2 minute read
Remembering Paul Bickford
Ridgeway - Paul Bickford, age 69, of Ridgeway, Wisconsin, a beloved friend and mentor to many, died in a farm accident on Tuesday, August 23, 2022.
Paul was an innovative organic farmer, a generous teacher, and a kind-hearted friend to countless people across generations and geographies. He began farming with his father Melvin in Sauk County before building the Bickford Farms dairy in Ridgeway in 1978. Paul and his family converted their dairy operations from confinement to grazing 1992, becoming pioneers and advocates for that movement. In the last decade, Paul transitioned to organic grain farming and mentorship, bringing on John and Halee Wepking as partners to ensure the farm’s succession and bring new life to its operations as Meadowlark Organics and Community Mill
Paul was a tireless advocate for organic farming and fostering the next generation of farmers, serving on Wisconsin’s Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection’s Organic Advisory Council and on the USDA Advisory Committee on Beginning Farmers and Ranchers. His contributions have been many and his legacy is already living on.
Paul’s passing is felt deeply by all who knew him. He was proceeded in death by his parents Melvin and Loretta and son Greg.
He is survived by: his son Levi, daughter Olivia, stepson Lance and their mother Cyd, daughter Michelle; 6 grandchildren; partner Nan Fey; siblings Carol, John, Jim and Bev; business partners/farm family, John and Halee Wepking, and all the Meadowlark Organics team.
A Celebration of Paul’s Life and Legacy will be held on Sunday, September 25, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. at White Oaks Savannah, 4352 Hwy 23, Dodgeville, Wisconsin 53533.
To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Paul Bickford please visit our Sympathy Store.
Paul Bickford pictured with John Wepking and John’s son, Henry. Credit: Halee Wepking
IN ORGANIC NEWS
MARBLESEED’S NEW WEBSITE
We are thrilled to announce the launch of our brand new Marbleseed website, marbleseed.org! The Marbleseed team has been hard at work improving and upgrading our website. We’re excited to offer this new, comprehensive, userfriendly, dynamic resource and hub for our beloved farming community. Dive into resources on land access, farming systems, soil health and more; find out how you can get involved in Marbleseed programs like Farmerto-Farmer Mentorship and Farmer Advancement; explore our extensive Organic Resource Directory to support your myriad farming needs. We are elated to finally share our new website and we hope you find it as intuitive and accessible as we do.
Peruse our new website at marbleseed.org!
USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is accepting applications from small businesses and small proprietorships that are in business for profit for the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Programs, Phase I. (SBIR/STTR). The USDA SBIR/STTR programs focus on transforming scientific discovery into products and services with commercial potential and/or societal benefit. Unlike fundamental research, the USDA SBIR/STTR programs support small businesses in the creation of innovative, disruptive technologies and enable the application of research advancements from conception into the market. The STTR program aims to foster technology transfer through formal cooperative R&D between small businesses and nonprofit research institutions. Different from most other investors, the USDA SBIR/STTR Programs fund early or “seed” stage research and development that has a commercial potential. Applications due October 25.
Learn more at tinyurl.com/3bm47tu8
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