large part because of the abundance of water here. Yet, as the demand grows for this limited resource, the issue of who controls water is moving into the legislative arena. There is no doubt that this could have significant implications on not just agriculture as a whole, but your farm’s ability to survive. What policies on water should Farm Bureau’s lobbyists be advocating for in Madison and Washington, D.C.? These questions are just a starting point. You may have other issues that you would like to see Farm Bureau advocate. The choice is yours. As a Farm Bureau member, you have access to one of the most unique grassroots policy development structures of any organization in the country. Therefore, I hope you will take the opportunity to let your voice be heard. Please take time this summer to attend your county’s PD meeting. june | july 2013

Issue Backgrounders Technical Colleges There are over 30 technical colleges within 16 districts throughout Wisconsin that offer more than 300 career programs. These programs include twoyear degrees, one and two year technical diplomas and short-term technical certificates. There are also customizable training programs offered directly to businesses and industries. Technical college districts are defined by local school district borders and are typically governed by nine-member boards. Resident-student enrollment in the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) for 2011-2012 was nearly 363,000. There were 78,000 students that were considered full time (30 credit hours). In 14 of Wisconsin’s 16 technical college districts there are agricultural programs offered, serving a combination of ag or natural resources professions. Program areas with the most growth include horticulture and food manufacturing. There are currently articulation agreements between some high schools and four-year institutions for credits within WTCS. Policy Questions to Consider

1. How can agriculture locally support their technical college programs? 2. Should all technical colleges offer all programs? 3. Should programs rotate college locations from year to year? 4. Should local industries that are benefitting from this trained workforce help support these programs? 5. How do technical colleges keep quality teaching staff in an environment of tight budgets, a slow economy and competition with the private sector? 6. How do we maintain programs that go through lean enrollment years without eliminating them? 7. Is there an opportunity for the Wisconsin Technical College System to provide a “further education/training” program to farmers for job stability/ enrichment and continuing education?

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Issue Backgrounders Sustainability

Wisconsin State Budget

Sustainability is a buzz word that is gaining popularity but has not yet been defined. Consumers talk about wanting food that was grown sustainably. Farmers practice sustainability on their farms. Food companies want to purchase ingredients that were produced sustainably so they can market their processed product as sustainable. But what does sustainable really mean? Discussions about sustainability often mention three components: Economic, Environmental and Social. Economic - The fact is that producing food is a business. Farmers have to make sound business decisions for their farm so they can continue farming. Issues like labor, expansion, economies of scale, diversification and specialization are all part of a farm’s economic business plan. Environmental - Farmers make their livelihood by growing crops on the land and caring for their animals. Good stewardship is beneficial to everyone. Manure application, animal and crop rotations and improved management practices all encompass the effort farmers make to their farms to do more with less. Social - Farming is also a way of life. Values associated with farming make farmers one of the most trusted demographics for consumers. How do we portray the modern farming practices that provide safer and higher quality food that is more economical to produce and is environmentally better for our farms through this sustainability discussion? The demand for farmers to meet the highest possible standards of environmental stewardship and efficiency while maximizing their productivity and profitability will dominate future food discussions. Agriculture must be a part of this discussion.

Wisconsin has a two-year state budget. The current budget began July 1, 2011 and will expire June 30, 2013. For these two years, it is estimated that the State will spend $66 billion. Going into the 2011-13 state budget, there was a projected budget deficit of $3.6 billion. In order to balance the state budget, funding was reduced for numerous state programs. One area of reductions that received extensive media coverage was education. Funding for education, K-12, technical colleges and the university system, was reduced by $1.2 billion over the two-year budget. It should be noted that an additional $1.4 billion was put into medical assistance, primarily BadgerCare. This was necessary to replace the one-time federal stimulus money that was used for medical assistance in the previous state budget. Going into the 2013-15 state budget, there is a projected surplus of over $400 million. Corrections, education, medical assistance and transportation are the four biggest areas of expenditures in the state budget. These four categories have requested additional funding in the 2013-15 budget in order to maintain services. It is expected that additional funding will be provided to each. However, each area will claim that even more money is needed. An increase in taxes or fess within the current political environment is not realistic. Note: increasing the sales tax by 1 percent from 5.5 percent to 6.5 percent would generate about $900 million per year. The next state budget will need discussions about prioritizing the expenditure of existing tax collections. County Farm Bureaus and members are not expected to solve or rewrite the state budget. However, many members are on local governmental boards. With this experience, there may be budget items that they see can be improved upon or reprioritized to better serve Wisconsin farm families. WFBF policy has numerous items related to taxes, fees and spending. Do we need to change or add policy statements? Current WFBF Policy: Spending Caps – We support legislation or a constitutional amendment limiting the amount of taxes or fees that can be levied and/or establishing spending caps for units of government. Fees – We oppose the indexing of fees. Lapses – We believe that when a fee or state tax is collected for a specific purpose that the fund should not be transferred or raided for other uses. Income Tax – We support incorporating federal income tax deductions into Wisconsin income tax laws. Death Tax – We oppose reinstatement of the state death tax.

