Contact: Cheryl Zimmerman, State FFA Executive Director Phone: 715-659-4807 Email

For Immediate Release Contact: Cheryl Zimmerman, State FFA Executive Director Phone: 715-659-4807 Email: [email protected] Jeff Hicken, State FFA Advisor Phone: 608-267-9255 Email: [email protected] RILEY WISCONSIN STAR FARMER FINALIST

Elisha has been an active member of her family’s 260 acre organic dairy farm all her life. In addition to working on the family farm, she also owns her own dairy cattle and rabbits, which she shows at the county and state fairs, along with a few head of swine and horses. Her primary focus is on the family’s 35 head of Holstein cattle and the work she does with her rabbit project.

Elisha breeds mini lops, Rex’s and Lion Heads. She makes breeding stock available to other rabbit enthusiasts and offers a lease program to young people to show her stock. Elisha continues to increase her operation and make improvements, especially to her rabbitry. She sells the market rabbits to her family’s meat CSA and on the farm store, taking the time to cull, process and package the animals herself.

Riley, a member of the Waupaca FFA, plans to attend UW-River Falls majoring in veterinary medicine. Her parents are Thomas and Kari Riley. Her FFA Advisors are Jenifer Erb and Rene Lehman.

The Star Farmer Awards are sponsored by State Convention Partners.

The Wisconsin FFA Convention celebrates the accomplishments of the students, advisors and supporters. It hosts over 3,000 members, advisors and guests, representing 250 local agricultural education programs. This year’s convention was held June 12 to 15 at the Alliant Energy Center Exhibition Hall in Madison, Wis. The Wisconsin Association of FFA is a leading student organization due to the efforts of more than 20,858 students across that state. With a focus on premier leadership, personal growth and career success, students’ FFA activities complement agricultural classroom instruction by giving them an opportunity to apply their skills and knowledge while gaining real-world experience. These activities are dependent on donor funding through the Wisconsin FFA Foundation. For more information about Wisconsin FFA and the Wisconsin FFA Foundation, visit www.wisconsinffa.org or www.wisconsinffafoundation.org, become a fan of Wisconsin FFA Foundation on Facebook, or call 715-659-4807. ###