Rural Route

Ruralwisconsin Farm bureau Federation’s

Routeoctober | november 2011

Talking Trade on the HillTen Vie for Achievement AwardKids and Cops, Farming and Fishing

• vol. 17 no. 5 | www.wfbf.com

P a g e 1 8

Farm Bureau MembersTrack grocery Prices

Land EthicLeopold Award Shows Private Landowners’

“Why do I use Fs?”“My dad started off with a farm and a tandem axle grain truck that he used to haul a little bit for hire. And over the years… well, one thing kind of led to another.

Today, my son Corey runs the trucking business – and my son Ty, he runs the farming business.

Why do we use FS? Service and dependability. We’ve been working with FS on the farm for over 40 years, for everything from seed to fuel to fertilizer.

And as for the trucking business, since we deliver just-in-time freight, we have to be able to depend on our suppliers. So it’s nice to know that with FS, we can count on the fact that our fuel barrel is always full.

That service and dependability is why we stick with FS”

The local ansWer To your World oF needs.™

©2011 GROWMARK, Inc. A11539E

Ty, ron and corey neumannFarm and trucking operators

“Why do I use Fs?”“My dad started off with a farm and a tandem axle grain truck that he used to haul a little bit for hire. And over the years… well, one thing kind of led to another.

Today, my son Corey runs the trucking business – and my son Ty, he runs the farming business.

Why do we use FS? Service and dependability. We’ve been working with FS on the farm for over 40 years, for everything from seed to fuel to fertilizer.

And as for the trucking business, since we deliver just-in-time freight, we have to be able to depend on our suppliers. So it’s nice to know that with FS, we can count on the fact that our fuel barrel is always full.

That service and dependability is why we stick with FS”

The local ansWer To your World oF needs.™

©2011 GROWMARK, Inc. A11539E

Ty, ron and corey neumannFarm and trucking operators

features

contents

5 8 12

vol. 17 no. 5

departmentsarticlesconservation awardA Wisconsin dairy farm family has been chosen to receive the Leopold Conservation Award.

talking trade on the hillIn nation’s capital, Farm Bureau’s focus was largely international.

kids and copsKathy Tober brings urban youth to her farm for a lesson in food and farming.

achievement awardTen finalists will vie for the Farm Bureau’s Achievement Award this December.

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8

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24

capitol watchThe WFBF is currently monitoring a number of bills and regulations that impact Wisconsin farmers.

Board profileWe sat down with WFBF YFA Chair Maria McGinnis from Columbia County.

Yfa excellenceFour individuals were selected as Wisconsin Farm Bureau’s Excellence in Ag finalists and will compete in December for the top honor.

summer photosA look back on Ag in the Classroom happenings from this past summer.

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36

news

opinion

memBer Benefits

leadership

foundation

ag in the classroom

rural mutual

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P. 18Farm Bureau’s Food Price Survey

october | november 2011 www.wfbf.com 3

{from Casey Langan}

i ’m not sure if this is the new normal

or just a high-flying golden era to

remember, but as I type this the

milwaukee brewers are playing (and

winning) in october, Wisconsin badger

football is soaring to new heights and our

Green bay Packers are looking simply

‘super’ again. Yes, times are great right now in

America’s Dairyland both on the field…and on the farm.

As combines roll and another WFbF Annual meeting draws near, I can’t help but think of the parallels between the success of our sports teams and the winning streak that Wisconsin Farm bureau and its members are on.

this year is going to be remembered for historically high prices for corn, soybeans, milk and other commodities. oh sure, even during good times, farming always has its ups and downs, but doesn’t it feel like the sun is shining just a little brighter these days?

As a Farm bureau member, you’re certainly part of a winning team. In the last year we’ve achieved a healthy membership gain. All four finalists for the second Leopold conservation Award were Farm bureau members (see page 5). our Young Farmer and Agriculturist program continues to thrive thanks to leaders like maria mcGinnis (who is profiled on page 14). our county Services Program continues to grow, which means more member volunteers can focus on advocating for ag on the local, state and national levels. our insurance affiliate, rural mutual Insurance company, is once again ranked among the 50 best insurance companies in the nation. We continue to have legislative success amid a tough political climate. Simply put, this has been a winning season for Farm bureau!

Another area where we can toot our own horn is right before your eyes. Last June, the first three editions of the revamped Rural Route magazine were given an ‘honorable mention’ in the best magazine category of the American Farm bureau’s Public relations Awards. While we tip our hats to our colleagues at the vermont Farm bureau for their winning magazine, we are emboldened by the changes we continue to make to these pages.

So like many cheesehead fans have said before: Just wait until next year!

on Wisconsin!

casey Langan

Rural Route editor

Wisconsin Farm bureau Federation

Editor Casey Langan 608.828.5711

Assistant Editor Sheri Sutton 608.828.5706

Address of Publication Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation 1241 John Q. Hammons Dr. PO Box 5550 Madison, WI 53705-0550

POStMaSter: Send address changes to Farm Bureau’s rural route PO Box 5550 Madison, WI 53705-0550

Contact Information 608.836.5575 800.261.FarM (3276) www.wfbf.com [email protected]

WFBF Board of Directors Bill Bruins, Waupun, (President) Jerry Bradley, Sun Prairie, (Vice President) Dave Daniels, Union Grove richard Gorder, Mineral Point Joe Bragger, Independence Lloyd Deruyter, Cedar Grove Wayne Staidl, Peshtigo Don radtke, Merrill Jim Holte, elk Mound

Women’s Committee Chair rosie Lisowe, Chilton

Young Farmer and Agriculturist Committee Chair Maria McGinnis, Portage

Farm Bureau’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.

Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation’s Rural Route is produced for the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation by Kennedy Communications, LtD., 9 Odana Court, Suite 200, Madison, WI 53711, 608.288.9000. all rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or part without written consent.

For advertising rates and information, please contact annie Mares at 608.443.0956 or [email protected].

Ruralwisconsin Farm bureau Federation’s

RouteediTor’s NoTe

4 Rural Route WISconSIn FArm bureAu FeDerAtIon


koepke Family Wins Leopold conservation award

nEWs By Casey Langan

M embers of the Koepke family from

oconomowoc were presented with

the award, named in honor of world-

renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, at

a meeting of the state natural resources

board on october 26. A special presentation

where the Koepkes will receive the $10,000

award and a Leopold crystal will take place

December 4 at the WFbF Annual meeting in

Wisconsin Dells. Koepke Farms Inc. is a partnership between

brothers Alan, David, Jim, and Jim’s son John. together, they milk 320 cows and operate 1,000 acres of cropland plus another 150 acres of woods and wetlands.

As one of the first farms in their area to adopt a completely no-till system, the family has incorporated grassed waterways, contour

strip cropping, diversified crop rotation, nutrient management, cover crops and barnyard runoff control into their farming practices.

research conducted on the farm by the university of Wisconsin Discovery Farms Program from 2005 to 2008 resulted in the Koepkes making the decision to build a manure storage structure.

they have altered the dairy herd’s feed rations so that the manure does not contain excessive levels of phosphorus, without impacting milk production. As proof, a Holstein named “Granny” from the farm holds the world record for lifetime milk production.

the Koepkes are members of the Waukesha county Farm bureau and were also named the Dairymen of the Year at last month’s

>> cont. on page 6

A Wisconsin dairy farm family with a long history of soil conservation has been chosen to receive the second Leopold Conservation Award from the Sand County Foundation and Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation.


World Dairy expo in madison. they were one of four finalists for the

Leopold conservation Award.“the diversity of these agricultural

operations is remarkable, yet they all share a commitment to enhancement of Wisconsin’s natural resources,” said brent Haglund, Sand county Foundation President. “these finalists are examples of the determination, innovation and dedication that characterize agricultural families across Wisconsin.”

the other finalists included Jim and valerie Hebbe of Green Lake county, Justin and Lynn Isherwood of Portage county, and mark riechers of Lafayette county.

the first recipient of the Leopold conservation Award under the Sand county Foundation and Wisconsin Farm bureau Federation partnership was the bragger family from Independence in buffalo county.

the award is now presented annually in eight states to private landowners who practice responsible land stewardship and management. the Leopold conservation Award in Wisconsin is made possible through the generous support of the Lynde and Harry bradley Foundation, American transmission company, Wisconsin Farm bureau Federation, rural mutual Insurance company and Farm credit.

About sand County Foundation

Sand County Foundation (www.sandcounty.net) is a private, non-profit

conservation group based in Madison, dedicated to working with private

landowners to improve habitat on their land. Sand County’s mission is

to advance the use of ethical and scientifically sound land management

practices and partnerships for the benefit of people and their rural

landscapes. Sand County Foundation works with private landowners because

the majority of the nation’s fish, wildlife and natural resources are found on

private lands. The organization backs local champions, invests in civil society

and places incentives before regulation to create solutions that endure and

grow. The organization encourages the exercise of private responsibility in the

pursuit of improved land health as an essential alternative to many of the

commonly used strategies in modern conservation.

The Leopold Conservation Award is a competitive

award that recognizes landowner achievement

in voluntary conservation. The award consists of an

Aldo Leopold crystal and a check for $10,000. In 2011, Sand County

Foundation will also present Leopold Conservation Awards in California,

Colorado, Nebraska, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and Wyoming.

The Leopold conservation award

on thE WEB

For more information, see

www.leopoldconservationaward.org.

