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Dunn County Farm Bureau members attend 98th Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation Annual Meeting and Young Farmer and Agriculturist Conference

WISCONSIN DELLS — Nearly 1,100 farmers and agriculturists from across Wisconsin attended the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation’s 98th Annual Meeting and Young Farmer and Agriculturist Conference, Dec. 1-4 in Wisconsin Dells. Delegates from Dunn County included Carl Casper and Larry Schlough of Menomonie, Brian Douglas and Tony Christopherson of Elk Mound, and Marv Prestrud of Prairie Farm.

Farm Bureau delegates adopted the policies that will guide the legislative agenda for the state’s largest general farm organization in 2018. Resolutions were submitted by delegates as part of a grassroots policy development process.

Delegates from the Wisconsin Farm Bureau’s 61 county Farm Bureaus held discussion on various items. Some items that delegates voted to support included:

• Milk processors giving farms 60 days’ notice before any changes to premium structure or required fees and giving 90 days’ notice before termination of service.

• Increased trade deals that benefit Wisconsin and U.S. Agriculture.

• Managed grazing as an approved method of stream bank management and managed wetland areas.

• In a time of disaster or emergency, any fees, permits or hold times should be waived to aid people with bridges and creek crossings.

• Allowing stream bank damage following a storm to be returned to pre-storm locations.

• Controlling predatory wildlife populations.

• A tax incentive for selling and renting land to beginning/young farmers.

• Mandatory rural traffic safety curriculum in driver’s education classes.

Regarding marketing initiatives, delegates opposed using misleading food labels for a marketing campaign. They supported changing fat percentage labelling on bottled milk from ‘2% Fat’ to ‘98% Fat Free’, ‘1% Fat to 99% Fat Free’ etc. and use of the non-GMO label only on products that have a GMO alternative.

At the close of the WFBF Annual Meeting, Elk Mound Farmer, Jim Holte, was re-elected to serve a 6th terms as president of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation and Rural Mutual Insurance Company. 

Held in conjunction with the WFBF annual meeting, the annual Young Farmer and Agriculturists Conference provided over 500 young farmers and agriculturists (ages 18-35) from across the state with an opportunity to network with their colleagues and gain information to benefit their farms and families.

Attendees had the opportunity to hear from several excellent speakers including Michele Payne who challenged the group to have a conversation about the food they produce with consumers, and shared that “we are all in this together.” Chris Koch, motivational speaker and farmer who was born without arms and legs, shared his story and message, “If I can…”

The Farm Bureau Extravaganza took place on Saturday night, with comedian Scott Novotny and the Farm Bureau Awards Banquet and Program on Sunday night was followed up by a reception and entertainment featuring The Memories.

For more information on the Dunn County Farm Bureau, call 877.457.8897 or visit http://wfbf.com/countyfarmbureaus/dunn/.