Policy Questions to Consider

1. How do we want to define sustainability? 2. Who should determine what practices are considered sustainable? Farmers? Consumers? Food processors? Government? 3. Should there be a sustainability standard to use the term when marketing products? 4. How can farmers lead the way in setting sustainability standards? 5. Should Wisconsin Discovery Farms be used as an example of sustainable farming practices to continue researching scientific, on-farm data? 6. How can farmers engage with consumers to demonstrate that their farming methods are sustainable? 20

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Policy Questions to Consider

1. Does WFBF have the appropriate policy to address state budget issues? 2. Does WFBF have adequate policy regarding fee increases? Do we support certain fee increases? If so, which ones? 3. Does WFBF need policy to address spending priorities for agriculture or the state in general? What state programs are most important to farming? 4. Are there other suggestions pertaining to the state’s fiscal situation?

wisconsin farm bureau federation

Groundwater Historically, it was believed that Wisconsin was abundant with both surface and groundwater. Recently there have been areas of the state where the availability of groundwater has become an issue. Some areas around Milwaukee and Green Bay are now using water from Lake Michigan for some of their water needs. There are also groundwater concerns in Wisconsin’s central sands area. Given these developments, during the 2009 legislative session, bills were introduced to revise Wisconsin’s groundwater law with regard to use of high capacity wells and surface water diversions. The legislation would have transferred authority over groundwater from the state to local groundwater management councils. These councils would have been given the authority to allocate water usage for new uses and existing uses. The legislation did not pass, but the groundwater issue remains. In 2011, the State Supreme Court, in an unanimous decision, ruled in favor of two conservation organizations that had sued the DNR for issuing a permit to the Village of East Troy to install two high capacity wells. In the ruling, the court stated that the DNR has over-arching authority to insure that groundwater withdrawals do not adversely affect the environment. This ruling has implications to existing high capacity withdrawals. In light of the Supreme Court ruling, it is anticipated that the DNR will need to update existing regulations pertinent to high capacity well permits for both new wells and existing wells, and that new legislation will be introduced. WFBF groundwater policy states: “There is a need for increased monitoring, research and education relating to groundwater problems. We believe that the present law regarding the installation of high capacity wells serving municipalities should be amended to require that there be no adverse impact on the quality and supply of other local wells. We support grandfathering in existing high capacity wells under the laws in which they were installed or upgraded. In areas where groundwater quantity is an issue, we support the Department of Natural Resources establishing groundwater management areas (GMAs). We support allowing the DNR to regulate usage of water in GMAs in consultation with an approval from a local advisory committee compromised of representatives from agriculture, industry and municipalities.”

4. What should our policy be with respect to determining who gets to use groundwater? Existing versus new? Municipalities versus agriculture? 5. What should our policy be with respect to high capacity wells? Should the DNR have the authority to limit the usage of an existing well?

“I hope you will take the opportunity to let your voice be heard.” - Richard Gorder, WFBF Vice President

Policy Questions to Consider

1. Is our current policy with respect to groundwater appropriate or does it need to be modified? 2. Should the Legislature continue to have the authority to determine groundwater management areas or should that responsibility be given to a groundwater coordinating council and local government? 3. What should our policy be with respect to existing users of groundwater versus new users? june | july 2013

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AFBF Annual Convention in San Antonio

arm Bureau members from across the nation will gather January 12-15 in San Antonio, Texas for the American Farm Bureau Federationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 95th Annual Convention. The convention theme for 2014 is Our Heritage, Our Future. Known as The Alamo City, San Antonio is famous for its diverse cultures, historic missions, Tex-Mex cuisine and cobblestone walkways. Wisconsin Farm Bureau members who attend will stay at the headquartersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; hotel for the AFBF Annual Convention, the San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter. The convention will feature a variety of issue conferences, top-notch speakers and the Farm Bureau trade show. Farm Bureau members will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of optional pre- and post-convention tours, including several that highlight the diversity of Texas agriculture. The registration fee is $100 per person, which covers entrance to all sessions. Registration materials for the AFBF Annual Convention will be available in September. Please contact Bob Leege, WFBF Executive Director of Member Relations, at 608.828.5710 or at bleege@wfbf.com.

Mark Your Calendars for Wisconsin Fairs Elroy Fair, June 27-30 Sauk County Fair, July 9-14 Northern WI State Fair, July 10-14 Jefferson County Fair, July 10-14 Lafayette County Fair, July 10-14 Marquette County Fair, July 10-14 Lodi Ag Fair, July 11-14 St. Croix County Fair, July 17-21 La Crosse Interstate Fair, July 17-21 Fond du Lac County Fair, July 17-21 Dane County Fair, July 17-21 Lincoln County Fair, July 17-21 Green County Fair, July 17-21 Barron County Fair, July 17-21 Waukesha County Fair, July 17-21 Portage County Fair, July 18-21 Blakes Prairie Jr. Fair, July 18-21 Kewaunee County Fair, July 18-21 Pepin County Jr. Fair, July 19-21 Outagamie County Fair, July 23-28 Rock County 4-H Fair, July 23-28 Washington County Fair, July 23-28 Langlade County Fair, July 24-28 Eau Claire County Fair, July 24-28 Columbia County Fair, July 24-28 Monroe County Fair, July 24-28

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Racine County Fair, July 24-28 Dunn County Fair, July 24-28 Washburn County Fair, July 25-28 Polk County Fair, July 25-28 Taylor County Fair, July 25-28 Trempealeau County Fair, July 25-28 Wisconsin Valley Fair, July 30-August 4 Jackson County Fair, July 31- August 4 Ozaukee County Fair, July 31- August 4 Door County Fair, July 31- August 4 Green Lake County Fair, August 1-4 Wisconsin State Fair, August 1-11 Buffalo County Fair, August 1-4 Iron County Fair, August 1-4 Oneida County Fair, August 1-4 Central Burnett County Fair, August 1-3 Winnebago County Fair, August 6-11 Adams County Fair, August 7-11 Head of the Lakes Fair, August 7-11 Crawford County Fair, August 7-11 Clark County Fair, August 7-11 Vilas County Fair, August 8-11 Pierce County Fair, August 8-11 Rusk County Jr. Fair, August 8-11 Grant County Fair, August 11-18 Dodge County Fair, August 14-18

