Volunteers for Agriculture® Announce Primary Endorsements

Today, Volunteers for Agriculture®, the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation’s political action arm, announced several endorsements in partisan primaries for state Senate and state Assembly races ahead of the August 11 Primary Election.  

The VFA® endorsement process began with candidate engagement at the local county Farm Bureau level. Farm Bureau members engaged candidates and learned about their backgrounds and views on agricultural policy, while also having the opportunity to ask questions. Feedback and input were provided afterwards to the VFA® Committee, which was used to inform their endorsement decisions.  

“Our grassroots members believe agriculture should have a seat at the table throughout the entire election process, including during the primary. Today’s endorsement announcements provide an opportunity to elevate the candidates running in contested primaries who understand agriculture and will advocate for Wisconsin farm families,” said VFA Committee Chair Austin Vandertie.

VFA has endorsed one candidate for state Senate:  

• Ellen Schutt is a cattle farmer and former State Representative from Assembly District 31 with a proven record of supporting agriculture in the legislature and currently serves as Executive Director of the Wisconsin FFA Foundation. She is running in the 11th Senate District. 

VFA has endorsed four candidates for state Assembly: 

• Representative Mark Born has worked closely with Wisconsin Farm Bureau as the Chairman of the Joint Committee on Finance and built strong relationships with farmers in the 37th Assembly District where he is seeking re-election. 

• Representative Chanz Green has been a leader on issues impacting farmers and loggers, including the Forestry Revitalization Bill to help bring a Sustainable Aviation Fule (SAF) facility to northern Wisconsin and to address wildlife damage. Green is seeking re-election in the 74th Assembly District. 

• Kevin Krentz is a dairy farmer in Waushara County, former Farm Bureau District 5 Board Director and Farm Bureau President and currently serves on the board of the Dairy Business Association. He is running to represent the 57th Assembly District. 

• Bill Oemichen is a professor of law and a local government educator for UW-Extension, former chief consumer protection official at the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, serves on the board of AgCountry Farm Credit Services, a farmer-owned cooperative, and has worked extensively on agricultural issues throughout his career. He is running to represent the 50th Assembly District. 

The VFA committee will announce further endorsements for the general election in the coming months.