wisconsinfarmersunion.com NEW FEATURE! ‘Meet the Farmers Union Family’ Register today for 84th annual WFU State Convention Page 8 Pages 12-13 Wood/Portage County launches youth group Page 16 Wisconsin Farmers Union News December 2014 United to grow family agriculture Volume 71 | No. 10 Joining the ‘Big Tent’ Beginning Farmers Institute opens participant’s eyes to ag diversity By Kriss Marion WFU member a teeny tiny farmer gratefully I am taking shelter in the “Big Tent” of the U.S. Postage Paid Permit No. 203 Eau Claire, WI Wisconsin Farmers Union 117 W. Spring St. Chippewa Falls, WI 54729 Return Service Requested NON-PROFIT Wisconsin Farmers Union. I steward 20 pretty acres of river-bottom land in the Driftless Area. My tractor is an IH 544, just powerful enough to pull a three-bottom moldboard plow and a five-foot Rotovator through our sandy soil. I cultivate my organic vegetable crops with a 1944 Farmall A, the same model my father-in-law used to weed his sweet corn as a boy. Two beautiful old sandstone-foundation barns shelter my lambs and store my hay and house my vegetable packing operation. I raise livestock: four steers, eight goats, 10 hogs, 25 ducks, 30 sheep and 50 chickens. And I’m involved in the great Wisconsin agritourism industry – I’ve got two bed-and-breakfast rooms! Like I said, I’m a tiny farmer. I have a hard time even taking myself seriously sometimes. But the Wisconsin Farmers Union has taken me seriously and given me a home in which to grow and to learn about building a healthy future for all agriculture, from homesteads like mine to robust commodity operations and everything in between. I’ve only been farming for eight years and joined WFU a year ago. I confess that as a woman, a firstgeneration farmer and a small organic producer, I expected to feel a little bit out of place here. But at the very first meeting I attended, several older, bigger, more traditional and experienced farmers reached out in welcome – seeking me out after lunch, extending warm handshakes, offering to help me navigate government programs and mentor me in lobbying. That was my first real introduction to the WFU “Big Tent.” I realized then that the farmers in this organization, as diverse as they are and as different as they may be from me, value my contribution to Farmers Union and to agriculture as a whole. Above: Kriss Marion of Circle M Market Farm in Blanchardville (front row, fourth from left) and Chris Holman of Nami Moons Farm in Custer (back row, second from left) represented Wisconsin Farmers Union at Beginning Farmers Institute activities in Minnesota in November. So I applied for the National Farmers Union’s Beginning Farmers Institute. I entered the program wanting to become a better business person and I’ve received excellent teaching. But by far the most important thing I’ve done as part of BFI is eat breakfast, lunch and dinner with fellow farmers from across the country and the farming spectrum. In the current BFI group there are 14 of us from 10 states: two small organic farmers, a dairy farmer, an ice-cream maker, two ranchers, several corn-and-soy producers, some small grains growers and an orchardist. Sitting around the table with these folks, talking deeply, sharing honestly and listening respectfully has convinced me to be as committed to the “Big Tent” of agriculture as I am committed to my own farm. I am boundlessly thankful to NFU for the opportunity to get to know these talented, bright people. I hope to pay back your investment in me with grateful enthusiasm. In addition to participating in the Lobby Day this past spring, I have started a WFU chapter with some friends in South Central Wisconsin, in which I serve as president. With BFI, I lobbied in Washington, D.C. this September and studied co-ops in Minneapolis this November. In January I’ll serve, along with six others from my chapter, as a delegate to the State Convention. Continued on p.2 Page 22 Page wisconsinfarmersunion.com Wisconsin Farmers Union News A publication of Wisconsin Farmers Union 117 W. Spring St. Chippewa Falls, WI 54729 ph: 715-723-5561 • 800-272-5531 • fx: 715-723-7011 www.wisconsinfarmersunion.com WFU Board of Directors Darin Von Ruden President District 5 608-634-4695 Craig Myhre Vice President District 4 715-983-2167 Dennis Rosen Secretary District 2 715-265-4519 Mark Liebaert Treasurer At-Large 715-398-5234 Janet Nelson District 1 715-455-1755 Ed Gorell District 3 715-287-3383 Patty Edelburg District 6 715-445-2003 Tina Hinchley District 7 608-764-5090 W. Michael Slattery District 8 920-863-2996 WFU State Office Staff Tom Quinn Executive Director 715-723-5561 • [email protected] Diane Tiry Administrative Assistant 715-723-5561 • [email protected] Cathy Statz Education Director 715-723-5561 • [email protected] Amanda Kollwitz Accounting/Member Services 715-723-5561 • [email protected] Danielle Endvick Communications Director 715-471-0398 • [email protected] Deb Jakubek Regional Membership Coordinator 715-590-2130 • [email protected] Sarah Lloyd Special Projects & Membership 608-844-3758 • [email protected] Kara O’Connor Government Relations Director 608-514-4541 • [email protected] Zach Herrnstadt Government Relations Associate 608-234-3741 • [email protected] David Wright-Racette Policy Organizer 608-514-2031 • [email protected] Julie Burgess Kamp Kenwood Caretaker 715-723-6137 • [email protected] Newsletter Editor, Layout & Design: Danielle Endvick Printed by: Leader Printing, Eau Claire, WI Bulk Rate postage paid in Eau Claire, WI wisconsinfarmersunion.com Farmers Union News WFUWFU NewsNews • December | Fall 2014 2010 BIG TENT Continued from p.1 I’ll be teaching at the NFU Women’s Conference in Florida the week before and also attending the NFU Convention in Kansas in March. My purpose in listing these activities is not to boast. I’ve already been around WFU long enough to be in awe of the investment in decades that many of you have made toward the betterment of agriculture. I simply want to urge you to keep reaching out to folks like me, and folks like you, and all the folks you meet who have a passion for farming, for land stewardship, for rural communities, for food! After all, our mission is to be a “member-driven organization committed to enhancing the quality of life for family farmers, rural communities, and all people.” We are a “Big Tent” organization with a big calling and you never know who might become a strong ally, able leader or willing volunteer. The truth is that we can’t allow any farmer or farm ally to fall through the cracks – they must all be invited into the “Big Tent.” In America, we are losing one acre of fertile farmland per minute to development. Here in Wisconsin, we continue to lose farms, farmland and farmers. According to the USDA census, Wisconsin lost more than 8,700 farms from 2007 to 2012. Farmland declined by more than 620,000 acres. As an organization we must build our membership to stay relevant and keep doing the good work of supporting “educational opportunities, cooperative endeavors, and civic engagement,” as our mission states. As a state, a country and a world we can’t afford to let anyone interested in farming go unsupported. We need to keep reaching out, as Farmers Union members did to me, to cultivate new farmers, young farmers, transitioning farmers, experienced farmers and retiring farmers. We can’t afford to ignore any Above: Beginning Farmer Institute participants toured Whistling Wells, a family-run orchard near Hastings, Minn. last month. Organized by the National Farmers Union, the BFI concentrates on building confidence in beginning farmers and farm couples, while also encouraging them to learn about other ag sectors and apply leadership abilities to become actively involved in community organizations. farmer – whether organic, conventional, big or small. We need to join together with all farmers as grassroots collaborators meeting together in the “Big Tent” of mixed agriculture, listening deeply to one another’s dreams and struggles with the goal of forwarding each other’s success and building an agricultural future that can feed us all. Kriss Marion and her husband, Shannon, run Circle M Market Farm, a small family homestead in rural Blanchardville, 40 minutes southwest of Madison. Kriss is an East-coast native, former Chicago newspaper journalist, previous homeschool mom of four, current shepherd of 30 sheep, woolcraft artist/educator and the farm manager. Learn more about the Beginning Farmers Institute at www.nfu.org/education/beginning-farmer-institute. Mahnomin Porridge | Shared by Kriss Marion During a stop to Hell’s Kitchen on the Beginning Farmers Institute trip to Minneapolis last month, participants were introduced to Mahnomin porridge. Chef Mitch Omer got the idea for the porridge by reading journals of 19th century fur traders, who described a meal eaten by Cree Indians. It is hearty and healthful but also extremely luxurious, thanks to the added cream. Recipe Source: Hell’s Kitchen Preparation Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 5 minutes Servings: 4 Ingredients: 4 cups cooked wild rice 1/2 cup roasted hazelnuts, cracked 1 cup dried blueberries 1/2 cup sweetened dried cranberries (Craisins) 1/4 cup pure maple syrup 1 cup heavy whipping cream Directions: 1. In a heavy, non-stick or enameled cast iron sauce pan, mix together everything but the cream. Stir constantly over medium heat for about 3 minutes. 2. Add heavy cream and, continuing to stir, heat through, about 2 minutes. 