Dane County’s Jack Meffert has received the highest award the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation bestows upon its members.
Meffert was presented the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation’s “Distinguished Service to Farm Bureau” award during the organization’s 95th Annual Meeting in Wisconsin Dells on December 7. Meffert, a dairy and crop farmer from rural Waunakee has provided exceptional leadership and support to Farm Bureau’s efforts.
Meffert was elected to the Dane County Farm Bureau Board of Directors in 1980. He served as its membership chairman from 1987 to 2013.
“He exemplified what a membership chairman should do, with 280 Farm Bureau members credited to his referrals,” said Tom Jelinek, Dane County Farm Bureau President. “He spends hundreds of hours each year visiting with prospective members. He has advocated of working with Frontier-Servco FS employees and Rural Mutual Insurance Company agents to bring a unified effort to membership work.”
Meffert strongly supports the Young Farmer and Agriculturist program and youth programs in Dane County. He has served as a mentor to many board members and has encouraged many young members to attend the YFA Conference, serve as voting delegates or volunteer with Ag in the Classroom.
Since 1995 he’s coordinated a golf outing fundraiser for Farm Bureau programs and scholarships. He recently encouraged and assisted new board members to continue the event. He also implemented a scholarship program for Dane County Farm Bureau members and their children to assist those entering careers in agriculture.
Meffert served as the Dane County Farm Bureau’s Secretary/Treasurer from 1982 to 2013. He served as the Dane County Farm Bureau representative on the DancoPrairie FS Board of Directors for more than 15 years.
“He truly understands and promotes the Farm Bureau family concept with his support of FS and Rural Mutual Insurance services,” Jelinek said.
He has served many times as a delegate to the WFBF Annual Meeting. He was named the ‘Friend of Agriculture’ by the Dane County Farm Bureau in 2013.
As a member of the Dane County Dairy Promotion Committee, his family hosted the Breakfast on the Farm in 1988. He has served on the Town of Vienna planning committee for more than a decade. He is a member and usher at St. John’s Church in Waunakee, and belongs to the Knights of Columbus and Waunakee FFA Alumni.
Jack and his wife, Marilyn, have three children (Jeff, Jean and Sue), two grandchildren and three step-grandchildren. He farms in partnership with his son, Jeff.
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