Rural Route

Rural Route WISCONSIN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION’S

august | september 2014 ~ vol. 20 no. 4 | wfbf.com

VFA Makes November Endorsements New Member Benefit: Polaris 2014 Annual Report

FARM TECHNOLOGY DAYS INFO PAGE 12

Fa

The lifeblood of America.

They’re the humble heroes who rise before dawn and battle the elements. They put clothes on our backs and food on our tables. Their genuine values and tireless work ethic are an inspiration to us all. We appreciate all that America’s farmers do and invite you to join us in saying thanks at www.fbfs.com/SayThanksToAFarmer. /SayThanksToAFarmer FB02-WI (7-13)

contents

vol. 20 no. 4

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24

features

articles

12

FARM TECH DAYS

8

Farm Bureau members host the big summer ag show.

15

ANNUAL REPORT

10

A look at how Farm Bureau’s programs and services work for you.

24

PIECHOWSKI Long-time Waushara County member is a full-time beekeeper.

28

STEVE BOE Farm Bureau District 4 Coordinator helps keep an FFA program afloat.

YFA IN D.C.

departments 5

NEWS

Young members carry ag’s torch to U.S. Capitol.

23

MEMBERS

30

MEMBER BENEFITS

VFA ENDORSEMENTS

32

OPINION

40

AG IN THE CLASSROOM

44

FOUNDATION

45

RURAL MUTUAL

Political action committee makes picks for November elections.

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28

COUNTY KERNELS A look at what county Farm Bureaus are up to.

27

BLOG YFA Chair writes about why some ag enthusiasts don’t return to the farm.

Annual Report 2014

COVER PHOTO BY KT ELEMENTS

Working forYou Farm Bureau’s Year in Review

AUGUST | SEPTEMBER 2014

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Rural Route WISCONSIN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION’S

EDITOR’S NOTE

S

ome kids go to football, cheerleading or band camp during the summer. I think the lucky ones get to master the art of showing cattle at the Badger Dairy Camp on the UW-Madison campus.

I never attended when I was showing my grandpa’s Holsteins in the 1980s.

Instead, my first time came recently as a guest speaker.

Many people only ever come close to livestock at a fair. There’s much more at stake at the fair than blue ribbons. This audience of 100 dairy exhibitors is part of agriculture’s front line with a skeptical public.

It frustrates me when young fair exhibitors ignore the parents and children walking through the barns. So I talked about setting a good example for animal agriculture. I tried to open their eyes to the animal rights activists who want to paint what they do as evil. Whether through Facebook photos or simple conversations, I tried to leave them with a positive message of how much power they hold in framing the public’s image of farming.

Some listened intently. Others were, well…teenagers. It was a beautiful night in

{from Casey Langan} June and a part of me wished I was home mowing my yard. So as I drove home, I remember wondering if my speech truly made an impression.

Just a month later, I took my toddler to a fair to show him that cows, pigs and chicks don’t just exist in picture books. In the dairy barn we were immediately met by a partial road block in the form of a sleeping teen sprawled out on a lawn chair.

So much for putting out the welcome mat to the general public!

Soon I was met by a young man who asked, “Would your boy like to pet a calf?”

Despite my ball cap and dark sunglasses, he then asked, “Are you the man who spoke to us at Badger Camp? Your message was spot on and really made an impact on me.”

Within a minute I had gone from being annoyed by the lawn chair sleeper to having my faith in humanity (or at least dairy youth) restored. I later learned the young man had deservedly won the fair’s dairy congeniality award. I wish his actions were the norm instead of the exception.

Speaking of exceptions to the rule, it’s not often we receive real-life examples of how our words make an impact. Yet you can be sure that they do.

We all regularly talk with the non-farm public and impressionable youth. Think about how your words and actions will be remembered by others. Each of us has the ability to inspire someone else to become agriculture’s next great advocate, or its most harsh opponent.

Be safe out there this fall and thanks for reading.

Casey Langan Rural Route Editor Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation

Editor Casey Langan 608.828.5711

Designer Lynn Siekmann 608.828.5707

Assistant Editor/Designer Sheri Sutton 262.949.2418

Address of Publication Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation PO Box 5550 1241 John Q. Hammons Dr. Madison, WI 53705-0550 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation PO Box 5550 Madison, WI 53705-0550

Contact Information 608.836.5575 800.261.FARM (3276) www.wfbf.com info.demingway@wfbf.com “Like” us on Facebook facebook.com/WIFarmBureau Follow us on Twitter twitter.com/WIFarmBureau

WFBF Board of Directors Jim Holte, Elk Mound, (President) Richard Gorder, Mineral Point, (Vice President) Dave Daniels, Union Grove Jerry Bradley, Sun Prairie Joe Bragger, Independence Kevin Krentz, Berlin Rosie Lisowe, Chilton Wayne Staidl, Peshtigo Don Radtke, Merrill Nicole Adrian, Platteville (Women’s Committee Chair) Tim Clark, Beaver Dam (YFA Committee Chair) Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation’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. All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or part without written consent.

For advertising rates and information: Wisconsin accounts contact Slack Attack at 608.222.7630 or barbara@slackattack.com.

National accounts contact Hurst & Associates at 800.397.8908 or hurstp19@comcast.net.

For general inquiries, contact Casey Langan at 608.828.5711 or clangan@wfbf.com.

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WISCONSIN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

2014

Annual Meeting December 5-8 Kalahari Resort and Conference Center, Wisconsin Dells 95th Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation Annual Meeting 80th Rural Mutual Insurance Company Annual Meeting Young Farmer and Agriculturist Conference

Agenda 95th WFBF & 80th RMIC Annual Meetings Friday, December 5

Sunday, December 7

YFA Conference Begins

7:30 a.m. Morning Devotional 8:30 a.m. Registration Opens Collegiate Farm Bureau Discussion Meet Final WFBF Women’s Committee Meeting and Reorganization 9:00 a.m. Resolutions Processing 9:30 a.m. YFA Discussion Meet Final 10:30 am Buffet Brunch and General Session

2:00 p.m.

3:00 p.m.

5:00 p.m.

6:00 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

8:30 p.m.

YFA Committee Meeting Registration Opens First-timer’s Orientation Session YFA Welcome Dinner District YFA Meetings Reception and Entertainment

Saturday, December 6 7:00 a.m. Registration Opens WFBF YFA Committee Reorganization Meeting 8:00 a.m. Discussion Meet Judges Orientation Discussion Meet Contestant Orientation Excellence in Ag Practice Session 10:30 a.m. YFA Buffet Brunch and General Session

WFBF Annual Meeting begins 12:00 p.m. Producer Club Luncheon 12:30 p.m. Excellence in Ag Presentations Achievement Award Interviews 2:00 p.m.

2:40 p.m.

3:30 p.m.

3:40 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

5:30 p.m.

6:00 p.m.

Trade Show Opens Breakout Sessions (6) Break Breakout Sessions (6) Farm Bureau Reception Trade Show Closes Farm Bureau Extravaganza!

Featured Entertainment: Roger Radley 8:00 p.m. Trade Show and Silent Auction Open (until 10 p.m.)

WFBF YFA Conference ends 12:30 p.m.

1:00-2:15 2:15 p.m.

2:30-3:45 2:30 p.m.

4:00 p.m.

5:00 p.m.

5:30 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

Trade Show Opens (until 5 p.m.)

Workshops (4) Break Workshops (4) Policy Development Committee Meeting Reception Silent Auction and Trade Show End Farm Bureau Awards Banquet and Program Reception (until 10:30 p.m.)

Fun’d the Foundation Trivia Contest

Monday, December 8 7:00 a.m.

7:00 a.m.

9:00 a.m.

10:30 a.m.

Registration Opens Breakfast and General Session District Caucuses Resolutions and Business Meeting

2014 Sponsors

Rural Mutual Insurance Company

#WFBFAM14 Innovate. Educate. Motivate.

Annual Meeting Workshops

Entertainment YFA Conference Entertainment Friday, December 5, 8:30 p.m.

Mantz Brothers

The ABCs of Social Media Amy Manske Communications Coordinator Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation

The Mantz Brothers (duo Jordan and singing together at a young age. They are gaining a strong following as they perform their blend of country-rock across the nation.

Farm Bureau Estate and Business Succession Planning Richard Bollenbeck

Jared Nelson

Attorney Bollenbeck Fyfe, S.C.

Wisconsin Regional Financial Consultant Farm Bureau Financial Services

Farming with Technology: How Do I Adapt?

Bob WIlliams

Farm Bureau Extravaganza!

Saturday, December 6, 5:30 p.m.

Roger Radley

Drawing upon his values and experiences as a farm boy growing up in Wisconsin, Roger has been called the “Funniest Former Farmer” in the United States. He has completed over a quarter-century of performing comedy from coast to coast and along the way has shared the stage with Willie Nelson, Loretta Lynn, George Carlin, B.B. King and Waylon Jennings.

Agronomy Marketing Manager Frontier-Servco FS

Brad Schuett

Precision Equipment and Information Specialist Frontier-Servco FS

Writing Your Stories: How to Do It and Why It’s Important Jerry Apps

Professor Emeritus College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison

Follow the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmer and Agriculturist Program on Facebook for the latest news on YFA Conference.

Fun’d the Foundation Trivia Contest

Annual Meeting Keynote Speaker

Gather six of your closest (or smartest) friends together for a Farm Bureau trivia contest Sunday night. Topics will include: current events, history, geography, music, movies, sports, religion, Farm Bureau and more.

registration.

Sunday, December 7, 10:30 a.m.

Chad Hymas Motivational Speaker “Who Needs Legs, When you Have Wings?”!!!

Chad inspires, motivates and moves audiences, creating an experience that touches hearts for a lifetime.In 2001, at the age of 27, Chad’s life changed in an instant when a 2,000-pound bale of hay shattered his neck leaving him a quadriplegic. But Chad’s dreams were not paralyzed that day – he became an example of what is possible.

Make Plans to Attend!

Don’t miss this exciting chance to network with Farm Bureau members from across Wisconsin. Registration packets for the events are available from your county Farm Bureau or by calling WFBF at 800.261.FARM. AUGUST | SEPTEMBER 2014

Silent Auction at the WFBF Annual Meeting

A highlight of each year’s Annual Meeting is the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation’s Silent Auction.

Thanks to the generosity of members, county Farm Bureaus, businesses and sponsors, a large selection of items are offered for bid. silentauction or contact WFB Foundation Director wfbf.com 7 WFBF/RMIC Annual Meeting

YFA Members Plow New Ground in City Known for

By Amy Manske

F

or many participants on the Young Farmer and Agriculturist trip to Washington, D.C. it was hard to imagine that they, all under the age of 35, could influence what happens on Capitol Hill.

For some it was when they entered their legislator’s office that they realized their unique position. Others felt it as they introduced themselves and noticed the interested eyes when they said they worked in agriculture. For most it sunk in when U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin said, “Well, you all don’t fit the stereotypical age for farmers…”

“The YFA leadership and sense of comradery was very powerful and memorable,” Wisconsin YFA Chair Tim Clark said. “I’ve never felt that empowered or proud to be a member of the Farm Bureau until I saw the passion shown forth from our members on this trip.”

The YFA trip attendees praised the knowledge they gained about agricultural topics that affect their farms and communities, including immigration reform, food labeling, biotechnology, farm bill implementation, expiring tax provisions, animal welfare and the reach of a proposed water rule.

WFBF President Jim Holte who accompanied the group expressed his appreciation of the young members’ dedication to Farm Bureau and agriculture.

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“We know it is important to make an investment in you,” Holte said. “Whether it be a Farm Bureau role or a community role, don’t be afraid to step up to the plate and speak up for agriculture because you are our future.”

The YFA members also enjoyed a visit to various monuments, Arlington National Cemetery, the German-American Heritage Museum and the Center for Consumer Freedom which also serves as the headquarters to HumaneWatch. The trip was sponsored by Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation, Rural Mutual Insurance Company and FS GROWMARK.

Tracy Pape (Rural Mutual Insurance), Jim Holte (Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation) and Heather Thompson (FS GROWMARK) represented the three sponsoring companies of the YFA D.C. Trip.

WISCONSIN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

Kristi Fiedler, Shawano County: “My biggest take away from the YFA D.C. trip was that being a politician makes you someone who has authority to implement change. It is our responsibility to help our representatives understand what is important to our livelihoods, not just to make our businesses successful but because the success of agriculture feeds people.”