Brown County Fair, August 14-18 Juneau County Fair, August 14-18 Kenosha County Fair, August 14-18 Athens Fair, August 15-18 Waushara County Fair, August 15-18 Sawyer County Fair, August 15-18 Burnett County Fair, August 16-18 Manitowoc County Fair, August 20-25 Price County Fair, August 21-25 Waupaca County Fair, August 21-25 Marinette County Fair, August 22-25 Oconto County Fair, August 22-25 Bayfield County Fair, August 22-25 Florence County Fair, August 23-25 Walworth County Fair, August 28-Sept. 2 Central WI State Fair, August 28-Sept. 2 Shawano County Fair, August 28-Sept. 2 Ashland County Fair, August 29-Sept. 2 Iowa County Fair, August 29-Sept. 2 Sheboygan County Fair, August 29-Sept. 2 Calumet County Fair, August 30-Sept. 2 Portage County Fair, August 30-Sept. 2 Richland County Fair, September 4-8 Forest County Fair, September 6-8 Vernon County Fair, September 11-15

wisconsin farm bureau federation

Photo submitted by Angie Bocksell, Pepin, WI

Photo submitted by Kori Trescher, Cashton, WI

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

Photo submitted by Heather Faber, Plain, WI

Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant. #RuralWisdom For more inspiration see our “Rural Wisdom” each Friday at twitter.com/WIFarmBureau.

june | july 2013

Photo submitted by Jaime Sawle, Prairie du Sac, WI

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Meet Board Member:

Kevin Krentz By Casey Langan

evin Krentz’s first time at the Wisconsin Farm Bureau’s Annual Meeting made a big impact on a dairyman in his twenties. “The professionalism of how that meeting is handled really opened my eyes and made me yearn to be involved,” he recalled. Now 41, Kevin’s involvement culminated at last December’s WFBF Annual Meeting with his peers electing him to a threeyear term on the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation’s Board of Directors. “I’ve always been interested in agriculture and have always wanted to be involved in our industry,” said Kevin, who served five years as the Waushara County Farm Bureau President. “I’ve always had a love for Farm Bureau since it showed me the professional side of the agriculture industry at a very young age,” he said. His interest in helping with the regulatory side of farming has motivated him to annually attend Ag Day at the Capitol in Madison and travel to Washington, D.C. several times to meet with lawmakers. Kevin bought his parents’ herd of 60 (mostly) registered Holsteins in 1994. Five years later he built a new milking parlor and free-stall barn for an expanded herd of 350 cows at a site northeast of Berlin and a half mile down State Highway 21 from where he grew up. Another 200 cows were added to the milking string in 2007. The herd is milked three times daily.

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Kevin estimates the farm produces about 75 percent of the herd’s feed needs. A few more registered cattle are being added to the herd now that his children are showing cattle as 4-H members. Kevin and his wife, Holly, first met at their county fair as nine year old 4-H members. She grew up on a dairy farm near Poy Sippi, where her father and brother still farm. The Krentzes have three sons: Marcus, 13; Trevor, 12; and Isaac, 5. With 14 employees, their farm’s size requires that both of them take on managerial roles. In addition to management, Holly also focuses on calf care. The Krentzes have hosted county dairy breakfasts and been active with their church and 4-H. They won the Young Farmer and Agriculturist

This Waushara County farmer represents Farm Bureau’s District 5 (Adams, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Juneau, Marquette, Waushara and Winnebago counties). He succeeded Bill Bruins of Waupun who had represented the area since 1988.

wisconsin farm bureau federation

“There was a short time in college where astronomy was of interest to me,” Kevin said with a chuckle, “but basically I’ve always wanted to be in agriculture in some shape or form.” Achievement Award in 2005. “Farm Bureau offers so many opportunities for its younger members to better themselves in their careers, no matter what field they are in,” Holly said. Kevin is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Kevin and Holly Krentz with Farm and Industry their youngest son, Isaac. Short Course and Farm Bureau’s Institute leadership training course. Locally, he has served on the Town of Aurora’s Board of Supervisors for seven years, currently as chairman. On the state level, he served on the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection’s raw milk task force. He credits the three years he spent on the Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin (PDPW) Board of Directors as a major building block in his leadership development. Kevin conducts Ag in the Classroom activities in area schools and welcomes area schools for farm tours, including all Berlin second graders. He says school farm tours are also a chance to make an impression on the teachers, parents and chaperones. Despite its rural feel, Kevin said many people living in Waushara County’s small towns “don’t realize what goes on around them

june | july 2013

(on farms) or the economic impact.” With just one high school with an agricultural program in Waushara County, it is one of Kevin’s goals to develop a presentation about agriculture that he can give at high schools. Hosting foreign interns and 4-H members is another way the Krentzes educate others about agriculture. Kevin says while working at the PDPW’s World Dairy Expo booth he met a man from the Philippines who came there to find work on a Wisconsin dairy farm. Today that former employee has a dairy science degree and teaches at a university in the Philippines. The Krentzes have since hosted two Costa Rican interns and Mexican and Japanese 4-H members through a youth exchange. Kevin recalls that the Japanese boy did not speak English, but he and his son, Marcus, “communicated through charades.” They remain in contact today via email and Marcus has a open invitation to visit Japan. “It’s really good for the kids to experience different cultures, lifestyles and food from around the world,” Kevin said.

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Members

Farm Bureau Here are Farm Bureau member Rosalie Geigerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s favorite dairy recipes...

Ingredients

Wisconsin Red, White and Blue Slaw 6 cups cabbage, shredded 6 slices bacon, fried, drained and crumbled 3/4 cup (4 ounces) crumbled Wisconsin Blue Cheese 1 pint (2 cups) cherry tomatoes, quartered 3/4 cup prepared slaw dressing

In a large bowl, combine all ingredients; mix well. Chill 1 to 2 hours to blend flavors.