3. Serve immediately. WFUNews News •| December 2014 WFU Fall November 20102011 wisconsinfarmersunion.com Farmers Union News wisconsinfarmersunion.com Page 33 Page Faith in Farming Chris Holman WFU member W hen we are confronted with difficult questions about the Earth, our existence upon it and other similarly deep inquiries about the human condition, we often turn to faith to help us make some sort of sense of it all. A loyal companion on our life’s path, it is in all of us; the essence of what makes us human. Occasionally, faith is confused for something else altogether though, and some allow themselves to slip into something more comfortable and more reassuring. This illusion of knowledge leads to a lack of humility, and it’s at this point that we’ve lost our footing upon the earth. This is where farmers are lucky, as our lives are quite literally grounded by the hidden intelligence in the order of things. No matter what you call this phenomenon, it requires us to be humble in the face of so much that is out of our control. That essential part of farming is what’s providing the opportunity for us to come together, work together on the issues of the day and to find a way forward. That, as they say, is the tip of the iceberg. At the start of November, I was asked to be one of WFU’s representatives at a conference held by the University of St. Thomas titled, “Faith, Food & The Environment,” where I along with around 80 other people contemplated the ways in which these three things are interwoven in our lives. We were a small group, but we represented the full spectrum of farming, agribusiness and a large variety of faith traditions including representatives from the Vatican. The intimate setting allowed us to have deep, profound and openminded conversations about how faith plays a part in the world at large, and more specifically in the world(s) of agriculture. At one point in the conference, a Lakota elder—Dr. Clifford Canku—told us how, in his community, “We have no atheists.” The same can be said of farmers because, like many have pointedly noted before, our actions as farmers are predicated on faith and we put a sort of deferential trust into what we do in our fields and on our farms. In agriculture, we are stripped bare of any pretentiousness and in order to succeed, we are asked to blend our world with one that is built not as much upon relationships as it is built upon the cold, impersonal logic of the marketplace. This is why farmers need to lead the way and to incorporate more people into this conversation. We are uniquely suited to do so, having been tempered by the demands and multi-faceted nature of our livelihood. The “Big Tent” philosophy that comes with being a member of the Farmers Union is the example that can be projected elsewhere. All we need is to find the people of good will who want to participate with us and to explore the unique angle of faith as a motivation for changing our behaviors, economic or otherwise. It would be difficult to summarize the entirety of the conference in this short article, but to give you an idea of what it was like, the sorts of questions we grappled with were like this one, posed by Dr. Christopher Thompson, “What’s happening in our culture when entire generations of the best and brightest seem oblivious to their natural surroundings, especially when it comes to their food and the earth that sustains them? And how are we going to develop a responsible human ecology in these circumstances?” Wendell Berry—who is often cited these days, but indulge me this brief example—said that “Eating is an Agricultural act.” That is, one of our basic needs is a driving force and rationalization behind how modern agriculture has developed. At the conference, this connection was extended when it was said by Father Michael Czerny that “Eating is a moral act because it is a human act, and human acts can be morally evaluated.” Father Czerny’s implication, of course, is that eating can be an immoral act. While that is true, the reasons one might view it that way are going to vary. Plus, the act of eating is so far removed from everything that occurs between the field and the table; it’s not hard to see how people give little-to-no thought to such things. Ultimately though, we’re talking about what sustains us, and it’s a large part of what keeps us alive. Few people would find such things to be trivial, and the same should be said about scrutinizing our food system(s). What’s most important here is that the mere contemplation of what one eats, where the food came from, how it came to be our food and so on, are all questions that we need people to be asking. We constantly hear about how we lack a connection to our food in this society. Even farmers—who exhaust themselves to bring food to the table for others—are often fueling their efforts with cheap, unhealthy food. If only irony was an essential mineral! So how can faith help? Faith comes into play because it’s bigger than us, and that sets it apart from things like religion or politics—which we’re usually told to avoid so that we can enjoy more fragile, personal perspectives about our life and the lives of others. These things must be discussed, with respect and kindness, because it’s through these things that we bring more people to the table. If done right, this is the sort of thing that leads to major shifts in the popular narratives of the day, and those narratives will drive change. Why is that important? Simple. policy and economics have brought us to where we are, and despite everything I’ve said here, all of the faith in the world can’t tackle these issues alone. Still, why not appeal to our faith to help find the solutions that serve the greater good? We can address complex issues together, with our faith to guide us and our humility as farmers to keep us going in the face of adversity. Then, as we change policy to reflect a better version of ourselves and to build a resilient economy together, we can look in the mirror and know what we’ve led the way in serving the Earth and each other while building a better, longterm future for agriculture. Page 44 Page wisconsinfarmersunion.com Farmers Union News wisconsinfarmersunion.com WFU News • |December WFUWFU News News November | Fall 2014 2010 2011 Expanding Statewide School Vouchers: A Step Backward for Education in Wisconsin Zachary Herrnstadt Government Relations Associate n October, Assembly Republicans released their agenda for the next legislative session. Entitled “Forward for Wisconsin’s Future,” the agenda identifies improving education as a top priority, declaring in bold print that “a better Wisconsin begins in the classroom.” Unfortunately, Governor Walker and the Republican leadership have stated in recent weeks that they hope to expand Wisconsin’s taxpayer-funded school voucher program by increasing or removing altogether its existing cap of 1,000 students. This would be a step backward for education in Wisconsin. Proponents claim that expanding the statewide school voucher program, known as the Wisconsin Parental Choice Program (WPCP) is one way to improve the state’s K-12 educational system — despite that it will cost taxpayers $7.4 million during the 2014-15 school year and is entirely funded by general purpose revenue. I “ The legislature shall provide by law for the establishment of district schools, which shall be as nearly uniform as practicable. -Article X, Section 3 of the Wisconsin Constitution In reality, expanding the statewide school voucher program will divert even more tax dollars away from public schools while continuing the state’s disturbing trend of underfunding not one, but two separate school systems. This would be especially harmful to our rural schools, many of which are in desperate need of additional funding. It’s no secret that Wisconsin’s rural schools are struggling. Rural schools face a unique set of challenges as they work to provide nearly 44 percent of Wisconsin’s PreK-12th grade students with a high quality education. Transportation funding has become a perennial issue for rural school districts. Providing children transport to and from school takes up an enormous portion of rural district budgets. With state transportation aids no longer keeping up with the rising costs associated with ” this essential service, rural districts are often unable to offer teaching positions with competitive wages. This wage discrepancy makes it difficult to attract and retain teachers, many of whom choose to take higher-paying positions in urban districts. Other issues challenging rural schools, such as slow, unreliable Internet connections and a lack of funding for foreign language and art programs, do little to entice new teachers as well. While there is nothing inherently wrong with private schools, they should not receive tax dollars — especially not when Wisconsin’s rural schools continue to suffer from chronic underfunding. Unfortunately, this is exactly what is happening. In many cases, the only way for rural communities to make up for fewer state dollars is to increase local property taxes. One need not look far for examples of school districts affected by decreases in state funding. The communities of Black River Falls, Altoona and Mondovi all voted on referenda this past November to raise property taxes in order to help fund improvements to their public schools. Expanding the statewide school voucher program will force even more communities to make a difficult choice: increase property taxes to fund needed improvements to their schools or continue to make do with schools that lack essential resources and, in some cases, are literally beginning to fall apart. There are other reasons for concern as well. In certain cases, rural children are not provided the same opportunity to attend voucher schools under WPCP as children living in metropolitan areas. This is because in its current form, the statewide school voucher program does not cover the costs of transporting a child to a participating voucher school, nor does it require those schools to provide that transportation. In other words, even if awarded a voucher, a child living in a rural district may be unable to use it if his or her parents cannot arrange transportation. Supporters argue that one advantage of the voucher program is that it gives parents the option to send their children to the school (public or private) that they believe is the best fit for their child. Currently, the program is not being used in such a manner. According to Department Continued on page 5 ▶ WFUNews News •| December 2014 WFU Fall November 20102011 wisconsinfarmersunion.com Farmers Union News Page 55 Page wisconsinfarmersunion.com VOUCHERS from p.4 Farmer’s Share of Retail Food Dollar Did you know that farmers and ranchers receive only 15.8* cents of every food dollar that consumers spend on food at home and away from home? According to USDA, off farm costs including marketing, processing, wholesaling, distribution and retailing account for more than 80 cents of every food dollar spent in the United States. Above: The vast majority of vouchers are going to children who already attend private schools. of Public Instruction enrollment information, a mere 19.2 percent of the 538 students new to the program in the 2014-15 school year were enrolled in a public school the year prior. Senator Luther Olsen (R – Ripon) pretty much summed it up in the following statement printed in The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: “The question is, what is the purpose of this program? Is it a program to help poor kids get out of public schools, or is it a program to pay for the tuition of kids who are already in private schools? It’s pretty obvious from the last two go-rounds (of applications) that it’s the latter.” So, what can be done to put Wisconsin back on the right track when it comes to school funding? Instituting “Fair Funding for Our Future,” a plan put forward by State Superintendent Tony Evers, would be a significant step in the right direction. This program would not only revamp Wisconsin’s broken school funding formula so that rural school districts receive the increased state aid that they deserve, it would begin the journey towards two-thirds state funding of costs associated with public education. It is also essential for the Wisconsin Legislature to implement the recommendations of the bipartisan Rural Schools Task Force, which include logical ideas such as increasing categorical aids (especially sparcity aids) to rural school districts and instituting a student loan forgiveness program for new teachers who choose to teach in rural school districts. In a recent statement, Assembly Speaker Vos (R-Rochester) and Joint Finance Committee Assembly Co-Chair Nygren (R–Marinette) stated that they “have a responsibility to provide a great