William Litzer, Marathon County: “Being a voice at the national level was by far the biggest take away from the YFA D.C. trip. I also enjoyed the tours around Washington, D.C.” Garrett Goeller, Washington County: “Bonding with new friends brings new opportunities for everyone involved! My biggest take away from the trip would be the experience of meeting new people within the Wisconsin agricultural community.”

Michelle (and Nathan) Bula, Adams County: “For Nathan and I learning about the different policies, bills and laws that will affect us as farmers was eye-opening. We found this to be really important because we are young, and if we don’t pay attention now, we will have to deal with the consequences for the rest of our farming career.”

Julie Martin, Dodge County: “Everyone was there to learn with an open mind and to become a better leader for agriculture. I believe the group exceeded that goal and I made a couple friends in the process.

Each one of us can truly make an impact. Personal stories hold power when telling someone how important a particular issue is to you. Every email, every letter, every phone call matters and these small actions add up when legislators are sharing their perspectives and making decisions.”

Alison Kepner, Dane County: “I would say my highlights were: getting the opportunity to network and meet other YFA members throughout the state, getting briefed on legislative issues that affect Wisconsin ag, having the opportunity to speak up for ag to our elected representatives and seeing all of the historical sites!”

From Your Peers: 10 things YFA members should know!

We have a unique story that must be told. Our political leaders don’t hear enough from young leaders, but they are anxious to.

Farm Bureau is the only agricultural organization that has the strength, size and structure to impact all agricultural policy development in Washington.

It is very important to know the politics of food and farming. What you don’t take time to research could affect how you farm in the future.

Visiting monuments and learning about American history is important. Take time to do this!

GMOs aren’t always an easy topic to explain to people not familiar with them. Gmoanswers.com is a helpful tool.

AUGUST | SEPTEMBER 2014

A great resource to use to educate people about the misleading Humane Society of the Unted States is HumaneWatch.org. You can find them on Facebook at facebook.com/HumaneWatch.

If you travel to D.C. with the WFBF you will meet a lot of like-minded people, which will lead to long-lasting friendships.

Get involved on a local level and consider joining your Farm Bureau board.

The world’s not that big of a place. Travel, learn and don’t be afraid to meet with legislators on Capitol Hill.

You can make a difference in the future of agriculture.

You are the face and the future of Farm Bureau.

wfbf.com

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NEWS

Ag-friendlies Endorsed for November Elections

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he Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation’s political action committee, the Volunteers for Agriculture, has endorsed 38 incumbents from the State Senate and Assembly for the November 4 general election.

“These endorsements represent the legislature’s leading voices for agriculture and rural Wisconsin,” said Paul Zimmerman, Executive Director of Governmental Relations for the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation.

Formed to give farmers a direct role in electing leaders who represent agricultural interests, the Volunteers for Agriculture is made up of 18 Farm Bureau members, appointed by the WFBF Board of Directors.

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Senate and Assembly Endorsements s Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) 13th Senate District s Terry Moulton (R-Chippewa Falls) 23rd Senate District s Jerry Petrowski (R-Marathon) 29th Senate District s Kathleen Vinehout (D-Alma) 31st Senate District s Andre Jacque (R-Sister Bay) 2nd Assembly District s Al Ott (R-Forest Junction) 3rd Assembly District s Gary Tauchen (R-Bonduel) 6th Assembly District s Dale Kooyenga (R-Brookfield) 14th Assembly District s Evan Goyke (D-Milwaukee) 18th Assembly District s Paul Tittl (R-Manitowoc) 25th Assembly District s John Murtha (R-Baldwin) 29th Assembly District s Dean Knudson (R-Hudson) 30th Assembly District s Amy Loudenbeck (R-Clinton) 31st Assembly District s Tyler August (R-Lake Geneva) 32nd Assembly District s Jeff Mursau (R-Crivitz) 36th Assembly District s Kevin Petersen (R-Waupaca) 40th Assembly District s Joan Ballweg (R-Markesan) 41st Assembly District s Keith Ripp (R-Lodi) 42nd Assembly District s Andy Jorgensen (D-Milton) 43rd Assembly District s Debra Kolste (D-Janesville) 44th Assembly District s Travis Tranel (R-Cuba City) 49th Assembly District s Ed Brooks (R-Reedsburg) 50th Assembly District: s Michael Schraa (R-Oshkosh) 53rd Assembly District s Samantha Kerkman (R-Genoa City) 61st Assembly District s Robin Vos (R-Burlington) 63rd Assembly District s Peter Barca (D-Kenosha) 64th Assembly District s Tom Larson ((R-Colfax) 67th Assembly District s Kathy Bernier (R-Chippewa Falls) 68th Assembly District s Bob Kulp (R-Stratford) 69th Assembly District s Amy Sue Vruwink (D-Milladore) 70th Assembly District s Scott Krug (R-Rome) 72nd Assembly District s Stephen Smith (D-Shell Lake) 75th Assembly District s Mandy Wright (D-Wausau) 85th Assembly District s John Nygren (R-Marinette) 89th Assembly District s Chris Danou (D-Trempealeau) 92nd Assembly District s Warren Petryk (R-Eleva) 93rd Assembly District s Steve Doyle (D-Onalaska) 94th Assembly District s Lee Nerison (R-Westby) 96th Assembly District

WISCONSIN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

VFA Gives Gov. Walker Nod for Second Term T

he Volunteers for Agriculture Committee has given Governor Scott Walker its endorsement for a second term. “The Walker Administration has been a strong advocate for agriculture,� said Annette Trescher, a Monroe County dairy farmer who chairs the Farm Bureau’s political action committee, the Volunteers for Agriculture (VFA). “Governor Walker has publicly expressed support for use value assessment of farmland, state livestock siting standards and the right to farm law,� Trescher said. “He also has overseen great gains in agricultural exports, which grows our state’s economy.�

Governor Walker’s endorsement comes from signing a number of Farm Bureausupported bills into law. Including: s ! COMPREHENSIVE REWRITE OF RULES DElNITIONS AND laws regarding operating implements of husbandry (farm machinery) on roads. s ! STATE INCOME TAX DEDUCTION FOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO HEALTH savings accounts. s .EEDED REFORMS TO WETLAND REGULATIONS s ! TWO YEAR STATE BUDGET THAT DID NOT RAISE FEES OR increase taxes. s %XTENSION OF THE DAIRY AND livestock investment tax credit. s %XTENSION OF THE FALL HARVEST ROAD weight exemption from November 30 to December 31. s ! VARIETY OF TRANSPORTATION BILLS that make it more feasible to haul ag products, manure and sealed containers for international trade. s #ONTINUED AN EXEMPTION pertaining to livestock farms and air quality permits, which kept Wisconsin from being a regulatory island. .

During his first term, Governor Walker named former Wisconsin Farm Bureau President Bill Bruins to the state Natural Resources Board, and Farm Bureau members Pam Garvey and Miranda Leis to the state Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Board. Former Farm Bureau employee Jeff Lyon was selected by Ben Brancel, Secretary of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection as his deputy secretary.

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When It’s Time to Build . . .

Build With A Quality Builder.

Quality Buildings Since 1958 wfbf.com

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Farm Technology Days Rolls into Portage County

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he Wisconsin Farm Technology Days is the state’s largest agricultural show and one of the largest in the nation. The three-day outdoor event showcases agriculture’s latest technological advancements. Held this year in Portage County, hence the theme, “In the Center of It All�, a focus will be given to vegetable crops.

Portage County last hosted the show in 1982 when it was called Farm Progress Days. Portage leads the state in snap bean, potato and sweet corn production according to Ken Schroeder, Portage County UW-Extension ag agent and executive secretary of the show. Blue Top Farms will highlight these vegetable crops this year with field demonstrations of their harvesting, while the Feltz Farm will showcase the more traditional dairy and tillage section of the show.

Something unique to each Farm Technology Days show is the menu the county chooses to serve. The food committee has planned a menu to highlight local products. Attendees will find a pork tenderloin sandwich on the menu topped with cranberry chutney, along with sweet corn and baked potatoes with all the toppings. Potato chips will also be available because of their influence in the local economy.

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Quick Facts about the Hosts Feltz Family Farms s 3INCE Feltz Family Farms has been owned and operated by Ken and Jackie Feltz. s 4HIS FOURTH generation farm was established

by Ken’s great grandfather, Peter Feltz after his family emigrated from Poland. s +EN AND *ACKIE S SON *ARED A RECENT 57 2IVER &ALLS graduate, will carry the farm into the fifth generation. s 4HROUGH THE YEARS GREEN BEANS SWEET CORN AND PEAS have been grown on the farm. Since 1995 the focus has been on dairy cattle. The 500 owned and rented acres of land grow alfalfa and corn silage for the cattle. s (IGH PRIORITY IS PLACED ON COW COMFORT TO ENSURE QUALITY milk and top production. s 4HE COW DAIRY EMPLOYS FULL TIME EMPLOYEES Blue Top Farms s &OUNDED IN s )NITIALLY ACRES OF LAND WAS PURCHASED FOR THE production of hogs. The farm switched to beef cattle in the mid-1970s. s )N THE BEEF FARMING LAND WAS SOLD AND IS NOW part of the Portage County Business Park. With cattle gone, production was focused on grains and vegetables. s "LUE 4OP &ARMS CONSISTS OF ACRES LOCATED throughout Portage County, including 1,000 irrigated acres. s #ROPS INCLUDE lELD CORN SOYBEANS GREEN BEANS AND sweet corn. s &ARM OPERATIONS ARE CARRIED OUT BY 0ETER :AKRZEWSKI

Mike Hintz and Jake Hintz with continued input from Jim and Delores Zakrzewski.

WISCONSIN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

Q&A with Farm Bureau members Ken and Jackie Feltz

By Amy Manske AM: What does it mean to be co-hosting Farm Technology Days?

KF: “It’s a once in a life time thing. It’s an honor. I called Ken Schroeder (Portage County UW-Extension ag agent) four years ago to see what it would take to host it. I have given this example before; it’s like being a young kid in football dreaming of someday playing for the Packers. As a young farm kid you think someday I will host Farm Tech Days.”

AM: What do you want Farm Technology Days visitors to leave with?

KF: “I want people to have a good experience. After hosting the (Portage County) farm breakfast and receiving good feedback via our Facebook page, I hope the same positive feedback comes from this. We are proud to show off a real working farm.”

AM: What are you looking forward to most at the show?

JF: “We are looking forward to it being here, getting it started and to see all the fruits of the past three years come together. So many people have put so much time and effort into this.”

KF: “We have met so many people through this process and have created so many friendships and relationships. It has been really neat to see how it has brought the community together.”

Find Feltz Family Farms on Facebook.

2014 Brings New Technology This year the Wisconsin Farm Technology Days is living up to its name with a new mobile app.

Attendees are able to get information about the show via the Mobile Event Guide. Highlights of the Mobile Event Guide include: an interactive map that pinpoints the location of individual exhibitors and events, an up-todate schedule of events, the locations of all demonstrations, tours, and events, and timely announcements on program changes.

To get the mobile app on your phone the web address, www.wisfarmtech.info into your phone, tablet or desktop and then download the app.

Visit WFBF and Rural Mutual Insurance at Farm Technology Days at booths C199 and C200.

You can see photos and updates from the show on the Wisconsin Farm Bureau’s Facebook page and on Twitter via @ WIFarmBureau.

Polaris Discounts Offered to Farm Bureau Members

F

arm Bureau is pleased to announce that a new FB Member Advantage! program with Polaris Industries Inc., is available to eligible members in Wisconsin, effective immediately. The roll-out of the new three-year program with Polaris, the leading manufacturer of off-road vehicles, demonstrates Farm Bureau’s continued investment in exceeding member expectations.

“Our commitment to providing our members with exclusive access to superior, high-quality brands, programs and products remains a priority,” said AFBF President Bob Stallman. “It’s a pleasure to introduce this special purchase program, which will help our members save money on high-quality, all-terrain vehicles that can stand up to rugged use on farms and ranches.

This program provides another outstanding example of how it pays to be a member of Farm Bureau,” he added.

Through the new program, eligible Farm Bureau members receive a $300 per unit discount on all Polaris utility and sport vehicles, $200 per unit on all all-terrain vehicles and $300 per unit on all GEM electric vehicles. Members are eligible for the discounts 30 days after joining a participating Farm Bureau.