>> cont. from page 5

“The partnership that Sand County Foundation has in each state’s Leopold Conservation

Award—and this is a growing program that we intend to spread much more broadly

throughout the nation—engages us with the leading agricultural institution or/and leading

agricultural land institution in each state. It’s our privilege to associate with the Wisconsin

Farm Bureau Federation, which has members on working lands throughout the state and

offers a variety of services to its members. We think that Sand County Foundation has

a great advantage in telling the conservation story because of the outreach that the

Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation has, its capacity both at the staff and the board level

to associate with leading producers, and to be able to reach people through various

media, radio, television, print and otherwise.”

Sand County Foundation President Brent Haglund on the Leopold Conservation Award and its relationship with Farm Bureau.

FArm BurEAu PoDCAsts Listen to all podcasts at WFBF.COM


Jim and Valerie Hebbe, Princeton (Green Lake County)

Jim Hebbe has been implementing conservation practices for 25 years and has shared his ideas with other farmers as the Green Lake county conservationist since 1984. He and his wife, valerie, raise 1,100 acres of corn, soybeans, wheat and alfalfa in central Wisconsin. In addition to no-till planting all of the crops, he has worked to develop numerous conservation systems that complement each other and lead to less erosion and more residue cover on the land. the farm includes land with a significant slope draining into a class 1 trout Stream. A water and sediment basin was constructed to help control and reduce field runoff into the stream. native prairie grasses were planted in a field that borders the creek. twenty-five acres of evergreen trees were planted on the farm’s light and sandy soil. In 1985, he helped develop conservation standards for the Farmland Preservation Program participants to control soil erosion to sustainable levels.

lEoPolD ConsErvAtIon AWArD

Three other finalists each received $500 for their conservation efforts

Justin and Lynn Isherwood, Plover (Portage County)

Justin and Lynn Isherwood’s 156-year-old farm consists of 1,500 acres, including 260 acres of woodland. they specialize in the production of vegetables, primarily potatoes and grain. For the Isherwoods, an “ethic of landedness” is at the heart of their agricultural operation. Justin played a prominent role in the development of Healthy Grown potatoes, which demand a higher level of environmental quality production standards and require enrolled farmers to commit to ecological enhancement of their non-production lands. the Isherwoods’ farm includes four miles of stream edge, so Justin and Lynn are committed to water management to enhance wildlife habitat and strive to make water quality a community-wide discussion through the development of a booklet that gives voice to water issues from farmers, other landowners and elected officials. As an accomplished writer and farmer, Justin is dedicated to making “agriculture visible to a population ever more distant from agriculture.”

Mark Riechers, Darlington (Lafayette County)mark and his son, Joe riechers, produce beef, corn and soybeans on a

farm located at the southern end of the driftless region in southwestern Wisconsin. the family’s approach to land and resource management is based on the recognition that soil does not need to be tilled to be productive. their no-till planting system significantly reduces investments in energy and labor. corn and soybean crops are grown on less than a gallon of fuel per acre each year. Grassed waterways and terraces are combined with careful residue management and cross-slope planting, which help keep the farm’s soils in place and run-off very low and clean. off the farm, mark riechers has been a leader in the agricultural community, communicating about conservation and agriculture at various conferences and in several publications.

Jim Hebbe

Justin and Lynn Isherwood

Joe and Mark Riechers


T he importance of global

trade to u.S. agriculture

was a common thread of

discussion as Wisconsin Farm

bureau members traveled to the

nation’s capital in September. As one speaker told the group

of 11 WFbF board of Directors and 16 Farm bureau members from across the state, trains run and ships continue to sail despite gridlock in Washington, D.c.

movement on a long-sought trio of free trade agreements (FtA) with South Korea, Panama and columbia were high on the agenda. by eliminating tariffs paid by u.S. exporters, collectively they represent a $2 billion market opening for u.S. farmers.

much of the discussion at the offices of the American Farm bureau Federation and the u.S. trade representative was the political dance between the White House, congress and labor unions regarding the FtAs and the trade Adjustment Assistance bill. Weeks later, the obama Administration did finally forward the FtAs to congress for their approval.

Next Farm Bill Coming Soon?

With the congressional ‘Super committee’ looking to slash federal spending (including $15 billion or more in farm program cuts), AFbF trade specialist mark maslyn said he would not be surprised to see the next u.S. farm bill written this fall.

He noted that while the farm bill accounts for less than half of one percent of the federal budget, direct payments to farmers ranked in the top three of many legislators’ so-called hit-lists.

the big issue is what should be the role of federal government in farming in 2012, maslyn posed to the group. “We’re a different industry than we were 40 or 50 years ago.”

“What’s easier for the government, farm subsidies or higher food costs?” asked La crosse county Farm bureau member Paul Wehrs.

maslyn said there is a shift away from government support toward giving farmers the tools to manage their risk better. that same principle may be in store for dairy policy.

While in Washington, Farm

bureau members met with minnesota congressman collin Peterson’s staff just as details were coming out on the reworked legislation that Peterson drafted from the national milk Producers Federation’s Foundation for the Future Plan.

“We were basically at ground zero of where dairy policy is being drafted,” said bill bruins, WFbF President.

Another policy area likely to see change is ethanol.

“We’re looking at the end of an era on ethanol policy,” said elizabeth Jones, AFbF energy specialist.

“ethanol right now is not the world’s most popular issue,” she said explaining the u.S. Senate’s 73-27 vote last summer to immediately end the ethanol blenders’ tax credit that is set expire before 2012.

With little support for an extension of the credit, there was talk of shifting Farm bureau’s ethanol policy to placing greater emphasis on infrastructure improvements for the biofuel industry.

In nation’s capital, Farm Bureau’s focus was largely international.

HillTalking Tradeon the


>> cont. on page 10

By Casey Langan


While visiting AFbF and offices of Wisconsin’s congressional delegation, members discussed a variety of issues:

• Allowing early release of non-

environmentally sensitive lands

enrolled in the conservation reserve

Program to provide a cost savings, aide

food security and temper $7 corn’s

impact on land values.

• Seeking common sense approaches

for agriculture when it comes to

e-verify immigration legislation, the

Department of Labor’s proposed

changes to child labor on farms and

the obama care healthcare law.

Willing to accept the cuts to farm

programs that are inevitably coming

from the Super committee, one of the

few ‘asks’ by Farm bureau members

was continued funding to land grant

universities and extension services. “In some counties the only

economic development that exists is in that extension office,” said Joe bragger, a WFbF board Director from Independence.

that was part of the message he and others shared with u.S. Senator ron Johnson.

Wisconsin’s junior senator said he would support the FtAs and welcomes the chance to work on good ag policy with Senator Herb Kohl.

Senator Johnson shared blunt thoughts about the congressional budgeting process, calling it “unprofessional, disgusting, sick,” and a “grotesque process that is last-minute and convoluted.”

“there should be time for senators and staff to actually review the document,” he remarked. “It’s why we’re bankrupting the country.”

“In some counties the only economic development that exists is in that Extension office.” - Joe Bragger, WFBF Board Director

Farm Bureau’s Bill Bruins, Dave Daniels and Terry Papcke met with Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan.

The Faces of Agriculture: Farm Bureau leaders from across Wisconsin left

their farms, September 20-22, to lobby lawmakers on ag issues.

>> cont. from page 9


Assembly Bill 252

State law currently allows farmers to exceed weight limits by 15 percent

when transporting crops from the field to the first point of delivery from

September through November. AB 252, authored by State Rep. Jerry

Petrowski, would extend this annual exemption through the month of

December. WFBF supports AB 252.

The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation is currently monitoring a number of bills and regulations that impact Wisconsin farmers. This is a snapshot of the issues being considered by the State Legislature, DNR and DATCP.

By Paul Zimmerman

WaTcHCapitol

on thE WEB

For additional information on these rules and other legislative and

regulatory issues check out our website at www.wfbf.com/legislation.

Assembly Bill 248

State law currently prohibits the Department of Transportation from

issuing oversized load permits if the load can be reasonable divided

or reduced to comply with state law. The generally applicable height

limit on highways is 13.5 feet. AB 248, authored by State Rep. Jerry

Petrowski, allows the DOT to issue annual or consecutive month permits

to vehicles hauling oversized loads of hay or straw as long as the height

does not exceed 14.5 feet. WFBF supports AB 248.

nr 151 - nonpoint

Wisconsin’s nonpoint source prevention program is coordinated by the

Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Agriculture,

Trade and Consumer Protection. The DNR is authorized to establish

performance standards for agriculture and DATCP is directed to develop

technical standards for farmers to use to meet DNR’s performance

standards.

Last year, the DNR updated its portion of the nonpoint regulations

(known as NR 151) to include three new performance standards:

• Require a five foot tillage setback from the top of the stream bank.

• Require fields to meet a phosphorous index of 6 or less.

• Prohibit significant discharges of process waste water from milk

houses, feedlots and feed storage.

WFBF and most other ag organizations supported the update of NR 151

to include these performance standards. As a result, DATCP’s citizen

board recently began the rule making process to update its own rule

(known as ATCP 50) to reflect the changes made by the DNR to NR

151. WFBF will be working with other ag organizations and DATCP to

make sure the two rules are consistent.


Kids and cops Farming and Fishing

s ixteen years ago, Kathy tober saw a boat break down on

east troy’s Lake beulah.the Walworth county Farm bureau member offered a

stranded boater a helping hand, with no clue what the outcome

of their chance meeting would be. the boat driver was a

police officer from racine. He expressed to Kathy that it was

his dream to get city kids from racine out to Lake beulah to

experience the lake and fish.