education to every child in Wisconsin and protect the interests of the taxpayer.” It is my hope that in the coming year, all members of the state legislature take these responsibilities seriously. A good first step in doing so would be to recognize that expanding the statewide school voucher program would do far more harm to the children of Wisconsin than good. Bacon 1 Pound Top Sirloin Steak 1 Pound Bread 2 Pounds Fresh Carrots 5 Pounds Wheat Bagel 1 - 4 oz. bagel Retail: $3.99 Farmer: $1.09 Retail: $8.79 Farmer: $2.56 Retail: $2.29 Farmer: $0.13 Retail: $4.39 Farmer: $1.31 Retail: $0.86 Farmer: $0.01 Cereal 18 Ounce Box Tomatoes 1 Pound Eggs 1 Dozen Flour 5 Pounds Boneless Ham Price per Pound Retail: $2.99 Farmer: $0.05 Retail: $1.99 Farmer: $0.46 Retail: $2.19 Farmer: $1.14 Retail: $1.88 Farmer: $0.67 Retail: $4.39 Farmer: $1.09 Lettuce 1 Head (2 Pounds) Milk 1 Gallon, Fat Free Potato Chips Lays Classic, 10.5 oz Fresh Potatoes Russet, 5 Pounds Soda Two Liter Bottle Retail: $2.19 Farmer: $0.58 Retail: $3.49 Farmer: $2.18 Retail: $3.00 Farmer: $0.20** Retail: $4.99 Farmer: $0.42** Retail: $1.49 Farmer: $0.05 Farmer’s share derived from USDA, NASS “Agricultural Prices,” 2014. Retail based on Safeway (SE) brand except where noted. *Figure according to U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service **Reflects September 2014 price. www.wisconsinfarmersunion.com October 31, 2014 Farm Shop Safety | Brought to you by Hastings Mutual A well-organized shop is essential to any agricultural operation. Make sure everything has a designated place. Maintain walkways to reduce trips and falls. When working on agricultural equipment, make sure that the equipment is turned off, all rotating parts have stopped moving and safety locks put in place. Keep all guards and shields in place on power equipment. Use hand tools only for their intended purpose. Shop should be equipped with GFCI’s to help prevent electrical shock. You should have at least one 10-pound ABC fire extinguisher. Keep your shop well lit. If the shop is heated, ensure that it is properly vented. Personal protective equipment should be worn when performing repair jobs. Farmers Union members, Hastings Mutual has you covered! Now, with your Farmers Union membership, you will receive a 9% special group discount on your Hastings Mutual Farmowners policy premium! Wisconsin Farmers Union 117 W Spring St., Chippewa Falls, WI 54729 1-800-272-5531 • [email protected] Page 66 wisconsinfarmersunion.com Page wisconsinfarmersunion.com Farmers Union News WFU News • |December WFUWFU News News November | Fall 2014 2010 2011 The Elections that Never Happened David Wright-Racette Policy Organizer O RUSSELL Bayfield BAYFIELD CLOVER BELL BAYVIEW OULU PARKLAND Senate Districts TRIPP MAPLE AMNICON Washburn WASHBURN LAKESIDE Superior Oliver SUPERIOR BARKSDALE Poplar BRULE IRON RIVER EILEEN GINGLES HUGHES Lake Nebagamon HAWTHORNE SANBORN KEYSTONE Senate Districts Bayfield Douglas 2011 Wisconsin Act 43 Ashland PILSEN STATE OF WISCONSIN STATE OF WISCONSIN LA POINTE PORT WING ORIENTA CLOVERLAND Superior OAKLAND SAXON KIMBALL GURNEY DELTA MASON KELLY BENNETT SUMMIT Hurley Montreal Mason HIGHLAND SOLON SPRINGS BAYFIELD Solon Springs DOUGLAS Iron ASHLAND LINCOLN PENCE MARENGO ANDERSON Mellen DRUMMOND BARNES Michigan CAREY GRANDVIEW GORDON OMA MORSE KNIGHT DAIRYLAND 25 MINONG ASHLAND JACOBS MERCER LAND O'LAKES FROG CREEK Minong SPIDER LAKE LENROOT SHANAGOLDEN Washburn BOULDER JUNCTION CHICOG SHERMAN GULL LAKE STINNETT ROUND LAKE BROOKLYN Hayward Burnett PHELPS CONOVER PLUM LAKE CHIPPEWA HAYWARD VILAS Butternut SCOTT CASEY TREGO SPRINGBROOK TIPLER BASS LAKE SAWYER BASS LAKE WASHBURN Webster LINCOLN Florence ALVIN HUNTER WEST MARSHLAND Sawyer JACKSON BURNETT MEENON SAND LAKE ARBOR VITAE LAC DU FLAMBEAU EISENSTEIN Park Falls WASHINGTON CLOVERLAND ST. GERMAIN Eagle River LAKE Price COMMONWEALTH POPPLE RIVER OJIBWA SAND LAKE FERN LONG LAKE WOODRUFF FIFIELD CRYSTAL Spooner Winter MINOCQUA Siren SIREN LA FOLLETTE BASHAW DEWEY PRICE FLAMBEAU MADGE Radisson COUDERAY WINTER LAKE TOMAHAWK HAZELHURST EDGEWATER LORAIN ROOSEVELT BARRONETT MCKINLEY MAPLE PLAIN LAKELAND 29 WEIRGOR LONG LAKE SARONA METEOR MEADOWBROOK Exeland Birchwood EMERY WILSON MURRY BIG FALLS HUBBARD CEDAR RAPIDS SOUTH FORK 12 PIEHL PELICAN MONICO MILLTOWN JOHNSTOWN CUMBERLAND STANFOLD FLAMBEAU Rice Lake DOYLE WILKINSON DEWEY TRUE Glen Flora BEAVER BRADLEY NASHVILLE LINCOLN CLAYTON RICHLAND CATAWBA Tomahawk OSCEOLA Weyerhaeuser GROW GRANT THORNAPPLE STRICKLAND BARRON TURTLE LAKE Clayton ARLAND Amery OGEMA LAWRENCE ALDEN MAPLE GROVE PRAIRIE FARM BLACK BROOK CLEAR LAKE Clear Lake VANCE CREEK RUSK DOVRE BIG BEND WASHINGTON SAMPSON WILLARD MARSHALL MCKINLEY PERSHING CLEVELAND UPHAM SCHLEY SHERIDAN SAND CREEK BLOOMER CLEVELAND Cornell TIFFANY GLENWOOD ST. CROIX HAY RIVER OTTER CREEK GRANT COOKS VALLEY Glenwood City Downing Wheeler TAFT Lublin ARTHUR MAPLEHURST BERN DEER CREEK LITTLE BLACK HOLWAY HALSEY BALDWIN SHERMAN STANTON SPRINGFIELD Hammond Baldwin Wilson Woodville EAU GALLE RUSH RIVER HOWARD ANSON TILDEN THORP HIXON WITHEE HOLTON HOARD Stanley Boyd Cadott LUCAS SIGEL EDSON WORDEN PLOVER RINGLE NORRIE WILSON LUDINGTON LONGWOOD GREEN GROVE COLBY CLARK BUTLER MEAD WARNER HENDREN EATON Fall Creek FRANKFORT HULL WIEN CASSEL MARATHON MOSINEE Stratford EMMET Weston Plum City PEPIN Durand DURAND DRAMMEN PLEASANT VALLEY CLEAR CREEK OTTER CREEK 23 FAIRCHILD Fairchild MAXVILLE CANTON MONDOVI NAPLES ALBION Strum GILMANTON NELSON GARFIELD CLEVELAND NORTHFIELD GARDEN VALLEY SEIF FREMONT WESTON MILLADORE WASHINGTON DEWHURST ALMA MONTANA LINCOLN BURNSIDE Independence LINCOLN PIGEON ROCK CARY WYOMING Manawa WAUPACA ROYALTON FARMINGTON LANARK GRAND RAPIDS CROSS PINE GROVE FRANKLIN IRVING FINLEY ROME NEW LYME GRANT LAFAYETTE GREENFIELD JUNEAU SCOTT LITTLE FALLS LINCOLN SPRINGWATER ROSE OASIS PLAINFIELD SAXEVILLE BLOOMFIELD LEON POYSIPPI WAUTOMA DEERFIELD LA CROSSE Bangor GERMANTOWN Camp Douglas WELLS WILTON RIDGEVILLE CLIFTON NEW CHESTER EASTON SENECA NEPEUSKUN BERLIN ST. MARIE SHIELDS HARRIS WESTFIELD LISBON GREENFIELD WASHINGTON PORTLAND SHELDON PLYMOUTH Montello SPRINGVILLE LINDINA GREEN LAKE MONTELLO Elroy KILDARE WONEWOC HAMBURG CHRISTIANA COON CLINTON WHITESTOWN FOREST HILLSBORO STARK UNION GREENWOOD SEVEN MILE CREEK Union Center Stoddard Chaseburg JEFFERSON DELL PRAIRIE Hillsboro KINGSTON MANCHESTER ALTO FOX LAKE TRENTON IRONTON HENRIETTA BLOOM FOREST Wyocena Rock Springs West Baraboo DEKORRA MERRIMAC BEAR CREEK RICHLAND FRANKLIN SAUK ORION EAGLE RICHWOOD Lodi Bayside 8 IOWA MOUNT IDA PATCH GROVE DODGEVILLE WINGVILLE Fennimore Mount Hope CROSS PLAINS SPRINGDALE Cobb Dodgeville BRIGHAM LITTLE GRANT NORTH LANCASTER Lancaster CLIFTON 17 SOUTH LANCASTER LINDEN PERRY MIFFLIN 27 Blanchardville Cassville GRANT WATERLOO POTOSI DUNN New Glarus Oregon ADAMS Argyle GREEN 15 JORDAN WIOTA Waterford JANESVILLE JOHNSTOWN MONROE SYLVESTER DECATUR JEFFERSON SPRING GROVE SUGAR CREEK BRADFORD LA PRAIRIE DARIEN PLYMOUTH Darien ROCK CLARNO AVON NEWARK BELOIT ROCHESTER Cudahy 7 South Milwaukee Oak Creek 11 CLINTON BRIGHTON Twin Lakes LINN Genoa City PARIS Racine Sturtevant Elmwood Park SOMERS Projection: All data is projected in Wisconsin Transverse Mercator (WTM 83/91) 22 5 Kenosha WHEATLAND BLOOMFIELD Walworth WALWORTH YORKVILLE KENOSHA LYONS DELAVAN Fontana-on-Geneva Lake SHARON Wind Point North Bay Union Grove BURLINGTON GENEVA Delavan Lake Geneva TURTLE Beloit CALEDONIA MOUNT PLEASANT 21 SPRING PRAIRIE Paddock Lake Williams Bay Clinton CADIZ WAYNE MONTICELLO LAFAYETTE Burlington Elkhorn ROCK Orfordville SPRING VALLEY Browntown South Wayne GRATIOT St. Francis Greendale RAYMOND RACINE Silver Lake BRISTOL Pleasant Prairie SALEM Sharon Columbia Sheboygan Ozaukee Dodge 27 22 00 11 0 12.5 25 Iowa 22 66 Dane Grant Iowa DOVER WALWORTH RICHMOND Janesville Brodhead Shullsburg WHITE OAK SPRINGS 17 MILWAUKEE East Troy Fond du Lac Green Lake 9 Washington 88 66 6 3 Franklin Muskego NORWAY WATERFORD TROY LA GRANGE 11 88 Crawford West Milwaukee Rochester CENTER MAGNOLIA WHITEWATER HARMONY Albany Monroe Gratiot NEW DIGGINGS Richland Greenfield 28 Mukwonago EAST TROY LIMA Milton Footville DARLINGTON Benton Hazel Green VERNON Eagle Whitewater MILTON SEYMOUR BENTON HAZEL GREEN Big Bend MUKWONAGO Hales Corners New Berlin WAUKESHA North Prairie EAGLE Palmyra Wauwatosa West Allis GENESEE OTTAWA HEBRON COLD SPRING KOSHKONONG Sauk Milwaukee Elm Grove 5 14 Juneau Shorewood Fort Atkinson SUMNER ALBION PORTER UNION BROOKLYN ALBANY ARGYLE SHULLSBURG Wauwatosa DUNKIRK Fox Point Marquette Manitowoc Calumet Vernon Whitefish Bay BROOKFIELD WAUKESHA SULLIVAN JEFFERSON OAKLAND PALMYRA RUTLAND Bayside River Hills Adams Monroe Glendale Brookfield Pewaukee Waukesha Wales Rockdale CHRISTIANA Stoughton OREGON Brown Deer Pewaukee 33 DELAFIELD Dousman Sullivan Mequon 4 Butler Hartland Delafield SUMMIT FARMINGTON Thiensville Menomonee Falls Lannon Sussex Chenequa Oconomowoc LakeNashotah CONCORD FULTON Cuba City JAMESTOWN Milwaukee 8 Germantown LISBON Jefferson Edgerton EXETER Evansville LAMONT Darlington SMELSER Dickeyville Shorewood Elm Grove 16 DANE MONTROSE NEW GLARUS YORK FAYETTE LAFAYETTE ELK GROVE PARIS Whitefish Bay WILLOW SPRINGS Belmont Platteville HARRISON PLATTEVILLE Butler KENDALL MOUNT WASHINGTON Monticello PLEASANT Potosi Tennyson 5 La Crosse Minnesota Brooklyn MOSCOW BELMONT Glendale RICHFIELD ERIN MERTON Merton Oconomowoc Johnson Creek AZTALAN LAKE MILLS Cambridge Belleville WALDWICK LIMA BLANCHARD 4 ASHIPPUN Lac La Belle WATERTOWN JEFFERSON Lake Mills Deerfield PLEASANT SPRINGS PRIMROSE Hollandale Mineral Point Rewey ELLENBORO DEERFIELD COTTAGE GROVE MINERAL POINT BEETOWN Cedarburg GERMANTOWN LEBANON OCONOMOWOC McFarland Verona VERONA Linden Livingston Cottage Grove BLOOMING GROVE Madison Monona BLUE MOUNDS RIDGEWAY LIBERTY Bloomington CASSVILLE Grafton Watertown MILFORD WATERLOO GRAFTON Jackson POLK 13 SHIELDS Waterloo Marshall MADISON Fitchburg Patch Grove BLOOMINGTON 26 Shorewood Hills Mount Horeb Ridgeway EDEN Montfort WYALUSING GLEN HAVEN Slinger Hartford Neosho IXONIA Blue Mounds Barneveld FENNIMORE MIDDLETON Middleton Bagley Reeseville YORK SUN PRAIRIE Maple Bluff Cross Plains VERMONT CASTLE ROCK Highland Milwaukee County Inset Fox Point BRISTOL Sun Prairie MEDINA WYOMING HICKORY GROVE WOODMAN PORT WASHINGTON Port Washington Saukville CEDARBURG JACKSON EMMET DeForest BURKE HIGHLAND MARION Brown Deer River Hills VIENNA Waunakee WESTPORT Black Earth Woodman Wauzeka MILLVILLE MOUNT HOPE Menomonee Falls Dane DANE BERRY Fredonia SAUKVILLE TRENTON WEST BEND HARTFORD SPRINGFIELD BLACK EARTH Belgium OZAUKEE Newburg West Bend HERMAN RUBICON HUSTISFORD MAZOMANIE Mazomanie Arena ARENA CLYDE BOSCOBEL WAUZEKA BARTON Iron Ridge Hustisford CLYMAN Clyman Sauk City ROXBURY FARMINGTON KEWASKUM WASHINGTON ADDISON HUBBARD Juneau Lowell ELBA COLUMBUS PRAIRIE DU SAC Lone Rock PULASKI MUSCODA PRAIRIE DU CHIEN BRIDGEPORT WAYNE THERESA Horicon OAK GROVE BEAVER DAM LOWELL Columbus PORTLAND WATTERSTOWN Prairie du Chien BELGIUM FREDONIA Kewaskum Theresa Mayville WILLIAMSTOWN Beaver Dam CALAMUS Cedar Grove HOLLAND Fall River HAMPDEN LEEDS WINDSOR Avoca Spring Green MARIETTA Boscobel Miles 40 Random