AUGUST | SEPTEMBER 2014

Discounts are available for the purchase of specified Polaris off-road vehicles without exclusion in states that participate in the Polaris program.

To take advantage of the Polaris program discounts through FB Member Advantage!, members log on to fbverify.com/ Polaris where eligibility will be confirmed once a membership number and zip code is entered. A certificate will be made available online that must be printed and taken to the dealership of choice for presentation to the sales person.

Certificates expire after 60 days.

FB Member Advantage! increases the economic value of membership in Farm Bureau by teaming with leading companies to offer special incentives that demonstrate strong support for agriculture and rural America. For more information about FB Member Advantage! programs visit www.fbadvantage.com. wfbf.com

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County Kernels Vernon County

On May 13, the second annual Destination Dairy was held at Ocooch Dairy in Hillsboro and at Hillsboro Elementary School. Designed to inform, educate and entertain students in grades PK-6 about dairy farming, and why they should be drinking milk. Speakers and activities provided youth with a wealth of knowledge.

Children in pre-kindergarten through third grade spent the day rotating through stations located at their school.

Fourth through sixth graders spent the day on Ocooch Dairy.

Barron County

During National Ag Day in March, Barron County joined others to recognize and celebrate the abundance provided by American agriculture. Members talked with grocery shoppers about the share of their food dollar that goes to farmers and picked up the tab for one lucky shopper.

Outagamie County

Winnebago County

The Winnebago County Farm Bureau donated milk to runners at the Oshkosh Half Marathon and Children’s Run on April 12 and 13. The milk received a ‘thumbs up’ from many of the runners.

On March 8, YFA members toured Tidy View Dairy. The tour started with a talk by John Vosters about how the dairy got started and evolved into what it is today. Afterwords, attendees received ice cream before touring the farms milking parlors and barns where John explained how their main focus is cow comfort.

Jefferson County Shrieks of delight, laughter, as well as ooohs and aahhhs split the air all across the Kutz Dairy farm on April 30 during the fourth grade farm tour organized by Jefferson County Agribusiness Club and Jefferson FFA. Nearly 850 students from 23 schools attended, along with 43 teachers and 166 adults. Those attending spent nearly two hours visiting 10 stations learning about various farm topics.

More than 50 FFA students from Jefferson and Palmyra manned the stations, along with other local ag experts. Lunch was served courtesy of the Jefferson County Farm Bureau.

Photo credit: Daphne Holterman

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WISCONSIN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

Annual Report 2014

Working forYou

A Message from Steve Freese

“We have much to be proud of as Farm Bureau members.”

It has almost been 10 months since I joined WFBF as your Chief Administrative Officer, and it has been an exciting and rewarding experience for me.

I appreciated the warm welcome you gave me as I traveled to 22 county annual meetings last fall to introduce myself and to get to know as many members as I could. I look forward to attending many more as I go for my goal of attending all 61 annual meetings.

I recognize the strength and success of WFBF is our members. It starts on the county level as we work to grow our membership and continue to represent the interests of farm families and rural Wisconsin. I was privileged to work with and learn from Roger Cliff for four months prior to his retirement. It was like old times as we worked very close during my time in the State Assembly to accomplish many things for the people we each represented. His insight and experience has been very helpful for me since I took over the reins from him in January.

We have much to be proud of as Farm Bureau members. Six consecutive years of membership growth is a great accomplishment. Meeting members at listening sessions across Wisconsin has been a rewarding part of our current strategic planning

process. The listening sessions produced 2,000 recommendations from members. We are working on recommendations for the final strategic plan to be enacted soon.

Farm Bureau scored a great success by having the State Legislature pass a bill that allows farm equipment to be legally driven on roads. This victory wouldn’t have happened without our dedicated members and talented government affairs team. Whether you attended Ag Day at the Capitol, or contacted your legislator by telephone, email or letter, you made this legislation a reality. With your continued support, Farm Bureau will continue to provide the voice for farmers and the vision for agriculture.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve you as your Chief Administrative Officer.

Steve Freese Chief Administrative Officer Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation

Membership The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation’s membership grew for the sixth straight year, finishing 2013 with 44,881 members.

Farm Bureau’s record of membership success is a direct result of teamwork between WFBF and its affiliate companies, and the valuable benefits that each provides to our members.

Once again, Farm Bureau’s network of volunteer membership workers across the state was instrumental to our membership growth, signing up 845 new members while helping to maintain a renewal rate among voting

members of nearly 94%.

Meanwhile, more than 2,200 new associate members joined Farm Bureau, thanks to the efforts of our Rural Mutual Insurance agents, who helped contribute to an overall membership retention rate of 92%.

WFBF membership is comprised of voting and associate members. Voting members are farmers, people with direct involvement in production agriculture, and owners of agricultural property. Associate members are individuals and businesses who join Farm Bureau to utilize services and

benefits and to support the work of the organization.

WFBF ended the 2013 membership year with 24,145 voting members and 20,736 associate members. Forty-eight of the 61 county Farm Bureaus reported an increase in voting members, while 41 counties reported increases in total membership.

The 2014 membership year concludes on September 30, and thanks to the commitment of Farm Bureau volunteers and the support of our affiliate company personnel, Farm Bureau is poised to grow seven years in a row!

Proud of You

16

Rural Route

WISCONSIN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

YFA - Women’s - Institute Growing Leaders Young Farmer and Agriculturist Program

Farm Bureau’s Young Farmer and Agriculturist (YFA) program offers leadership development experiences for members between the ages of 18 and 35.

A total of 500 YFA members attended last December’s YFA Conference portion of the WFBF Annual Meeting at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells. To help build the next generation of rural leaders, Rural Mutual Insurance Company sponsored 100 WFBF members as first-time attendees, as well as 24 collegiate Farm Bureau members, to the informational, educational and fun event.

The YFA program also recognizes young members for their agricultural knowledge, farming accomplishments and leadership skills through three leadership contests. Last year, 14 members completed the Achievement Award application, 27 competed in the state Discussion Meet contest and 12 completed the Excellence in Agriculture application. Wisconsin’s winners of those three contests represented their peers at the American Farm Bureau Annual Meeting in San Antonio, Texas. Nicole Reese of Rock County finished in the top 10 of the national Excellence in Agriculture contest, while Corey and Miranda Leis of Monroe County competed in the national Achievement Award contest. Chris Pollack from Fond du Lac County finished in the final four of the national Discussion Meet contest.

Tim Clark, a forage product manager for Dairyland Seed from Beaver Dam, leads the nine-member state YFA Committee.

Women’s Program for Leadership and Education

Members of this program promote agriculture through a number of channels.

Over the past year they advanced ag literacy among Wisconsin youth by assisting with the annual Ag in the Classroom essay contest and purchasing Ag in the Classroom children’s books for schools, libraries and Ronald McDonald Houses in Milwaukee, Madison and Marshfield.

Women’s committees in 29 counties worked to engage consumers by promoting the Our Food Link Program developed by the American Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Program. Our Food Link replaced Food Check-Out-Week and is now a year-round program that county Farm Bureaus can use to effectively reach consumers of all ages and backgrounds with information about today’s agriculture.

In addition to holding district meetings where local members develop leadership skills and network, more than 300 women attended the 2014 Wisconsin Ag Women’s Summit at the Marriott West in Madison. The Summit is a joint venture of WFBF, Badgerland Financial and UW-Extension.

Nicole Adrian, a certified pharmacy technician and Grant County farmer, leads the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation’s nine-member state Women’s Committee.

Check out how YOU can get involved at wfbf.com/ programsevents.

Wisconsin Farm Bureau Institute

The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Institute is a year-long leadership experience which provides premier personal growth and leadership training to develop the next crop of county Farm Bureau leaders.

The 14 members of Institute Class VIII have completed sessions on personal leadership development, media training and how the Wisconsin Farm Bureau functions.

Their remaining sessions include studying local and state government in Madison and examining national and international ag issues at the offices of the Minnesota Farm Bureau. They will graduate at the WFBF Annual Meeting in December before taking a capstone trip to Washington, D.C. in June to impact agricultural policy with their newfound leadership skills. That’s exactly what members of Institute Class VII did when they traveled with the WFBF Board of Directors to Washington, D.C. in April. Prior to their visits with Wisconsin’s congressional delegation, they met with officials at the American Farm Bureau, leaders from USDA and the Embassy of Great Britain. Their capstone trip also included participating in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery and touring Mount Vernon.

As of this year, 114 Farm Bureau members from across the state have graduated from the program, and more importantly, grown from their Institute experience.

Leadership is whatforweYou Reaped Opportunities AUGUST AUGUST || SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER 2013 2014

www.wfbf.com wfbf.com

3 17

Public Relations A Voice for Farmers.

As the voice of agriculture, Farm Bureau continues to be who the media calls when they need information about farm and food news. Over the past year, Farm Bureau received more than 300 media requests from print, radio, television and web-based reporters from local, state, national and international media outlets. Many of these press contacts were generated by more the press releases and social media posts that are produced by the Wisconsin Farm Bureau’s staff. In addition, the Farm Bureau’s public relations division delivers its messages to members and the consuming public through a number of other channels.

Rural Route

The Wisconsin Farm Bureau’s Rural Route is published six times annually for voting Farm Bureau members. The publication focuses on Farm Bureau’s legislative work, events, educational efforts, sponsorships and exclusive member benefits. An online version of Rural Route can be found at wfbf.com.

Website

The Wisconsin Farm Bureau’s website (www.wfbf.com) serves as an interactive resource for members, agricultural leaders and media. Information about legislative issues, Farm Bureau programs and applications for various events are just a click away. Issues of county publications are also available digitally.

18

Social Media

To connect with other Farm Bureau members and hear about events and news, just click ‘like’ on the ‘Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation’ Facebook page. In addition, there are Facebook pages for the Farm Bureau Foundation Institute, Ag in the Classroom and YFA program. Farm Bureau is active on Twitter (@WIFarmBureau) by tweeting news and farm facts.

Want to meet a farm family, get some ideas for supper or learn the latest ag education tool?

You can find those and more on our Pinterest boards (pinterest.com/ wifarmbureau). You can view photos from Farm Bureau events on our Flickr page (go to www.WFBF.com and click on the “fr” tab above the search bar). Videos are also available on our YouTube channel.

Marketbasket

Farm Bureau’s WFBF Marketbasket Survey Spring 2014 retail food price survey remains $50.04 for 16 items a popular 13 cents item with .3% increase from March 2013 media outlets statewide. The information about the average price of a set of pre-determined food items is collected by Farm Bureau members across the state. The Marketbasket’s findings show trends in prices paid by consumers and their correlation to supply and demand, trade and weather.

The 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

Promoting withYou Rural Route

County Newsletters

Forty-six of our 61 county Farm Bureaus now have their newsletters published by the state Farm Bureau office. This is a feature of the County Farm Bureau Services Program.

The quarterly newsletters promote local events, provide information on what county Farm Bureaus are doing on the grassroots level, as well as highlight individual members.

Ag Newswire

This “subscription only” email is sent to Farm Bureau members and to media. It provides an easy to read snapshot of farm, food and rural news on the state and national levels.

It also highlights Farm Bureau activities and the organization’s involvement with key legislative issues. The Ag Newswire is sent to more than 2,700 Farm Bureau members and nearly 250 reporters for print, radio, television and web-based news outlets. Are you receiving it yet? If not, send your name and email to clangan@wfbf.com and request to be added.

WISCONSIN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

Governmental Relations A Vision for Agriculture.

WFBF works for Wisconsin farm families to represent their interests. WFBF’s strength is the grassroots network of informed, politically-active members who contact their elected officials on issues, attend Ag Day at the Capitol and travel on Farm Bureau trips to our nation’s capital.

In Madison

Implements of Husbandry

WFBF worked hard to pass legislation that allows farm machinery to operate legally on Wisconsin roads. It was critical to update our laws to meet farmers’ needs while respecting local governments’ responsibility to maintain roadways.

There was a widely-held misconception that implements of husbandry (IOH) were exempt from size and weight regulations.

Recent enforcement of size and weight limits of IOH prompted WFBF to work other ag groups, town and county interests, legislators and the governor to pass IOH legislation.