Kathy responded, “Well, let’s bring them here! Have they

ever been to a farm?” In an hour and a half, the two strangers

planned the first Kids and cops, Farming and Fishing event.

every year since, Kathy and the racine Police Department

have teamed up to bring a life-changing experience to inner-city

children.

“These students don’t know where their food comes from.

They walk into a grocery store and just think their food just

comes from the shelves. On our farm, they learn and can see

where it comes from.” - Kathy Tober

With help from area officials, Farm bureau member Kathy tober brings urban youth to her farm for a lesson in food and farming. By Sheri Sutton


“the students are down at the station an hour and a half before the deadline to make sure they can be on the list to come,” Kathy said. “the event keeps growing every year, which is great. I would like to see all children have the opportunity to see and know where their food comes from.”

the Big Daythe annual one-day

event takes place each July when nearly 100 children (ages 6 to 12) and 20 racine police come to east troy to fish and see a farm. the Department of natural resources provides fishing poles, and staff members teach the youth how to bait their poles and cast their lines. Kathy also partnered with a local marina and boat owners who voluntarily give pontoon boat rides.

From the lake, the youth are then bused to the tober Farm in east troy. Kathy and Warren tober, who live on a farm near east troy, previously dairy farmed near clinton. the east troy FFA chapter provides animals for the event and members are on hand to answers students’ questions.

Another supporter of the event is a professor from carroll college in Waukesha. She has established a scholarship program where numerous full scholarships are granted to students in racine whose parents do not have a college degree.

Kathy says the event is partly about building relationships with kids who will someday be adult consumers making food decisions.

“everything comes from the farmer,” Kathy explains when the

students are on the farm. “See that corn in the field? that corn

is one of the ingredients in your cereal.”

Kathy mentioned, “these students don’t know where their

food comes from. they walk into a grocery store and just think

their food just comes from the shelves. on

our farm, they learn and can see where it

comes from.”

“Farm bureau has shown me how to

educate people and to make them more

aware of agriculture,” Kathy said. “Farm

bureau has instilled so much in me. I now

look at educating people differently.”

In addition to being the first female

president of the Walworth county

Farm bureau, Kathy graduated from

Farm bureau’s first Institute leadership

class. She is also active with the Ag

in the classroom

program and the

state volunteers

for Agriculture

committee.

“Pretty much

anything that goes

on in Farm bureau,

I’m involved in,” she

said. “People don’t

realize how much

Farm bureau has to

offer. Farm bureau

is for education,

environment, policy,

leadership, public

speaking and the list

goes on and on.”

currently elected

to the conservation

congress and as a

supervisor in the

town of troy, she

is extremely active

in advocating for

both agriculture and

wildlife.

“I want things [to

be] better. I want change. I want everyone to learn about where

their food comes from,” said the self-described “out-of-the-box

person.”

As Kathy plans for next year’s event, she looks back in

amazement on all that has come out lending a helping hand to a

stranded boater 16 years ago.

Some kids wait hours in line for the

latest video game or set of concert

tickets, but these Racine youth wait

hours to make sure they get to go fishing and to see

the Tober farm.

Kathy educates youth about the

importance of ag and wildlife with

the help of real-life pelts and horns.

Meet Board Member Maria McGinnisBy Sheri Sutton

ometimes one small invitation can lead to something huge.

Three years ago, Maria McGinnis was invited to watch a band at a Young Farmer and Agriculturist social event. She attended, recognized a few people and became intrigued about Farm Bureau. So she explored the Farm Bureau website, printed off a membership application and sent it in. “It looked like a great organization, and I couldn’t afford to not be a member,” Maria recalls.

S


One Small Invitation


huge InvolvementAccording to maria, “most things in my

life start small but they don’t ever stay small. they either go away or become huge.”

Such is the case with her Farm bureau involvement.

In her first year as a Farm bureau member, maria was elected to the columbia county Farm bureau board of Directors and served as its YFA chair. the following year she became the YFA chair for District 2. now in her third year, maria leads the State YFA committee and represents it on the Wisconsin Farm bureau Federation board of Directors.

“maria is the most passionately committed, young agricultural leader and ‘agvocate’ I have ever met,” says Dale beaty, Wisconsin Farm bureau’s Director of training and Leadership Development. “She has the vision and drive to lead agriculture forward.”

“my role is to foster ideas, give feedback and support,” maria describes of her duties as YFA chair.

Among the YFA committee’s goals is offering more invitations for Farm bureau members between the ages of 18 and 35 to network, learn, socialize, belong, lead and grow through the YFA conference, Discussion meet, Achievement Award, excellence in Ag and other county and state events.

“the YFA program is very unique in that it caters to young professionals in production agriculture and industry,” she said. “As the agriculture industry has evolved, so has the YFA program. everyone with a connection to agriculture, food and their community has a place with this amazing group.”

non-traditional rootsAs the first non-farmer to lead the

YFA committee, maria views her non-traditional road to leadership within Farm bureau as an asset to both the organization and to agriculture.

From her childhood bedroom window, maria could see the State capitol in St. Paul. While not farmers, she and her brother grew up in a very food-focused household, as her mother was a fourth-

generation restaurant entrepreneur. It was from her mother that she learned about food and hard work. Her first exposure to agriculture came from the 4-H and FFA members at the minnesota State Fair, where she showed horses in open classes.

“Horses were my introduction to rural life, crops, animal health and nutrition, and overall farm management,” she said. “many people in agriculture do not view the horse industry as agriculture or livestock, but the reality is that horse owners—especially those that own property—purchase seed and fertilizer, operate agricultural equipment, utilize nutritionists and veterinarians.”

Her experience with horses led her to study the food and fiber industry at uW-river Falls where she majored in agricultural marketing and communications. She would further her education at uW-madison by completing the Life Science communications graduate program. She credits extra curricular organizations like the collegiate FFA and national Agri-marketing Association with getting her

in front of the right people in agriculture. Following three years as a sales specialist for World Dairy expo in madison, she landed her current job in career services for uW madison’s college of Agricultural and Life Sciences. It is there where she helps students and alumni in their job and internship searches, prepares them for interviews, assists them with the look of their resumes and provides other career advice on the 300+ different agricultural career paths.

An active member of the Wisconsin Arabian Horse Association, Portage FFA Alumni, WALSAA and nAmA badger chapter, it is Farm bureau where maria enjoys a breadth of activities on the local and state levels.

“I love being able to go to the executive residence and then go to the county food stand and serve,” she said.

In three short years, maria has provided leadership to our organization, and it all began with one small invitation to an event.

Who will you be inviting to the next Farm bureau activity?

Horses were Maria’s first avenue into agriculture. In her youth, she enjoyed showmanship and equitation and won several regional and national awards. As an adult, she still finds time to compete in English classes with her horse, Ladd.


Meet WFBF Member:

Jennifer Mueller

Family members: Husband, Dean; son and daughter-in-law, brent and melinda; granddaughters, bridget (8) and Hailey (10).

Tell us about your farm. We live on a very diversified farm which includes dairy, beef, vegetable canning crops, corn, soybeans, hay and wheat. We also help our son with his grain-hauling business. our nephew, todd torkelson, works full-time with us on the farm, along with several high school students who work after-school hours and during the summer.

What’s the busiest time of day for you? I don’t really have a busy time. the work is always ongoing. As any farmer knows, there is always a job that needs attention – outside or in the house. A farmer has to learn to be a master at multitasking and be one step ahead on the next day’s list of tasks.

How much time do you spend doing farmwork compared to housework? the weather plays a large part in how my days are planned out. rainy days are for indoor projects such as cleaning, canning,

baking, hobbies and running errands. Sunny days are for outside jobs such as laundry, gardening, taking care of the lawn, cleaning cattle sheds, working with the granddaughters on their fair projects and any other projects that seem to come our way.

What do you do in your free time and why? What free time? (only kidding!) I do volunteer work in the St. croix Farm bureau food booth during our county fair and at the St. croix county Farm city Day. I also have several hobbies – folk-art painting, sewing and reading. We are big nAScAr fans and try to travel to some warmer climates to take in some races during the winter time.

What’s the best thing about farming? the true rewards of farming are what I am passing on to the next generations, whether it is knowledge of the industry, how to keep our family farm going in the right direction or how to keep the next generation’s interest in building a future for themselves. We have had many youth work for us over the years. It makes us very proud when they return

to offer help or stop in to see how things have changed. they are another reward of dairy farming. even though some of them are not farmers they have learned something while working here and can use the knowledge they gain here in their future.

When you look back on your life, what do you want to be remembered for? I am a giving type of person. I hope the things I have done and time I have spent doing things for others is a reflection of what I will be remembered for.

Do you have any ideas that could make farming easier for you and all farming women? rely on the technology and equipment to handle the loads and not your body. You will last longer! not everyone is a mind reader, so be more verbal at how you want to run your farm. be prepared for the unpredictable and the unexpected because the Lord does not make life a bowl of cherries!

Reprinted with permission of the Dairy Star

newspaper.

nEWs

roberts, Wis.St. Croix County


Gm vehicle Incentive Program now Available

Eligible Farm Bureau members may

now receive a $500 discount on

each qualifying 2011 or 2012 model

year Chevrolet, GMC or Buick vehicle they

purchase or lease. This exclusive Farm

Bureau member private offer can be used

at any Chevrolet, Buick or GMC dealer.