Ingredients

Summer Fruit Dip

Along with milking 60 registered cows and raising heifers, Rosalie Geiger and her husband, Randy, grow alfalfa, corn, soybeans and wheat on their farm, RanRose Farms, near Reedsville. Rosalie is the District 6 Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Chair and a director for the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board. Images and recipes courtesy of the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, Inc.

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2 cups fresh fruit (sliced berries, sliced peaches, melon chunks, etc.) 1 tablespoon honey 1/2 cup vanilla yogurt 1/4 teaspoon almond extract 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup (8 ounces) Wisconsin Mascarpone Cheese, softened Additional assorted sliced fruits: cantaloupe, honeydew melon, pineapple, apples or berries. In food processor or blender, pulse together 2 cups fruit and honey until coarsely chopped. Add yogurt and extracts; pulse until desired consistency. Stir in Mascarpone. Serve with additional sliced fruit for dipping. Store leftover dip in airtight container up to 3 days in refrigerator.

wisconsin farm bureau federation

Ingredients

Blueberry Ricotta Coffee Cake Preheat oven to 350째F. Stir together all dry ingredients, except 2 tablespoons brown sugar; set aside. Mix Ricotta, yogurt, eggs, melted butter, vanilla, and blueberries. Stir into dry ingredients until just mixed. Pour into buttered 8x8 inch pan. Sprinkle with remaining 2 tablespoons brown sugar. Bake until just firm to the touch, about 40 minutes. When cool, mix whipped cream and blueberry yogurt. Spoon over individual servings of coffee cake.

1 cup flour 1/2 cup oat bran 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons light brown sugar, divided 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 cup (8 ounces) Wisconsin Ricotta Cheese 1/2 cup plain yogurt 2 eggs, beaten 1/4 cup butter, melted 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 1/2 cup fresh or frozen blueberries 1/2 cup whipping cream, whipped 1 cup thick blueberry yogurt

Ingredients

Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich 1 large garlic clove, cut in half 1 pound boneless beef top sirloin steak cut 3/4-inch thick 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper 1 medium green pepper, cut lengthwise in half, seeded and stemmed 1 small yellow onion cut into 1/4-inch thick slices 4 6-inch torpedo rolls, split 8 slices Wisconsin Provolone cheese, quartered Non-stick spray for grill

Rub garlic over steak and season both sides with salt and pepper. Spray grate of outdoor grill and utensils with spray for grilling. Preheat grill to medium heat. Place green pepper and onion on heated grill and cook uncovered 10-12 minutes or until pepper is slightly blacked and onion is tender, turning once. Set onion aside. Place green pepper in plastic bag and let stand until skin loosens and cool enough to handle. Peel skin from pepper and cut it and onion into thin strips. Grill steak uncovered 13-16 minutes for medium rare, turning occasionally. Remove from grill and keep warm. Place rolls on grill and toast until golden. Carve steak into thin slices, place on rolls and top with green peppers, onions and Provolone Cheese.

june | july 2013

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Member Benefits Savings for your Family or Business Wisconsin Farm Bureau offers benefits and services to its members, covering a range of options that respond to the needs of farmers, families and businesses in Wisconsin. AAA Farm Bureau members save 20% on AAA membership and the enrollment fee to join AAA is waived. Farm Bureau members who already belong to AAA can receive the discount on their next renewal. In both instances, call 877.731.3315 and be prepared to give them the group code “WI07.”

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

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

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

Case IH Eligible Farm Bureau members will receive an incentive discount ($300 to $500) when purchasing

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qualifying Case IH equipment from participating dealers. The discount is stackable, meaning it can be used with other discounts, promotions, rebates or offers that may be provided by Case IH or a Case IH dealership. Go to www. fbverify.com/case to see the eligible models and print your certificate.

GM Private Offer

Choice Hotels

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

Members save an average of 20% at participating Choice Brand Hotels. Call 800.258.2847 to make the required advance reservation. Request Wisconsin Farm Bureau member rate using ID# 00209870.

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

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

FS-GROWMARK Patronage Farm Bureau members who are patrons of their local FS cooperative are eligible to receive patronage dividends when patronage is paid.

Eligible members may now receive a $500 discount on qualifying Chevrolet, GMC or Buick vehicles they purchase or lease. Please see the “Benefits & Membership” tab at wfbf.com.

Grainger

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

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

ScriptSave Prescription Drug Savings Card

card available to you at NO COST as an added feature of your membership. Your entire household can use the card for instant savings that average over 32% with potential savings up to 50% on brand name and generic medications (based on national program savings data). Call 1.800.700.3957.

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

The Country Today Newspaper With every new subscription or renewal purchased by a Farm Bureau member, The Country Today will donate $5 to the Ag in the Classroom program. Call 888.833.9268.

Wyndham Hotel Group Members save 20% off the best available rate at more than 5,000 participating locations throughout North America. Mention Farm Bureau ID# 8000004288 when making your reservations. Call 877.670.7088 for information. *WFBF member benefits may be changed or discontinued at anytime without notice.

on the web

View additional WFBF Member Benefits and more details on our website at ScriptSave is a prescription drug savings www.wfbf.com/benefits-membership.