The new law includes: R5 50 "# & 5 & --5 && 5 !,# /&./, &5 commercial motor vehicles that are exempt from registration and can use dyed fuel.

R5 ( , - 5,) 51 #!".5&#'#.-5 ),5 5 35gk5 percent for axle and gross vehicle weights.

R5 &&)1-5.#&& ! 65*& (.#(!5 ( 5" ,0 -.#(!5 equipment to be over axle weight, but allows towns and counties to opt-in to a permitting program. If towns and counties elect to do so, they must issue a no-fee permit for an approved route.

R5 (!."-5 ),5 5 , 95-#(!& 50 "# & -5/*5.)5 lf5 .:5.1)70 "# & 5 )' #( .#)(-5/*5.)5gff5 feet; and three-vehicle combinations up to gff5 .5# 5)* , . 5 &)15hk5'#& -5* ,5")/,5 or up to 70 feet in operated at a speed above hk5'#& -5* ,5")/,85 R5 (!."5&#'#.-5 ),5 !5 95-#(!& 50 "# & -5 /*5.)5jk5 .:5.1)70 "# & 5 )' #( .#)(-5/*5.)5 mf5 .:5 ( 50 "# & 5 )' #( .#)(-5/*5.)5gff5 .5# 5)* , . 5 .5hk5'#& -5* ,5")/,5),5/*5.)5 mf5 .5 .5 5-* 5 )0 5hk5'#& -5* ,5")/,8 WFBF will continue to work with the DOT and UW-Extension to host meetings to inform farmers and local government officials on this law.

In Washington, D.C. Farm Bill

hfgj5- 15." 5&)(!7-)/!".5* -- ! 5 of a new farm bill. The Agricultural .5) 5hfgj5' % -5' $),5 " (! -5#(5 commodity, dairy and conservation programs, crop insurance options, and new opportunities for specialty crops, bioenergy, organic and beginning farmers.

Some changes to commodity programs include: R5 * &5) 5 #, .5 ( 5 )/(. , 3 &# &5 payments, and the Average Crop Revenue Election program.

R5 , . -5.1)5( 15 ,)*5#(-/, ( 5 *,)!, '-95 ,# 5 )--5 )0 , ! 5B C5 ( 5 !,# /&./, 5 #-%5 )0 , ! 5B C85 5 payments are provided to farmers with base acres of certain crops when market prices fall below the reference price. With ARC farmers choose county-based or individual coverage.

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#0 -.) %5 ), ! 5 #- -. ,5 ,)!, '5 ( 5 ' ,! ( 35 --#-. ( 5 ),5 #0 -.) %5 ,)!, '5 were all made permanent.

In the farm bill’s conservation title, the Agricultural Conservation Easement ,)!, '5 )(-)&# . -5." 5 /( .#)(-5 of wetlands, grassland and farmland protection programs.

Water Resource Reform Development Act (WRRDA)

WFBF scored another legislative victory this year with passage of a bill to update our nation’s lock and dam system. WRRDA addresses the maintenance and funding mechanisms for inland waterways and harbor infrastructure. ĝ 5 #--#--#**#5 #0 ,]-5&) %5 ( 5 '5-3-. '5 exceeds the age it was designed for by &')-.5if53 ,-85 )-.5&) %-5 , 5/( ,-#4 5 .)5' .5." 5.3*# &5gk7 ,! 5.)1#(!5-3-. '85 #(. ( ( 5 ( 5/*!, -5) 5&) %-5 ( 5 '-5 is funded by the Inland Waterways Trust /( 85ĝ#-5. 25) 5hf5 (.-5* ,5! &&)(5)(5 ,! 5 / &5! ( , . -5 )/.5qnk5'#&&#)(5 ((/ &&385 Federal assistance provides the remainder ) 5."#-5 / ! .85 -- ! 5) 5 5 &&)1-5 upgrades of the lock and dam system to begin.

No matter what size, commodity or management style, Wisconsin Farm Bureau works hard to represent you.

weYou Exposure is whatwith Reaped ‘Ag’vocating AUGUST AUGUST || SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER 2013 2014

www.wfbf.com wfbf.com

5 19

Ag in the Classroom Planting Seeds The Agriculture in the Classroom (AITC) program provides Wisconsin teachers and their students with the tools to teach and learn how their next meal travels from the farm to the fork. The goal of the program is to help students gain a greater awareness of the role of agriculture in the economy and society, so that they may become citizens who support wise agricultural policies.

Local Efforts

There are 74 local AITC coordinators in 61 Wisconsin counties with organized AITC programs. The local Agriculture in

Essay Contest

Trinity Pesko of Phillips was the winner of the Agriculture in the Classroom’s essay contest.

Wisconsin fourth and fifth graders were asked to write a 100 to 300 word essay with the theme, “Wisconsin gardens provide many healthy food choices for us.� A total of 2,467 Wisconsin students wrote essays for the competition sponsored by the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation, Frontier-Servco FS and We Energies.

White-Reinhardt Educator Scholarships

the Classroom efforts are carried out by the county’s AITC Committee. Among the counties that submitted 2013 activity reports, the average committee consisted of five members and utilized additional volunteers for farm tours, classroom presentations or other events. The expenditures for those county AITC programs reporting in 2013 were $147,223. Approximately 13,840 volunteer hours were contributed to conduct a variety of local AITC activities.

Project Funding

The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation awarded 10 matching grants totaling $4,150 and 12 mini-grants totaling $1,200 to Wisconsin schools and organizations to use for agricultural literacy lessons and activities.

20

Sheila Everhart, Rock County and Ashley Prue, Brown County were recipients of the White-Reinhardt Educator Scholarships offered through the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture. Each received a $1,500 scholarship to attend the National Ag in the Classroom Conference held in Hershey, PA in June. Educators nationwide attend the conference to learn to incorporate real-life agricultural applications into science, social studies, language arts, math, and nutrition lessons.

R55 Äż , 5 )/(.35 5#( ),' .#)(5 meetings, training sessions and workshops, reaching more than 400 people. This included a two-day training for Soybean # ( 5 #.-65 #- )(-#(5 5 ( 5 commodity group resources.

R55mj5 )3 (5 # ( 5 #.-51 , 5/.#&#4 5 35m6hlg5-./ (.-85 )3 (5 # ( 5 #.5 training was offered to agriculture education advisors and volunteers in February.

R55 )), #( . 5-/'' ,5. " ,5., #(#(!51#."5 the University of Wisconsin-River Falls offering a two-day bus tour and a one day classroom session.

Other AITC Activities, Resources and Recognition

R55First Peas to the Table was selected as the Wisconsin Farm Bureau’s 2014 Book of the Year.

R55Äť 5^ 35 ' ,# (5 ,'_5 #)-%5 continues to be used by county programs, groups, and events.

- 5) 5." 5^ 35 ' ,# (5 ,'_5 App was introduced and will be utilized on tablet devices.

EducatingwithYou Rural Route

WISCONSIN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

Farm Bureau Foundation Wise Investments Supporting agricultural education programs and developing agricultural leaders is the guiding principle of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation.

Fundraising accomplishments:

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The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation funds:

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The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation supports:

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R55 #- )(-#(5 , ( ,,35 #- )0 ,35 (. ,]-5 / .#)( &5 #-*& 3-5 and tours.

Farm Bureau Staff ADMINISTRATION Jim Holte, WFBF President Stephen Freese,

PUBLIC RELATIONS 608.828.5700 608.828.5644

Casey Langan, Executive Director Sheri Sutton,

608.828.5701

Amy Manske,

Chief Administrative Officer

Becky Schollian, Executive Assistant

Director of Communications

608.828.5708 608.828.5703 608.828.5713

OPERATIONS Jeff Fuller,

608.828.5715

Treasurer and Executive Director of Operations

Steve Mason, General Accountant Jill Bennwitz, Administrative Assistant

608.828.5706

Communications Coordinator

GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS Paul Zimmerman, Executive Director Rob Richard, Senior Director Karen Gefvert, Director

608.828.5711 262.949.2418

608.828.5720 608.828.5705

Lynn Siekmann,

608.828.5707

MEMBER RELATIONS

866.355.7341

Kelly Sime, District 2 Coordinator

866.355.7342

Gretchen Kamps, District 3 Coordinator 866.355.7343 Steve Boe, District 4 Coordinator

866.355.7344

Becky Hibicki, District 5 Coordinator

866.355.2029

Kimberly Rusch, District 6 Coordinator 866.355.7345 Wes Raddatz, District 7 Coordinator

Administrative Assistant

Bob Leege, Executive Director Deb Raemisch, Director Dale Beaty,

Patti Roden, District 1 Coordinator

608.828.5710 608.828.5712 608.828.5714

Katie Mattison, District 9 Coordinator

866.355.7349

Darci Meili, Administrative Assistant

608.828.5704

Director of Training and Leadership Development

Wendy Kannel

Foundation Director, AITC Coordinator

608.828.5719

we with Support is whatAg Reaped You Supporting 2013 AUGUST | SEPTEMBER 2014

866.355.7346

Ashleigh Calaway, District 8 Coordinator 866.355.7348

www.wfbf.com wfbf.com

7 21

2014 Board of Directors

Jim Holte President District 9, Elk Mound

Don Radtke District 8, Merrill Bayfield

Douglas

Wayne Staidl District 7, Peshtigo

Superior Shores Iron

Rosie Lisowe

Ashland

District 6, Chilton Sawyer

Joe Bragger

Price

District 4, Independence

Polk

Rusk

Lincoln

Barron

Chippewa

St. Croix Dunn

Eau Claire

Buffalo

Door

Shawano

Clark Portage

Trempealeau

District 5, Berlin

Oconto

Marathon

Pierce

Kevin Krentz

Marinette

Langlade

Taylor

Wood

Waushara

Adams La Crosse

Brown Waupaca

Jackson

Monroe Juneau

Vernon Crawford

Richland

Columbia

Sauk

Iowa

Nicole Adrian

Marquette Green Lake

Calumet Manitowoc Winnebago Fond du Lac

Washington Ozaukee

Lafayette

Richard Gorder Vice President District 3, Mineral Point

22 8

Leading with You AUGUST Rural| Route SEPTEMBER 2013

Green

Rock

Jerry Bradley District 2, Sun Prairie

YFA Chair Beaver Dam

Waukesha Milwaukee

Women’s Chair, Platteville Grant

Sheboygan

Tim Clark Dodge

Jefferson

Dane

Kewaunee

Outagamie

Walworth

Racine Kenosha

Dave Daniels District 1, Union Grove

WISCONSIN FARM BUREAU www.wfbf.com FEDERATION

8

MEMBERS

Farm Bureau From the kitchens of Green County Cheese Days Ambassadors Breinne Hendrickson and Sarah Sacker

4 oz. feta (soften and crumble) ¼ cup softened butter 2 Tbsp. chopped green onions 8 oz. cream cheese 1/3 cup chopped black olives ¼ Tbsp. chopped parsley (optional) Handful of shredded cheddar (optional)

Mix all ingredients together. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Set out and allow to warm up to room temperature before serving – this will bring out the flavors.

Other flavors of feta (peppercorn, tomato and basil, Mediterranean, etc.) may be used for additional flavor.

Ingredients

Peach Caprese Salad 6 oz. fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced 1 ripe yellow peach, sliced thick 1 vine-ripened tomato, sliced thick 12 leaves fresh basil Extra virgin olive oil Balsamic vinegar Salt Pepper

Layer the tomato, peach and cheese slices.

Add basil between above ingredients.

Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

Dash with salt and pepper.

AUGUST | SEPTEMBER 2014

Cream Cheese Crescent Roll Bars Ingredients

Ingredients

Feta Olive Cheese Spread

2 packages of cream cheese 2 packages of crescent rolls ¾ cup sugar 1 tsp. vanilla 1 egg 1 cup walnuts or pecans (ground)

Place one package of crescent rolls in the bottom of a 9”x13” pan. Crack and egg. Separate the yolk from the egg white. Beat sugar, egg yolk, cream cheese and vanilla together (set egg white aside). Spread mixture on rolls in the pan. Place second package of rolls on top of mixture.

Brush beaten egg white on top.

Sprinkle with bars. Bake at 350° for 20-30 minutes. (Mine usually only takes 22 minutes). Let cool before serving and store in refrigerator .

