Nominees Announced in Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin Election

 

The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) announced eleven nominees for nine open seats in the 2026 Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin (DFW) Board of Directors election.

Nine districts are up for election, which began on May 1, 2026. The following candidates, listed by district, have been certified as eligible for election:

District 1 Nominee: Evan Hillan, Ladysmith
Ashland, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Iron, Rusk, Sawyer and Washburn counties

District 4 Nominees: Sara Bahgat-Eggert, Clayton; Andrew Christenson, Amery
Barron and Polk counties

District 7 Nominee: David Bangart, Greenwood
Clark County

District 10 Nominee: Tasha Schleis, Kewaunee
Brown, Door and Kewaunee counties

District 13 Nominee: Jonathon Hallock, Mondovi
Buffalo, Pepin and Pierce counties

District 16 Nominee: Janet Clark, Eldorado
Fond du Lac, Green Lake and Marquette counties

District 19 Nominee: Mark Crave, Watertown
Columbia and Dodge counties

District 22 Nominee: Patrick R. Schroeder, Lancaster
Grant County

District 25 Nominees: Kristen Metcalf, Milton; Chaz Self, East Troy
Green, Rock and Walworth counties

DATCP confirmed all certified candidates met the administrative rule marketing order eligibility criteria of being an active dairy producer or representative of an affected producer, selling milk into commercial channels, and residing within their respective districts. DATCP also certified each candidate’s nomination form, which included five signatures from active dairy producers within the district as well as completion of a “Declaration of Eligibility” form. For information on nominees or election process, visit www.wisconsindairy.org/elections.

DATCP is mailing ballots to dairy producers who reside within the nine affected districts. Producers who have not received a ballot by May 15, 2026, can request one by contacting DATCP Market Orders staff at DATCPMarketOrders@wisconsin.gov. Completed ballots must be signed and returned by email or postmarked to DATCP Market Orders Program, PO Box 8911, Madison, WI 53708, on or before May 22, 2026.

Elected producers will serve three-year terms July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2029.
DATCP administers elections for Wisconsin commodity marketing boards. To learn more about these boards, visit https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/About_Us/MarketingBoards.aspx.