Please share a little about yourself.
I graduated from high school in 1999 and then attended the two-year program at UW-Madison’s Farm & Industry Short Course. Afterward I started farming full-time with my parents, George and Kathy. My wife is Gina and our daughter is Josephina.
Farm Bureau is a family affair for us. I’ve been a Farm Bureau member since 2001. My dad serves on the Washington County Farm Bureau board and my mom serves as the WFBF Promotion and Education Committee Representative for District 1 and is active with Ag in the Classroom.
When you were growing up what did you want to be?
I always wanted to be a farmer.
Please share your farming responsibilities.
We milk 200 Holsteins and grow crops on 750 acres including corn, soybeans, wheat and alfalfa. I also do some custom bagging for area farmers.
Share your experience of serving as Young Farmer and Agriculturist Chair and now as president of the Washington County Farm Bureau. What is the best part of these roles? The most challenging part of these roles?
I served as YFA chair for Washington County for a few years and then I was appointed to fill a term for another board member. During the next election, I was re-elected. The best part of being involved with Farm Bureau is meeting new people and seeing what is happening in agriculture. One of the challenges in Washington County is finding the balance between urban and rural. With the decline in the number of farms and the decrease in agricultural land in general we are challenged constantly on how to keep the public informed.
You participated in FFA. What is one agricultural experience that has defined you?
Showing dairy cattle at my county fair and the Wisconsin State Fair.
What is one Farm Bureau experience of which you are most proud?
Participating in the WFBF Leadership Institute. It was a wonderful experience. I gained confidence and learned the right tools for leadership development. It helped me to better myself and become a stronger county Farm Bureau leader. A great program from start to finish.
What is something that many Farm Bureau members do not know about you?
I’m a captain for the Fillmore Volunteer Fire Department.
What Farm Bureau committees have you served on?
For WFBF committees I’ve served as the representative for District 1 on the YFA Committee and serve as the vice-chair of the Volunteers For Agriculture® Committee, WFBF’s political action committee. At the county level, I’ve served as vice president and president on the board and on the membership, fair and Promotion and Education committees.
By Marian Viney, originally appeared in the April|May 2022 Rural Route.
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