Just like a good block of cheese, Breinne Hendrickson and Sarah Sacker are both products of Green County dairy farms. As co-ambassadors of the 2014 Cheese Days celebration in Monroe (September 19-21) they will promote a unique festival that has been around for a century. Held in Monroe’s historic city square, Cheese Days features three days of music, dancing, yodeling, old-time cheesemaking, cow milking contests, and plenty of beer and cheese. It also features Wisconsin’s only parade led by Brown Swiss cows.

For more, visit www.cheesedays.com. wfbf.com

23

John Piechowski:

Busy Bee as a

By Amy Manske

Y

ou could say honey runs through John Piechowski’s veins.

As an owner of Henry’s Honey, the Waushara County Farm Bureau member is one of Wisconsin’s few full-time beekeepers.

Henry's Honey started as a few hives, meant to provide a sweetener for a farm family's meals during the Great Depression. By World War II, John's father and uncle were providing beeswax for the war effort. Today, the rural Redgranite business has about 1,400 hives, down from a peak of 3,500. John works full-time with his son, Dan. Another son, Ron, helps when he can.

“We do everything from starting the bees, to bringing the honey in, to packaging the honey and selling it,” Piechowski said.

The business also owns and operates Wisconsin Cooperative Pollination Services which transports bees regionally for

24

Rural Route

the commercial pollination of crops and also offers custom extracting to local beekeepers.

“Keeping bees and packaging is challenging,” Piechowski said, “sometimes they step on each other’s toes.”

They package honey at least twice per week for a variety of customers. Most of their products are sold in Wisconsin at farmers markets, niche food stores and local grocery stores.

“We did ship our first load out of state (this summer) to New York,” Piechowski said. “I don’t know where that’s going to lead. It could blossom into something.”

The business (and amount of bees) has always stayed a size the family could handle.

“We are a family operation here,” Piechowski said. “Working together is a big thing with our business.”

John said since his grandkids now own some bees; the farm has reached the fourth generation.

WISCONSIN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

People and Products People and products have influenced the bottom line for Henry’s Honey over the years. Many have come and gone from Henry’s Honey but the family aspect has remained. The high school and college students they hire say they miss it when they leave for other jobs.

“We’ve seen some pretty outstanding kids who have worked here,” Piechowski said. “We make it enjoyable. No matter how dirty the job we have fun.”

He has also met people in the business who have become more friends than colleagues.

“I’ve got friends that I met awhile back because of bee keeping and I still have them,” Piechowski said.

John explained that while Wisconsin has a nice variety of flowers and creates what he considers the best tasting honey in the country, it is important for him to do business out of state.

“We were one of the first honey farms to take our bees out of state,” Piechowski said. “My bees are used to pollinate California’s almonds.”

By using many resources John has the opportunity to sell a variety of products. Some of the specialty flavors Henry’s Honey carries are wildflower, basswood, orange blossom and buckwheat (John recommends this for an easy and effective cough remedy).

Another popular product that John raves about is whipped honey. By softening honey and mixing in liquid honey for about 45 minutes it creates a creamy honey substance which they bottle and sell.

“Take it and spread in on toast. It’s yummy,” Piechowski said. “It gives you good energy and it is good-tasting. It’s a popular product.”

John reports that right now honey prices are good but when they aren’t he can rely on extra income with the pollination services.

John works with cranberry, blueberry, apple, cucumber and zucchini growers to help them pollinate.

“Some growers can double the yield by putting bees on it,” Piechowski said.

Another project for Henry’s Honey is working with graduate students from UW-Madison on honey bee research. John is hoping that he can help honey’s future by providing his bees to research.

“We’ve had our ups and down. It’s sometimes a challenge to keep bees. It’s education that gets you through that,” Piechowski said.

One Sweet Story “Around 1960, I was on Farm Bureau's state young farmers committee. About ‘61 or ‘62, a dark-haired gal from Crawford County joined the committee.”

John went on to share that the brunette woman named Marilyn became his wife in 1965. It was the same year he joined the Waushara County Farm Bureau board of directors.

The year they wed, three other couples from the young farmer committee (now called the Young Farmer and Agriculturist Committee) also married.

John has many fond memories from his time on the young farmer committee and other Farm Bureau activities. John and Marilyn have always been active in 4-H and Farm Bureau.

“We’ve been in the Farm Bureau family for a while,” Piechowski said. “Our daughter was born when Marilyn was on the state Women’s Committee. I remember having to babysit when she was about two weeks old so she could attend her meeting. Our little girl was passed around the Farm Bureau office quite a bit that day.”

The fall of 2015 will mark his fiftieth year on the county board. During his tenure he has served on numerous committees including the state policy development committee and while in existence, the bee and honey committee.

Want to learn more about Henry’s Honey?

Find them online: www.henryshoneyfarm.com Henry’s Honey Farm AUGUST | SEPTEMBER 2014

wfbf.com

25

Photo submitted by Brianna Ditzenberger, Dane, WI

Photo submitted by Amy Manske, New London, WI

As Seen on

interest

Photo submitted by Nancy Kavazanjian, Beaver Dam, WI

Photo submitted by Abbie Erickson, Mauston, WI

Send us YOUR Photos pinterest.com/wifarmbureau 26

Rural Route

Wisconsin Farm Bureau members live and work on some of the most beautiful pieces of land. On this page we highlight those sights and special moments. Please email your best photos (high resolution jpgs, 4x6 inches at 300 dpi) to clangan@wfbf.com.

Due to the high volume of photos we receive, we are unable to publish every photo.

WISCONSIN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

Visit wfbf.com to read more blogs!

Why Don’t More Kids Go Back to the Family Farm?

By Tim Clark, Young Farmer with Old Values

T

here comes a point in every farm kid’s life where they think about going back to the farm.

Whether it happens when they are really young or at some ‘turning-point’ in their life, they all think about it. For me it was after taking my first full-time job after college.

After graduating from UW-Madison, I relocated to Raleigh, North Carolina to work as an animal pharmaceutical salesman. It was a unique opportunity with great benefits and a short drive to the sandy shores of Myrtle Beach. Nearly a year into the position, the party was over and I was looking for a ticket back to Wisconsin. This was my time, my ‘turning-point’ and opportunity to consider returning to the family farm.

While planning my move back to the Midwest, I received a call from a friend about a position that had come available for Dairyland Seed, a company I had interned with during college. I took the advice and scheduled an interview. A job offer was made that same day and it was time to make a decision: farming or go to work for Dairyland Seed.

So I did what every farm kid does when they don’t know which way to go – I took a walk down memory lane.

Growing up on the farm leaves lasting memories, good and bad, that sustain the test of time. Riding bikes down the back farm lane to get the cows home, sitting on the bunk-line feeder as it traveled back-and-forth feeding cows, swinging with my brothers from the milk pipeline when dad wasn’t looking, unloading small bales of hay on the hottest days of the year and bedding cows with the same bales on the coldest days of the year. The sounds, smells and feelings all came to life.

Memories of growing up on the farm keep the spirit of farming alive in every farm kid. However, the harsh reality of life brings a challenge that dampens this spirit and challenges the guarantee of similar memories in the future.

College debt, limited investment capital, volatile commodities, sibling conflict, land-access competition and amazinglyunique opportunities complicate the decision for a young person to return to the family farm.

The decision was obvious for me. I wanted to join a first-class team that would challenge me to grow and develop as a leader. The chance to provide great seed products, agronomic support and farmer-focused service was this amazinglyunique opportunity that I couldn’t turn down. In addition, I had college debt that was a high priority to reconcile.

Sometimes it’s not a question about going back to the farm, it’s a question of how to bring the values of the farm with you.

The decision to not return to the farm was very difficult for me. It doesn’t mean that I won’t farm in the future, but for now I must seize the opportunity God has placed before me. I am as confident today as when I made the decision nearly six years ago because my choice was based on the principles I had learned growing up. My parents modeled the world-class leadership I desire by the way they ran their business: our family farm.

AUGUST | SEPTEMBER 2014

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Steve Boe’s

FFA Adventure

By Casey Langan

“I know what FFA means to people.

I know what it meant to me.”

– Steve Boe. his is the story of how one man led a FFA chapter through a rough patch.

The story begins as Boe was leaving a job as a legislative aide at the State Capitol to return to his hometown and become WFBF’s District 4 Coordinator in July of 2011.

As a state FFA officer, Boe was first encouraged to pursue his passion for public policy by then-State Representative Bobby Gronemus. Their friendship and FFA opened doors for this Jackson County farm boy, including an internship in Washington D.C. with Congressman Ron Kind in 2007.

“I know that FFA is more than being on the farm. The leadership skills you receive are a huge component,” Boe said.

Boe had heard rumblings that a neighboring school district was cutting its agriculture program. It got his attention when a parent from that school district asked him if he would become an advisor to this FFA program without ag classes.

Knowing what FFA did for him, Boe says he thought, “There could be a student there that really needs this.”

"Once I felt confident this was

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something I could do, I had to convince my new boss," Boe said.

“It was clear that helping out the Lincoln FFA chapter was something that Steve was passionate about,” said Bob Leege, WFBF’s Executive Director of Member Services. “With his assurance that he could tackle this project without any negative consequences for WFBF and the six county Farm Bureaus that he serves, the project was a go.”

A series of successes marked the 32 months that Boe led a west-central Wisconsin FFA chapter.

By November 2011 it was official.

"The atmosphere was challenging," Boe admits, and not just because he started mid-way through a semester.

“To start, they had lost their ag program.

That's quite a blow,” he said. "Putting the pieces together was a challenge. The way we had to run things was anything but normal."

One of FFA’s bylaws states that only students who have had an agricultural course could be considered a state and

national member. With no agriculture courses available, the pool of new members would have to be ‘local’ members, unable to attend most district, sectional and state FFA activities.

"We had to create more local activities, so all the members could participate," Boe said. "I knew as the years went on, this would be a problem.”

Not being at the school on a daily basis proved challenging. “At first I was leery about giving my cell number to FFA officers, but text messaging became the best way to communicate,” Boe said.

Meetings were held at 8 a.m. that first year. "I hated it with a passion," said Boe, who often had late-night Farm Bureau meetings, “but I was dedicated.”

“I thought they’d want it at study hall and I’m still mad at myself for not checking, but now most are held during lunch,” he said.

“This is a community that should have an ag program,” said Boe, who convinced the school district to offer a quarter-credit agriculture class during the first period

“Obviously I have lots of influences, but I cannot think of a bigger one than FFA.”

WISCONSIN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

Little Lincoln on the Big Stage it is today if it wasn't for Mr. Boe. He study hall. It was taught by Gaylord will be missed dearly and his time at Oppegard, a retired ag teacher Lincoln will never be forgotten." and Jackson County Farm Bureau “Steve’s service to the Alma Centermember. It helped attract about Lincoln FFA Chapter is a great 20 new members in the small high example of identifying a way that school (fewer than 200 pupils).

Farm Bureau can make a difference

By January 2014, a new ag teacher, in a community,� Leege said.

Matt Esser, was hired for a half-time In addition to his job as district position. Enrollments for the coming coordinator for six west-central school year have put him at full-time.

Boe handed over the reins of the FFA Wisconsin county Farm Bureaus, Boe farms with his parents, Daryl and chapter to Esser in July.

Kathy, who raise 160 steers and 400 “He worked relentlessly and we acres of crops. have him to thank for the newly “Dad has suffered a bit from this instated ag classes at our school,�

FFA adventure,� Boe said, giving said Michaela Bemis, a Lincoln credence to the old joke that FFA graduate. stands for “Farmer Farms Alone.� “Mr. Boe's dedication to the chapter was Did you know? tremendous,� said The Lincoln School District is made up of Bailey Larson, a Lincoln the small communities of Alma Center, sophomore. “Lincoln Humbird and Merrillan.

FFA would not be where

Steve Boe with the 2013-14 FFA officer team.

Aside from the current roster of Lincoln FFA members Boe advised, he saw great potential in Trenton Bemis (pictured below), a Lincoln graduate and third-generation cranberry bog manager who was a national fruit production proficiency award winner in 2011. “As I got to know him, I thought he should apply for the American FFA Degree and prestigious Star in Agricultural Placement Award.

It meant many nights of proofreading his application. “We were pleased as punch just to be Wisconsin’s nominee for the award,� Boe said. “When we found out he was a national finalist I was like, hot damn! There’s nothing bigger to bring exposure to your FFA chapter.�

The stage was set as the local FFA Alumni paid for new school district superintendent and Trenton’s family to attend the National FFA Convention in Louisville, Kentucky.