Twenty-seven GM models are part of the

program, including the Chevrolet Silverado

HD, honored as the 2011 Motor Trend Truck

of the Year. A broad range of other pick-up

trucks, SUVs, sedans and crossovers also

are included.

For more information, please see the

“Benefits & Membership” tab at wfbf.com.

To take advantage of this private offer,

the purchaser must be a Wisconsin Farm

Bureau member for at least 60 days.

The purchaser’s address on both their

driver’s license and their Farm Bureau

membership address must be the same.

If the driver’s license address is incorrect

and the membership address is correct,

members can change their driver’s license

address online. If the member does not

have access to the internet they will need to

contact the Department of Motor Vehicles

directly. If the Farm Bureau membership

address is incorrect the member should

contact WFBF at 1.800.261.3276 and

choose option 1.

This offer is just the latest member

benefit that adds more economic value

to being a member of the Wisconsin Farm

Bureau.

a s a part of

the Institute

leadership class,

Farm bureau members

participated in a mock

hearing within the

state capitol. members

delivered prepared

legislative testimony

on the issues of

mandatory animal

identification and

keeping patent seeds

for a farmer’s own

use. In her testimony,

Jennifer Digman of Grant county (shown

at right) included strong stories about

her family farm and held up a picture of

her two children. Keith engel of Dane

county, John Gerbitz of rock county and

tim clark of Fond du Lac county (shown

above) played the role of legislators

by asking questions of their fellow

classmates about their view points.the mock hearing was the culmination

of a two-day session in September devoted to the legislative and political process. on top of the hearing, the group

on thE WEB

A Grassroots Advocacy Guide can be

downloaded on the Farm Bureau website

at http://wfbf.com/legislation-regulations/

legislative-action/.

institute in action

was briefed about the election results, state administrative rule process, state legislative process and effective ways for grassroots lobby activities. With this knowledge under their belts, they met with their legislators.

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Colors In-UseLinked GraphicsChevyTruckBkgd.jpg CMYK 498 ppi 11BURE00104.jpg RGB 247 ppi11PGAC00043.jpg RGB 163 ppi16542_Buick_Emblem_Vector_MasterArt.ai Chevrolet_Bowtie_MD_5in_SF4C.ai GMClogo.eps

Cyan Magenta Yellow Black PMS 425 C

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1 Offer valid toward the purchase of new 2011 and 2012 Buick, Chevrolet and GMC models, excluding Chevrolet Volt.2 Requires Regular Cab model and gas engine. Maximum payload capacity includes weight of driver, passengers, optional equipment and cargo.3 Requires available 6.6L Duramax® diesel engine. Maximum trailer ratings assume a properly-equipped base vehicle plus driver. See dealer for details.4 To qualify, vehicles must be used in the day-to-day operation of the business and not solely for transportation purposes. Must provide proof of business. This program may not be compatible with other offers or incentive programs. Consult your local Chevrolet or GMC dealer or visit gmbusinesschoice.com for program compatibility and other restrictions. Take delivery by 9/30/2012.Farm Bureau and the American Farm Bureau Federation® are registered service marks owned by the American Farm Bureau Federation, and are used herein (or by GM) under license.©2011 General Motors LLC

| BuiCk ReGAL| CheVROLeT SiLVeRADO

| GMC ACADiA

Farm Bureau members can get a $5001 private offer toward the purchase or lease of most new GM vehicles,

including the Chevrolet Silverado 2500hD and 3500hD lineup. Visit fbverify.com for more details. They get tough

jobs done with a maximum payload of up to 6,635 lbs.2 and a conventional towing capacity of up to 17,000 lbs.3

And through the GM Business Choice Program,4 business owners receive even more when purchasing or leasing an

eligible Chevrolet or GMC truck or van for business use. Visit gmbusinesschoice.com for details.

GM is proud to partner with FarM Bureau® to BrinG you this valuaBle oFFer.1

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r etail food prices grew just more

than two percent during the third

quarter of 2011, according to the

Wisconsin Farm bureau’s marketbasket

Survey. the informal survey shows the

total cost of 16 food items that can be

used to prepare one or more meals

was $50.55. It marked an increase of

$1.06 (2.1 percent) from the $49.49

marketbasket price in June, and $5.26

(11.6 percent) from one year ago. “Food prices continue to climb at the

grocery store, and there’s a bumper crop of reasons why,” said casey Langan, Wisconsin Farm bureau spokesman. “Strong global demand, weather extremes and high energy prices are all driving steady price growth for many food items.”

of the 16 food items surveyed by Farm bureau members, 10 increased in price compared to the second quarter of 2011. eggs increased 26 cents (20 percent) to $1.53 per dozen.

red Delicious apples, bagged salad and shredded mild cheddar cheese were the other items that saw the largest percentage increases in price over the last three months.

• red Delicious apples increased 23

cents (16 percent) to $1.63 per pound.

• bagged salad increased 33 cents (13

percent) to $2.82 per pound.

• Shredded mild cheddar cheese

increased 70 cents (17 percent) to

$4.67 per pound.

most items showing an increase in retail price from quarter-to-quarter also showed year-to-year increases. compared to one year ago, bagged salad increased 32 percent, russet potatoes increased 28 percent, whole milk and shredded mild cheddar cheese were both up nearly 22 percent, apples increased 19 percent, flour was up 18 percent, and eggs increased 16 percent. the total average price for the 16 items was up 11.6 percent compared to one year ago.

“Global demand for meat and dairy products remains strong and continues to influence retail prices here in the u.S.,” said American Farm bureau economist John Anderson. “many nations around the world rely on America to provide the food they need to improve their standard of living, particularly through the addition of

protein to the diet. Strengthened demand for meats began in 2009, continued through 2010 and remains important as we look ahead to the close of 2011.”

other factors also came into play. “on-farm production costs for energy,

fertilizer and fuel continue on an upward trend but those costs are largely borne by farmers and ranchers. but, in addition, after food leaves the farm or ranch, higher costs for transportation, marketing, processing and storage are added,” Anderson explained. “As long as these costs remain elevated, consumers will continue to feel it in the form of higher food prices at the supermarket.”

“At the beginning of 2011, a number of factors including growing demand

Wisconsin grocery Prices rise for 4th straight Quarter Farm bureau’s Survey Shows two Percent Increase Since June

nEWs

“Global demand for meat and dairy products remains strong and continues to influence retail prices here in the U.S.” - John Anderson, American Farm Bureau Economist


pointed to continued increases in retail food prices, especially for meats. but there’s always a lag time as farmers and ranchers increase the size of their herds to meet higher demand,” Anderson explained. “extreme weather

conditions around the nation have further compounded the

issue, diminishing production and further increasing costs.”

cheerios, ground chuck, sirloin tip roast, sliced deli ham, boneless chicken breast and vegetable oil

were the six items that saw modest reductions in price since the second quarter of 2011. the largest

decrease was the price of boneless chicken breast falling by 34 cents (8 percent) to $3.67 per pound.

Wisconsin Prices Lower Than National Average

Wisconsin’s $50.55 marketbasket is $2.57 less than the American Farm bureau Federation’s national survey of the same 16 food items. AFbF’s survey rang in at $53.12. Despite the lower overall price, five of the sixteen items recently surveyed in Wisconsin

were higher than the national average: bagged salad, whole milk, bacon, ground

chuck and boneless chicken breast. Ground chuck cost just one penny more in Wisconsin than the national average.

Farmer’s Share Is Just $8.08over the last three decades, retail

grocery prices have gradually increased while the share of the average dollar spent on food that farm families receive has dropped. In the mid-1970s, farmers received about one-third of consumer retail food expenditures in grocery stores and restaurants. Since then that figure has decreased steadily and is now about 16 percent, according to the u.S. Department of Agriculture’s revised Food Dollar Series. using that percentage across the board, the farmer’s share of

WFBF Marketbasket SurveyThe 16-item marketbasket includes bagged salad, orange juice, apples, potatoes, chicken breasts, sliced deli ham, bacon, ground chuck, sirloin tip roast, eggs, milk, shredded cheddar cheese, bread, flour, toasted oat cereal and vegetable oil. wfbf.com

3rd Q

uart

er 2

011

$50.55 for 16 items

$1.06

2.1 % increase from last quarter

this quarter’s $50.55 grocery bill would be $8.08.

Despite higher prices, the uSDA says Americans will still spend approximately 10 percent of their disposable annual income on food, the lowest average in the world.

the marketbasket Survey is a quarterly look at the trends in food prices in Wisconsin in relation to changing farm prices, weather and wholesale and retail food marketing. members of the Wisconsin Farm bureau collected price samples of 16 basic food items in 19 communities across Wisconsin in September.

The Marketbasket Survey is an informal

measure of prices at grocery stores in

Wisconsin. The prices reported reflect

variations in communities and retailers.

The prices reported are not validated by

any outside source. Prices were collected for

this survey in the communities of Appleton,

Ashland, Beloit, Cedar Grove, Edgerton,

La Crosse, Lancaster, Marshfield, Medford,

Menominee, Mequon, New Richmond,

Sauk City, Saukville, Shawano, Waterford,

Watertown, West Bend and West Salem.

