Grassrootsdistrict 1 News
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MARCH 2021 GrassrootsDistrict 1 News Embracing Changes Going Forward March 2021 Events Gone Virtual Dave Daniels Ag LEAD Summit WFBF District 1 Director Friday, March 12 The Ag LEAD Summit As you read this district newsletter we are well will be held virtually on Friday, into the 2021 new year and you are gearing up for March 12. The welcome will begin at spring planting. 9 a.m. with keynote speaker Paul Wesselmann, ‘The Ripples Guy.’ It was a wild ride in 2020 with a President Some of you may remember him as the keynote speaker at the retiring from Wisconsin Farm Bureau and a lot of Women’s Summit a few years ago. Following the keynote there will new leadership on the WFBF board of directors. I be breakout sessions. The second keynote speaker will be Hannah think the comment came in as “Five under 45.” The Thompson-Weeman, Animal Agriculture Alliance, followed by more age of our Wisconsin Farm Bureau board is younger than it’s ever been, fresh breakout sessions and the closing. The event will conclude at 3:30 faces and fresh ideas are always good and keeps the organization looking p.m. The cost to attend the virtual conference is $25. Registration forward. I do not think any of the fresh ideas included a pandemic hitting all closes on March 1. To register, visit wfbf.com/events/ag-lead-summit. of us. The pandemic did move the organization forward though with virtual meetings using the Microsoft Teams platform, and towards the end of the year a new way of doing the WFBF Annual Meeting. I think many of us would have liked the old way, but we were able to have the resolution and policy meeting all virtually. It was a long day, but we did accomplish Ag Day at the Capitol setting policy for your organization and passed policy to take to the AFBF Wednesday, March 24 Annual Convention in January. The AFBF Annual Convention also was held This annual event will be held virtually. Briefings will be held in the virtually and three delegates from Wisconsin participated to set national morning and virtual legislative visits will take place in the afternoon. policy. I know that if we were to do it over, we would change some things. Topics will be sent to registered participants prior to the event. The good part is that we were successful in conducting virtual meetings, Topics will not be released until the governor’s budget is released. and we have heard a lot of great feedback from our members. To schedule a virtual visit with your legislator, please contact With the new year we will still be doing many things virtually until more District 1 Coordinator Patti Wilhelme at [email protected] or people accept the vaccine and we have the so called ‘herd immunity’ in 866.355.7341. For more information and to register, visit wfbf.com. place. Normally, the AFBF Annual Convention will draw 5,000 to 6,000 people and it ended up with more than 8,000 members and non-members registering for the virtual event. That means as leaders and counties we Plant a Seed, Reap the Rewards can think ‘out of the box’ on projects that can involve members within your county. From cream puff drive-throughs to pork-chop carry outs and The 2021 membership campaign theme everything in between, counties looked at creative ideas to spread the word is Plant a Seed, Reap the Rewards. County about agriculture. volunteers are encouraged to help Farm At the state level we will look ahead on what the next biennial budget Bureau grow in 2021 by planting the seeds of will mean for our farmer members. With a new administration in the White membership and helping to nurture those new House, we will have opportunities to tell our story and the challenges we members. face every day on our farms. We have new policy to try and expand the Volunteer membership workers who sign up: supply chain from our farmer producers to the consumers. This could be at • Four or more new members by March 31 will receive a Farm your local grocery store or at the farmer markets that the consumer is using Bureau 12-pack duffel cooler. more and more. • Five or more new members by Sept. 30 will qualify as members of 2021 is here, it will be something different and you can be a part of it. You the Farm Bureau Proud Club. will have an opportunity to participate with your local county Farm Bureau and other programs virtually for the foreseeable future. Thanks for being a For more information, please contact District 1 Coordinator Patti member of your local county Farm Bureau and Wisconsin Farm Bureau. Wilhelme at 866.355.7341 or [email protected]. Wishing you, your family and farm a safe planting season. Winter Edition 1 District 1 News Virtual WFBF Annual Meeting Is a Success The 101st