The kid from the once nearly-defunct FFA chapter was named a national FFA star. “The publicity was fantastic coming off of that,� Boe recalled. “In every interview, Trenton advocated for a local agriculture program.� “It was a little strange, because I know many great advisors who go an entire career without having a student reach that kind of success,� he added.

Boe’s Background s GRADUATE AND &&! 0RESIDENT AT "LAIR Taylor High School. s 3TATE &&! 3ENTINEL s GRADUATE OF 57 2IVER &ALLS WITH majors in agricultural education and political science. s 2AN -ARK 2ADCLIFF S 3TATE !SSEMBLY campaign in 2008. Worked as his legislative assistant at the Wisconsin State Capitol from 2009-2011.

AUGUST | SEPTEMBER 2014

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ON THE WEB

MEMBER BENEFITS

Savings for your Family or Business

View additional WFBF Member Benefits and more details on our website at www.wfbf.com/benefits-membership.

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

Supplies & Products Case IH - Eligible Farm Bureau members will receive an incentive discount ($300 to $500) when purchasing qualifying Case IH equipment from participating dealers. The discount can be used with other discounts, promotions, rebates or offers that may be provided by Case IH or a Case IH dealership. Go to www.fbverify. com/case to see the eligible models and print your certificate.

FS-Growmark Patronage - Members who are patrons of their local FS cooperative are eligible to receive patronage dividends when patronage is paid.

Auto General Motors - Eligible members may receive a $500 discount on qualifying Chevrolet, GMC or Buick vehicles they purchase or lease. Individuals must be members for at least 30 days to qualify.

Health ScriptSave® - ScriptSave is a prescription drug savings card available to you at NO COST as an added feature of your membership. Call 800.700.3957.

Stroke Detection Plus - Stroke Detection Plus offers preventative medical screenings at a discounted price to Farm Bureau members. These ultrasound screenings help detect blockages that can lead to stroke, aortic aneurysms and other artery diseases.

For more information, call 1.877.732.8258.

Protection

Office Depot - Save up to 80% on Office Depot Preferred Products along with reduced prices on ink, paper, office supplies, toner, stamps/daters, pens, pads, furniture and much more. Members get free next day delivery with free shipping on orders over $50 and terrific copy and print pricing. Visit wfbf.com/officedepot.

Polaris - Farm Bureau members will receive a manufacturer’s incentive discount of $200-$300 depending on the vehicle acquired. Members should negotiate their best deal with their preferred Polaris dealer and then add the manufacturer’s incentive discount to the bottom line. There is no limit to the number of incentive discounts that a Farm Bureau member may use so long as it’s no more than one per unit acquired and the acquisition(s) is/are made for their personal and/or business use. Individuals must be members for at least 60 days to qualify.

Financial

Reward Protection Program - Farm Bureau pays a $500 reward to people providing information leading to the arrest and conviction of individuals for arson, theft or criminal damage to a member’s property that is posted with a Farm Bureau reward sign or sticker.

AgriPlan Medical Reimbursement Program - The AgriPlanNOW! program is based on Section 105 of the IRS code and can allow farmers and other self-employed individuals to deduct 100 percent of their family’s medical expenses through their farm or business. To learn more about AgriPlan and/or sign up, go to www. tasconline.com or call 888.595.2261.

Accidental Death Policy - Members 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.

Farm Bureau Bank - Take 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. Go to www.farmbureaubank.com.

Insurance Rural Mutual Insurance Company - Offering 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.

Farm Bureau Financial Services is a dynamic multi-state insurance and investment organization serving individuals and families in not only rural areas, but also suburban and metropolitan. You can get more information about the financial services from your local Rural Insurance agent. Learn more about Farm Bureau Financial Services at www.fbfs.com.

Communication

30

Grainger Industrial Supply - Grainger Industrial Supply is the nation’s leading maintenance, repair and operational supplies distributor. Receive at least a 10% discount on all Grainger catalog items. For a free catalog call 608.221.3861.

When ordering use the Farm Bureau account #855922019.

Travel AAA - Members can save up to 20% on AAA membership and the enrollment fee to join AAA is waived. FB members who already belong to AAA can receive the discount by calling before their next renewal. To enroll or to add the benefit to your existing account, call 877.731.3315 and give them the group code “WI07.”

AVIS Car Rental Discount Program - You can save 5%-25% on Avis’ daily and weekly rates. To receive these discounted rates, all you need to do is use your Avis Worldwide Discount number: A298849. To rent a car and enjoy benefits visit Avis. com or call Avis at 1.800.331.1212.

Choice Hotels International, Inc. - Members save an average of 20% at participating Choice Brand Hotels. Call 800.258.2847 to make the required advance reservation or book online at choicehotels.com. Make sure to select “special rate/CORPID.” Request WFBF member rate using ID# 00209870.

AgriVisor - WFBF members can receive a 35% discount on daily grain, livestock and feed input marketing advice, as well as current market quotes and updates. Call 800.676.5799.

Wyndham Hotel Group - Members save 20% off the best available rate at more than 5,000 participating locations throughout North America. Mention Farm Bureau ID# 8000004288 when making your reservations. Call 877.670.7088.

The Country Today - With every new subscription or renewal purchased by a Farm Bureau member, The Country Today will donate $5 to the Ag in the Classroom program. Call 888.833.9268.

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

Rural Route

WISCONSIN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

IN THE FAMILY. IN THE BLOOD. When the second generation of Kaiser Family Farm approached Ruder Ware on leaving the farm to their sons, our experienced team of ag attorneys knew where to begin, and how much a smooth transition meant to them. We know that farms are highly specialized businesses requiring careful planning to minimize potential disagreements and “surprises.� But we also know that to some, a farm is more than just a business. It’s a treasure and a tradition.

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BEEF BARNS

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AUGUST | SEPTEMBER 2014

wfbf.com

31

OPINION

You Spoke. We Listened.

A Message from WFBF President Jim Holte

I

t’s a simple yet powerful premise.

Listen to people. Then use their input to make changes. When done right, their trust is almost guaranteed.

I saw this in action as a school board member. Our district had a looming space crunch. Rather than assuming that we had all of the answers, we hosted nine listening sessions that attracted a cross section of the community.

Listening was laying the groundwork for a successful referendum. Even the referendum question was structured by a public committee. Despite an unforeseen economic downturn, voters passed the referendum. When we were ready to build in 2009, bids came in low.

We asked for input. The public responded. We listened. We delivered.

The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation is nearing the completion of a similar strategic planning process.

Change doesn’t always come easy for

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Rural Route

an organization that began more than 90 years ago, but change we must.

Earlier this year our members were asked to weigh in on what Farm Bureau should look like in five years. We received, and most importantly, listened to more than 2,000 suggestions. Key partners like Rural Mutual Insurance Company and GROWMARK Inc. also told us how to create a responsive and forward-looking organization.

As a grassroots organization that takes its direction from its members, this is how we’ve always done things.

Change is the only thing we can be sure of, but let’s be honest. It’s not always fun. However the changes that I heard discussed at listening sessions across the state left me feeling good about Farm Bureau’s future.

Priorities that have guided our planning include: s "UILD BRIDGES WITH other ag and consumer groups. s 'ROW LEADERSHIP CAPACITY IN &ARM Bureau members. s %NCOURAGE MORE DIALOGUE WITH ALL members. s %VALUATE AND REBRAND ALL PROGRAMS and benefits.

Expect to hear more about these objectives from your district board member at upcoming county Farm Bureau meetings. We’ll also print the

strategic plan in your next edition of the Rural Route.

Among the initiatives will be a task force to evaluate the effectiveness of our foundation that funds programs like Ag in the Classroom, the Women’s Program for Leadership and Education, and Young Farmer and Agriculturist Program. The inner-workings of the Foundation might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about Farm Bureau. However, the Foundation is how we accomplish many of the things members have come to expect from Farm Bureau. We couldn’t ignore the nuts and bolts of how we do what we do.

Utilizing more technology to talk with members, and working cooperatively with other organizations are critical steps to WFBF’s future success.

None of this is possible without my fellow board members and executive staff first laying the groundwork by truly listening to our members.

We asked. You spoke.

We listened to you. Now we’re ready to deliver.

“The changes that I heard discussed at listening sessions across the state left me feeling good about Farm Bureau’s future.”

WFBF President since 2012, Holte is a grain and beef farmer from Elk Mound in Dunn County.

WISCONSIN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

Keep Big Picture in Mind on Wolf Hunt A Message from WFBF’s Paul Zimmerman

T

hree years ago if you had told people impacted by wolves that Wisconsin was about to hold its third wolf hunting season, they would have been ecstatic.

How soon we forget.

In June the Natural Resources Board adopted a wolf harvest quota of 156 wolves for the 2014 wolf hunting and trapping seasons. That’s down from 251 wolves in 2013. The Department of Natural Resources and the NR Board were criticized by wolf hunting opponents and proponents about the new quota. Opponents said it was too high. Farmers and hunters said it was too low.

Wisconsin Farm Bureau submitted comments to the NR Board that stated our support for wolf hunting and trapping seasons and encouraged the DNR to manage the wolf population at or below 350 (per our member policy). Most important is making sure an adequate wolf population remains so wolves are not placed on the endangered species list again. If that happens, farmers with wolf depredation would likely not be able to protect their livestock, even when they are attacked.

During the 2012 hunting and trapping seasons: s WOLVES WERE HARVESTED BY licensed hunters and trappers. s WOLVES WERE HARVESTED THROUGH depredation reduction methods.

In 2013: s WOLVES WERE HARVESTED BY licensed hunters and trappers. s WOLVES WERE HARVESTED THROUGH depredation reduction methods.

That’s 515 wolves in two years. Truly a success!

DNR staff and the NR Board should be complimented for overseeing successful wolf hunts. Further, farmers are thankful that there are enough hunters and trappers interested in wolf hunting that we will be able to manage the wolf population in Wisconsin.

That’s where the conversation needs to go.

DNR’s current wolf management plan calls for an over-winter goal of 350 wolves.

DNR says there were between 660 and 689 wolves in Wisconsin last winter. Some farmers and others will claim that the actual population is much higher.

That’s where there is a debate about the 2014 quota. DNR staff proposed a lower quota (later adoped by the NR Board) in order to reduce the over-winter wolf population, but not as fast as some would like. DNR is doing this to ensure that we do not over-harvest the wolves and lose hunting and trapping as a management control method.

The reality is that after the 2014

"DNR staff and the NR Board should be complimented for overseeing successful wolf hunts."

AUGUST | SEPTEMBER 2014

hunting and trapping seasons and with depredation reduction, we probably will harvest more than 700 wolves in three years. Many of us did not think that was possible three years ago.

However, we will need to keep a wolf management goal at 350 wolves. DNR will be reviewing its wolf management plan and updating it sometime in 2015 or later. This is where farmers and hunters will need to work together to keep the goal at 350 wolves. From the Farm Bureau perspective, it should not be raised.

But in the meantime, let’s not be too critical of the DNR’s quota this year.

Zimmerman is WFBF’s Executive Director of Governmental Relations.

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OPINION

GMOs: The Times They Are A-Changing!

Guest Column by Jeff Wyman

T

he heated battle over using genetic technology in our food systems has continued for over a decade and shows little sign of cooling down. From the early days of herbicide tolerance in corn and soybeans to the fast growing salmon of today, the battle lines are firmly drawn and rarely seem to waiver.

On the one hand, concerned consumers in the U.S., and elsewhere, accuse GM foods of being unnatural and the companies that develop them as business seeking to control the world’s seeds.

On the other hand, farmers worldwide have embraced GM foods as an exciting new technology that provides higher yields requiring fewer and safer pesticides, increasing farm sustainability.

As we all dig our heels deeper in this battle, a new wave of technological innovations set to change the face of the world’s food production systems are quickly ramping-up. The GMOs or transgenics we are familiar with (but are largely misunderstood) involved

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introducing a genetic trait from one organism into another unrelated one; like it or not, they may be becoming old hat. As science began to unravel the intricacies of the genetic code, we understand how life works at the molecular level, it may no longer be necessary to put something new into a plant to get a desired end result.