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Presenting a Private offer for farm Bureau memBers

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opinion

Have the Stars Aligned for Immigration Reform? Guest Column from Karen Gefvert

“F

our score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal,” said President Abraham Lincoln during the Gettysburg Address on November 19, 1863. President Lincoln addressed a nation, deeply divided, just as we are a nation divided over comprehensive immigration reform. Today’s politics are divisive, but our wise forefathers had the foresight to guarantee some level of consistency by creating a legislative process that made it extremely difficult to change laws. The political process that a bill takes, once introduced in Congress, is a long

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and treacherous road filled with hearings, amendments, filibusters and agendas. The vast majority of introduced legislation never completes the journey to becoming law. For some time, immigration reform has long been one of those issues that have sat on the backburner. Many felt the issue was simply too hot for either political party to touch. Too many downsides for taking the lead. So why is it that all of a sudden immigration reform has gained traction and moved to the legislative forefront? Some say it’s an economic issue, others claim the ability to enforce our current system is broken and we are finally in need of an overhaul. The truth is: like most things in Washington, D.C., it’s purely political. Labor unions clearly want a seat at the table if long-term wage requirements are being discussed and Democrats cannot afford to not deliver this. Post-Romney, the Republican party needs three things: a serious makeover, relevancy and more Hispanic votes. The stars have aligned in 2013 in a way that both political parties think immigration reform is the wagon to hitch their horse to. Nobody, least of which any politician seeking reelection in 2014, wants to be viewed as an obstructionist on this issue. For agriculture, this issue is clear. Farmers and ultimately, consumers, need an immigration system that is simple,

streamlined and consistent. According to a 2009 study from UWMadison, nearly half of all hired workers on Wisconsin dairy farms are immigrant workers, the majority of which are Hispanic. Wisconsin agriculture needs an available, skilled and legal workforce. Without it, we stifle the dairy industry. Fewer workers means fewer cows, fewer milk haulers, fewer food processors and less milk and cheese. Our state’s economy would sour faster than a glass of milk left out on a hot summer day. For agriculture’s stake in this issue, the Senate’s ‘Gang of 8’ has proposed a solid foundation for desperately-needed comprehensive immigration reform. Even the simplest legislation is never as simple as it appears. With the most complex of issues (immigration) one cannot expect a perfect piece of legislation. After all, no bill is ever perfect. However, when the dust settles on this issue, we may have a situation where farmers, unions, Democrats and Republicans all think they came away with something better than what we currently have. Now that would be an achievement not seen in Washington in years.

Karen Gefvert is the Director of Governmental Relations for the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation.

wisconsin farm bureau federation

Our Food is Safer than Ever

Guest Column from AFBF President Bob Stallman

ummertime is upon us. For most Americans, the warmer weather brings picnics in the park, BBQs and grilling out with family and friends. It also brings the increased chance for foodborne illness to occur if safe food preparation and handling is not given full attention. Because food safety is such an important issue to farmers, we’ve worked hard to ensure that the food that reaches your table is safe. Thanks to voluntary farmer-led initiatives, strict government monitoring and consumer food safety education, foodborne illness has dropped drastically in the last 100 years.

Not Just Lip Service According to a recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report, our food is safer than ever. The number of foodborne disease outbreaks in 20092010 declined 32 percent compared with the preceding five years. Some of the credit for this can be attributed to the Food Safety Modernization Act, which was signed into law in 2011. This law aims to cooperatively improve food safety by building on existing systems already in place in the private sector. Before the FSMA was passed, approximately 72 million Americans fell sick due to a foodborne illness every year. Within a week after the FSMA was signed into law, those numbers were

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adjusted to 48 million. Significantly, foodborne illnesses now only touch 9.4 million people yearly. Farmers take seriously their responsibility of growing safe food and that’s not just lip service. Farmers have the same desire as other consumers to have a safe, abundant and affordable food supply. And they also have an important economic interest because the demand for their products is determined by consumer confidence.

Shouting from the Rooftop Many people don’t realize that there are five federal agencies that administer at least 30 laws related to food safety. Through this intense federal oversight, the level of food safety testing has also dramatically increased. And, just as important, consumer education on food safety is on the uptick. Even though contamination of food can occur at any stage in food production, a high level of foodborne illness is caused by foods improperly prepared or mishandled at home or in restaurants. To counter this, Farm Bureaus across the country are educating consumers to enhance their food safety knowledge. And it’s working! According to Dr. Richard Raymond, former undersecretary for food safety at the Agriculture Department, the CDC report is cause for celebration.

“You should be able to stand on top of the building and say ‘hey look, (the agriculture) industry is doing a great job, consumers are doing a great job of listening to the safe handling and proper cooking messages…and restaurants and other people that cook our food are doing a better job.’” So, go on and enjoy your burgers and chops, deviled eggs and fresh salad this summer knowing that your food is safer than ever. And, maybe even have a steak for me while you’re at it. President of the American Farm Bureau Federation since 2000, Bob Stallman is a cattle and rice farmer from Columbus,Texas.

www.wfbf.com

opinion

From the Mouths of Fourth Graders Guest Column from Rochelle Ripp

his year I visited nearly 300 fourth grade classrooms, to share the diversity and impact of Wisconsin agriculture. During this time I have learned that you never know what kids are going to say or ask. I could write a book! I share these stories not only as a bit of humor, but also as food for thought. At the beginning of my presentation, I show them a photo of a dairy animal and ask them what they see. “Cows” they resoundingly tell me. Full of energy, I aim to keep these future consumers engaged by sharing some vocabulary. The first term I teach them is “Holstein,” the most popular dairy breed in Wisconsin. The second is “cow.” While the farm kids in

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the classroom nod their heads when I share “all cows are girls” I hear many gasps and see looks of confusion from others before explaining that the boys are called “bulls” and the babies are called “calves.” I explain that there is no such thing as a “boy cow.” Every now and then I am asked, “What is a steer or heifer?” I explain that a steer would be similar to a pet that we might take to the veterinary clinic to get neutered so that they do not reproduce. A heifer would be a teenage girl, no longer a baby but not old enough to have her own calf as a cow would. After some thought and discussion, these young minds make sense of this and accept these new terms they have learned. “When milk comes out of a cow, does it come out as skim milk?” Good question! I could see how a child that is five generations removed from agriculture would not know this. “How do we get different kinds of milk, like 1% and 2%?” another child chimes in. Milk comes out of a cow as whole milk, which is one of the many kinds we see in the grocery store. Some of the other kinds are 1% and 2% which stands for the percentage of fat in the milk. This fat is one of the good fats to help us stay healthy. Nine out of 10 gallons, or 90 percent of Wisconsin’s milk, gets made into more than 600 different varieties, types and styles of cheese. I once overheard a