Lake Kekoskee BURNETT WESTFORD FOUNTAIN PRAIRIE Arlington TROY BUENA VISTA SPRING GREEN Muscoda Blue River Steuben Oostburg Adell AUBURN LOMIRA DODGE Randolph COURTLAND Doylestown OTSEGO ARLINGTON WEST POINT Prairie du Sac Plain SCOTT HANEY CRAWFORD Eastman Cambria Rio LOWVILLE Poynette LIMA LYNDON SHERMAN SCOTT Merrimac SUMPTER LODI ITHACA WILSON Waldo Cascade MITCHELL Lomira ASHFORD SPRINGVALE COLUMBIA BARABOO FREEDOM WESTFIELD HONEY CREEK Richland Center Bell Center SENECA Lynxville 20 EDEN BYRON LEROY CHESTER CALEDONIA GREENFIELD Baraboo North Freedom Loganville WASHINGTON WILLOW DAYTON EASTMAN 20 WYOCENA PACIFIC REEDSBURG Lime Ridge ROCKBRIDGE MARSHALL Boaz 14 Pardeeville FAIRFIELD EXCELSIOR WESTFORD RICHLAND SYLVAN AKAN ® SHEBOYGAN OSCEOLA Eden Campbellsport Fox Lake Portage DELTON Reedsburg Cazenovia Viola CLAYTON Gays Mills Sheboygan Sheboygan Falls Kohler Brownsville Friesland Ironton Yuba LIBERTY KICKAPOO Readstown Soldiers Grove UTICA Mount Sterling OAKFIELD SCOTT MARCELLON Viroqua FRANKLIN STERLING De Soto FREEMAN SHEBOYGAN Waupun FORT WINNEBAGO LEWISTON Lake Delton La Valle WHEATLAND Ferryville WAUPUN MOSEL Howards Grove SHEBOYGAN FALLS EMPIRE Oakfield MACKFORD Cleveland HERMAN RHINE Elkhart Lake Glenbeulah Plymouth RANDOLPH NEWPORT DELLONA CENTERVILLE MEEME SCHLESWIG Kiel RUSSELL MARSHFIELD PLYMOUTH FOND DU LAC MOUNDVILLE Wisconsin Dells WINFIELD WOODLAND La Farge 9 New Holstein NEW HOLSTEIN CALUMET GREENBUSH FOND DU LAC Kingston BUFFALO CHARLESTOWN NEWTON LIBERTY St. Nazianz FOREST Brandon Manitowoc Valders EATON BROTHERTOWN Wonewoc LA VALLE WEBSTER VIROQUA 32 GENOA Projection: All data is projected in Wisconsin Transverse Mercator, referenced to the North American Datum of 1983, 1991 adjustment. Fairwater Markesan DOUGLAS NEW HAVEN LYNDON SUMMIT Westby VERNON HARMONY Genoa Endeavor Lyndon Station CATO ROCKLAND MANITOWOC TAYCHEEDAH Mount Calvary St. Cloud Marquette Ontario Coon Valley MANITOWOC RAPIDS Potter Chilton LAMARTINE SPRINGVALE METOMEN MANITOWOC Whitelaw RANTOUL Hilbert CHILTON STOCKBRIDGE Fond du Lac MARQUETTE PACKWAUKEE Two Rivers Reedsville WOODVILLE Stockbridge North Fond du Lac GREEN LAKE MECAN Oxford JACKSON LEMONWEIR OXFORD Cashton BERGEN BLACK WOLF ELDORADO Rosendale GLENDALE WELLINGTON KOSSUTH Brillion Sherwood CALUMET FRIENDSHIP ROSENDALE Ripon Green Lake Mauston JEFFERSON NEKIMI UTICA RIPON BROOKLYN Princeton PRINCETON MARION Wilton Kendall Source: U.S. Census Bureau's TIGER 2010 data was used in the creation of these districts. The districts were used for the fall 2012 elections. 18 Berlin Neshkoro NESHKORO Westfield New Lisbon FOUNTAIN Norwalk Melvina SHELBY Oshkosh OMRO RUSHFORD DAKOTA CRYSTAL LAKE MARQUETTE ADAMS QUINCY Hustler LEON NEWTON LINCOLN CLEARFIELD OAKDALE BANGOR BARRE AURORA WARREN COLOMA SPRINGFIELD Adams ORANGE TOMAH MONROE Rockland West Salem Friendship Oakdale ADRIAN Sparta HAMILTON Onalaska ALGOMA Omro Lohrville MARION RICHFORD ADAMS Tomah ANGELO ONALASKA RICHFIELD Coloma Necedah SPARTA BURNS Holmen CAMPBELL MEDARY 10 OSHKOSH WINNECONNE POYGAN PRESTON STRONGS PRAIRIE CUTLER Francis Creek FRANKLIN MAPLE GROVE BRILLION Neenah NEENAH VINLAND Winneconne MOUNT MORRIS Wautoma Redgranite BYRON Wyeville La Crosse 0 CLAYTON WINNEBAGO Wild Rose WAUSHARA Hancock HANCOCK COLBURN BIG FLATS MONROE NECEDAH LA GRANGE 32 TWO CREEKS Mishicot HARRISON Menasha LEOLA ARMENIA KINGSTON Warrens MELROSE FARMINGTON HOLLAND Winnebago MISHICOT GIBSON Maribel Kellnersville WINCHESTER Waushara Denmark COOPERSTOWN MORRISON HOLLAND MENASHA MANCHESTER Melrose NORTH BEND GALE Minnesota CARLTON FRANKLIN BROWN WRIGHTSTOWN Wrightstown Appleton Fremont WOLF RIVER Galesville CALEDONIA Trempealeau ROCKLAND LAWRENCE KAUKAUNA Little Chute Kaukauna BUCHANAN Kimberly Combined Locks GREENVILLE DALE FREMONT Plainfield Ettrick DODGE TREMPEALEAU FREEDOM VANDENBROEK 19 CALEDONIA DAYTON BELMONT Almond TWO RIVERS BUFFALO Website: http://www.legis.wisconsin.gov/redistricting CENTER GRAND CHUTE WEYAUWEGA ALMOND BEAR BLUFF TREMPEALEAU ARCADIA Fountain City Legislative Technology Services Bureau 17 West Main Street, Suite 200 Madison, WI 53703-3305 (608) 266-6640 Ext. 1 OUTAGAMIE Hortonville Weyauwega NEW DENMARK LIND 24 SARATOGA ETTRICK Brown 11 99 Trempealeau WEST KEWAUNEE GLENMORE 2 Jackson Kewaunee MONTPELIER EATON LEDGEVIEW HORTONIA Waupaca GRANT Nekoosa MUKWA ELLINGTON BUENA VISTA Port Edwards CRANMOOR PORT EDWARDS Buffalo HUMBOLDT BELLEVUE Outagamie Portage Wood Algoma CASCO LUXEMBURG Green Bay Allouez De Pere BLACK CREEK LITTLE WOLF LIBERTY Kewaunee Waupaca 24 Ashwaubenon ONEIDA Shiocton PIERCE Casco Luxemburg HOBART Seymour Black Creek BOVINA MAPLE CREEK LEBANON Ogdensburg New London DEXTER KNAPP SEYMOUR CICERO MAINE Bear Creek OSBORN ST. LAWRENCE KEWAUNEE GREEN BAY SCOTT Howard Nichols BEAR CREEK WAUPACA SCANDINAVIA REMINGTON MILLSTON RED RIVER SUAMICO PITTSFIELD MAPLE GROVE LESSOR UNION DEER CREEK Iola Scandinavia Amherst AMHERST PLOVER Wisconsin Rapids HILES CITY POINT KOMENSKY JACKSON BROCKWAY Arcadia Buffalo City MILTON 31 AHNAPEE LINCOLN 1 Door 30 STURGEON BAY FORESTVILLE BRUSSELS UNION LITTLE SUAMICO Oconto Shawano Clark Pepin Sturgeon Bay CLAY BANKS 2 NAVARINO MATTESON Clintonville DUPONT Big Falls HELVETIA IOLA Amherst Junction Plover Biron ADAMS Black River Falls ALBION 1 GARDNER PENSAUKEE ABRAMS CHASE Pulaski Nelsonville STOCKTON Whiting LINWOOD RUDOLPH SIGEL HIXTON SPRINGFIELD HARRISON NEW HOPE Stevens Point Park Ridge Rudolph WOOD SENECA Hixton CURRAN Blair MORGAN ANGELICA HARTLAND Forestville ALBAN Rosholt HULL CARSON SHERRY RICHFIELD WOOD HANSEN Taylor PRESTON GREEN VALLEY Cecil Bonduel WAUKECHON Embarrass LARRABEE Junction City LYNN SHERWOOD Pittsville Whitehall 31 GLENCOE WAUMANDEE Cochrane WESCOTT Shawano BELLE PLAINE PELLA FAIRBANKS Arpin LEVIS Merrillan Alma Center ALMA BELVIDERE GERMANIA PORTAGE Milladore ARPIN GRANT WASHBURN Vesper HALE Pigeon Falls Alma RICHMOND HERMAN SHAWANO GRANT FRANZEN SHARON DEWEY EAU PLEINE Auburndale CAMERON Neillsville HEWETT PINE VALLEY CHIMNEY ROCK Pierce SEVASTOPOL NASEWAUPEE Gresham SENECA MORRIS Elderon AUBURNDALE Hewitt LINCOLN YORK MENTOR DOVER BUFFALO Nelson OCONTO Bowler Wittenberg WITTENBERG ELDERON BEVENT Marion Granton SUMNER UNITY MODENA PEPIN STILES Gillett Oconto Falls Eland REID GUENTHER KNOWLTON BERGEN Marshfield Stockholm Pepin GREEN VALLEY DAY Oconto Marshfield Osseo Eleva Mondovi FRANKFORT MCMILLAN SPENCER MARSHFIELD ALBANY LIMA MAIDEN ROCK DOOR OCONTO FALLS Hatley KRONENWETTER Mosinee Tigerton SHERMAN LOYAL FOSTER ISABELLE STOCKHOLM UNDERHILL RED SPRINGS BARTELME ALMON BIRNAMWOOD RIB MOUNTAIN MARATHON CLEVELAND EAU PLEINE BRIGHTON UNITY BEAVER Loyal BRIDGE CREEK Augusta Bay City Maiden Rock Lena GILLETT Spencer EAU CLAIRE Eau Claire EGG HARBOR Menominee 29 JACKSONPORT LITTLE RIVER Greenwood LINCOLN BRUNSWICK ROCK CREEK PERU WAUBEEK WATERVILLE 30 PESHTIGO LENA SPRUCE MAPLE VALLEY HUTCHINS Rothschild Altoona WASHINGTON EAU GALLE UNION SALEM Marathon Dunn Egg Harbor Peshtigo GROVER Suring MENOMINEE Mattoon Birnamwood Schofield Unity SEYMOUR Eau Claire UNION SPRING BROOK DUNN ROCK ELM HARTLAND BAILEYS HARBOR Marinette Coleman BRAZEAU POUND HOW WESTON Marathon City Elk Mound WESTON Elmwood Ellsworth PIERCE TRENTON GIBRALTAR BAGLEY ANIWA Fenwood SPRING LAKE EL PASO TRIMBELLE DIAMOND BLUFF St. Croix PORTERFIELD Curtiss Owen Colby RESEBURG HALLIE RED CEDAR MENOMONIE GILMAN EASTON ELLSWORTH OAK GROVE BREED NORWOOD ROLLING HARRISON MENOMINEE WAUSAU STETTIN Edgar LAFAYETTE BEAVER Wausau Withee Abbotsford WHEATON ELK MOUND Menomonie MARTELL HEWITT TEXAS Brokaw RIB FALLS RIETBROCK Thorp Chippewa Falls CADY JOHNSON MAYVILLE Spring Valley RIVER FALLS MAINE Dorchester DELMAR GOETZ COLFAX River Falls CLIFTON Prescott BERLIN HAMBURG Aniwa Colfax DUNN Knapp PLEASANT VALLEY KINNICKINNIC TAINTER OCONTO White Lake EVERGREEN POLAR Antigo Athens HAMMOND Hudson ANTIGO ACKLEY ROOSEVELT WARREN Roberts Sister Bay Ephraim PINE RIVER SCOTT COLBURN WOODMOHR Boyceville GOODRICH Pound EAGLE POINT HUDSON Chippewa LIBERTY GROVE Crivitz DOTY BROWNING HAMMEL FORD Medford CHIPPEWA Bloomer Merrill MEDFORD Gilman AURORA ESTELLA North Hudson WAGNER RIVERVIEW WOLF RIVER CORNING LAKE WILSON Langlade Taylor MIDDLE INLET STEPHENSON LANGLADE PRICE NEVA PECK VILAS MERRILL LAKEWOOD TOWNSEND LANGLADE ROCK FALLS HARDING GREENWOOD GROVER MOUNTAIN NEW HAVEN AUBURN ST. JOSEPH RIB LAKE Rib Lake CHELSEA MOLITOR SUMMIT RUSSELL BIRCH JUMP RIVER TAYLOR LAKE HOLCOMBE BIRCH CREEK RUBY FOREST EMERALD ERIN PRAIRIE 23 WASHINGTON Wausaukee AINSWORTH WESTBORO CHETEK SIOUX CREEK New Auburn CYLON New Richmond RICHMOND Marinette Lincoln WAUSAUKEE FREEDOM ELCHO Ridgeland Deer Park STANTON PARRISH SKANAWAN TOMAHAWK LINCOLN PRAIRIE LAKE Chetek Dallas DALLAS Prairie Farm Star Prairie STAR PRAIRIE Somerset TROY SILVER CLIFF SPIRIT HILL STUBBS Sheldon FARMINGTON SOMERSET Rusk Barron HARRISON KENNAN HAWKINS SUMNER Cameron Barron AMBERG ATHELSTANE WABENO CLINTON Almena Conrath GARFIELD SCHOEPKE ENTERPRISE Polk MARINETTE LINCOLN KING WILSON SOMO 10 BLACKWELL KNOX PRENTICE PEMBINE DUNBAR BEECHER LAONA Forest 12 NIAGARA Crandon STANLEY BARRON ALMENA Turtle Lake Prentice Catawba Hawkins Ingram Ladysmith Bruce APPLE RIVER Dresser Osceola Kennan RUSK ATLANTA Tony BALSAM LAKE POLK St. Croix Falls CRYSTAL LAKE Balsam Lake Centuria ST. CROIX FALLS GEORGETOWN Niagara AURORA ARMSTRONG CREEK FOREST CRANDON o EUREKA RICE LAKE CASWELL GOODMAN WOODBORO NOKOMIS HARMONY CRESCENT Cumberland HOMESTEAD ROSS STELLA Rhinelander HACKETT GEORGETOWN CEDAR LAKE PINE LAKE CASSIAN LITTLE RICE LYNNE Haugen OAK GROVE Luck ARGONNE ONEIDA WORCESTER Phillips ELK BEAR LAKE LUCK NEWBOLD FENCE BIRCHWOOD CLAM FALLS BONE LAKE Frederic Milltown FLORENCE RADISSON BEAVER BROOK Shell Lake WEST SWEDEN LAKETOWN Lake Mic higan DANIELS TRADE LAKE 10 HILES THREE LAKES Lake Win nebag WOOD RIVER SUGAR CAMP Couderay GRANTSBURG ANDERSON STERLING Oneida LINCOLN STONE LAKE SPOONER FLORENCE DRAPER RUSK EVERGREEN Grantsburg Vilas MANITOWISH WATERS PEEKSVILLE AGENDA WEBB LAKE SWISS OAKLAND UNION Ashland 25 PRESQUE ISLE 50 Miles Lafayette 15 Green 16 Jefferson Rock 44 22 88 Waukesha 33 33 55 33 Milwaukee 13 Walworth Lake Mic higan BLAINE NAMAKAGON WINCHESTER IRON GORDON CABLE Lake Win nebago WASCOTT Michigan WHITE RIVER RANDALL n Tuesday, Nov. 4, voters had the opportunity to exercise their right to vote for the people they thought would best represent their district and the state of Wisconsin. Or did they? This election featured an unprecedented number of uncontested races, leaving voters without a legitimate choice to make at the polls. Fifty-two of the 99 state Assembly races featured candidates running without any major party opposition, and 47 of those faced no opposition at all. On the state Senate side, only three of the races resulted in candidates that were separated by 10 percentage points or less when the final votes were tallied. This lack of competition and choice across the state disenfranchises voters and is bad for democracy. So how did Wisconsin, a purple state that almost always features competitive elections for governor and president, become a place where only a handful of state Assembly and state Senate races are competitive or even contested? Every 10 years state Senate, Assembly, and Congressional district lines are redrawn to ensure districts contain approximately the same number of people. This process, called redistricting, is performed by state legislatures unless they delegate the power to another entity. Redistricting has become an increasingly political process as the parties work to pack voters of the opposite party into as few districts as possible to maximize the number of potential victories in the next election. As a result, districts become less competitive which discourages candidates from running for office. Both Democrats and Republicans are guilty of drawing district lines to their own advantage and contributing to this problem. Lake Superior Lake Superior 77 22 11 Racine 22 22 Kenosha Illinois 6 Lake Michigan 2 0 1 3 - 2 0 1 4 W I S C O N S I N S E N A T O R S Illinois w a the left shows Wisconsin’s current State Senate districts. The map on the right shows Above: 3The mapI oon hypothetical districts drawn by the non-partisan Legislative Reference Bureau. Below: The 21st and 22nd Senate districts provide a stark example of the how politically driven redistricting. 