Former Senator Joan Ballweg was awarded the Distinguished Service to Wisconsin Agriculture at the 2025 WFBF Annual Meeting and YFA Conference. This award is given to people who go above and beyond to advocate for the Wisconsin agriculture.
Ballweg was excited to accept this award. She said that she “loves to advocate for the agriculture industry, and most of that advocacy she learned from her family’s business or talking with Farm Bureau members.”
Her connection to agriculture didn’t begin on a farm; it began with a relationship. Growing up in the suburbs of Milwaukee, she never expected that her future would be shaped by rural life. That changed when she met her husband, Tom. Together, the two built a life centered around agriculture, owning and operating John Deere farm equipment dealerships for more than 50 years. Their work eventually brought them to Green Lake County, where they put down roots in a rural community and continued growing the business side-by-side. Those decades of serving farmers, understanding equipment needs and living in the heart of Wisconsin’s agricultural landscape helped spark Joan’s deep appreciation for the industry, one that would later guide her leadership and advocacy in the Legislature.
She built a strong working relationship with Farm Bureau and consistently valued their role in representing agricultural producers. Farm Bureau was proactive in bringing key issues to her attention, and she made it a priority to listen closely whenever they came to her office. When other agricultural organizations approached her with policy concerns or legislative ideas, she regularly circled back to Farm Bureau to ensure they were informed, supportive and aligned. This approach helped maintain unity among agricultural stakeholders and strengthened the impact of ag-related legislation moving through the Capitol.
Talking with Farm Bureau Members has helped Ballweg to be the legislature she wanted to be.
“When I would have the opportunity to go talk to farmers during the Annual Meeting or even at a county fair booth, getting the practical background on some of the things we were working on in the legislature just helped form an understanding of the issues and helped me understand how to explain these issues to my legislative colleague,” said Ballweg.
Ballweg attended local Farm Bureau county meetings throughout her time as a senator, which helped her gauge an understanding of farmers’ needs throughout Wisconsin.
Ballweg championed the Farmland Preservation Program and prioritized rural broadband expansion. When asked about why this was so important for her to prioritize, she said: “People need to understand that farming is a business, but as technology has increased, farmers need to be able to tap into all of their resources that are available. From being able to do their books online, to talking with other Farm Bureau members.”
She also said: “Just because you’re in a rural community, you aren’t cut off from the benefits of the increasing technology.”
The Wisconsin Farm Bureau would like to give a huge congratulations to Joan, and we appreciate her years advocating for Wisconsin agriculture.
Frannie Everson is a junior studying animal science at UW-River Falls. She grew up on a small hobby farm in Alma Center, Wis., raising diversified livestock for showing at the Jackson County Fair and Wisconsin State Fair. She is excited for the opportunity to learn more about Wisconsin Farm Bureau through the event ambassador program. Frannie served as one of the WFBF Event Ambassadors in 2025.
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