Bright Futures: Your Bi-Monthly Newsletter from the WROF, Inc.

Published: Thu, 08/30/12

Wisconsin Rural Opportunities Foundation Email Newsletter Template

August 30, 2012

You are receiving this newsletter from the Wisconsin Rural Opportunities Foundation, Inc. because you are one of our past or current recipients, you signed up to receive this on our website, you asked to receive this, or you very generously made a financial contribution to support our organization. Thank you.
 
Paving the Way for Wisconsin's Women Ag Leaders
by Laura Beane, WROF, Inc. Board member
Laura Beane with two of her four great-grandchildren, twins Ella and Charlotte
 
I was the first woman to join the WROF, Inc. Board of Directors. It was 1976, when women in leadership roles were hardly commonplace.

Walter Renk, the board president at that time, called me and invited me to serve the WROF, Inc. as a director. I didn't know Walter personally, but I knew of him because of his family's company, Renk Seed. He had a great reputation in our community, so even though I hadn't heard of the WROF, Inc., I was willing to listen to what Walter had to say.

The more Walter talked, the more interested I grew in helping the WROF, Inc. fulfill its mission of fostering the vitality of rural Wisconsin. I agreed to join, and more than 35 years later, I still believe just as strongly in the work the Foundation does and the impact it has on rural Wisconsin.

My late husband Craig and I farmed in the Fort Atkinson area, so in addition to bringing a woman's point of view to the board, I was also able to bring a farmer's point of view. Though I never thought of myself as a pioneer, I am proud to be one of Wisconsin's first woman leaders in agriculture. Seeing me in this light inspired my daughter Marcia to be a leader in agriculture as well; She was the first woman to win Outstanding Ag Student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Back then, the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences was only 20% women. Today, women students outnumber the men--I believe it's 60/40.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my service to the WROF, Inc. There are some really good minds on the board, and we have accomplished many wonderful things, supporting those from rural Wisconsin who are interested in enhancing their education. I am no longer the only woman director--there are three of us now. Still, we are always looking for more women to help lead the WROF, Inc. into the future.

If you are interested in learning more about my experience with the WROF, Inc. or would like to be considered as a director, feel free to contact me. You can reach me through the WROF, Inc. by sending an email to [email protected].


UW Farming Course Appeals to Young Entrepreneurs
 
 Richard Cates with the WSBDLF class of 2011
 
Prior to 1995, farming in Wisconsin was almost strictly a family affair. Richard Cates, Director of the Wisconsin School for Beginning Dairy and Livestock Farmers (WSBDLF), says knowledge about operating a successful farm was passed down from generation to generation.

"Wisconsin had no pathway to start farming if you didn't come from a family of farmers," says Cates. "It's not like becoming a plumber or a carpenter."

The WSBDF is a program of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems and Farm & Industry Short Course, with the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. The WSBDF was created with a grant from the USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program. Now in its 17th year, it is the only program of its kind in the country.

Specifically designed to educate, prepare, and mentor entering and transitioning dairy and livestock farmers, the WSBDF has enabled graduates to turn an investment of a few months' time and tuition into the start of a lifelong successful farming career.

Cates shared the success story of one former student, Andy Hatch. Originally from Milwaukee, Hatch dreamed of being a cheese maker. After completing the WSBDF program, Hatch is now the cheese maker and general manager at Uplands Cheese near Dodgeville, Wisconsin, making Pleasant Ridge Reserve artisan cheese. In 2012, for the third year in a row, Pleasant Ridge Reserve won the American Cheese Society's annual competition as the best cheese of its type.

Hatch's story is just one among hundreds. Nearly 400 students and transitioning farmers have gone through the WSBDF program. About 75 percent of its graduates are actively engaged in dairy or livestock farming, and about half of these farmers have started their own farm business. In addition, many who are not currently farming still have plans to do so.

"Wisconsin has a pool of very bright, motivated individuals who want to be entrepreneurial," says Cates. "They want to run their own businesses ... They want to have the American dream."

The WSBDF also offers a distance education option. There are currently 18 locations with a classroom facilitator who leads on-site discussions and hosts the weekly live webinars broadcast from the UW-Madison campus.

The WROF is proud to support Cate's program, providing the WSBDF with $3,500 annually, with which Cates is able to award as many as seven scholarships. "Most of the kids that come to short course, and especially those who are looking to start farming, are paying for this on their own," he explains. "So when I see that, I know that if I can help them out a little bit, that this money is going to be appreciated. I am so eternally grateful, and honored to thank the Foundation very much for its support."

To get application materials to attend the WSBDF on the Madison campus, or for more information about any aspect of the program, go to www.cias.wisc.edu/dairysch.html or call 608-265-6437.


A Love of Tinkering Leads to Lifelong Career
by Martin Melssen, WROF, Inc. scholarship recipient
Martin Melssen on his family's farm
 
Both of my parents grew up on farms. My mom's side preferred International Harvester, while my dad's side preferred John Deere, so I gained the knowledge of both brands over the years. I have always been interested in understanding how things worked, particularly machinery. If a piece of equipment wasn't working, I enjoyed helping to fix it. My favorite part is seeing a piece of machinery run normally again, after it has been repaired.

After a few years of helping fix my family's farm machinery, and working on the neighbors' lawn mowers, mini bikes, and small one-cylinder engines, I decided to look into becoming a professional mechanic. When I was a junior in high school I went to an open house at South West Technical College to learn about the Agricultural Power and Equipment Program. As soon as I saw the shop, I knew it was the right career for me. I felt right at home--it was just like being in my uncle's shop.

I enrolled at SWTC after high school and two years later, I had my degree. In 2010 I was hired as a mechanic for Scott Implement in Platteville, Wisconsin. I really like doing what I do for a living--fixing and maintaining machinery.

If it weren't for the grants, scholarships, and, most importantly, the WROF, Inc., I wouldn't have achieved the level of schooling I did. Thank you!


   
Check it Out! Did We Get it Right?
by Marcy Heim, WROF, Inc. Executive Director
 
Attention all past WROF, Inc. award recipients! YOU and your many contributions and successes represent the IMPACT we have had in Wisconsin, and we want everyone to know you were selected to receive our support.
 
We are in the middle of a big project to recognize our past recipients from each educational institution over the years.We congratulate you on your achievements!
 
Please go to our website, www.WROF.org, click on Scholarships and Awards, then select "Past Recipients" from the drop-down list. If your school is highlighted, we have your awards listed. Please take a look and see if we have the information listed correctly. If you find an error, please send an email to [email protected] with the subject line "AWARD CORRECTION," and provide us with the correct information.

Several groups of past recipients are taking advantage of the new WROF Matching Challenge Program. Past recipients can group together to create a new scholarship for their particular area of study, institution, or program. For example, nursing students are pooling their gifts to create a new nursing scholarship. The best part, thanks to a major matching grant, is that these scholarships will all be matched, doubling the amount awarded each year! For more details, or to begin a program in your area, please contact me at 608-772-6777 or [email protected]. Thank you for your investment in the vitality of rural Wisconsin!


Bright Futures is published six times a year on or around the third Wednesday of the month. Please send comments to [email protected].