Alison Kepner of Sauk County, Brian Preder of Waupaca County and Beth Schaefer of Marathon County have been appointed to the Wisconsin Farm Bureau’s Young Farmer and Agriculturist (YFA) Committee by the Farm Bureau’s state Board of Directors. Their terms begin at the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation’s Annual Meeting and Young Farmer and Agriculturist Conference, December 4-7, in Wisconsin Dells.
“These individuals are among the best and brightest young leaders in Wisconsin agriculture and will make great additions to the YFA Committee,” Wisconsin Farm Bureau President Jim Holte said.
Alison Kepner is an assistant vice president in the Farm and Home segment for Badgerland Financial. Alison works with farmers and rural residents in portions of Sauk County and all of Juneau County. Alison is on the board of directors for Sauk County Farm Bureau and helps organize Cows on the Concourse, an annual event in Madison that kicks off June Dairy Month. Raised on a hog and grain farm in Illinois, Alison now lives and works in Baraboo.
Brian Preder developed his passion for dairy farming on his family’s 60-cow farm. A graduate of UW-River Falls in dairy science, he is a herd manager for Pine Breeze Dairy, a 2,500-cow dairy located in Poy Sippi. Before his appointment to the WFBF YFA Committee he was the Waupaca County YFA chair. Brian volunteers at the Waupaca County Fair each August where he assists dairy exhibitors.
Beth Schaefer is a regional program manager for the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board’s Wisconsin Dairy Council. Beth works with K-12 schools in north-central Wisconsin to explain the benefits of drinking milk and works closely with media to promote Wisconsin cheese. Beth is the treasurer of the Marathon County Farm Bureau and is actively involved in her church and the Marathon County Partnership for Progressive Agriculture. Beth and her husband Matt live in Hatley with their son Henry.
The WFBF YFA Committee consists of nine couples or individuals (ages 18-35) from across the state. Their goal is to get more young farmers and agriculturists acquainted with and involved in Farm Bureau. They carry out a variety of statewide initiatives, such as conferences, contests and award programs. The YFA Program is sponsored by the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation.
For more information about Wisconsin Farm Bureau’s YFA Program or committee, call 1.800.261.FARM or visit www.wfbf.com.
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