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Volume 19, No. 24
February 10, 2018
Governor Walker signs executive order to boost ag communities
Wisconsin producers visit state capitol By Danielle Nauman danielle.n@dairystar.com
MADISON, Wis. – Members of Wisconsin’s agricultural community descended on downtown Madison Jan. 24, taking part in the Wisconsin Farm Bureau’s Ag Day at the Capitol program. Producers were afforded the opportunity to visit with lawmakers about issues that are pressing in agriculture. The day kicked off at the Monona Terrace with a visit from Governor Scott Walker who acknowledged the importance of agriculture in Wisconsin’s economy. “Back in 2007, the economic impact of agriculture
DANIELLE NAUMAN/DAIRY STAR
Governor Walker signs an execuƟve order on Jan. 24 in Madison, Wis. The order directs the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer ProtecƟon to use exisƟng loan program revenues to encourage research and new dairy product development to increase domesƟc and internaƟonal markets.
in this state was a little over $40 billion,” Walker said. “The recent update of that from the UW-Extension is that agriculture now has an economic impact of over $88 billion in the state of Wisconsin. That’s pretty remarkable.” Walker spoke about his programs and plans for creating growth in rural communities, which were part of an executive order he signed following the speech. Walker explained his plan, which centers around creating a Rural Economic Development Fund, a $50 million dollar per year investment into economic development projects throughout the rural areas of the state. “One of the consistent things I hear are concerns about a lot of our small towns,” Walker said. Turn to WALKER | Page 5
Football, farmers and a fun time LOL Farm Bowl highlights opportunities in agriculture By Jennifer Coyne jenn@dairystar.com
MINNEAPOLIS – Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs walked away from this year’s football season with a trophy, although it may not have been the one he had in mind. Diggs and California dairyman J.J. Nunes were deemed the 2018 Land O’Lakes Farm Bowl champions, after competing in a series of events that tested their athletic ability and knowledge of farming, at 3M Arena at Mariucci at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis Feb. 1. The duo, coined Team Brooders, received the coveted Farm Bowl Trophy and bragging rights for the year. “That was a lot harder than I thought and a good off-season workout for me. I couldn’t have done it without [Nunes],” Diggs
said. The event coincided with the 52nd Super Bowl game, and was designed to educate the public on the importance of farming in a community, as well as inspire youth to consider a career in modern agriculture. Six teams paired up against each other in a friendly competition to complete various tasks that loosely resembled responsibilities often found on today’s farms. The teams included the Huskers of Wisconsin dairy farmer Amber Horn-Leiterman and former NFL wide receiver Greg Jennings; the Mustangs of Maryland dairy farmer Katie Dotterer-Pyle and former NFL running back Jerome Bettis; the Stallions of California dairy farmer Dave Ribeiro and former NFL center
JEFF WEYER/DAIRY STAR
Wisconsin dairy farmer Amber Horn-Leiterman and her teammate, former NFL wide receiver Greg Jennings, talk about their experience parƟcipaƟng in the Farm Bowl course Feb. 1 at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.
and current farmer Jason Brown; the Holsteins of Minnesota grain farmer Darin Johnson and NFL tight end Kyle Rudolph; the Brooders of Nunes and Diggs; and the Shredders of Minnesota dairy farmer Craig Roerick and NFL linebacker Luke Kuechly. “With this event, it’s all about the camaraderie and relationships we’re able to build,” said Ribeiro of pairing farmers and football players. “Jason and I were just in the back talking about kids, farming and faith – and that’s great. It builds teams.” Ribeiro milks 1,500 cows with his two sons near Tulare, Calif. As the teams made it through the series of timed events – changing a tractor tire, prepping a milk pipeline, navigating a drone over a corn eld, and loading straw bales on to a wagon and proceeding to back it up and park – the crowd roared in support. The audience included Turn to FARM BOWL | Page 6