28 7 In Wisconsin, the Democrats The maps shown above are have accused the Republicans of hypothetical districts drawn by gerrymandering the districts to the non-partisan Legislative their own advantage in 2011 and Reference Bureau, which took a are now calling for redistricting similar approach to Iowa’s model reform. Just across the border in for redistricting for this exercise. Illinois, however, the roles are Notice how the non-partisan map reversed. Republicans argue that the follows county lines much more Democrats unfairly drew the district than our current map. Also notice lines, and Illinois Republican State how the districts in the non-partisan Senate Leader Christine Radogno map are compact and do not branch Some say that they do not want stated, “The single most important off into parts of the state to avoid to transfer redistricting power reform that we could do in this state or pick up voting blocks. The 17th to an unelected commission is one we have not done yet; that is district is a great example of this. or agency because it would be changing the mapping process.” According to a Milwaukee unaccountable. However, under This is not solely a Democratic or Journal Sentinel article, had the current redistricting it is impossible Republican issue. Wisconsin should hypothetical maps been in place to hold elected officials accountable take a lesson from our neighbors for the 2012 elections, there when so many of our elections are in Iowa, who have been using a would have been 28 Assembly uncontested or uncompetitive. This non-partisan redistricting process seats that were toss-ups. However, also leads to more partisanship and since 1981. In Iowa, a non-partisan the legislatively drawn districts polarization, as candidates who do agency draws district lines for state resulted in only 11 toss-up seats in not fear electoral retribution move and federal office without looking the 2012 election. to the extremes and bipartisanship at any political data, such as past The 21st and 22nd Senate and compromise are exchanged for election results. This has resulted district map provides a stark toeing the party line. Wisconsinites in districts that are more compact, example of how politically driven deserve a non-partisan redistricting follow county and municipal redistricting creates odd shaped system. As many have said, voters lines more closely, and have more districts that ignore county and should be choosing their legislators, competitive elections. municipal lines. not the other way around. Brookfield West Milwaukee West Allis St. Francis New Berlin Greenfield Frank Lasee (1) Bob Cowles (2) Tim Carpenter (3) Lena Taylor (4) Leah Vukmir (5) Nikiya Harris (6) Chris Larson (7) Alberta Darling (8) Joe Liebham (9) Sheila Harsdorf (10) Neal Kedzie (11) Tom Tiffany (12) Scott Fitzgerald (13) Luther Olsen (14) Tim Cullen (15) Mark Miller (16) Dale Schultz (17) Rick Gudex (18) Mike Ellis (19) Glenn Grothman (20) John Lehman (21) Bob Wirch (22) Terry Moulton (23) Julie Lassa (24) Bob Jauch (25) Fred Risser (26) Jon Erpenbach (27) Mary Lazich (28) Jerry Petrowski (29) Dave Hansen (30) Kathleen Vinehout (31) Jennifer Shilling (32) Paul Farrow (33) Cudahy Hales Corners Greendale South Milwaukee Muskego Franklin Oak Creek ** Senate Districts are formed from three consecutive Assembly Districts. For example, Senate District 1 is comprised of Assembly Districts 1, 2, and 3. Senate District 2 is comprised of Assembly Districts 4, 5 and 6, and so on. WFUNews News •| December 2014 WFU Fall November 20102011 wisconsinfarmersunion.com Farmers Union News wisconsinfarmersunion.com Page 77 Page Election ‘coincidences’ the big winners Alan Guebert hile Republicans, Democrats and Independents voted nationwide Nov. 4, coincidence, irony and “Huh?” were the big winners Nov. 5. For example, nationally, according to early numbers from the Center for Responsive Politics, candidates spent $3.7 billion on 2014 elections, the most in U.S. history, to get Americans to vote for them. (http://farmandfoodfile.com/in-the-news/) The money, however, according to data released by the University of Florida, bought neither love nor votes. Only 36.4 percent of all eligible voters went to the polls Nov. 4, the lowest percentage since 1942. Money did play the key role in turning back the green tide of GMO labeling initiatives in Colorado and Oregon. Oregon’s labeling idea, Measure 92, lost 51-to-49 percent as Big Food outspent pro-labelers $20 million to $8 million. Colorado’s labeling measure was convincingly crushed 2-to-1 by voters after Big Food poured another $12 million into that race. Coincidentally (Ironically?), Maui County, Hawaii voters narrowly agreed to ban the planting of GMO crops in their backyards. Big Seed, including Syngenta, Monsanto, Pioneer and BASF, all maintain large operations in the state because its climate allows three, sometimes four, growth cycles per year. The defeat, by a slim 1,007 votes out of nearly 45,000, was particularly painful because the big firms outspent anti-GMO forces 87-to-1 ($12 million to about $140,000) and got still got beat. The companies quickly promised legal action to have the pending ban declared unconstitutional. Despite the decidedly mixed GMO election results, the U.S. Department of Agriculture had no case of GMO dithers. On Friday, Nov. 7, it approved for use a genetically modified potato and, later that same day, a new variety of GMO alfalfa. Coincidence? Irony? Coincidental irony? Maybe the biggest Election Day “Huh?” arrived courtesy of Republican Kansas where rock-ribbed Republican Sen. Pat Roberts beat his Independent Party opponent, Greg Orman, by a rock-solid 10 points. Forecasters had pegged the race whisker-close and some saw Roberts losing. In his victory speech, Roberts, never one to be uncertain, claimed he “always had confidence we would win.” His Republican colleagues were far less sure. In the campaign’s closing weeks the national GOP dropped an unprecedented $10 million into his stumbling campaign and sent their biggest guns past, present and future — Bob Dole, Mitt Romney, Sarah Palin, John McCain and Rand Paul — to the Land of Ahs to pound Orman. It worked. The victory puts Roberts in the rarest of ag air; the former House Ag Committee chairman is now poised to become Senate Ag Committee chairman. The seat, however, is already hot. No sooner had he claimed victory than an old farm program nemesis, House Ag Committee’s ranking Democrat, Collin Peterson, publicly warned him not to touch the 2014 Farm Bill which Roberts so disliked that he voted against it. (On Nov. 11, Roberts promised to leave the bill alone.) W Two more coincidences will dog Roberts as he reaches for the committee gavel. First, as boss of the House Ag Committee in 1996 the Kansan was the principle force behind Freedom to Farm, that year’s Farm Bill designed to decouple farm program payments from production controls. Its estimated cost was $35.6 billion. The decoupled idea, however, went south fast and F2F’s actual cost from 1996 through 2002 (when a new Farm Bill replaced most of it) was north of $120 billion. Second, Roberts’ Wikipedia page—evidently not curated by the Senator or his staff—notes that “During his tenure in the Senate, Roberts missed 130 (65%) of his Agriculture Committee meetings.” So the person who needed massive party help to get re-elected, has missed the majority of Senate Ag Committee hearings and served as principal author of a Farm Bill that cost four times its estimated price is now poised to chair of the Senate Ag Committee. That’s neither irony nor coincidence. That’s just politics today. © 2014 ag comm The Farm and Food File is published weekly through the U.S. and Canada. Past columns, events and contact information are posted atwww. farmandfoodfile.com. National Farmers Union 113th Anniversary Convention Wichita, Kansas March 14-17, 2015 www.nfu.org/convention Page 88 Page wisconsinfarmersunion.com WFU WFU News News• |December November2014 2011 Co-ops band together to educate youth for Co-op Career Day Cathy Statz the 1,001-panel Solar Farm is Education Director the first community-owned solar facility in the state. tudents from Through CEC’s model, any Westby High member of the cooperative can School learned purchase panels from the shared about the rich farm — as few as one or enough history and social to completely offset the energy and economic impact of cooperatives demands of a home or business. Oct. 29 during the Vernon County Credit for the power produced is Co-op Career Day at Vernon Electric provided directly on members’ Cooperative. monthly utility bills. The event was coordinated by The Solar Farm became Wisconsin Farmers Union on operational in June. Sheep are behalf of the Vernon County used to graze the area around the Cooperative Association. panels, keeping vegetation at bay Westby Agriculture Instructor in an eco-friendly way. Erica Hoven brought 25 students to The career day was one of a meet with representatives from 13 number of special events WFU local cooperatives. The students were attended during October Co-op given an introduction to cooperatives Month. and learned about each co-op’s Summit Credit Union brought mission, history and membership. together co-ops for a Co-op The students also learned Connection event Oct. 4 in Madison, about scholarship and internship which showcased cooperatives to opportunities with the cooperatives nearly 3,000 attendees. Barron and were offered short-term and and Dunn County cooperative long-term goals for preparing for communities co-hosted October potential co-op related careers. Co-op Month meals in Barron The presentations at the career and Menomonie, respectively; day are personal and professional each event traditionally reaches snapshots of the incredible over 1,000 cooperative owners diversity of cooperatives in Vernon and community members. WFU County. Students are introduced to had booth representation at all opportunities ranging from that first of these great