The April Zoom event will also feature local Conservation Coaches who will mentor women landowners who want to learn more about land, water and wildlife stewardship, and sustainable or regenerative agriculture practices. WiWiC Conservation Coaches include: Rachel Bouressa of Bouressa Family Farm in New London, Stacey Botsford of Red Door Family Farm in Athens, Patti Schevers of Schevers Farm outside of Green Bay, and Valerie Dantoin, a organic dairy farmer from Seymour.
Schevers is the fourth generation on her 100-acre farm, and raises poultry and vegetables, along with renting 3 “glamper” campsites. “My goal, with support and agreement from my mother, sister, and aunt is to transition the entire property into native grasses, pollinator habitat, wildlife corridors, and pond scrapes for waterfowl. The reasoning is to utilize our little ‘block’ of land to be a place for our family to enjoy and nature to flourish for generations to come,” says Schevers. “The original farm deed was in my great-grandmother’s name after my great-grandfather passed in 1922, then transitioned to her son, and then to my father until 1997, when it returned to women management with my mother. I am proud to be the next generation of women to steer this property into a completely different future.”
“I believe that as farmers, we have an incredible role and responsibility to be stewards of the land. The land is not ours to own, but ours to care for for a small duration of its time,” said Bouressa. “Agriculture comprises 40% of land use in Wisconsin, and likewise across the country. We as farmers have a great deal of power to impact and improve our environment, our rural communities, the nutritional value of the food we produce, as well as our own happiness and quality of life.”
“I am really excited to take part in this project. I think there is so much power in creating networks of women across the state who are able to learn with, and from each other,” said Kirsten Slaughter, who is a WiWiC Regional Coordinator for the NorthWestern Region of the state, and the Education Organizer for Wisconsin Farmers Union. She will be facilitating the April workshop and connecting participants with Conservation Coaches. “I am thrilled to work with our partners to build connections around conservation in Wisconsin.”
Women landowners and farm operators are a growing demographic in Wisconsin. The 2017 Census recorded 38,509 female producers in Wisconsin, showing that women make up 35 percent of all producers in the state. Wisconsin Women in Conservation (WiWiC) is a broad state-wide coalition of organizations dedicated to sustainable agriculture and conservation education, with funding from the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Michael Fields Agricultural Institute as the lead is partnering with the Wisconsin Farmers Union, Renewing the Countryside, E Resources Group, and the Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES).
The WiWiC group hopes to build networks of women that will help each other find technical assistance and possibly funding to put more conservation practices in place on their land. The group also plans to do topical virtual workshops through the summer and an in-person farm field day in the fall. This unique three-year initiative will foster networks through a newsletter and other learning opportunities. Sign up for workshops or the newsletter at www.wiwic.org, and follow the group on Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest.
For more information on the April 7 workshop, contact Kirsten Slaughter at 608-514-2031 or kslaughter@wisconsinfarmersunion.com.
Be the first to comment