$50.55 $45.29 $5.26

+11.6%2011 3RD

QuARTER PRICE2010 3RD

QuARTER PRICECoST

DIFFERENCE

PERCENTAGE DIFFERENCE

a s I walked in the door, I

immediately smelled a

familiar aroma coming

from the kitchen. my wife mary

was making ‘end of the Garden’

soup. It’s a tradition that my

mother started when I was

young. the smell of fresh garden

vegetables simmering on the

stove took me back to a time

when I was my mother’s helper

in our garden. It was there that

she taught me how to plant the

garden, care for the growing

plants and harvest them. Soon

harvesting food for our dinner

table became my responsibility;

my mom was proud of the green

thumb I had developed. I was

instantly hooked, and since then

I have always been connected to

my food source. today, most Americans are

generations removed from the farm and think that gardening is something new. Yet they want to reconnect with their food source, and that’s an opportunity that we as farmers cannot ignore. the American Farm bureau Federation has partnered with a wide coalition in forming the u.S. Farmer & ranchers Alliance. Its overall goal is to help build a dialogue with consumers looking to

retrace the steps from the dinner plate to the farm gate. this dialogue is critical to the future success of agriculture, and it requires all hands onboard. that means that even after the last combines are shut down this fall, our work is far from over. It will take every last farmer to do his or her part to help reintroduce ourselves to today’s consumers and provide honest answers to their questions about why we do what we do on the farm. A worthy goal of uSFrA would be to have every American (not just those who are critical of farming practices) look at food differently.

there was something else I learned while working in my mother’s garden—the concept of ‘food security.’ our garden’s bounty meant food security for our family. my parents knew providing that food security was one of their primary responsibilities. boy, have times changed! our food comes from all corners of the globe, and eating out is now commonplace in American society.

Have you ever noticed how much of that food ends up in dumpsters behind restaurants? Studies have shown that one of every four bags of groceries ends up in the landfill. even more depressing is that one in six

American children know what it’s like to go to bed hungry. the united States is now home to 43 million people on food stamps, and school lunch programs cost the federal government more than $10 billion annually for the 41 percent of our public school children that qualify for free or reduced breakfast and lunch.

In a land flowing with milk and honey and excess, how can it be that so many millions of Americans depend on the government to put food on their tables?

there’s no denying that we are in the midst of a paradigm shift in our nation’s cheap food policy. It will be very evident in the next u.S. farm bill that will offer less support for those growing our nation’s food and more subsidization of hungry consumers.

At the root of our nation’s complicated issues with food is a simple notion: most consumers do not view food security as their concern or responsibility because they didn’t grow up smelling and eating ‘end of the Garden’ soup. until more Americans learn the lesson of responsibility that I experienced in my mother’s garden, I fear our nation will never defeat hunger and achieve food security.

My Mother’s gardenA message from WFbF President bill bruins

oPInIon by Bill Bruins


“Today, most

Americans are

generations removed from the farm and

think that gardening is

something new.”

F arm bureau has an

outstanding reputation

as an effective grassroots

organization. For the past 92

years, Farm bureau members

have played instrumental roles

in legislative efforts that have

helped shape u.S. agriculture. American Farm bureau

policy comes from the bottom up. our policy positions start at the county, parish and state levels. they are proposed, debated and approved by farmers and ranchers who grow every different type of crop and livestock species possible across our great land. When you think about the level of policy unity that comes from such stark diversity, it really is astonishing. We don’t always agree on everything. that’s what makes our process credible and real.

Country RoadsAs Farm bureau members, it

is ingrained in us to be actively involved and to fight for what we believe in and what we think will better our profession and our country. We are not ones to rest on our laurels while others do the work. We are also not the types to make a lot of noise about an issue

and stop there. Farm bureau members roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty when it comes to matters that are close to our hearts.

that’s why I especially enjoy this time of year. If you’re a Farm bureau member, you probably know exactly why. For many folks, autumn represents back-to-school, fall festivals and cooler weather. For us Farm bureau policy nerds (speaking for myself, of course), autumn means it’s nearing time for most of our state annual meetings. I can almost hear the momentum building out in the countryside.

As I travel to these annual meetings, I listen to Farm bureau members talk a lot about agriculture issues. most of the time what they have to say is good, some of the time it’s not. that’s the beauty of Farm bureau, there’s always room for healthy debate. but in all of my travels, I have never met a farmer without something to say, or more importantly, not willing to roll up his or her sleeves to help further our grassroots process.

Country StrongAs Farm bureau state

delegates prepare for their annual meetings, they are well

aware of the importance of their deliberation and votes on potential policy. those very policy recommendations have been formed and mulled over at the county level by their farmer peers, and, if successful, will get forwarded to the American Farm bureau Federation’s annual meeting for consideration.

these grassroots members are the backbone of our organization who will play a significant role at their state meetings as they consider important policy positions on environmental, trade, immigration, farm policy and other issues. they will roll up their sleeves, get their hands dirty and carry on the Farm bureau tradition of grassroots excellence.

It’s this commitment of our grassroots members who play an active role in u.S. agriculture policymaking that makes Farm bureau one of the most successful advocacy organizations in this nation.

countryside grassroots at WorkGuest column from AFbF President bob Stallman

oPInIon by Bob Stallman

“As Farm Bureau

members, it is ingrained in us to be

actively involved

and to fight for what

we believe in and

what we think will

better our profession

and our country.”



AAAFarm 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 PolicyMembers 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.

AvIs-Budget Car rentalWith 4,800 locations in over 140 countries,

there’s always an Avis nearby to help you

with your car rental needs. And whether

you’re traveling for business or pleasure, your

membership in the Wisconsin Farm Bureau

entitles you to special discounts.

www.avis.com, www.budget.com

Budget truck rentalFarm Bureau members receive a 15% discount

on Budget Truck rentals. To use the discount

call 800.566.8422 or visit www.budgettruck.com/wfbf. Use the Wisconsin Farm Bureau

account number 56000133165 to get your 15%

discount.

Choice hotelsMembers 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# 0058419.

Farm Bureau BankTake 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. To get

started, call 800.492.FARM (3276), or look

online at www.farmbureaubank.com.

FB ApparelFB Apparel offers you more than 700 apparel

items to choose from, including products

from your favorite brands like Cutter & Buck,

Columbia, GEAR for Sports, and Dickies,

to name a few. Contact your FBApparel

representative at 866.859.7005.

Fs-GroWmArK PatronageFarm Bureau members who are patrons of their

local FS cooperative are eligible to receive

patronage dividends when patronage is paid.

GraingerGrainger 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.

lands End Business outfittersSave 10% on product and logo fees when using

the preferred Farm Bureau phone number and

website to place orders. To purchase items call

800.916.2255 or go online at

http://ces.landsend.com/WIFB.

rural mutual InsuranceOffering 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 CardScriptSave is a prescription drug savings

card available to all Wisconsin Farm Bureau

members. The card is 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 22% with

potential savings up to 50% on brand name and

generic medications (based on national program

savings data).

The Country Today newspaperHere’s a way to save money, get informed on

ag issues, AND help support a popular Farm

Bureau program. Members of the Wisconsin

Farm Bureau now receive $7.50 off a

yearly subscription (and $15 off a two-year

subscription) to The Country Today newspaper.

Wyndham hotel GroupMembers save 20% off the best available rate

at more than 5,000 participating locations

throughout North America. Mention Farm Bureau

ID# 62775 when making your reservations.

Savings for your Family or Business

MeMber beNeFiTs

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

{Guide}

on thE WEBView additional WFBF Member Benefits and

more details on our website at

www.wfbf.com/benefits-membership.

*WFBF member benefits may be changed or discontinued at anytime without notice.

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LeadershiP {Produce strong and effective leaders}

Farm bureau’s rising starsTen finalists will vie for the Wisconsin Farm Bureau’s Achievement Award this December. Collectively, they represent some of the best and brightest young farmers in Wisconsin.

T he Achievement Award is open to Farm bureau

members between the ages of 18 and 35, who

have excelled in their production farming

operation, understand current issues affecting

agriculture, and show leadership and involvement in

Farm bureau and their local community.

Here’s a look at this year’s finalists:

ANDReW & ANGIe BAuMANN Marathon County

Andy and Angie baumann of edgar farm 500 acres and milk 75 cows in a joint venture with Andy’s parents. Andy is a graduate of the uW-madison Farm and Industry Short course, while Angie is a graduate of edgewood college with a degree in elementary education. Since becoming involved in the operation, the couple implemented conservation practices and increased the genetic potential of the herd. off of the farm, they are active in their church, with Angie serving as a religious education director. the couple has two children.

JAMeS BAyS II Adams County

Jim bays II operates a 1,200-acre dairy farm in a partnership with his parents. He holds a degree in animal science with a dairy emphasis and currently manages both crop and cow health and breeding aspects of the dairy. Five years ago, he started some irrigated rotational grazing on his farm near Adams. the farm also raises dairy steers as feeder cattle. He has two children, brenna and collin.

RyAN & CHeRI KLuSSeNDoRF Taylor County

ryan and cheri Klussendorf operate a 240-acre farm in medford where they rotationally graze 145 dairy cows. they started their farming venture in 2003 and have since purchased a farm. ryan focuses on pasture management, cattle health, and nutrition, while cheri focuses on calf health, milking, and recordkeeping on the dairy. the couple met while attending uW-madison’s Farm and Industry Short. both are very active in the taylor county Farm bureau and educate others interested in grass-based dairying. they have three children.


CoRey & MIRANDA LeIS Monroe County

corey and miranda Leis live in cashton with their three children. they milk 300 cows and operate 1,200 acres on their farm, which is owned jointly with corey’s father. In addition to operating their own farm, they also operate a small custom harvesting business. milking three times per day, the herd boasts a rolling herd average of above 30,000 pounds. the couple is active in Farm bureau and previously represented District 4 on the state YFA committee. miranda works off of the farm at organic valley cooperative and serves on the state board of Agriculture, trade and consumer Protection.