events, as well as job to a lifelong career that could the Haunted Hustle fun run in feature national — or even Eau Claire, organized by Group international — influence. Health Cooperative of Eau Claire. Viroqua Food Co-op and Westby While October Co-op month is Co-op Creamery graciously an ideal time to spread the good contributed to a lunch and snacks word about cooperatives, WFU for the youth. continues carrying the message of The students also toured the the value of cooperatives yearVernon Electric Community Solar round. Farm, a 305-kilowatt clean power Groups interested in hosting an facility that was built this spring at educational session on co-ops are the co-op’s headquarters in Westby. urged to contact WFU Education Developed in partnership with Director Cathy Statz at 715-723the national community solar 5561 or cstatz@wisconsinfarmerdeveloper Clean Energy Collective, sunion.com. S Above: Dave Maxwell, Vernon Electric Cooperative marketing and communications director, chatted with Westby High School students about the co-op’s Community Solar Farm. Right: Westby High School students fed grain to the sheep that graze the area around the solar panels at Vernon Electric Cooperative’s Community Solar Farm, the state’s first communityowned solar project, during a visit there for the Vernon County Co-op Career Day Oct. 29. Lessons Learned In anonymous follow-up evaluations, the students who participated in the Vernon County Co-op Career Day expressed surprise at what they had learned: • “[The most important thing I learned was] all the neat ways co-ops have an impact on our town, and our world.” • “I was surprised that co-ops around here reach out to other countries around the world.” • “[Co-ops are] very large influences in our community.” • “There are so many cooperatives in the US, and that surprises me.” • “I learned that all the money that goes into a cooperative stays within the members and the community.” • “I liked hearing about the make-up of cooperatives because I didn’t know a lot about them.” • “I was surprised to learn that cooperatives are everywhere — big and small!” WFUNews News •| December 2014 WFU Fall November 20102011 wisconsinfarmersunion.com Farmers Union News SENIOR YOUTH: CATCH UP WITH YOUR WFU FRIENDS AT CONVENTION! WHO: Grades 7-12 (younger youth welcome if accompanied) WHAT: WFU Youth Co-op Convention WHEN: January 23-25, 2015 (Official youth activities begin Saturday morning) WHERE: The Plaza Hotel, 1202 W. Clairemont Ave, Eau Claire (Reservations: 800-482-7829 - www.plazaeauclaire.com) HOW: Talk with a youth leader or contact Cathy at 800-272-5531 or [email protected] Farmers Union youth from around the state are invited to attend this weekend program featuring cooperative speakers and activities, free time with friends, and the opportunity to learn more about the Farmers Union, all at a great hotel with swimming pool! NOTE FOR PARENTS: $30 early bird registration fee to WFU will cover all meals for youth of all ages. Activities are geared to 7-12th graders, though younger children are welcome to participate with an adult or older sibling. Lodging costs are your own responsibility (or contact your youth leader or county treasurer for funding availability). Go to www.plazaeauclaire.com for hotel information. TO REGISTER for the program, contact Cathy at the WFU state office or register online at www.wisconsinfarmersunion.com. A signed consent form and on-site adult contact person is required for all youth in attendance; contact Cathy for more information. A late fee will be added to convention registrations received at the WFU Office after the early bird deadline. Cancellations must be received in writing or email by the final registration deadline in order to receive a refund. FOR ROOM RESERVATIONS, call the Plaza Hotel & Suites at 800-482-7829 and be sure to mention you are with the Wisconsin Farmers Union group (block number 8325). Special room rate is $83 (plus tax); reserve rooms no later than December 30, 2014. wisconsinfarmersunion.com Page 9 Page Kamp Kenwood Chippewa Falls, WI 2015 Summer Camp Information W isconsin Farmers Union sponsors overnight camps at WFU Kamp Kenwood on Lake Wissota for young people from rural and urban areas alike to enjoy a summer camp program with a focus on cooperation and leadership. Activities include: hiking & campfires • swimming & sports singing & drama • speakers & workshops co-op games & theme nights • arts & crafts 2015 Camp Dates To Be Announced Junior Camp • Junior High Camp • Combined Session • Senior Camp (Junior and Senior camp prices range from $85-95) For younger children & families: Acorn Day Camp (Ages 7 and up) $15 per child Family Camp (All Ages) $65 for 1 adult and up to 2 children $25 each add’l adult; $15 each add’l child Note: Non-members also must include $30 for a WFU family membership. For more information: Call: 800.272.5531 • Visit: www.wisconsinfarmersunion.com Email: [email protected] is a proud sponsor of W isconsin Farmers Union is proud to sponsor this gem of a television program. We value Inga’s gift for presenting personal stories in a way that connects consumers to farmers and deepens our shared appreciation for the core values of farming and rural life. Episodes of Around the Farm Table can be viewed online at www.aroundthefarmtable.com. Page 1010 Page wisconsinfarmersunion.com wisconsinfarmersunion.com Farmers Union News WFU News • |December WFUWFU News News November | Fall 2014 2010 2011 Renewable Fuel Standard: New Hope for Rural America Darin Von Ruden President W hen Congress develops a public policy that yields several different benefits, it might be called a “two-fer.” But when Congress passed the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), a law that mandated a minimum amount of biofuels be blended into the nation’s fuel supply, so many benefits spun out of that one public policy that it would need to be called a “five-fer.” Clearly, one of the main arguments behind the RFS was to help wean this nation from expensive foreign oil – which it has – but it has also boosted the farm economy, provided more affordable fuel to consumers, created new jobs in rural America and helped improve the environment. The RFS mandated that 36 billion gallons of ethanol, most of which initially comes from corn, be blended into the U.S. gasoline supply by 2022. Almost overnight, a new domestic market for U.S. corn was created, boosting commodity prices for not only corn farmers, but those who raised other commodities as well. And when farmers have more money, they spend more money in rural areas, investing in infrastructure and other farm-related improvements that need to be made. Every dollar that a farmer makes in a given year generates seven dollars in the local communities. With home-grown biofuels, we are not only being forced to purchase less petroleum products from countries who are not always our friends, but we’re actually saving consumers money in the process. A recent study from Iowa State University showed that domestic ethanol saved consumers an average of $1.09 per gallon of gasoline in 2011. Money that once went up in smoke out of their tailpipes can now be spent on durable goods or food for their families. Money that once flowed to the Middle East is now staying in Wisconsin. The passage of the RFS also sparked a surge of investment in rural America, primarily in building new ethanol plants to produce enough biofuels to meet the mandate. There are around ten ethanol plants currently in Wisconsin, some of which are owned by farmers. Those plants not only create jobs in rural areas that once held little opportunity for its residents, but also provide a dependable, alternative market for farmers to sell their corn. There is no doubt that Americanmade, farm-raised biofuels are also much friendlier to the environment. A recent study by Argonne National Laboratory finds that corn ethanol reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 34 percent compared to gasoline. The RFS has also provided a new feed source for dairy farmers like me, as well as the state’s cattle industry. One mistaken notion about ethanol is that the corn is used up, and in reality it’s not at all. In fact, what is left after the sugars are extracted from corn for the ethanol process is an excellent feed source known as dry distiller’s grains (DDGs). DDGs are actually more digestible to many ruminants than the corn itself because the ethanol process breaks down the starches and the animals actually get more immediate use out of the grain. One critic of the RFS is the food industry, which has spent millions of dollars on a misinformation campaign to try and convince consumers that diverting a portion of our corn crop to ethanol is raising their food prices. That’s a laughable argument, because when you look at what percentage of a food dollar actually goes back to farmers, it’s miniscule. Take a box of cereal, for example. While consumers are paying nearly $4.69 for a box of corn flakes, farmers get about one nickel. The biggest portion of the cost of the food you buy is transportation and advertising. And corn-based ethanol has helped decrease the cost of fuel, so the food industry’s argument really holds zero validity. Unfortunately, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed lowering the renewable fuel requirement for 2014 by roughly 1.3 billion gallons and slashing the overall RFS by roughly 3 billion gallons, a move that would have dire consequences for both farmers and the ethanol industry. EPA lacks the authority to issue such a waiver unless the domestic supply is insufficient or severe economic harm would occur, so allowing the proposal to stand means bad results beyond this year. The RFS has been good for family farmers, good for consumers, good for the environment and good for rural America. Congress should renew its commitment to renewable fuels and stay the course on the RFS. Kamp Kenwood Cabin on Lake Wissota Winter Fun Business Retreats Family Get-Togethers Friends’ Night Out Poker Parties Youth Group Gatherings Birthday & Holiday Parties WFU Kamp Kenwood’s cozy cabin is nestled on the shore of Lake Wissota, adjacent to the scenic trails of Lake Wissota State Park. Available to rent from mid-October through the end of April, our cabin comfortably sleeps up to twelve guests and features a full kitchen and two bathrooms. This is the perfect destination for smaller retreats or for people who love outdoor recreation in all seasons. Contact the Kamp Kenwood Caretaker at 715-214-7244 for rates and to reserve. • 4 bedrooms • Kitchen • Living Room • 2 bathrooms • Stone fireplace • Sleeps 10-12 people Cabin comes equipped with bedding, dishes, towels, and firewood. WFU Kamp Kenwood 19161 79th Avenue • Chippewa Falls, WI 54729 Phone: 715.723.6137 • Fax: 715.723.6385 www.kampkenwood.com www.wisconsinfarmersunion.com WFUNews News •| December 2014 WFU N Fall ovember 20102011 wisconsinfarmersunion.com Farmers Union News wisconsinfarmersunion.com Page 11 Page 11 Meet the Farmers Union Family Craig Myhre • WFU Vice President • Osseo, WI T hey say farming runs in the blood. If that’s the case, you might say