The ability to tweak what nature already provides without changing the genetic makeup or adding new traits is a reality. This is the new world cisgenics; simply turning a gene on or off within the plant’s genome or adding a gene from a different cultivar of the same species to elicit traits that have been unattainable.

This could be described as traditional breeding on hyper-drive.

We generally agree that we will need to double our food production in coming years to feed the world’s growing population. Imagine the impact of crops needing less water, thriving in inhospitable environments, resisting pests and diseases, or simply becoming more nutritious. Imagine the resulting influence this could have on the world’s food supplies. This seems like the stuff of science fiction, but the technology is within our grasp. Maybe it’s time to reevaluate our priorities when it comes to what is acceptable in our food production systems.

We rarely think of it in these terms, but we have already made this adjustment in how we have accepted breakthroughs in the field of medicine and our ability to manage some of the most destructive conditions that have plagued mankind for centuries. We readily accept these advances with rarely a thought of the technologies that are making many

of them attainable. When yours or a loved-one’s life has been saved through a technological advance involving biotechnology, there is no hesitation.

The simple truth is that the very same technologies that we have difficulty accepting in our food systems are already well established in medicine and are driving treatment protocols and research into new approaches. Countless medicines would be impossible without the use of biotechnology and many are more effective or affordable because of it.

A world without readily available insulin, antibiotics, vaccines, chemotherapy treatments, clotting factors or many of the other treatments we take for granted, is hard to imagine and yet all of these are heavily dependent on biotechnology.

Why then is it so hard to accept the same technologies in our food?

Biotechnology in our healthcare system is already intersecting with food production in ways we rarely think about. Several medicines are now produced in plants, many vitamins, amino acids and enzymes used in food production are routinely produced in GM microorganisms rather than by conventional chemical methods, which are often slower, less precise and more expensive.

It is time now for everyone to take a step back from the battle and closely examine what we really care about. We may just find that we are all on the same side and finding new medical treatments and feeding a hungry planet are not mutually exclusive.

Wyman is the Project Coordinator for the Wisconsin Institute for Sustainable Agriculture.

WISCONSIN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

Four Ways to Improve Our Organizations Guest Column by Nancy Kavazanjian

W

isconsin farmers are a diverse group, which makes farming here interesting, but a lack of diversity in farm organizations – especially when it comes to women in leadership roles - is drawing concern from regulators of our checkoff organizations.

Here in Wisconsin, the latest census data show 33 percent of farmers are women. Yet, the majority of our farm organizations don’t show that much diversity (The Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board being the exception). At the national level, the situation is even more lopsided.

So where are our female farmers?

My experience tells me they’re busy.

For starters, they are raising children and caring for other family members.

And when they’re not feeding calves, driving tractors, balancing farm books, running households and handling other farm tasks, the great majority of farm women work off-farm jobs to provide their families steady income and medical benefits. In fact, the latest census data also show that only 17 percent of Wisconsin farms identify a woman as the primary operator.

Several national organizations, such as the United Soybean Board, on which I serve, are advancing plans to increase diversity in their ranks. There are also steps all farmers can take to encourage more participation by women, members of minority groups and younger people.

Here are four ideas for starters: 1. Encourage everyone in your organizations to get involved. We know it starts at the grassroots level and

AUGUST | SEPTEMBER 2014

works up, but even now, we have few young farmers, women or minorities serving at county and state levels.

Perhaps they simply need to be asked and feel welcome. I believe women and minorities sometimes feel out of place where they’re outnumbered by others, and often downplay their abilities and accomplishments. So, it may take a bit more coaxing to integrate these folks into our organizations.

2. Establish mentoring programs.

Mentoring helps new board members adjust and become productive members of the team. As an added benefit, it also can help focus and develop leadership skills in those doing the mentoring.

3. Unleash the full power of your people. Look beyond old stereotypes that sometimes plague us. For example, women aren’t always the best secretaries, and nobody’s too young to be a leader.

Tapping into the diverse skills of colleagues and encouraging everyone to stretch can improve your board’s overall performance. Make sure everyone is part of your conversations and the decisionmaking process.

4. Watch your words in and out of session. Ethnic or sexist jokes are usually offensive to someone and must be avoided. Think before you speak and work at being inclusive.

Diversity of perspectives and opinions is important for the long-term success of not just Wisconsin agriculture, but the entire country’s vast and constantly evolving agricultural industry. That’s why it’s more important than ever to find new ways to engage farmer-leaders

who are younger, female as well as male, and, where possible, members of minority groups. Perhaps also we need to change our ideas and work a little harder at making our boards a place where everyone feels encouraged to participate.

It’s up to each of us to help this effort by actively seeking capable farmers with diverse backgrounds and encouraging them to step up and help keep Wisconsin agriculture growing strong. As recently departed author and former U.S. poet laureate Maya Angelou noted, “In diversity there is beauty and there is strength.”

Kavazanjian is a crop farmer from Beaver Dam, a director on the United Soybean Board and vice chair of the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance.

Bottom photo credit: AFBF.

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OPINION

Why it’s Time to ‘Ditch the Rule’ Guest Column by Bob Stallman

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mericans expect straight talk from their government. If our government says something, you ought to be able to take it to the bank, as the saying goes.

It’s Complicated Two Supreme Court rulings have limited EPA’s and the Corps of Engineers’ authority under the Clean Water Act to waters that are navigable or have a “significant nexus” to navigable waters.

EPA claims the rulings “complicated” the permitting process. The reality is not all that complicated: The agencies dislike the rulings and are simply trying to write regulations that allow them to do what the Supreme Court has said they cannot do—regulate nearly all waters.

EPA has said that it only wants to bring “clarity and consistency” to the process.

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That sounds reasonable. Good talking point. The only problem is the statement does not reflect what is in the proposed rule. The regulation will automatically regulate countless small and remote so-called “waters” that are usually dry and, in fact, look like land to you and me.

This is far more than a “clarification.” It is a dramatic expansion of federal power.

Expanding the federal government’s jurisdiction under the guise of bringing clarity and consistency to the process is the opposite of straight talk.

We Read the Fine Print When regulators show up on farms and ranches, they won’t be looking back at talking points to decide whether farming requires an expensive federal permit.

They will use the regulation. So let’s take a look at the fine print.

Ditches: The rule regulates ditches as “tributaries.” EPA claims that the rule would exclude ditches, but the so-called ditch exclusion only covers ditches dug entirely in “uplands.” The rule doesn’t define “uplands” (so much for clarity), but we know that uplands are not wetlands, and most ditches are “wetland” at some point along their length. That’s just one reason Farm Bureau believes the narrow ditch “exclusion” will be meaningless.

Farming exemptions: EPA offers assurances that all farming and ranching exemptions are being preserved under the rule. But those exemptions are extremely limited when it comes to activities in jurisdictional waters. That’s

why the exemptions will not protect most ordinary farming and ranching from permit requirements if ditches and low spots in farm fields are regulated, as they will be under the proposed rule.

Under the rule, federal permits would be needed for common farming activities such as applying fertilizer or pesticides, or moving cattle, if materials that are considered pollutants would fall into regulated low spots or ditches. Farmers can’t wait for federal permits to fertilize or protect their crops from pests and diseases. Permits also would be required for activities such as plowing, planting and fencing in these new “waters of the U.S.” unless a farmer has been farming the same land for decades, raising hurdles for beginning farmers.

Landowners could be in for a rude awakening—faced with penalties or lawsuits for the very things EPA says the rule doesn’t cover. Farm Bureau is dedicated to preventing that from happening, and we thank those leaders in the House and Senate who, in a bipartisan manner, are standing up for farmers and other landowners.

We hope EPA officials will read the fine print. We have, and that’s how we know it’s time to Ditch the Rule!

American Farm Bureau Federation President since 2000, Stallman is a cattle and rice farmer from Columbus, Texas. For more on this topic visit ditchtherule.fb.org.

WISCONSIN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

SWAG Will Help Promote Agriculture Guest Column by Nicole Reese

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ur license plates read America’s Dairyland, but where in Wisconsin is an innovative, high-tech place to learn about the diverse agriculture industry? A place that allows people to see and interact with live animals, crops being sowed in a field, scientists researching the newest development in plant genetics, or college students working with precision ag equipment while earning a degree?

With continued effort and support, this type of agricultural showcase can soon become a reality in Rock County.

The Southern Wisconsin Agricultural Group (SWAG) formed four years ago with the goal of engaging people in agriculture. From its humble beginnings, this group of passionate advocates have toiled over the vision, scope, audiences, feasibility and finances for a project like this. And all of this as volunteers, after all, they have their own farms and ag businesses to keep running.

So why put so much effort and energy into developing a project like this?

Simple; because they believe in the products that they produce, in their processes and in the vital role agriculture plays in everyone’s life. Through countless ups and downs, successes and defeats, they have remained steadfast in their vision of providing an exciting place for agricultural engagement.

Known as the Agricultural Education and Innovation Center, this 200-plus acre complex is going to focus on agricultural education, discovery and engagement. Plans are underway to feature an ag education campus, modern agricultural event facilities, and an

AUGUST | SEPTEMBER 2014

agricultural discovery center. For the ag education campus, SWAG is partnering with Blackhawk Technical College in south-central Wisconsin to bring post-secondary ag education programs to the site. The site will also feature facilities to be used by agribusinesses or other groups for workforce and safety trainings. This education campus would not be complete without an emphasis placed on hands-on learning where students or attendees can utilize research acreage, greenhouses, a commercial kitchen or shop space to continue their agricultural education experience.

Another key part will be modern ag event facilities. The site will feature several multi-functional barns, a show ring and campground space to host a variety of shows and events.

Focusing on consumer engagement, the Ag Discovery Center will be a high-tech, interactive ag experience for consumers of all ages to visit. Here SWAG envisions providing visitors with the latest information on processes and innovations that are being used in ag. This will be a place to showcase all sides of agriculture: from a large dairy to a small organic farm, a place where consumers come to understand what Genetically Modified Organisms are and what they are not, and a place that can show how everything from a cranberry to a potato is grown.

Envision all of these things on one site. On any given day, visitors might see a horse show happening while college students learn how to use precision ag equipment in the fields, and agribusiness employees being trained in artificial

insemination. This is the vision of SWAG, to create an opportunity for agricultural education, to showcase agricultural innovation, and to allow for agricultural engagement and interaction.

Visit www.whyagmatters.com to explore SWAG’s proposed Agricultural Education and Innovation Complex and to learn how you can get involved.

Agriculture depends on a variety of educational opportunities to help people explore and appreciate all that we do to grow the economy, sustain the environment, and feed the world.

Reese is SWAG’s Executive Director and a Rock County Farm Bureau member.

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BAYFIELD

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IRON

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VILAS BURNETT

WASHBURN

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FLORENCE ONEIDA

PRICE POLK

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MARINETTE LINCOLN

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TAYLOR ST. CROIX

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DUNN

PIERCE

BUFFALO

SHAWANO

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EAU CLAIRE TREMPELEAU

PEPIN

MARATHON

WOOD

PORTAGE

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WAUPACA OUTAGAMIE

BROWN

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LA CROSSE

WAUSHARA

ADAMS

MONROE JUNEAU

MANITOWOC

WINNEBAGO

CALUMET

MARQUETTE GREEN LAKE FOND DU LAC

SHEBOYGAN

VERNON CRAWFORD RICHLAND

SAUK

IOWA GRANT LAFAYETTE

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COLUMBIA

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DANE GREEN

JEFFERSON WAUKESHA

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MILWAUKEE

RACINE KENOSHA

Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank Duluth, MN

Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin Madison, WI

Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin Milwaukee, WI

Distribution Center

Feed My People Eau Claire, WI

Channel One Food Bank Rochester, MN

Second Harvest Heartland St. Paul, MN

New Distribution Center

Members of

The Wheels 1

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4 1. Steve Cushman, Owner of Cushman’s Greenhouse in Belmont, shared the ins-and-outs of running a greenhouse business.

3. Reedsburg fourth grade teacher Debbie Schell pet a calf for the first time at Majestic View Dairy in Lancaster.

2. Josh Kamps of Pleasant View Farm in Belmont explained how he makes decisions on his family’s beef farm.

4. Teri Abing of Majestic View Dairy showcased their on-the-farm classroom and the procedures followed when students come to the farm.

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WISCONSIN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

on the Bus...

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5. Rodger Wiegel answered questions about agricultural equipment during a stop at Ritchie’s Implement in Darlington.

