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Volume 21, No. 7
May 25, 2019
Pence hears dairy farmers’ trade concerns
Gajewski represents Wisconsin producers at event By Danielle Nauman danielle.n@dairystar.com
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Vice President Mike Pence speaks about how trade deals and tariffs are impac�ng Wisconsin agriculture and industries May 16 at J&D Manufacturing in Eau Claire, Wis.
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – Wisconsin dairy farmers had the opportunity to share their points of view regarding trade issues during a roundtable discussion with Vice President Mike Pence during a visit May 16 at J&D Manufacturing in Eau Claire, Wis. The roundtable discussion centered on the importance of trade deals such as the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement and the effect trade has on agriculture and other industries. Wayne Gajewski, a dairy farmer from Athens, Wis., and FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative board member, was invited to join the roundtable with Vice President Pence and ve individuals representing other areas of Wisconsin agriculture. Following the meeting, Pence addressed the crowd. “It was a great honor and privilege to be selected to take part in this discussion, representing FarmFirst members and dairy farmers from throughout Wisconsin,” Gajewski said. “I shared with the vice president how dairy farmers have been feeling the last four years and how each year things get a little worse.” Gajewski said earlier that week he had received a call from Julie Sweney, FarmFirst director of communication and marketing, asking him if he was interested in attending the event. Later in the week, he was informed he had been selected to take part in the roundtable discussion. Gajewski said having the support of other FarmFirst direcTurn to PENCE | Page 5
A new beginning
Opsahl gets life on track with dairy By Danna Sabolik
danna.s@dairystar.com
HINCKLEY, Minn. – Ryan Opsahl knows all too well the vicious cycle of addiction. But after spending nearly two years in prison on drug-related charges, Opsahl is ready to start anew – and as a dairy farmer. “I was a really bad drug addict for a few years and went through a lot of different treatment programs. They all say you have to create a better life – one that’s worth living without drugs,” Opsahl said. “I needed to live a life worth living, and for me, that was dairy farming.” After serving a 37-month sentence from July 2015 to August 2018, Opsahl began his dairying career. He now milks 50 cows on the farm owned by his grandparents, David and Mary Williams, near Hinckley, Minn. “I always wanted to be a dairy farmer when I grew up; it was the only thing I wanted to be. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else but farming,” said Opsahl who was raised on his grandparents’ farm. Every morning, Opsahl and his grandfather begin the day in the dairy barn. “He will help me with morning feeding just to keep me moving along,” Opsahl said. “I usually start milking around 6:30 a.m. and I have to be done by 8:10 a.m. when the milk truck comes.” Turn to OPSAHL | Page 6
DANNA SABOLIK/DAIRY STAR
Ryan Opsahl milks 50 cows on his grandparents’ farm near Hinckley, Minn. Opsahl began milking in the vacant dairy barn last October, six weeks a�er ge�ng out of prison.