Wisconsin Farm Bureau leaders became lobbyists for a day while meeting with Wisconsin’s congressional delegation in Washington, D.C. on April 9. The issues at hand were technology, taxes, trade, farm bill implementation, immigration, water regulations and animal welfare.
“I was very happy with my visits on Capitol Hill,” said Doug Rebout, a Rock County Farm Bureau member. “It was educational for me and my representative and senators. I explained my concerns and they updated us on what they are working on.”
Rebout is one of 12 members of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation’s Leadership Institute Class to make the trip to Washington, D.C., April 7-11, with the Wisconsin Farm Bureau’s Board of Directors. It marked the completion of the yearlong Leadership Institute Class available to Farm Bureau members.
While in Washington, Farm Bureau members met officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and American Farm Bureau Federation. A visit to the British Embassy included a conversation on trade and the global agricultural economy. Members participated in a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.
Members of the seventh Leadership Institute Class who attended the D.C. trip are: Michelle Backhaus, Appleton; Cindy Bourget, Elk Mound; Jennifer M. Digman, Markesan; Sheila Everhart, Janesville; Lisa Gantner, Belgium; Charlie Knigge, Omro; Katie Mattison, Menomonie ; Chris Pollack, Ripon; Crystal Pollack, Ripon; Doug Rebout, Janesville; Wayne Staidl, Peshtigo; and Dave Wilke, Ripon.
The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation Leadership Institute is a yearlong leadership training course whose mission is to produce effective county Farm Bureau leaders. For more information, visit wfbf.com and search “Institute.”
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