7. Participants Brenda Gudex and Dana Westedt checked out and tasted the peas at Vesperman Farms.

6. Kyle Vesperman explained all of the things that Vesperman Farms in Lancaster has to offer for ag tourism.

8. The bus tour participants posed for a group photo in front of Woolwich Dairy in Lancaster.

sin Agriculture AUGUST | SEPTEMBER 2014

To read more about the Ag in the Classroom bus tour turn to page 42.

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FOUNDATION

Bus Tour Provides Opportunities for Teachers, Volunteers

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“This was an awesome, amazing, eye-opening experience.”

eachers and volunteers boarded a bus in southwest Wisconsin July, 8-9, to learn more about Wisconsin’s diverse agriculture industry.

Tour stops included Majestic View Dairy, Ihm Organic Farms, Woolwich Dairy Plant, Vesperman Farms, Wolf Farms, Potosi Brewery, Pleasant View Beef Farms, Gleason Cattle Company, Frontier Servco FS, Ritchie Implement, and Cushman’s Greenhouse. The purpose of the annual tour is to provide educators an up close look at agriculture and assist them in making connections to their classroom curriculum.

One of the attendees of the tour was Dana Westedt, a fourthgrade teacher at Riverview Elementary School in Reedsburg.

“This was an awesome, amazing, eye-opening experience,” Dana said. “I knew that farmers were using technology in the

field with tractors and combines and GPS devices. But I really had no idea the extent that they were using technology more directly on the farm, in the barns and with feeding animals and tracking so much information.

The welfare of the animal certainly benefits the most from this kind of advanced technology.”

Dana added, “The agriculture industry is so much more complex than most of us realize, and I think we're in good hands when it comes to looking at the future and moving forward in many directions. I will recommend the 2015 trip to my colleagues, and will be very interested in attending myself.”

This opportunity was provided by the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation – Janette Paulson Fund.

Weyauwega-Fremont Wins Food For America Contest

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he Weyauwega-Fremont FFA Chapter was recognized as having the best Food for America program at the 2014 State FFA Convention in Madison. The chapter’s advisors are Sandra Dykes and Connie Peterson. Many chapters competed in this award area, where FFA members educate elementary school students about Wisconsin agriculture. The top 10 chapters in this award area were interviewed at the convention.

The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation sponsors the Food for America Program at the state level.

The WeyauwegaFremont FFA Food for America program consists of many activities throughout the year. Projects and activities are developed to teach students and

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Waupaca County residents about agriculture. FFA members, community members and FFA alumni develop and execute a third grade agriculture day, breakfast on the farm, Wisconsin and agriculture history day and farm-to-school programs. They also provide agriculture-related speakers and field trips for the school district. The FFA chapter’s primary goal is to educate the young and old about agriculture and where their food and fiber comes from.

The other nine FFA chapters recognized for their programs were: Waupaca, Big Foot, Badger, Amery, Stevens Point, Manawa, Lodi, AdamsFriendship and Rosholt.

FFA members taught fourth-grade students the history of agriculture and how early settlers used plants, trees, flowers, weeds, grass and animals to survive at Hartman Creek State Park.

WISCONSIN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

Holmen FFA Builds Book Barn Project with Farm Bureau Mini-Grant Apply for your own Mini-Grant today!

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hrough funds from the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation, Holmen students are now being exposed to credible and positive agricultural literature through a mini-grant that was received by the Holmen Agriculture Education Department. With a goal to increase agricultural literacy in local elementary schools, the grant purchased age-appropriate, agricultural-focused books while high school students built book barns to store the books.

Once the books were purchased and barns were made, students read books to more than 400 elementary-aged students on National Ag Day. The FFA chapter hopes to continue to “fill the barn” with additional ag accurate books.

Interested in doing an ag literacy project similar to this?

Wisconsin Farm Bureau’s Ag in the Classroom program is offering grants up to $100 to pre-school through high school teachers, in a public or private school system, to fund projects that promote

AUGUST | SEPTEMBER 2014

agricultural literacy in the classroom. Grants can be used for innovative lessons, activities, resources, presentations, school fairs and other creative ideas. Projects should focus on integrating agriculture into a variety of curriculum areas.

A selection committee will review all funding requests that are properly completed and postmarked by the October 15 deadline.

The proposed project must be targeted to grades pre-K through 12 and should enhance student knowledge of the contribution made by agriculture. Projects that use funds toward an ongoing, sustainable education effort will receive preference over those that involve a one-time program. Proposed projects or events designed to reach large groups of students will be given preference, as will those that involve innovative approaches to promoting agricultural literacy.

For more information about the teacher mini-grants, contact Wendy Kannel at 608.828.5719 or wkannel@wfbf.com.

Want to help sponsor a project like this? Donate to the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation Today! wfbf.com/aboutwfbf/ foundation

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FOUNDATION

Abigail Martin Wins Wisconsin FFA Discussion Meet

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bigail Martin of the Milton FFA Chapter was named the state winner of the FFA Discussion Meet Contest at the 85th State FFA Convention at Madison.

Martin’s advisors were Nicole Reese and Matt Lee.

Wisconsin Farm Bureau President Jim Holte presents Abigail Martin with a plaque for winning the Wisconsin FFA Discussion Meet.

Photo credit: Empire Photography

The Discussion Meet Contest tests the abilities of FFA members in cooperatively discussing agricultural issues, exchanging ideas and information and finding solutions to issues or problems. Modeled after the Farm Bureau Discussion Meet contest, contestants give a 30-second opening statement, participate in 15-minutes of discussion and finish with a oneminute closing statement.

To qualify for the state finals, Martin has competed in several other contests during the past five months including the chapter, district, sectional and state semi-finals in Madison.

The other Discussion Meet finalists were: 2nd Place: Tiffany Stocks, Mondovi 3rd Place: Matt Kortbein, Tomah 4th Place: Adam Michalowski, Manawa The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation sponsors the State FFA Discussion Meet Contest.

My American Farm Debuts The Beeman Chosen as at Wisconsin State Fair Book of the Year While meandering through the Discovery Barnyard at this year’s Wisconsin State Fair, you may have noticed something new.

The Wisconsin State Fair was chosen as a recipient of funds from the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture to educate the public about agriculture through My American Farm. Fairgoers tried the more than 20 interactive games on tablets during their visit and learn more about American agriculture.

Not familiar with My American Farm?

The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture’s My American Farm project teaches agricultural literacy to consumers through an interactive computer game.

Players learn where food comes from and how those products get from the farm to their dinner plates. My American Farm is an online educational game that lets students learn about agriculture while having fun and is supported by a generous donation from its title sponsor, DuPont Pioneer.

To learn more, visit myamericanfarm.org.

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The Wisconsin Ag in the Classroom 2015 Book the Year is “The Beeman.” The book, by Laurie Krebs, introduces young readers to bees, beekeepers and pollinators.

This excellent book is a great way to introduce students to how agriculture relies on pollinators. The book will be linked with other Ag in the Classroom lessons and resources.

The book will be available from the WFB Foundaton in September by emailing Wendy Kannel at wkannel@wfbf.com.

WISCONSIN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

RURAL MUTUAL

Are You Covered? Are You Sure?

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his instalment of “Are You Covered; Are You Sure” discusses peak season coverage and why you might need it.

There are certain times throughout the year that you may have higher values of farm personal property. In the spring you may have a high inventory of expensive seed and chemicals and in the fall you may have full grain bins. Do you

By Peter Pelizza

have the proper coverage in place to protect these investments?

I encourage you to contact one of our Rural Mutual Insurance agents to discuss this important coverage.

Pelizza is the CEO and Executive Vice President of the Rural Mutual Insurance Company.

Scenario You have just finished the fall harvest and your grain bins are full. Overnight the dryer catches fire and destroys the grain. At 180 bushel of corn per acre with a price of around $4.75 per bushel do you have enough coverage on your farm personal property to account for all of your grain?

Reasons for an Umbrella Policy Many farms have an unusually high value of farm personal property on the premises at certain times of the year, usually following the fall harvest and extending into the following calendar year. There is a need to provide coverage for this additional personal property. The “Peak Season Endorsement” is available to increase the total amount of insurance during the calendar months specified in the endorsement for an additional premium charge.

This endorsement should be used on a limited basis for five consecutive months or less. If coverage is desired for more than five months, increase the Farm Personal Property coverage amount rather than applying for this Peak Season endorsement.

AUGUST | SEPTEMBER 2014

Peak season coverage provides an excellent tool to protect your farm personal property. Contact your local Rural Mutual agent to find out more about this very important coverage.

Rural Mutual

Insurance Company www.ruralins.com | 877.219.9550

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RURAL MUTUAL

Life Insurance Focus:

What are the considerations that farmers should make for their family, business and spouse?

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ll farm families should address their primary insurance needs. Chief among them is upon a death, where the surviving spouse needs income, which buys time to transition a farm to its next owner. Having cash allows a transition to happen on one’s own terms. Many farmers might look at a balance sheet where assets exceed liabilities and come to the conclusion that they do not need life insurance. “We have enough assets. My spouse could sell everything and be alright”.

This may be true today, but one cannot predict the economic environment that the spouse may be dealing tomorrow. There have been times in the past 30 years where a forced sale of a farm would not have been advantageous to the seller. Cash provides options. Always has; always will.

The death of parents who own farms is another situation when cash is needed to provide an equitable distribution of assets among farm and non-farm heirs. Someone gets the farm, someone gets the cash. No buyout. No big loan payment.

No confusion. Everyone is on the same page and the farm stays intact.

Estate taxes are another example of a secondary need. It is one of the most difficult risks to plan for, as it is dependent upon two unpredictable numbers. What will the federal estate

tax exemption be and what will the net worth be? Failure to plan for this event could have dire consequences on the next generation’s ability to continue the farm.

The tax is due within nine months and there are only three ways to pay for it: sell something, get a loan or have enough cash to pay for it. A properly structured life insurance program can provide for tax-free cash to pay for those liabilities.

Life insurance is a tool that is used to fix a problem.

Everyone has used a screwdriver as a hammer at least once – with mixed results. If it did not work out the way you expected is it the screwdriver’s fault? Make sure you are using the right tool for the job. Contact one of our Rural Mutual Insurance agents. They can help you navigate through the various types of policies to match the right policy for your need.

Neither the Company nor its agents give tax or legal advice.

Consult with your attorney and other professional advisers for tax and legal advice, and to determine the best solution for your specific situation.

Six Years Running: Rural Mutual is Among the Nation’s Best Insurance Companies

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adison-based Rural Mutual Insurance Company has been selected as a “Ward’s 50® Top Performer.” This marks the sixth consecutive year the company, an affiliate of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation, has earned the prestigious designation.

The recognition comes from the Ward Group, a leading provider of benchmarking and best practices research studies for insurance companies. It chooses its recipients only after a financial performance analysis of over 3,000 property and casualty companies based in the United States.

“Our average five year return on equity, assets and revenue, coupled with our net premium written and surplus growth rate have once again elevated us to be amongst the top 50 property and casualty companies in the United States. I am very proud to

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be associated with such a fine group of people who are the compelling reason for this ongoing success,” said Peter Pelizza, CEO of Rural Mutual.

Pelizza notes that this recognition means that Rural Mutual is better prepared than most to live up to its promise to its policyholders.

“That truly is the most important thing we do,” Pelizza said.

Rural Mutual has been providing a full line of insurance products exclusively to families, businesses and farms in Wisconsin for more than 80 years. Rural Mutual does business only in one state, so premiums paid here, stay here to keep Wisconsin strong.

WISCONSIN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

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Premiums Paid Here, Stay Here To Keep Wisconsin Strong.

Rural Mutual Insurance values what’s important in life. That’s why we have been protecting families, businesses and farms exclusively in Wisconsin for over 80 years. And since Rural Mutual Insurance does business in only one state, premiums paid here, stay here to keep Wisconsin strong.

Check out our competitive Town & Country Auto program, featuring a GOOD STUDENT DISCOUNT and MULTI-POLICY DISCOUNT. With Rural Mutual Insurance, you can rest a little easier knowing there are people nearby you can trust with your insurance.

Call us at 877-219-9550 for a competitive insurance quote and see how our coverages and price compare. Or visit us on Facebook or on our website at www.ruralins.com to find an agent near you and to enter for your chance at a $100 Visa gift card!

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