Grow Wisconsin Farmers Shaping the Future… ……Building on the Past

Grow Wisconsin Farmers VISION A coordinated network of resources will be available to assist beginning farmers. VISION A coordinated network of resources will be available to assist beginning farmers. MISSION To develop and sustain a coordinated network of resources and policies to assist dairy farm entry and transfer. MISSION To develop and sustain a coordinated network of resources and policies to assist dairy farm entry and transfer. STRATEGIES STRATEGIES Ongoing discussions, Ongoing discussions, Annual Conferences, Annual Conferences, Dairy Career and Business Development Website, and Dairy Career and Business Development Website, and Projects. Projects.

We Value 1. Economically sound and environmentally viable farms. 2. Diverse opportunities for beginning farmers to establish successful businesses. 3. Low cost and/or retrofitted facilities as opportunities for beginning farmers. 4. Experienced farmers who assist beginning dairy farmers. 5. Public and private organizations that assist in farm transitions.

Processes Ad Hoc committee beginning dairy farmer working group Ad Hoc committee beginning dairy farmer working group Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, University of Wisconsin, University of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Technical Colleges, Wisconsin Technical Colleges, Farm Credit Services, Farm Credit Services, Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, Wisconsin Farm Service Agency (USDA), Wisconsin Farm Service Agency (USDA), Farm Organization representatives and others. Farm Organization representatives and others. Wisconsin Dairy Industry Revitalization Funding Wisconsin Dairy Industry Revitalization Funding USDA and UW-Extension (and support from U.S. Sen. Kohl) and competitive grant program award. USDA and UW-Extension (and support from U.S. Sen. Kohl) and competitive grant program award.

State-wide Conferences 2003 state-wide conference 2003 state-wide conference Focused on identifying gaps and developing solutions Focused on identifying gaps and developing solutions Discussion topics: Financial, Business, Education, Production & Support Discussion topics: Financial, Business, Education, Production & Support 2004 agenda – addressing the gaps 2004 agenda – addressing the gaps Discussion topics: Getting in, staying in, community support, decision-making for beginning farmers, mentoring opportunities, ag lending resources, improving profitability, neighbor/community relations, older generation issues, younger generation issues, farm organizations’ assistance for beginning farmers Discussion topics: Getting in, staying in, community support, decision-making for beginning farmers, mentoring opportunities, ag lending resources, improving profitability, neighbor/community relations, older generation issues, younger generation issues, farm organizations’ assistance for beginning farmers 2005 agenda - Agri-business professionals 2005 agenda - Agri-business professionals Discussion topics: Mentoring, Evaluating facilities, taxes, financing options, initiating difficult conversations, working with different cultures Discussion topics: Mentoring, Evaluating facilities, taxes, financing options, initiating difficult conversations, working with different cultures

Grow Wisconsin Farmers Workshops for those who wish to begin or who have already begun farming and for those who support them….

Workshops Purposes To establish regional networks of stakeholder organizations that will have a central focus on beginning farmers. To establish regional networks of stakeholder organizations that will have a central focus on beginning farmers. To conduct regional workshops that attract To conduct regional workshops that attract Beginning farmers, Beginning farmers, Young persons considering farming careers, and Young persons considering farming careers, and Farm owners seeking/considering life and business transitions. Farm owners seeking/considering life and business transitions. To encourage personal interest, career entry and general support for future health of the business of production agriculture. To encourage personal interest, career entry and general support for future health of the business of production agriculture.

State and Regional Partners University of Wisconsin University of Wisconsin Agriculture and Natural Resources Cooperative Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources Cooperative Extension County Extension County Extension UW Farm and Industry Short Course UW Farm and Industry Short Course School for Beginning Dairy Farmers (Grazing School) School for Beginning Dairy Farmers (Grazing School) Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board Wisconsin Technical College System Wisconsin Technical College System Wisconsin Farm Service Agency (USDA) Wisconsin Farm Service Agency (USDA) Farm Credit Services Farm Credit Services Regional Economic Development Organizations Regional Economic Development Organizations Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection County Agriculture Promotion Organizations County Agriculture Promotion Organizations Grazing Networks Grazing Networks Wisconsin Housing & Economic Development Authority Wisconsin Housing & Economic Development Authority Service Corp of Retired Executives (SCORE) Service Corp of Retired Executives (SCORE) Farm Organizations and Many Others Farm Organizations and Many Others

Workshop Locations Cleveland Thorp Rice Lake

Rice Lake, Wisconsin

Thorp High School

Grow Wisconsin Farmers Regional workshop exit comments: “This (workshop) gives you (me) courage.” “This (workshop) gives you (me) courage.” “People here are enthusiastic about dairy farming. In school back home my friends think I am crazy. Glad I came!” “People here are enthusiastic about dairy farming. In school back home my friends think I am crazy. Glad I came!” “There really are people who are also interested in what I want to do….to farm!” “There really are people who are also interested in what I want to do….to farm!” My wife and I are working together to decide our future…. “This has helped a lot.” My wife and I are working together to decide our future…. “This has helped a lot.”

Grow Wisconsin Farmers Workshops Summary attendance: 72, 93, 98. Approx. 40% have been self- declared ‘beginning’ farmers attendance: 72, 93, 98. Approx. 40% have been self- declared ‘beginning’ farmers. Conducted Saturdays: Dec. 4, 11, and Jan. 8 Conducted Saturdays: Dec. 4, 11, and Jan. 8 Good planning has involved the commitments of key people who have a local stake in the future of farming taking an active and responsible role. Good planning has involved the commitments of key people who have a local stake in the future of farming taking an active and responsible role. Workshop Structure: Keynote opening, panels-farm families at different stages and sizes, agency (lenders, farm program, legal) representatives, exhibits, repeated roundtable discussion. Workshop Structure: Keynote opening, panels-farm families at different stages and sizes, agency (lenders, farm program, legal) representatives, exhibits, repeated roundtable discussion. Cost of participation reasonable: Planning, coordination, promotion, meals, refreshments, materials. Cost of participation reasonable: Planning, coordination, promotion, meals, refreshments, materials. Network (planning committee), preplanning, debriefing and planning for follow-up essential. Network (planning committee), preplanning, debriefing and planning for follow-up essential. Workshop series requires vision, planning, follow-up, local network development, encouraging and supportive facilitation, ideas, continuity and statewide planning assistance. Workshop series requires vision, planning, follow-up, local network development, encouraging and supportive facilitation, ideas, continuity and statewide planning assistance.

Grow Wisconsin Farmers Reflection and Planning There are people who want to be beginning farmers There are people who want to be beginning farmers Community & experienced farmer support is out there – just a matter of harnessing it Community & experienced farmer support is out there – just a matter of harnessing it Workshops & state conferences provide networking opportunities to address this specific transition topic. Workshops & state conferences provide networking opportunities to address this specific transition topic. Format of the workshops/conference is very important Format of the workshops/conference is very important Coalition is the key to both the workshops and conference success Coalition is the key to both the workshops and conference success Planning ’05-’06 round of workshops and a 2006 state- wide conference Planning ’05-’06 round of workshops and a 2006 state- wide conference Funding for 4 regional workshops Funding for 4 regional workshops State conference funding through sponsorship and registration fees State conference funding through sponsorship and registration fees

Contact Information Gwen Garvey – WI Farm Link Coordinator, Department of Ag, Trade & Consumer Protection Gwen Garvey – WI Farm Link Coordinator, Department of Ag, Trade & Consumer Protection (608) Joy Kirkpatrick – Center for Dairy Profitability Joy Kirkpatrick – Center for Dairy Profitability (608)