BRIAN MALISzeWSKI Trempealeau County

brian maliszewski of Independence has a passion for agriculture and crops that he developed growing up on his family’s farm. Since completing his bachelor’s of Science degree, he started his own custom harvesting and trucking operation. Additionally, he runs 1,600 acres of owned and leased land and is a partner in his family’s beef and crop farm that he aspires to take over someday.

JeFFRey MCNeeLy Green County

Jeff mcneely of brooklyn farms with his father and brother on their diversified operation that includes 1,650 crop acres, a 150-cow dairy herd and finishing Holstein steers. Jeff is solely responsible for managing the dairy side of the operation, in addition to assisting with other aspects of the farm. He is a graduate of uW-river Falls with a degree in dairy science and minor in agronomy. He serves as the YFA chair in Green county and enjoys networking with Farm bureau friends as well as spending time outdoors.

PeTeR MuTH Washington County

Peter muth operates 500 acres and milks 180 cows on his family’s farm in Fredonia. He is a graduate of uW-madison’s Farm and Industry Short course and is nearing completion of a five-year Farm business management program at Lakeshore technical college. Since returning to the family farm, he has overseen the expansion of the dairy herd and crop acreage, all while increasing the rolling herd average to 25,000 pounds. He serves as a volunteer firefighter and enjoys outdoor activities.

A three-judge panel will score their applications and conduct interviews at the Farm bureau’s 2011 Young Farmer and Agriculturist conference/Annual meeting at the Kalahari resort in Wisconsin Dells, December 2-5.

the winners of this state contest will compete at the American Farm bureau annual meeting in Hawaii, January 7-10, 2012. they will also receive a $250 gift card from GroWmArK, Inc. and will be guests at its annual meeting in chicago next summer. FAbco equipment Inc. provides 40 hours use of a FAbco 226 skid-steer loader, and rural mutual Insurance provides a free financial plan. the winner will also have the opportunity to take part in the WFbF Young Farmer and Agriculturist trip to Washington D.c. in April 2012. the Wisconsin Farm bureau Federation co-sponsors the Achievement Award with GroWmArK, Inc. and the rural mutual Insurance company.

Last year’s winners of the Achievement Award were nathan and Karen Kling, dairy farmers from Jackson county.

lEADErshIP

JAy & ANGeLA SCHuLTz Shawano County

Jay and Angela Schultz of Shawano operate a 290-acre dairy operation with their three children. both are active in the daily operation of the dairy, with Jay being responsible for crop production, milking, feeding of cows and heifers, as well as breeding for the farm. Angela is involved with milking, feeding calves, cleaning of facilities, as well as maintaining the operation’s records. Angela is active with Ag in the classroom in Shawano county. both are active in their church and serve as 4-H leaders.

RyAN & AMANDA STAIDL Marinette County

ryan and Amanda Staidl of Peshtigo operate 1,200 acres of owned and leased land that they operate in a partnership with ryan’s father. ryan is the fifth generation on the family farm and has overseen expansion of both the grain and beef sides of the operation. the couple has three children and both hold associates degrees, ryan in agriculture and Amanda in early childhood education. they previously represented District 7 on the state YFA committee.

Joe WoLLINGeR Green Lake County

Joe Wollinger of markesan runs 475 acres of corn, soybeans, wheat, alfalfa, peas, and lima beans on land he operates on half shares with his neighbors. A 2009 graduate of Institute class III, he is active in his county where he has served as YFA chair. He currently serves on the state YFA committee representing District 5. He is married to his wife of six years, christy. they have a 5-year-old daughter, callie. the family enjoys the outdoors and hunting, as well as riding their four horses.



W isconsin Farm bureau members

bob Hagenow and Paul trapp

judged at World Dairy expo

this october. Rural Route caught up

with them before the show to ask for

their thoughts on the dairy industry and

judging on the colored shavings.Hagenow served as the associate judge

for the International Junior Holstein Show. He works as the dairy sales manager for madison-based vita Plus, Inc. where he has been employed for 25 years. He and his wife, Lisa, have two daughters, Ashley and Sara. they live on a farm near Poynette and are members of the columbia county Farm bureau.

trapp was the lead judge for the International milking Shorthorn Show. He works as a regional sire analyst for AbS Global, where he has been employed for 18 years. He and his wife Sarah have two sons, Kole and beau. they live in taylor and are members of the Jackson county Farm bureau.

Rural Route: How did you develop your

passion for dairy cattle and the dairy

industry?

Bob Hagenow: Like many of my

cohorts, I grew up on a farm in manitowoc

county. I did the 4-H and FFA judging. At

the college level, I competed with the uW

dairy judging team. It becomes part of

your being, your culture, your DnA.

Paul Trapp: I grew up on a registered

Holstein farm in Hastings, minnesota,

where I was involved in showing and

judging in 4-H and FFA. one of my first

4-H projects, a heifer named Sky-vu

ultimate Lestwood, was named reserve

Junior champion at the World Dairy expo

in 1981. thus, I was bit by the show bug.

RR: What does being selected as a judge

for World Dairy expo mean to you?

BH: It is certainly an honor. the junior

Holstein show has grown a lot in numbers

and to have a second judge was, in my

understanding, a request from head

judge norm nabholz to ensure that all

junior exhibitors got a good look and a

chance to be visited with. I believe it was

a great gesture on norm and on expo’s

part to ensure that the young members

showing have a good opportunity. It’s very

humbling to be asked to do that.

PT: It is a tremendous honor and privilege

to be asked to judge any show, but

judging at World Dairy expo will be a

wonderful experience. I was extremely

honored and humbled to be asked to

judge.

RR: What advice do you have for young

people interested in a dairy career?

BH: I believe the opportunity to be

involved in our vibrant dairy industry

has never been greater. I believe it is so

important to determine what you are

really interested in because success

generally will follow if you are doing

something you enjoy.

PT: Work hard, be honest and diversify

yourself.

RR: What is your favorite aspect of World

Dairy expo?

BH: As always, I’m looking forward to the

chance to reengage and reconnect with so

many people I’ve gotten to know over the

past 25-30 years, the chance to catch up

with new concepts and new ideas in the

trade show area, and the chance to see

great cows. I can’t forget volunteering,

because many of us spend the whole

week there in some capacity volunteering

time. As a judge, I’m looking forward to

the opportunity to play a small role in

some exhibitor’s life.

PT: Seeing the great cows from across

north America plus catching up with

friends from around the globe.

Judging dairy’s elite herd

Bob Hagenow Paul Trapp


lEADErshIP

yFa excellence in ag Final 4

F our individuals were selected as Wisconsin Farm bureau’s

excellence in Ag finalists and will compete in December for

the top honor.“We have four of Wisconsin’s finest agriculture advocates

competing in this year’s state competition. this event highlights how the finalists have greatly impacted Wisconsin agriculture and motivates others to do the same,” said the Wisconsin Farm bureau’s spokesman casey Langan.

the excellence in Ag Award is open to Farm bureau members between the ages of 18 and 35, who have excelled in their involvement in agriculture, leadership ability, involvement and participation in Farm bureau and other civic and service organizations.

This year’s top four contestants are:

JILLIAN BeATy Rock CountyJillian beaty is

an agriculture

education

instructor. She grew

up working on her

parents’ vegetable

farm, where she

still assists each

summer. Jillian is

a former state FFA

officer and current

Institute class v member who strives to help students

get their start in agriculture. Jillian encourages her

students to think critically about the future of agriculture

as it relates to them, both as consumers and as future

agriculturists. In Farm bureau, she utilizes her skills as

an educator to increase agricultural literacy. Jillian lives

with her husband Dale and their family in milton.

JeNNy DIeRICKx Dane County

Jenny Dierickx works as a marketing executive for Filament marketing, an agricultural marketing and strategic planning firm in madison. She grew up on her family’s Holstein dairy farm and returns home to help as often as her schedule allows. A graduate of

uW-madison with a degree in agricultural journalism, Jenny takes pride in her ability to communicate about products that change the face of the industry. Jenny is an extremely active member of the Dane county Farm bureau, serving as the YFA chair and volunteering at agriculture promotion events. She also represents District 2 on the state women’s committee.

JeNNIFeR DIGMAN Grant County

Jennifer Digman is a senior microbiologist for Lactalis uSA, a cheese company. In her role, she analyzes and ensures safety and compliance of all of the company’s dairy products. Growing up, she worked on her parents 120-cow dairy and later started her own dairy goat operation, growing to 480 goats in 2006. today, she milks 80 does, raises Jersey steers, and has 60 laying hens in cuba city. Digman holds a degree in animal science with an emphasis in meat and livestock from uW-Platteville along with certifications in cheese making and beginning farming. She has two children Allison, age 5 and Zoe, age 3.


Walker meets Council of Presidents

This past August, Governor Scott Walker

greeted Farm Bureau county presidents and

vice presidents at the Executive Residence

in Maple Bluff. The reception was part of

the Council of Presidents that took place in

Madison. He thanked both the Rural Mutual

Insurance Company for “stepping up” for

agriculture during the challenge to the state’s

Right to Farm Law, and Farm Bureau for

guidance on ag issues. Gov. Walker called

agriculture, manufacturing and tourism our

state’s “bread and butter,” and assured

farmers, “There will not be one day while I’m

governor that anyone messes with use value

assessment.” Finally, he also showed off the

cowboy hat that he had recently received at

the Wisconsin State Fair, where record-setting

numbers were set at the 4-H Foundation meat

and youth livestock auctions.

each participant must make a PowerPoint presentation and answer questions in front of a panel of judges during the Farm bureau’s 2011 Young Farmer and Agriculturist conference/Annual meeting at the Kalahari resort in Wisconsin Dells, December 2-5.