Wisconsin Farmers Union runs in Trempealeau County farmer Craig Myhre’s veins, too. Myhre’s father, Ernest Myhre, was a long-time member of WFU, and Craig got his first taste of the organization by tagging along with his dad to county meetings. Craig has been on the WFU Board of Directors since 1997 and currently serves as Vice President of the Executive Committee. He also represents Farmers Union on the Wisconsin Agricultural Producer Security Council and Discovery Farms Steering Committee and sits on the Wisconsin Farmers Union Foundation Board. As District 4 Director, Craig is a voice for WFU members in Buffalo, Jackson, La Crosse, Monroe and Trempealeau counties. Craig grew up on a small dairy farm near Osseo, which, after attending short course at UW-Madison, he ran in partnership with his sister. The family sold the cows in 2000, turning to cash cropping. Craig continues to crop 400 acres and some additional rented acreage and also does custom harvesting under his family farm name, Myville Farms. This year, he combined around 1,200 acres on farms from Pigeon Falls to Osseo. Craig worked in grain merchandising for more than a decade and has carried that knowledge to the table, helping to form North Country Growers, a fledgling project of Wisconsin Farmers Union that would facilitate sales of non-GMO soybeans grown in western Wisconsin to Japanese food processors. Growers are expected to receive a $2 premium for the beans. WFU is in the process of securing both growers and buyers. “I’m always thinking outside the box — some say too far outside the box,” Craig joked from the seat of his combine as he harvested soybeans on a sunny November afternoon. In all seriousness, though, he believes in the alternative market. “Non-GMO is what the Japanese market wants; they’re very conscious of what they consume. We all knew prices here were going to dive sooner or later; well, here we are.” Myhre said he values Farmers Union for the opportunities it provides to further such cooperative projects “I started getting more involved in Farmers Union in the early 1990s,” he said, noting he served on the NFU Policy Committee in 1992. “I’ve met a lot of people and made a lot of friends through the years.” He urges beginning farmers and other young people to step up in leadership roles in their county chapters. “Farmers Union starts at that local level, teaching you the ins and outs of the how the organization operates but also giving you a look at some of the internal workings of farm policy and all that goes on,” he said. “It grows your mind.” Watch for a feature on another Farmers Union member or family in next month’s edition of Wisconsin Farmers Union News! Member Moments Sophia Elizabeth O’Connor Introducing Congratulations to WFU Government Relations Director Kara O’Connor and her husband, Ryan, who welcomed a beautiful 8 lb. 9 oz. and 21-inch long baby girl, Sophia Elizabeth O’Connor, at 5:30 a.m. on Wednesday, November 12th. Kara reports that mommy, daddy and baby are all doing well! Sophia means Wisdom. In addition to liking the name, Kara and Ryan were inspired after traveling through Turkey while expecting. There they visited a famous 5th Century church in Istanbul called Hagia (Prounced Aya) Sophia, or Church of Holy Widom. Sophia also turned up as one of the four statues at the entrance to the Celsus Library, along with Arete (Virtue), Ennoia (Intelligence) and Episteme (Knowledge). The name Elizabeth comes from a favorite Bible story, the story of the Visitation, in which Mary, who is pregnant with Jesus, visits her elderly relative Elizabeth, who is pregnant with John the Baptist. Congratulations Ryan and Kara! Long-time WFU board member Craig Myhre harvested soybeans on a November afternoon. Myhre, who farms near Osseo, does custom harvesting. Photos & story by Danielle Endvick WFU Communications Director Individual WFU members or families to feature in the new monthly “Meet the Farmers Union Family” section of Wisconsin Farmers Union News. Doing great things on your farm or in your community? Share it with the WFU family! Also seeking fun “Member Moments” photos of your family or critters around the farm or showing off your efforts in renewable energy, co-ops, local foods or other areas vital to WFU! Contact Communications Director Danielle Endvick to be a part of these fun new features! g g g 715-471-0398 g g g [email protected] Page 1212 Page wisconsinfarmersunion.com wisconsinfarmersunion.com Farmers Union News WFU News • |December WFUWFU News News November | Fall 2014 2010 2011 United to Grow Family Agriculture 84th Annual State Convention January 23-25, 2015 The Plaza • 1202 W. Clairemont Avenue • Eau Claire Hotel Info: 800.482.7829 • www.plazaeauclaire.com Convention Info: 715.723.5561 • www.wisconsinfarmersunion.com FRIDAY January 23 Pre-Convention Conference — “Moving Solar Energy Forward” Join us for an update on the state of solar energy in Wisconsin. Track 1 will cover the details of on-farm and household solar installations and what you need to do to take action on your own plans. Track 2 will feature a round-table discussion of opportunities and obstacles to financing and implementing community and group solar projects in the state. The two Tracks will start and wrap-up the day as we envision a solar Wisconsin together. The cost will be $30/nonmembers and $15/members. Friday Night WFU Foundation Fundraiser Plan to join in the fun as we raise money to support WFU Kamp Kenwood. Tickets are $30 each or $50 for a pair. Join us for food, socializing and a chance to win great prizes! Visit www.wisconsinfarmersunion.com to register and for more information. SATURDAY January 24 Sessions throughout our 84th annual Wisconsin Farmers Union State Convention will build upon our motto of being “United to Grow Family Agriculture,” with morning topics touching on rural schools, broadband access and high-capacity wells. An afternoon panel, including stakeholders from both sides of the issue, will address GMO labeling and other emerging ag technologies. Our keynote speakers this year will be National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson and Frances Thicke, well-known ‘agtivist,’ author and Iowa dairy farmer. SUNDAY January 25 Our final day will include a morning worship service, wrap-up of WFU resolutions and policy discussions, and workshops on cover crops, checkoff programs, risk management for dairy farms, hedging, and agritourism. We hope you will join us for a great weekend! EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION ENDS JANUARY 9th Registration available online at www.wisconsinfarmersunion.com Youth Convention • Daycare Available • Workshops • Entertainment • Local Food • Fellowship WFUNews News •| December 2014 WFU Fall November 20102011 wisconsinfarmersunion.com Farmers Union News Please note the following before mailing the registration form: Wisconsin Farmers Union 84th annual State Convention Registration and payment must be mailed by Friday, Jan. 9, 2015 to receive the early bird rate. January 23-25, 2015 The Plaza • 1202 W. Clairemont Avenue • Eau Claire 800-482-7829 • www.plazaeauclaire.com All delegates and voting individuals are required to purchase the convention registration and meals, which include Saturday and Sunday meals. Delegates REGISTRATION FORM who are also youth/youth leaders must purchase a delegate registration and meal package. Individual meal tickets ATTENDEE INFORMATION are available. Indicate names with your package and/or individual meal orders so we can prepare tickets in advance for ease during registration. Registration table opens at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 23 and will continue on Saturday, Jan. 24 at 7:30 a.m. Convention officially opens at 9 a.m. Saturday. Page 13 Page 13 wisconsinfarmersunion.com Please PRINT CLEARLY all information as you would like it to appear on your name badge. Include a list of additional attendees and youth on a separate sheet. Name(s)_______________________________________&___________________________________________ Address_______________________________________ City/State/Zip________________________________ County/Local___________________________________Phone_______________________________________ Email_________________________________________Cell_________________________________________ CIRCLE: Vegetarian Gluten-Free Other:______________________________________________________ Affiliation/Organization (guests/sponsors/exhibitors)______________________________________________ Payment contact, other than attendee (where applicable)__________________________________________ LODGING The Plaza Hotel & Suites 202 W. Clairemont Avenue REGISTRATION OPTIONS Eau Claire, WI for $83 (plus tax) per night. Guaranteed REGISTRATION & MEAL PACKAGE PLEASE NOTE THAT PACKAGE RATES INCLUDE ALL MEALS: Saturday lunch and banquet, block rate ends Dec. 30! To reserve, call 800-482-7829 and ask for the Sunday breakfast and lunch. Use Separate Meal Tickets area below for non-delegate guests who need an individual meal only. Wisconsin Farmers Union group block Type of Registrant Early Bird Price on Regular Price after # of Packages Total number 8325. or before 1/9/15 The Convention Agenda is available at www.wisconsinfarmersunion.com. PRE-CONFERENCE SESSIONS Arrive early to attend the special Friday afternoon sessions, “Moving Solar Energy Forward.” Join us from noon to 4:15 for two special tracks, “On-Farm and Household Solar” or “Opportunities for Group and Community Solar Projects.” The cost is $30 for nonmembers and $15 for members, including lunch. Please preregister by Jan. 9 as seating is limited. WFU FOUNDATION FUNDRAISER The WFU Foundation Fundraiser will be held Friday, Jan. 23 from 6 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $30/single or $50/couple and can be purchased via the form at www.wisconsinfarmersunion.com. CHILD CARE & YOUTH CONVENTION Child care will again be offered this year during select times. Please note names, ages and any special dietary needs or care considerations for your children and include with your registration. Youth registration is $30. For youth convention info, see page 9. Cancellation Policy: Any cancellations must be reported to the WFU State Office by Friday, Jan. 16 (a week prior to the event) in order to receive a refund. Please call Diane at 800-272-5531. 