young girl whisper to her friend, “Cheese is made from rotten milk.” “Excuse me, what did you say?” was the only reply I could get out of my mouth. She repeated her statement for the class to hear, which I quickly corrected explaining that after the milk is collected from the cows, it is sent to a milk tank to stay refrigerated until the milk truck loads it, destined for the milk or cheese plant. All the while, the milk stays cooled so that bacteria do not grow and make us sick. I’ve also been asked, “You’re telling me that milk comes from cows?” “What kind of cows give us soy milk?” The questions were honest and endless, I often reminded myself that they are asked out of curiosity and innocence. These students are like sponges, hungry for information, to learn the truth at a level that they can understand. These students are future consumers, teachers and state leaders. If we do not tell our story and take time to share our passion with the little people, they will not understand agriculture later when they are voting and making decisions that impact our agriculture community. This is one lesson we can take with us every day. Rochelle Ripp, a member of the Dane County Farm Bureau, recently completed her year as Wisconsin’s agriculture ambassador, the 65th Alice in Dairyland.

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Teaching Healthy in Wisconsin Schools Guest Column from Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board’s Laura Wilford

ealthy students are better students. Books, pencils and good learning skills are not the only tools needed for student success. According to research published in the Wellness Impact Report 2012 improved nutrition, daily breakfast and increased physical activity can lead to improved academic achievement. American children and adolescents are consuming diets high in calories but low in nutrients, which can leave them overweight and undernourished (NHANES, 2011). A shocking two-thirds of high school students drink soda, sports drinks and other sugar-sweetened beverages one or more times per day, according to the Journal of the American Dietetic Assn., 2010. Making health habits even worse, 66% of children do not participate in organized sports and one-fourth of kids between the ages of 9-13 do not engage in any free-time physical activity, according to a report by the CDC, titled “Physical Activity Levels Among Children,” published in 2002. Wisconsin dairy farmers, through the efforts of the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board’s Wisconsin Dairy Council (WDC), are fighting back by promoting good nutrition in Wisconsin schools, deploying programs that allow kids to identify solutions and recognizes them for their efforts. American kids spend more than 2,000 hours in school each year, making the school environment absolutely critical in teaching healthy lifestyle

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habits. Meals and snacks consumed at school contribute up to 50 percent of children’s daily calorie intake. Dairy Council staff strives to keep dairy a vital component of a healthy diet by working with schools to educate students, teachers and school nutrition staff about the nutritional benefits of dairy and by promoting healthy lifestyles. Dairy Council’s staff of eight professionals - registered dietitians, teachers and communication specialists - have been increasingly visible in Wisconsin classrooms over the past decade. Working to encourage students to choose milk over sugar-sweetened drinks, choose healthy foods from each food group and get active every day, Dairy Council has activated a program with the Green Bay Packers, Fuel Up to Play 60. We provided materials to more than 2,100 schools, reaching 872,000 (88%) of Wisconsin students during the 2012-13 school year. Dairy Council also provides a variety of additional programs and resources for Wisconsin classrooms. Reaching more students in person than ever before during the 2011-12 school year, the Dairy Council staff presented nutrition lessons to more than 50,000 students and their teachers: • Kindergarten students were read our beautiful Farm of Many Colors storybook and helped to prepare a yogurt parfait. • Second grade students were taught

technology in cheesemaking through the Mooing, Milking, Munching presentation and cheese sampling. • Growing a Healthy Wisconsin, a lesson we developed for Wisconsin schools, was presented to more than 1,000 fourth grade classrooms - almost 40 percent of all fourth graders in Wisconsin. For more information visit WisconsinDairyCouncil.com. Laura Wilford, MS, RD, is a registered dietitian and director, Wisconsin Dairy Council the nutrition education department of the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board. (Images courtesy of the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, Inc.)

www.wfbf.com

opinion

It’s Time Ag Defines Sustainability A Message from WFBF President Jim Holte

or every person and business that uses “sustainability” as a buzzword, there seems to be a different definition. What does sustainability mean to Wisconsin’s farmers? What should it mean? The definition must be workable for farmers and meaningful to consumers. If we wait, others will gladly define it for us with no regard as to how to sustainably farm in the real world. It’s for that reason that sustainability is one of the topics where your input as a Farm Bureau member is needed in our annual policy development process this year. Some define “sustainable” as growing more food using fewer resources

responsibly. In so many ways, today’s farms already epitomize this definition of doing more with less. More crops grow on less land using fewer inputs than a generation ago. Today’s cows produce more milk and less manure, using less feed and water. Others say sustainability should be thought of as a three-legged stool, balanced on economic, environmental and social principles. Whatever way you slice it, the concept of sustainability has more layers than an onion. The average American is geographically and generationally removed from food production, which means they never see fields of people working and animals grazing. It’s understandable they would ask questions, but providing answers about our complex food system is not always easy. In a world where a can of soup contains 40 basic ingredients that are sourced from across the globe, the fundamental challenge our food system faces is a growing erosion of public trust. Consumers want to hear the ethics behind the science of food safety. We in agriculture have been slow to define sustainability. Trying to fill that void is a full menu of food conspiracy theories from activists like Michael Pollan, films like Food Inc., threatening magazine covers and blogs. The Center for Food Integrity (CFI) says today’s consumers have a laundry

list of wants associated with what’s in their grocery cart. Food has to be more convenient, better tasting and lower priced. Food has to make people feel and look better, and be safer for kids. Food needs to be better for the environment and that includes everywhere from the local countryside to jungles in the Third World. Appropriate welfare measures must also be taken for our friends with fins, feathers and four legs. CFI research says just 30 percent of consumers say the food system is headed in the right direction, 31 percent say it’s on the wrong track and 39 percent are unsure. While 40 percent of men opted for “right direction” about half of women were unsure. Perhaps most troublesome was that those classified as early adopters (risk takers who gather information before making decisions and then become very opinionated on the subject) said “wrong direction” 40 percent of the time. As if our nation weren’t fractured enough along political-ideological lines, now food divides us. Is there much middle ground between conventional and organic; global or local? Should we aim to feed the world or are adequate distribution and existing obesity really the issues? As with most things that divide our culture: the voices on the fringes are loud, but the sensible solutions are somewhere in the middle. (Continued on page 36.)