Applicants must have derived a majority of their income from a non-production agribusiness enterprise for the past three years. the Wisconsin Farm bureau Federation co-sponsors these contests with GroWmArK Inc. and the rural mutual Insurance company. Information and applications for the contests can be downloaded from the Wisconsin Farm bureau’s website,www.wfbf.com.

the winners of this state contest will compete at the American Farm bureau Annual meeting in Hawaii, January 7-10, 2012. they will also receive a $250 gift card from GroWmArK, Inc. and will be guests at its annual meeting in chicago next summer. the winner will also have the opportunity to take part in the WFbF Young Farmer and Agriculturist trip to Washington, D.c. in April 2012.

Last year’s winner of the excellence in Ag was Andrea brossard martin from Dodge county.

ARLAINA MeyeR Barron County

Arlaina meyer grew up on her family’s dairy farm where she began showing their Guernsey cattle at the age of 5. A former state FFA officer and Alice in Dairyland finalist, she graduated from uW-river Falls and began her career as an agricultural education instructor

at cumberland High School nine years ago. While her small personal dairy herd was sold in 2006, she remains close to agriculture. recently, she started raising colonies of honeybees with her husband. the couple lives in rice Lake with their 5-year-old son, James.


great day for golf and supporting ag education

FounDAtIon

b eautiful weather, 139 golfers and a

great course all made for a terrific

2011 Wisconsin Ag open golf

outing on September 12. the participants

graciously helped support agricultural

leadership development, youth activities,

Ag in the classroom and other ag-related

educational activities. on top of golfing, the day included a

putting contest, hole contests, food and fellowship, a silent auction and door prizes. mark your calendar for next year’s Ag open on September 10, 2012 at the oaks in cottage Grove.

thank you to the following sponsors:

club House Sponsors of $1,000 • American Agricultural Insurance

company

• Aon benfield

• mortenson, matzelle & meldrum

• rural mutual Insurance company

• Stroud, Willink, and Howard, LLc

• Xcel energy

Hole Sponsors of $500 • GroWmArK, Inc

• Investors community bank –

roger Sinkula

• Kennedy communications

• Strohm ballweg, LLP

• Sygenta

• Wisconsin Soybean marketing board

Tee Box Sponsors of $300 • David Paulson

• Wisconsin milk marketing board

Kevin Skemp concentrates on sinking his putt during the Wisconsin Ag open’s putting contest. Frontier FS has supported a team to benefit the Farm Bureau Foundation each year along with many other companies, commodity groups, individuals and county Farm Bureaus.

Door Prize Donors• capital Planning – Jerry Lothrop

• coakley tech

• Jerry Lothrop

• John and Darlene Arneson

• Jim’s cheese

• roger cliff

• rural mutual Insurance company

• Sand county Foundation

• Wisconsin Farm bureau Federation

Foundation Activities Await You at the Annual meeting

A highlight for many Annual Meeting

attendees is the WFB Foundation’s silent

auction. Thanks to the generosity of members,

county Farm Bureaus, businesses and

sponsors, a large selection of items will be

offered again this year. Bidding starts at noon

on Saturday and will end at the start of the

second half of the Green Bay Packer game on

Sunday afternoon. The last chance to bid will

be during the half-time tailgate buffet.

Note cards designed by artist Betty Engel

along with children’s books will be for sale in

the trade show area. Packets of 20 cards and

envelopes are available for $10.

All of these items make great Christmas

presents, all while benefiting the agricultural

education and leadership programs that the

WFB Foundation supports.

on thE WEBDonate an item for the silent auction. Forms

can be downloaded at www.wfbf.com/about-

wfbf/foundation.


giving opportunities

The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation would like to thank all

of those who contributed in 2011. As the year draws to a close,

Farm Bureau members and supporters are encouraged to consider

the Foundation in their charitable contributions. We offer several

opportunities to make donations through annual contributions,

memorials and “In Honor of” gifts, the Learn and Lead programs,

and estate planning through the gift of stocks, bonds or real estate.

For more information, visit http://wfbf.com/about-wfbf/foundation/.

Dear Wisconsin Farm Bureau:

As the fair comes closer, I am

reminded of what 4-H means to me.

My 4-H speech will center on all

my wonderful experiences and th

e

opportunities I had as a member.

Receiving the 4-H Key Award thi

s

year was an honor I am especially

proud of. Thank you for your

sponsorship and honoring 4-H se

rvice.

Kelsey Richter

Waukesha County

The Lodi FFA Chapter would like to thank the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation for sponsoring the Wisconsin FFA Food for America Award. Support from groups like yours helps FFA members realize the importance of the work they are doing and motivates them to continue to offer and improve their chapter activi ties. The Lodi FFA Chapter is grateful for your sponsorship and your interest in recognizing our success.

Nathaniel Nolden Lodi FFA President

statement of ownership

notice of Annual meeting of Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation, Cooperative

In accordance with the bylaws and

pursuant to the direction of the Board

of Directors, the undersigned President

hereby gives notice that the Annual

Meeting of members of the Wisconsin

Farm Bureau Federation, Cooperative,

will convene on Monday, Dec. 5, 2011

at 10:30 a.m. in the Kalahari Resort,

Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. Bill Bruins,

President.

notice of Annual meeting of rural mutual Insurance Company

In accordance with the bylaws and

pursuant to the direction of the Board

of Directors, the undersigned President

hereby gives notice that the Annual

Meeting of members of Rural Mutual

Insurance Company will convene on

Monday, Dec. 5, 2011 at 10:30 a.m.

in the Kalahari Resort, Wisconsin Dells,

Wisconsin. Bill Bruins, President.


“Why crops and plants are important to Wisconsin agriculture.”

that’s the topic of the new essay contest from the Wisconsin Farm bureau’s Ag in the classroom program.

“Students in fourth and fifth grade will be able to share their thoughts, feelings and information about Wisconsin’s agricultural, horticultural, fruit, vegetable and other specialty crops,” explained Darlene Arneson, Ag in the classroom coordinator. “researching the topic will help students learn more about soil, germination, harvesting and processing of the crops that feed humans and animals.”

the essays must be between 100 to 300 words in length and will be judged on content, grammar, spelling and neatness. All contest rules, lesson plans and sample classroom activities are located at www.wisagclassroom.org or by contacting Arneson at 608.828.5719 or [email protected].

Participating students and schools need to submit essays by April 1 to their county Farm bureau

essay coordinator. A list of coordinators is also available on the newly revamped www.wisagclassroom.org.

A state winner will be selected from nine district winners in may by the WFbF’s Women’s committee. each district winner will receive a classroom presentation in may for their entire class (or homeroom).

the contest is sponsored by the Wisconsin milk marketing board, Frontier FS, We energies and WFbF.

Last year nearly 2,000 students participated.

Ag in the classroom is designed to help students in kindergarten through high school understand the importance of agriculture. It is coordinated by the WFbF in cooperation with the u.S. Department of Agriculture, and by a grant from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, trade and consumer Protection.

ag iN The cLassrooMHelping students gain a greater awareness of agriculture’s role in our economy and society.

{Program}

crops at the root of essay contest Topic


It takes a special roofto hold up the sky.

We’ve built 67,000 so far.

We’ll make your hard-earned buck last a long, long time.

s eed Soil Sun has been chosen

as the 2012 book of the Year

by the Wisconsin Farm bureau

Federation’s Ag in the classroom

program. this book, written by cris

Peterson, a Wisconsin dairy farmer,

focuses on how plants and crops are

grown.“Seed Soil Sun is a great selection

for the book of the Year honor with its beautiful photography and information about soil, germination and other factors related to plant and crop growth,” said Darlene Arneson, Ag in the classroom coordinator.

Farm bureau member volunteers utilize the Ag in the classroom program to educate Wisconsin youth about where their food comes from and the importance of agriculture in their lives.

Seed Soil Sun describes the process by which air and water combine with seed, soil and sunlight to create nearly all the food we eat. using the corn plant as an example, Peterson takes the reader through the story of germination and growth of a tiny corn seed into a giant plant reaching high into the air with roots extending over six feet into the ground. the book brings both wonder and clarity to the subject of agriculture, celebrating the cycle of growth, harvest and renewal.

cris Peterson, along with her husband, Gary, and son, ben, own and operate Four cubs Farm near Grantsburg in burnett county, where they milk 700 cows and farm nearly 1,500 acres of land.

It is not the first time that WFbF’s Women’s committee has chosen Peterson’s work as their book of the Year. Extra Cheese Please was among the original set of books chosen for the

Ag in the classroom library in 1994. Since then, Harvest Year was selected in 1998, Century Farm in 2000, Amazing Grazing in 2003, Fantastic Farm Machines in 2010 and clarabelle was last year’s pick.

this year’s selection corresponds with Ag in the classroom’s essay contest topic, ‘Why crops and plants are important to Wisconsin agriculture.’ the book and essay topic will educate youth about the soil’s connection to growing crops and feeding humans and animals.

copies of Seed Soil Sun are available from the Wisconsin Farm bureau Foundation for $15 per copy plus

shipping. order forms are available at www.wisagclassroom.org. Activity guides developed for the book accompany orders. For more information, contact Darlene Arneson at 608.828.5719.