1/9/15 DELEGATE Member $60 $80 $ ADULT Member $60 $80 $ NON-Member $80 $100 $ YOUTH or YOUTH LEADER (Member) (Please include a list of names) $30 $50 $ Annual Membership (I wish to join WFU) $30 $30 $ PRE-CONVENTION WORKSHOP “Moving Solar Energy Forward” — Friday afternoon track options (check one) � TRACK 1: On-Farm and Household Solar OR � TRACK 2: Opportunities for Community and Group Solar Projects Solar Workshop Registration (12-4:30 p.m.; includes lunch) Nonmember Member Total $30 x #_____ $15 x #_____ $ SEPARATE MEAL TICKETS Tickets available for non-delegate individuals who want to join us for meals only — includes programs. Meal (List attendee name after each meal) Early Bird Member Price on or before 1/9/15 Regular Member Price after 1/9/15 NON-MEMBER Rate ONLY # of Tickets Total Saturday Lunch $15 $19 $20 $ Saturday Banquet $30 $35 $40 $ Sunday Breakfast $13 $17 $20 $ Sunday Lunch $12 $16 $20 $ REGISTRATION TOTAL $ MAIL REGISTRATION FORM WITH CHECK PAYABLE TO: WISCONSIN FARMERS UNION, 117 W. Spring St., Chippewa Falls, WI 54729 Page 14 Page 14 wisconsinfarmersunion.com wisconsinfarmersunion.com Farmers Union News What’s on Your Table? with Diane Tiry Fresh from the D’Huyvetter Family Farm I want to thank Donna and Pascal D’Huyvetter for sharing two of their family’s favorite recipes for something special to add to your holiday season. If you can tell a hint of French in the recipes, it is because Pascal was born in Normandy, France. He immigrated to the United States with his parents and four siblings in 1969. Pascal’s parents first lived in Illinois and farmed with a relative until 1971 when they purchased a farm by Humbird. They have dairy cows and grow crops. In 1988, Pascal, Donna, and their oldest son moved to their own farm near Fairchild. The family now includes seven more children, including three sons and five daughters: Nickolas, 28; Pascale, 25; Caroline, 23; Lorelei, 21; Dominique, 18; Remi, 17; Antonia, 14; and Lucca, 10. Two children have graduated college and three are currently in college, two are in high school and the youngest is in elementary school. Three are majoring in an agricultural field. They have all helped on the farm in one form or another, and we are hopeful that some of them will continue the family farming tradition. “The Christmas Yule log or Buche de Noel is a Christmas cake that Pascal’s mother would make every Christmas,” Donna said. “Her recipe was a lot more complicated. We found this recipe several years ago and now I make it with our children and they even make it on their own.” CHRISTMAS YULE LOG Donna D’Huyvetter Ingredients: 5 eggs, separated 1 cup sugar, divided ¾ cup cake flour 1/4teaspoon of salt ½ teaspoon cream of tartar Mocha Cream Filling: 1 cup heavy whipping cream ½ cup confectioners’ sugar 1-1/2 teaspoon instant coffee granules Mocha Buttercream Frosting: 1/3 cup butter, softened 1/3 cup baking cocoa 2 cups confectioners’ sugar 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 tablespoon brewed coffee 2 to 3 tablespoons of whipping cream Directions: 1. Line a 15 in. x 1 in. baking pan with parchment paper; grease the paper. 2. Place egg whites in a small bowl and let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. 3. In a large bowl, beat egg yolks on high until light and fluffy. Gradually add ½ cup sugar, beating until thick and lemon-colored. 4. Combine flour and salt; gradually add to egg yolk mixture until blended. 5. Beat egg whites on medium until foamy. Add cream of tartar; beating on high until stiff peaks form. Gradually add remaining sugar, beating on high until stiff peaks form. 6. Stir a fourth into cake mixture. Fold in remaining egg whites. 7. Spread batter evenly in prepared pan. 8. Bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes, until cake springs back (Don’t overbake). WFU News • |December 2014 News | Fall 2010 WFUWFU News November 2011 9. Cool for 5 minutes; invert by placing a linen towel dusted with confectioners’ sugar over the original pan and if you have a large cutting board use this so the cake doesn’t fall onto the towel. Take off the pan and peel off parchment paper. Roll up in the towel, starting with a short side. Cool on a wire rack. 10. In a bowl, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add sugar and coffee granules. Beat until stiff peaks form; chill. 11. Unroll cooled cake, spread filling to within ½ in. of edges. Roll up again. Place on serving platter; chill. 12. In a bowl, beat frosting ingredients until smooth. Frost cake. Using a fork, make lines resembling tree bark. Yield 12 servings. GUMBO Donna D’Huyvetter This is a family favorite during the winter months. More spice can be added depending on preference. Ingredients: 1 cup flour ¾ cup bacon drippings 1 cup chopped celery 1 large onion, chopped 1 large green bell pepper, chopped 2 cloves of minced garlic 1 lb. Andouille sausage, sliced 3 quarts of beef broth 1 tablespoon sugar salt to taste 2 tablespoons hot pepper sauce 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning blend (or to taste) 4 bay leaves 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves 29 oz. stewed tomatoes 29 oz. tomato sauce 2 tablespoons bacon drippings 2 (10 oz.) packages of frozen cut okra 2 tablespoons white vinegar 1 lb. lump crabmeat 3 lbs. medium shrimp 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce Directions: 1 Make a roux by whisking the flour and ¾ cup bacon drippings together in a large soup pot over medium-low heat to form a smooth mixture. Cook the roux until it turns slightly brown. Make sure to whisk constantly. Remove from heat. 2. Place the celery, onion, pepper, and garlic into the roux. Mix in the sausage. Bring the mixture to a simmer. Add the beef broth stir to mix well, heat to boiling. Reduce to a simmer. Mix in the sugar, salt, hot pepper sauce, Cajun seasoning, bay leaves, thyme, stewed tomatoes, and tomato sauce. Simmer on low heat for an hour. 3. Meanwhile, melt 2 tablespoons of bacon drippings in a skillet and cook the okra with vinegar over medium heat for 15 minutes. Remove the okra with a slotted spoon and stir into gumbo. Mix the crabmeat, shrimp, and Worcestershire sauce into the gumbo. Simmer about 30 minutes. Serve. Thank you Pascal and Donna for sharing about your family and your favorite recipes; I can’t wait to try the Yule Log for Christmas this year. May your holidays be filled with great fun and festivities! Diane Tiry P.S. If you have favorite recipes that you would like to share with our Farmers Union family, please feel free to email me, [email protected]. WFUNews News •| December 2014 WFU N Fall ovember 20102011 wisconsinfarmersunion.com Farmers Union News wisconsinfarmersunion.com Page 15 Page 15 Associate Members Barron Veterinary Clinic, LTD Cooperative Network County of Marathon Dallman Insurance Agency, LLC Douglas County Land & Water Conservation Dept. Farley Center for Peace, Justice & Sustainability Hay River Pumpkin Seed Oil Michael Fields Agricultural Institute Midwest Renewable Energy Association North Wind Renewable Energy, LLC Oconto Electric Co-op People’s Food Co-op Statz Brothers Inc. United Cooperative Vernon Electric Co-op Viroqua Food Cooperative Thank you for your continued support! ©2011 • Eric C. Snowdeal III • Organic Valley Give a Stronger Voice to Rural America Join Wisconsin Farmers Union and help preserve the economic health and sustainability of our rural communities. Membership Application Name: ____________________________________ Spouse’s Name: ____________________________ # of Children under 21: _____ Address:___________________________________ City: _________________ State: ____ Zip: _______ Email: _____________________________ Phone: _________________________ Household Type: o Farm o Rural o Small Town o Urban Type of Farm: Check all that apply. o Dairy o Poultryo Vegetables or Fruit o Beef o Crops o Organic o Hogs o Horses o Other ______________ Membership: Fee includes family unless student or organization is checked. o New Member o Renewing Member o 1 Year ($30) o 4 Years ($100) o Student ($15) o 2 Years ($55) o Lifetime ($2000) o Organization ($50) Join us today! Mail this card to: Wisconsin Farmers Union 117 W. Spring St. • Chippewa Falls, WI • 54729 Or sign up online: www.wisconsinfarmersunion.com For more information, call 800-272-5531 Page 1616 Page wisconsinfarmersunion.com wisconsinfarmersunion.com Farmers Union News Wood/Portage County launches youth group Deb Jakubek Membership Coordinator The Wood/Portage County Chapter of Wisconsin Farmers Union is excited to announce the formation of a WFU Youth Group! On November 4th, six kids joined youth leaders Dave Mangin, Tommy Enright, Lisa Shirek, Alicia Razvi and Deb Jakubek at the Tomorrow River Community Charter School, located at the Central Wisconsin Environmental Station outside of Amherst Junction. The focus of this first meeting was “knowing where your food comes from” and the children were all able to make their own ‘shoebox farm’ and report to the group what they produced on their farms. Once everyone was done, the farms were all put together to show how having a number of small, diverse farms makes a community strong. The group also toured Whitefeather Organics, the farm of WFU members Tony and Laura Miller, and was able to see how a turkey is butchered for a delicious Thanksgiving dinner. The group plans to continue to meet twice a month, with one meeting focusing on the NFU curriculum and activity and the second meeting being a tour to a local farm or business in the area. The founding group is very excited to engage more children in the community Left: Isis Beacom gave two-thumbs up to the shoebox farm activity at the to join us and learn more about how they can make a difference in their community! For more information first Wood/Portage County Youth Group meeeting. Right: Llyas Razvi on the Youth Program, please contact Dave Mangin at showed off his farm — complete with puffy white clouds. [email protected]. Friday Night Fundraiser Wisconsin Farmers Union Foundation Kicking off the 84th annual WFU State Convention 6-9 p.m., Friday, Jan. 23, 2015 the The Plaza ♦ Eau Claire Tickets: $30/person or $50/couple Live Auction & Raffle, Food, Entertainment, Free Caricatures and more! nefit e B s d e wood Proce n e K p am WFU K de Fund! Upgra Further details to be announced. Register and find more convention information at www.wisconsinfarmersunion.com. WFU News • |December WFUWFU News News November | Fall 2014 2010 2011 IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK ♫♪A LOT LIKE CO-OPS ♪♫ Written by Cathy Statz Editors’s Note: For the past 14 years, our talented WFU Education Director Cathy Statz has written a cooperative-themed ditty for the Cooperative Network Annual Meeting. Here’s this year’s version, set to the tune of “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas,” which she sang at the “Innovate Cooperatively” themed meeting in La Crosse in November. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It’s beginning to look a lot like co-ops Everywhere you go. Take a look at the current trend, Developing once again, With worker co-ops poised to steal the show. It’s beginning to look a lot like co-ops Groceries, hubs and more… But the prettiest sight to see Is the dividend that will be At your own front door. It’s the annual meeting, the people are seating, And now it’s time to begin. Leaders will talk, We’ll take time to take stock Of the year – through thick and through thin. And everyone can hardly wait ‘til coffee starts again…. It’s beginning to look a lot like co-ops Everywhere you go. There’s a story we’ve got to tell: co-ops have done so well; A business form we want the world to know. It’s beginning to look a lot like co-ops. Now – it’s not too late: For the thing that has made us strong is the fact that we belong. So, let’s innovate… make our co-ops great! HAPPY HOLIDAYS From Wisconsin Farmers Union!
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