Three Appointed to Women’s Committee
Roger Cliff to Retire in 2013
R New Women’s Committee members (left to right): Geiger, Ditzenberger and Brugger
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usan Brugger, Brianna Ditzenberger and Rosalie Geiger were recently appointed to the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation’s nine-member Women’s Committee by the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation’s Board of Directors. Their three-year terms began at the WFBF Annual Meeting. Susan Brugger and her husband, Michael, have an 80-acre hobby farm in Rib Lake. She currently works as an agriculture business relationship manager for Mid-Wisconsin Bank in Medford. Along with being a strong advocate for agriculture education, Susan and Michael have been strong supporters of agriculture through 4-H, the FFA Alumni Association, Taylor County Farm Bureau and serving on the local dairy breakfast committee. Along with raising their two children, Bryanne and Mark, she enjoys spending time at dairy cattle sales and shows. She will represent 14 counties in northwestern Wisconsin on the WFBF Women’s Committee. Brianna Ditzenberger grew up on her family’s dairy and crop farm near Browntown, which gave her appreciation and a passion for agriculture. As a Farm Bureau member since college, Ditzenberger has been participating in Dane County Young Farmer and Agriculturist events, and agriculture promotions for the past four years. Ditzenberger works as a marketing
executive at Filament Marketing in Madison, a marketing agency specializing in agriculture marketing. She volunteers at Madison’s Cows on the Concourse event. She will represent District 2 (Columbia, Dane, Dodge, Green, Rock and Sauk counties) on the WFBF Women’s Committee. Rosalie Geiger and her husband, Randy, have a 360-acre dairy farm near Reedsville. Rosalie is a director for the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board. She is also the Women’s Committee chair for Manitowoc County Farm Bureau, the secretary for Reedsville FFA Alumni Association, a Manitowoc County Dairy Ambassador, a member of the MapleRock Homemakers Club, and serves on Manitowoc and Calumet counties’ dairy promotion committees. She has served on the National Dairy Board and was recognized in 2012 as a Wisconsin Master Agriculturist. Rosalie is a graduate of the Farm Bureau Institute leadership training. She will represent District 6 (Brown, Calumet, Door, Kewaunee, Manitowoc and Sheboygan counties) on the WFBF Women’s Committee. The Wisconsin Farm Bureau’s Women’s Committee carries out a number of projects and activities to educate youth and consumers about farming, food safety and animal welfare.
oger Cliff, Chief Administrative Officer of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation has announced he will retire in late 2013. The 40-year employee of Farm Bureau announced his decision during the business session of the WFBF’s 93rd Annual Meeting in Wisconsin Dells on Monday. Cliff has worked with eight governors and hundreds of legislators over four decades to help shape agricultural policy in Wisconsin. “It has been a privilege to work for great people to advance one of the most important segments of Wisconsin’s economy, agriculture,” Cliff said. “I had a great run as a lobbyist for Farm Bureau for 30 years prior to serving the last decade as the organization’s chief executive,” he added. “The time is right and I feel good about leaving behind a strong and modern organization.” Cliff said the timing of his decision was part of a transition plan that he developed with the WFBF’s Board of Directors three years ago. “In 2013 my priority will be to ensure a smooth transition for our organization’s new president and my successor,” he said. Cliff began his career with the WFBF in 1973 as a lobbyist. In 1977 he was appointed Executive Director of the Governmental Relations Division. In 2004 he was appointed the Chief Administrative Officer, responsible for the day-to-day operation of the WFBF and its subsidiary organizations. The WFBF is the largest organization of farm families in the state. Cliff was born in Madison, but considers himself a native of Lancaster where at an early age his family moved their farm. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville in 1971 with a degree in political science. He received his master’s degree in public administration from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1978. He and his wife, Cathy, reside in Verona. They have three children and seven grandchildren.
december | january 2012-13
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