Seed Soil Sun and other children’s books

will be available at the Annual Meeting for

$15 in the trade show area.

AG In thE ClAssroom

‘seed soil sun’ is Farm bureau’s book of the year


AG In thE ClAssroom

F arm bureau member bradley markhardt has been named

Wisconsin’s High School teacher of the Year for the 2011-’12

school year.the agriculture education instructor and FFA advisor at black

river Falls High School received $3,000 from the Herb Kohl educational Foundation.

“teachers who receive this award are recognized by their peers, students, and parents as caring, committed educators,” State School Superintendent tony evers said at an all-school assembly where markhardt was surprised with the award.

one of many opportunities markhardt has developed with community partners for his students is a Land Lab. the three-acre plot includes research plots and student and community gardens. With the help of local professionals, his students learn to lay survey lines, build a deer fence, amend the soil and construct an irrigation system that catches rain water.

“While there are definitely challenges, I do see many positive things happening in education today,” markhardt said. “I see

students getting involved, motivated to excel, excited by the opportunities we present to them.”

A member of the Jackson county Farm bureau, markhardt earned degrees from the university of Wisconsin in madison and La crosse.

Portions of this story are reprinted with permission of Wisconsin Ag

Connection.

Farm bureau Member Named state’s Teacher of the year


&

AG In thE ClAssroom OPPORTUNITIES

Training our teachers and volunteers is a major component of Ag in

the Classroom. Two opportunities await those that have an interest

in getting involved or improving their county programs.

WFBF Annual meeting Workshop

Wisconsin Ag in the Classroom will offer an afternoon workshop at

the WFBF Annual Meeting in Wisconsin Dells on Sunday, December

4. The workshop will focus on the many educational resources

available through Ag in the Classroom, commodity groups and other

organizations. A panel discussion of successful county programs

and input from the audience will provide many ideas for county

programs to try in their local programs, classroom presentations,

farm tours and other outreach.

national Ag in the Classroom Conference

This national conference will be held June 19-22, 2012 in

Loveland, Colorado. There are many opportunities for volunteers,

teachers and others involved in ag literacy to learn about

educational resources, take tours and network with others. Visit

http://agclassroom.org/conference/brochure.pdf to learn more.

For more on Ag in the Classroom, visit www.wisagclassroom.org.

neWS

for teachersReSouRceS

EDuCAtIonAl rEsourCEs TO ExPLORE

Our three essay contest sponsors provide excellent

educational resources:

We Energies – www.we-energies.com/educators/index.htm – We

Energies has classroom and online science programs for grades

K-12, teacher workshops, classroom and safety lessons and other

resources to help educate the public about natural resources and

energy. Explore videos, kits, games, fun facts and more on their

website.

Wisconsin Dairy Council – www.wmmb.com/wdc/overview.aspx –

The Wisconsin Dairy Council, the nutrition education arm of the

Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, has six regional program managers

throughout Wisconsin who work with school foodservice staff,

teachers and volunteers to encourage Wisconsin students to drink

milk with every school meal. WDC staff also work with Wisconsin’s

Alice in Dairyland and state media outlets to educate Wisconsin

residents about the role of dairy products in a healthy diet. The

website offers a variety of downloadable resources.

Frontier Fs – http://home.frontierfscoop.com/index.cfm – Various

sections of this website educate teachers and students, especially

on the middle and high school levels, about a variety of agricultural

topics. Career information, renewable energy, nutrient management

and a variety of topics covered in the newsletters provide technical

resources that can be used in science, agriculture, biology and other

subject areas.


AG In thE ClAssroom

summer PhotosA look back on Ag in the classroom happenings from this past summer.

Fun at the State FairState Fair camp hosted more than

350 urban youth during three separate days of camp. the program, with

financial and staff support from Wisconsin Ag in the classroom, offers youth an opportunity to experience the fair and learn about agriculture and natural resources. State fair campers visited the master Gardeners, 4-H Activity Stations, Discovery barnyard, Farm and Family building, animal safety demonstrations, Saz’s racing Pigs, Dnr park, livestock barns, and took a ride down the big Slide.

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Pizza Challenge WinnersWisconsin Ag in the classroom sponsors the

‘Wonderful Wisconsin Pizza challenge’ at the Wisconsin State Fair. Anything goes on the pizza masterpieces

as long as they showcase Wisconsin produce, dairy, meats and spices. Winners included: 1st Prize - Wisconsin cordon bleu Pizza by elaine mason, oconomowoc; 2nd Prize - royal Pheasant Pizza by terry magestro, oak creek; and 3rd Place - creamy riccota Spinach Pizza by margaret Paetow, Franklin.

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educating at the County Fair Ag in the classroom displays and activity stations were a part of many

county fairs this summer. Here, a Dane county 4-H member placed a Fun Face of Wisconsin Agriculture tattoo on a child at the Dane county Fair’s Agri-versity in madison.

Sunflower MazeWashington county Ag in the classroom operates

the AgAdventureland throughout the Washington county Fair. A host of AItc volunteers, teaming

with the master Gardeners and other groups, offer a variety of activities for fairgoers to enjoy. A sunflower maze offers a fun and manageable alternative to a corn maze at the fair.

Teacher Training by the PondA tour of cool Water Farms, LLc near

Deerfield allowed teachers to learn how yellow perch are raised. rich DePalmo,

milwaukee vincent High School science teacher, and Jim Held, Aquaculture outreach Specialist, looked at the shading structures on the outdoor ponds. other stops included a career awareness discussion at Frontier FS in Jefferson and a dairy farm tour at Jim renn’s in Waukesha county. All Wisconsin teachers have the option of taking summer training for undergraduate or graduate credits with uW-river Falls or as an in-service option.

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rural Mutual recognized as one of Nation’s best

ruraL MuTuaL {Insurance}

r ural mutual Insurance company announces its

selection as a “Ward’s 50® top Performer.” this

marks the third consecutive year the company, an

affiliate of the Wisconsin Farm bureau Federation, has

earned the designation. the recognition bestowed by the Ward Group, “a

leading provider of benchmarking and best practices research studies for insurance companies,” chooses its recipients only after a financial performance analysis of over 3,000 property-casualty companies based in the united States.

“For over 75 years we have only done business in Wisconsin, so our stability is truly a credit to the people of this great state,” says Peter Pelizza, ceo of rural mutual. “Premiums paid here, stay here so everyone benefits.”

the Ward Group considers multiple criteria for its award including trends in a company’s financial strength over the previous five years. In march, rural mutual released its 2010 financials, which featured a strong showing in key industry indicators such as direct premium growth, combined ratios and new policies.

Pelizza notes that while the company’s most recent performance is noteworthy, it takes more than one good year to be in the running.

“three years is a long time to sustain that kind of momentum,” adds Pelizza. “but for us, our agents and our customers, it’s a trend worth working to build on for years to come.”

Wiaa sportsmanship award Winners announced

T he WIAA announced the winners of the WIAA/ rural mutual

Insurance company Sportsmanship Award for the 2011 Spring/

Summer State championships.the winners of the prestigious award are Pardeeville for spring

baseball and West Salem for summer baseball, Stevens Point Pacelli for girl’s softball, norte Dame for girl’s soccer and Kenosha tremper for boy’s tennis.

rural mutual has sponsored the WIAA Sportsmanship Award since 1964. the WIAA/rural mutual Insurance Sportsmanship Award is presented to one school and community in each of the state team tournaments. the award winners are determined by the conduct and sportsmanship displayed by athletes, coaches, cheer and support groups, mascots, bands and spectators. Additional consideration is given for the effort of school administrators and chaperones to insure support for their teams are positive and that the highest ideals of sportsmanship are upheld. Award winners receive a plaque and banner in recognition of the honor.

the selection process includes contributions and evaluations from contest officials, tournament management, police and security personnel, crowd control and ushers, WIAA staff members, area hotels and restaurants.

rural mutual Announces new Partnership AgreementWe are pleased to announce a new long-term partnership between Rural

Mutual and Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company. Partnering with Farm Bureau

Life Insurance Company gives us the opportunity to leverage our companies’

18-year relationship to deliver best-in-class life insurance and annuity

products alongside Rural Mutual’s industry leading P&C products to meet the

comprehensive needs of Wisconsin residents.


1The guarantees expressed are based on the claims-paying ability of Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company. Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company/West Des Moines, IA. © 2011 FBL Financial Group, Inc. LI141-WI (8-11)

Visit www.fbfs.com to sign up for our free e-newsletter. It’s filled with useful tips to help you

protect your family and save time and money.

Ensuring financial security for you and those you care about most is more important than ever. Life insurance can help provide that security, along with guarantees1 and peace of mind.

Contact your Rural Mutual Insurance agent to review your life insurance needs and learn how we can help you secure your family’s financial future.

Peace of mind for life

Insurance CompanyRural Mutual

WI-Life(8-11).indd 1 9/12/11 12:10 PM

RuRal. It’s not wheRe you lIve, It’s what you value.

pRemIums paId heRe, stay heRe...to keep wIsconsIn stRongRural Mutual Insurance, a Farm Bureau Service, does business in only one state…Wisconsin. Because of that focus we are the number one insurer of farms inour state. But our recognition goes beyond farms. Due to our strong financialposition Rural Mutual has been recognized for the second consecutive yearas one of the Top 50 Property and Casualty Insurers in America.

Locate one of our 150 agents today at undividedattention.com

Documents

Rural Route