A heart for the voice of Wisconsin farmers and a drive for positive change are intrinsically laced in Brad Olson’s mindset. Born and raised on his family’s farm near Frederic, Brad always knew he would have a place in agriculture.
It was the influence of Wisconsin Farm Bureau and a desire to make an impact that led Brad to join the WFBF Board of Directors in 2022 and become WFBF President in December 2023.
Work Boots and Farm Roots
For over a century, the Olson family has farmed in Polk County Wisconsin’s north woods. Brad always knew he wanted to continue in the footsteps of his past generations, which led him to buy his family’s dairy farm in 1992.
“Farming is all I’ve ever known – I’ve never worked off the farm,” Brad said.
Brad is the third generation on his farm, which transitioned from dairy cows to crops in 2022. He and his wife, Vicky, and their children, Jeremy and Stacy, farm 600 acres and do custom work for neighboring farms in their area.
In addition to farming, Brad spent 20 years selling seed. Despite the responsibilities of a farm and business keeping him busy, Brad soon found a need to contribute to the voice of agriculture. It was this need that led him to being active in his local government.
A Seat at the Table
Over the course of two decades, Brad has spent time on both his town and county boards. He considers his involvement in these organizations a call of duty for his fellow farmers.
“There is nowhere else as an individual that you can have an impact in agriculture as much as your town or county board,” Brad said. “As farmers, we need to make sure our voices are heard, and as a whole, agriculture needs a seat at the table.”
As a farmer himself, he recognizes the time commitment as a common concern for those considering running for local office.
“I commonly hear others worry about the time it takes to be involved,” Brad said. “But it takes less time than you think; just one to one-and-a-half hours of your time is what it takes to participate in a meeting and make sure agriculture’s voice is heard.”
Representing his constituents and giving them a voice on the local level is what Brad enjoys most about the positions he has held at the local level. With that being said, he encourages other farmers to consider the opportunities they have before them.
“Everything good and everything bad starts at the local level,” Brad said. “That’s why now, more than ever, we need rural voices sitting on these boards and providing their input.”
Forward Together
Brad was introduced to Farm Bureau as another opportunity to make a difference for fellow farmers in agriculture. Eager to make a difference, he made the decision to run for the WFBF Board of Directors in 2022 and was elected to represent District 9.
“I enjoy being a Farm Bureau member for the opportunity to influence the future of agriculture in the state of Wisconsin and to be more involved,” Brad said.
Since joining the state board, Brad has found immense joy in working on behalf of Farm Bureau members, a joy that ultimately led him to become Wisconsin Farm Bureau President in December 2023.
“I truly enjoy working on behalf of our members,” Brad said. “I take great pride belonging to an organization that is working hard on behalf of and for the future of agriculture – regardless of commodity or farm size.”
As Brad continues to advocate for Wisconsin agriculture on the state and national levels, he appreciates the opportunities that led him to where he is today.
“Little opportunities can have great impact; our members are a testament of that,” Brad said. “I’m all in for what Farm Bureau is and what it represents. It is an honor to represent our hardworking members from across the state.”
Story and photos by Cassie Sonnentag and originally appeared in the February | March 2024 Rural Route.
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