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Alex in Dairyland?

Guest Column by WFBF Spokesman Casey Langan

wo small plaques in my office serve as reminders of my attempts at the FFA’s prepared speaking contest. In the 1990s I memorized a seven-minute speech on how the Bovine Growth Hormone might impact dairy farming. I also used an article titled “Manuregate” from Rolling Stone magazine as the centerpiece of my argument that farmers would be better off if the federal government stopped meddling with the free market system and abandoned the farm bill. Full disclosure: I was way over my head on both topics. Both times I crashed and burned at the sectionals when judges grilled me on what I had just said. Needless to say, I’m still not an economist or scientist. Instead, I work in agricultural public relations. Those doomed speeches never elevated me to the state contest, but they did steer me towards a rewarding career.

It’s a Man’s World? While farming is thought of as a maledominated profession, I’ve noticed most of my counterparts from other state Farm Bureaus or agricultural p.r. agencies are female. Like with those speeches, perhaps I am over my head again, but here’s my attempt to connect some dots. When I worked in state politics, I was exposed to many public education issues, including a theory that our educational system is leaving boys behind. Consider the statistics. In most school subjects girls outpace the boys. Boys are said to be much more likely to drop out of high school; Less likely to attend (and graduate from) college. Young

males are more likely to be unemployed. It’s a cultural issue that may eventually have big consequences for everyone. The speculation as to why this is happening runs rampant. The old line of thought was that there are too few male elementary teachers. Then there’s a newer theory that schools (from the curriculum to environment) have become too feminized. Boys learn differently than girls and newer teaching styles are not meeting their needs. No pushing, no yelling, no such things as winners and losers. It’s simply not how boys are hardwired. Experts claim that girls generally have better hearing and speech than boys. If so, as schools moved away from vocational education (shop class) and emphasized languages, such curriculum shifts skewed in girls’ favor. Then there are those who say societal changes have dulled classroom effectiveness. Politically correct school leaders go to great lengths not to offend anyone, least of all litigation-happy parents. Doctors pacify a society that thinks a pill can solve anything by over-using drugs like Ritalin (especially among boys). While government steps in to bolster female participation in technology and math (the only areas boys still outperform girls), the last time I checked the efforts to get boys to study medicine, law or public relations, simply don’t exist.

Where Ag’s Efforts Fail Boys Hoard’s Dairyman magazine recently opined that, “our industry’s pageantry programs have helped countless young women to hone their presentation skills

and serve as a public face for dairy. Yet, we sorely lack the same opportunities to prepare young men for that vital role.” When explaining my career goal of ag public relations, I often joked that there was not an Alex in Dairyland position for guys who want to advocate for agriculture. After all, who would want to wear the sash and crown? All kidding aside, is agriculture also leaving boys behind? The national FFA still has more boy members than girls, yet boys only hold about half of the state leadership positions. Someone even conducted research on female leadership in rural Florida FFA chapters. It found that females were largely taking over the reins of leadership, due largely to their strong desire to achieve, coupled with the reluctance of male FFA members to assume local FFA chapter leadership roles. (Continued on page 36.)

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www.wfbf.com

opinion Sustainability: from page 34.

Alex: from page 35.

It’s great that we live in a nation where some people have enough income to buy food with labels that make them feel good about themselves, but they should not be defining what sustainable means for the rest of us. After all, these kinds of lofty conversations are not happening in much of the rest of the world. We face giant global challenges when it comes to food production, needing an estimated 50 percent more food by 2030 and 100 percent more food by 2050. When talking about sustainability to consumers, I’m also told as a farmer to talk about my values because these kinds of statistics don’t register in a nation that doesn’t remember empty grocery shelves. I didn’t say defining sustainability was going to be easy, but it would seem to me that our world can hardly claim to be sustainable if not everyone is fed.

When did leadership become a feminine trait? The Hoard’s Dairyman editors concluded: “A variety of resources have been developed by organizations to help (farmers) step up to the publicity plate when called upon, but all of us must be prepared to answer the call. There is no better time for our future industry representatives to practice delivering a message about dairy than during their adolescence.” I couldn’t agree more. I’ve got to admit, reciting my rehearsed rants about BGH and the farm bill was out of my comfort zone. I might not have won the state prize, but that’s ok; I came from a generation where not everyone received a trophy just for showing up. The Hoard’s editors also said they have noticed fewer boys at FFA speaking contests. Life has a way of bringing this full circle. I recently accepted an offer to judge a speaking contest at the state FFA Convention in June because it remains a great opportunity for youth. I just hope I’m not the only guy there.

President of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation since 2012, Jim Holte is a grain and beef farmer from Elk Mound.

Casey Langan is the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation’s Executive Director of Public Relations.