WFBF Annual Meeting was held completely virtual, and on Friday evening the Milwaukee County: Henry Kiesow virtually on Dec. 4-5. Final 4 competed. Ozaukee County: Neal Maciejewski and Mark The meeting started with President Joe The winner of the Discussion Meet was Julie Mayer Bragger’s President’s Address, followed by the Sweney from Dodge County. She competed Racine County: Brian Baumeister, Judy Leopold Conservation Award presentation. during the AFBF Discussion Meet and Uhlenhake and Jim Waldron During Joe Bragger’s address he highlighted represented Wisconsin very well, making it to Walworth County: Rick Adams, John activities that counties have done since COVID- the Sweet 16 Round. Erbentraut, Mike Etten, Terry Papcke and Mark 19 started a year ago. Two District 1 counties On Dec. 5, it was a long day for county Polyock were in the spotlight for their activities: delegates. Beginning at 9 a.m. was the District Washington County: Ken Falk, Mike Ozaukee and Racine. 1 caucus meeting. The Business Meeting began Kannenberg, Peter Muth, Randy Thull and Carl During the afternoon there were workshops at 10:30 a.m. and then the WFBF Resolutions Wolf that participants could watch. Session started at 11:30. Waukesha County: Jane Craig, Jim Renn and In addition, the Wisconsin Farm Bureau During the resolutions session, delegates Bob Stigler Business Session was held. Participants heard adopted the policies that are included in the from WFBF Chief Administrative Officer WFBF 2021 Policy Book. WFBF District 1 Director and Vice President Kim Pokorny. WFBF’s Executive Director All of the resolutions that were voted on Dave Daniels did a great job running the of Operations and Treasurer Jeff Fuller also were submitted by the delegates as part of the resolutions session and keeping the meeting on reported. grassroots policy development process. track. The day concluded by presenting the The delegates from District 1 included: The WFBF Board of Directors had their Distinguished Service to Farm Bureau Award to Jefferson County: Melissa Gross, Steve Jones, re-organizational meeting on Dec. 7. Bob and Carol Bartholomew. Eugene Mess, Mary Mess, Randy Mitchell, Will Kevin Krentz from District 5 was elected as Dick Cates Jr. received the Distinguished Morris, Tony Schadt and Roger Zimmerman President and Dave Daniels was re-elected as Service to Wisconsin Agriculture. Kenosha County: Tim Edquist and Wes Vice President. Kevin Krentz also will serve on This year, the YFA Discussion Meet was Hawkins the AFBF Board of Directors. Ag in the Classroom Shares National Ag Day Activities To celebrate National Ag Day on March 23, the Madison, WI 53705. Wisconsin Ag in the Classroom has an activity for Entries must be postmarked by March 31. students in pre-kindergarten to 12th grade. There is a form that should be included on the back The theme is, ‘Food brings everyone to the table.’ of the students entry to identify the student. This activity allows students to share the different Artwork must be original, done exclusively by the ways that farmers bring food to their tables. student and without any copyrighted characters or clip Entries can portray different kinds of foods the art. No computer-generated art. students like; show what farmers, processors and others Through a random drawing, 10 entries from each do to bring food from the farm to table; share fun facts grade level group will receive a $10 Culver’s gift card. about food; or show things they want to share about All entries will be sent Ag in the Classroom resources. food. Good luck to the students participating in the There are three grade level groups: National Ag Day activity. • PreK-third grade National Ag Day is a day to recognize and celebrate • Fourth-eighth grade the abundance provided by agriculture. • Ninth-12th grade Every year, producers, agricultural associations, corporations, universities, government agencies and For activity page and rules, visit wisagclassroom.org countless others across America join together to under the ‘Events and activities’ tab. recognize the contributions of agriculture. Print the activity page and submit your entry to For more information, visit www.agday.org. Wisconsin Ag in the Classroom, P.O. Box 5550, Food brings everyone to the table. 2 wfbf.com/about/counties District 1 News Farm Bureau Proud Club Members Honored ‘Farm Bureau in a Box’ Items Any volunteer membership worker who signs five or more new members throughout • District 1: Jam from Jelli's Market the membership year is part of the Farm http://jellismarket.com Bureau Proud Club. • District 2: Custom Farm Bureau Ornament from Essentially Alison, Typically, their recognition happens at the www.facebook.com/essentiallyalison WFBF Annual Meeting.