TRACTORS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR 41% OF THE ACCIDENTAL FARM DEATHS OF CHILDREN UNDER 15, YET 4 OUT OF 5 FARM CHILDREN REGULARLY RIDE TRACTORS WITH FAMILY MEMBERS. WHILE RIDING THE TRACTOR MAY BE A FAMILY TRADITION, IT’S EASIER TO BURY A TRADITION THAN A CHILD. This message is developed and endorsed by the Childhood Agricultural Safety Network

www.childagsafety.org 1-800-662-6900

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leadership

Ag Day on Campus

Students Spreading Ag Messages Across College Campuses UW-Madison

UW-Platteville

UW-Madison Collegiate Farm Bureau held their third annual Ag Day on Campus on April 24 at Library Mall and Bascom Hill where the UW campus and Madison’s State Street meet. This year’s event was themed “We Farm. You Eat.” to emphasize that farmers are students and community members who care about the same values as consumers. The event also featured a new partnership with a campus-owned restaurant, the University Club, who provided food samples featuring a wide variety of Wisconsin products. This created great opportunity for conversation, as members answered questions about how food is produced. Collegiate Farm Bureau members distributed can koozies complete with a message about agriculture and a cold bottle of milk. Signs posted on Bascom Hill reminded thousands of students, faculty and others about the importance of agriculture in our daily lives. The tractor, borrowed from Biological Systems Engineering, was parked at Library Mall to draw attention to the event. They also had a television playing informational ag-related videos.

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On May 1, UW-Platteville Collegiate Farm Bureau’s Ag Day on Campus brought together over 200 students. Organizations in the School of Agriculture manned booths with activities related to their industries. Pictured above is Mittie J.A. Nimocks - Provost & Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs reaching down to pet a baby calf at the event. They found that having young animals on campus was a great way to get people’s attention and help engage them in converstaions. Their theme was “Truth is Agriculture Impacts You!” They wanted something relatable with students. The main goal of the day was to unite all of the organizations in the School of Agriculture and to help educate students about agriculture.

UW-River Falls UW-River Falls Collegiate Farm Bureau hosted their first-ever Ag Day on Campus on Thursday, April 25. Fifteen student agriculture organizations and five agriculture businesses volunteered their time with interactive agriculture booths. Due to Mother Nature giving them six inches of snow two days before, they had half of their booths inside the Falcon’s Nest in the University Center and the other booths outside on the sidewalk. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., students, faculty and other community members were able to get a glimpse of agriculture without leaving campus. They had a baby pig and calf, two tractors and lots of free food. They gave away 15 pounds of cheese curds, 1,000 cartons of milk, 130 dirt cake cups, 300 root beer floats and 300 Ag Day t-shirts. In the evening, they hosted 238 campus and community guests to a free dinner followed by remarks from WFBF President Jim Holte and keynote speaker: Charlie Arnot, CEO Center for Food Integrity, who spoke on “Building Trust in Today’s Food System.” They also gave away an iPad, along with many other door prizes donated by local businesses.

www.wfbf.com

Spring

YFA Events

Opportunities for YFA members to meet and network with their peers.

Spring Fling

The sixth annual District 1 YFA Spring Fling was held on Saturday, April 6 at The Columbian in West Bend featuring The Mantz Brothers band. Six years ago, when Rick Roden was the District 1 YFA Chair, he started the YFA Spring Fling. Each year, the crowd grows larger and he stated, “I am very happy with the outcome of this year’s YFA Spring Fling reaching over 600 people. District 1 is happy to host an event that reaches a large audience, and the YFA Spring Fling is an event that everyone looks forward to.”

Young Farmer and Agriculturist Ball The third annual District 5 YFA Ball was held on January 26 at The Shed in Oshkosh. More than 100 YFA members from all over the state attended the event. Local country band Spit Fire Rodeo entertained attendees. Pictured above: YFA members participated in a tug of war competition.

Farm Bureau 5k Walk/Run

The first annual Farm Bureau 5K Run/Walk – Fueled by Farmers took place May 4 on the Brossard farm near Beaver Dam. There were 110 runners/walkers who participated in the 5K course featuring fresh country air and scenic views. $550 from registration fees were donated to the Susan G. Komen Madison chapter to support breast cancer research. After the run/walk, participates were encouraged to stay for a farm tour.

Brewers Game

On Saturday, April 20, 116 members attended the fifth Farm Bureau Brewers baseball game outing at Miller Park. Members watched the Milwaukee Brewers defeat the Chicago Cubs. Fourteen new Farm Bureau members were signed up with the new member promotion that took place in conjunction with the game. It was a fun social event that included tailgating at Miller Park, a great way to kick-off summer.

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wisconsin farm bureau federation

Bumblefist to Headline YFA Conference

umblefist will kick off the WFBF YFA Conference on Friday, December 6. The entertainment and reception that evening is sponsored by Badgerland Financial. Bumblefist is a wicked awesome rock band based out of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. They always put on a high energy show and play the best of today’s modern hits along with a variety of other great songs from the past three decades. Bumblefist has no boundaries to what they play…it’s all about what the crowd loves and wants to hear. Their goal is to keep you out on the dance floor all night long and make sure you leave feeling like you’ve been at a fun party! While Bumblefist’s sound can be described as modern power rock, they also throw in some classic rock, pop and even those country songs that we can’t live without (somewhat rocked out, of course!). Their motto is to “rock at random” as they love to keep you guessing when they go from Bon Jovi to Pink and round it out with selections from Heart, Miranda Lambert, Collective Soul, Journey, Ozzy Osbourne, Katy Perry, Kings of Leon, Lita Ford, Kid Rock, No Doubt, Good Charlotte, Halestorm and Guns ‘n Roses. The band is comprised of members from vastly different musical backgrounds and styles. Each musician brings

something different to the table in terms of talent and music selection which is what makes Bumblefist such a versatile, appealing band for any crowd. Whether you appreciate massive vocal talent, screaming guitar licks, groovin bass lines complete with air kicks, the coolness of a keytar, or a rockin drum beat that beckons you to the dance floor, AJ, Cole, Jeremy, Philip and Stacy are ready to party right along with you.