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Dairy Producers Vie
for Seats on Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board
Between May 5 and May 24, dairy producers
in eight Wisconsin districts may vote for representatives
to the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board. Ten candidates
are running for the eight available positions, which
affect more than 6,000 dairy producers. The candidates
running for three-year terms are:
| District
2 (Florence, Forest, Langlade, Marinette, Oconto,
Vilas) |
District
14 (Jackson, La Crosse, Trempealeau) |
| District
5 (St. Croix, Dunn) |
District
17 (Calumet, Manitowoc) |
| District
8 (Marathon) |
District
20 (Richland, Sauk) |
| District
11 (Outagamie, Winnebago) |
District
23 (Iowa, Lafayette) |
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District
2 (Florence, Forest, Langlade, Marinette, Oconto,
Vilas)
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Connie M. Seefeldt (incumbent)
N1554 Behnke School Road
Coleman, WI 54112
County: Marinette
Spouse: James R.
Children: Ken, Tim, Ellen
Began farming in 1972
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| Affiliations: |
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Michigan Milk Production
Co-op |
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National Dairy Board |
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Alto Dairy Co-op |
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Marinette County
Promotions Committee |
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Manitowoc Milk Production |
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National Milk Producers
Federation |
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Wisconsin Women for
Ag |
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AMPI/Morning Glory |
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American Agri-Women |
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Connie and James operate as a sole
proprietorship that farms 500 acres and milks
130 Holsteins, Jerseys, Brown Swiss and Guernseys.
Milk is shipped to Michigan Milk Producers Co-op.
Statement:
We all know times are hard, which makes it more
difficult to get involvement in organizations
such as WMMB. At this time I would like to encourage
all producers to give consideration to serving
on Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board the next time
elections come around.
Much change has taken place during
the nine years in which I have served as a director
on WMMB. We have hired a new CEO, replaced some
staff, looked at short/long term goals, and decreased
operational costs. We are currently in the process
of bringing the Dairy Council of Wisconsin "in
house" to further save dairy producer dollars
and use those dollars saved to reach more schoolchildren
in Wisconsin.
Through much deliberation, I, with
my family's support, have decided to commit three
more years to WMMB. During this time I will continue
to do my best, while being very aware of the difficulties
we all face on our farms. I would appreciate your
support during this election and for the next
three years.
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District
5 (St. Croix, Dunn)
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Frederick (Fritz)
Anding (incumbent)
431 Highway 35 South
Hudson, WI 54016
County: St. Croix
Spouse: Ruth
Children: Randy, Ronald
Began farming in 1947
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| Affiliations: |
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St.
Croix County Farm Bureau |
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WFBF
Board of Directors |
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National Dairy Board |
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County
Dairy Promotion |
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Wisconsin
Milk Marketing Board |
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Frederick and Ruth operate a sole proprietorship
that farms 600 acres and milks 90 Holsteins. Milk
is shipped to Dairy Farmers of America in Springfield,
Missouri.
Statement:
I started in the dairy retail business with my
father, and we delivered our milk house-to-house
until 1959. Now the milk produced on my farm goes
to consumers through the DFA. My father taught
me the importance of supplying customers with
high-quality milk and the importance of informing
the consumers of the need of dairy products in
their diets. We still need to inform consumers
of all ages the need of dairy products. I hope
we can have greater influence in reaching young
people with this message so they will continue
to see the benefits of dairy products for their
good health. I've worked with the old ADA and
now with the WMMB to help get this message to
the public and would like to continue working
with WMMB.
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Elizabeth A. Doornink
2069 30th Avenue
Baldwin, WI 54002
County: St. Croix
Spouse: Todd
Children: Annaliese, Mikayla, Eva
Began farming in 1991
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District
8 (Marathon)
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Sandi Cihlar (incumbent)
1075 Town Hall Road
Mosinee, WI 54455
County: Marathon
Spouse: Dennis
Children: Matthew, Aaron, Nathan
Began farming in 1971
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| Affiliations: |
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Marathon County Dairy
Promotion/Education Committee |
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Marathon County Agri-Business
Committee |
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Marathon County Farm
Bureau |
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Wisconsin Women for
Agriculture |
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NRCS Wisconsin State
Technical Committee |
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Farm Health Work
Group/Farm Centers at DATCP |
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Sandi and Dennis are partners in a corporation
that farms 1,200 acres and milks 200 Holsteins.
Milk is shipped to Grassland in Greenwood.
Statement:
WMMB's Dairy Impact Campaign is designed to increase
the public's understanding and support of Wisconsin's
dairy industry with targeted messages about its
economic and historical importance. Key messages
clearly point out just why it's so important for
all of us to buy Wisconsin dairy products.
It's time to remind our non-farming friends and
neighbors throughout America's Dairyland about
the true impact of the state's dairy industry.
This $18.5 billion dairy business significantly
impacts Wisconsin's economy and has played an
integral role in the shaping of our history, our
heritage, and our reputation throughout the nation
and the world.
WMMB's Dairy Impact Campaign provides an effective
look to extend key dairy messages. As a WMMB Director
and dairy producer, my goal is continued partnerships
with local producers, county dairy leaders, agri-businesses
and others in telling the story of dairy's impact
on Wisconsin.
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District 11 (Outagamie,
Winnebago)
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Gene
Vander Heiden (incumbent)
N2888 McCabe Road
Kaukauna, WI 54130
County: Outagamie
Spouse: Joan
Children: David, Dan, Duane, Dean
Began farming in 1963 |
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| Affiliations: |
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Center Valley
Co-op |
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Progressive
Farmers Co-op |
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Land O'Lakes
Cooperative |
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Outagamie County
Forage Council |
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Central Milk
Producers Co-op |
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Wisconsin State
Forage Council |
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Manitowoc Milk
Producers Co-op |
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Outagamie County
DHIA Co-op |
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21st Century
Genetics |
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Fox Valley
Farm Management |
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North Star
Genetics |
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Fox Valley
Technical College Ag Program |
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Pulaski Chase
Co-op |
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Freedom FFA
Alumni Association |
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Outagamie Equity
Services Co-op |
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Outagamie County
4-H Leader |
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Gene and Joan are partners in a limited
liability corporation farms 1,400 acres
and milks 480 Holsteins. Milk is shipped
to Trega Foods in Little Chute.
Statement:
When previously running for the board
of directors of the Wisconsin Milk Marketing
Board, my emphasis was on communication.
I am again stressing this in re-running.
There is still much room for the improvement
of communication within the board itself,
between the board and staff, and with the
producers.
We must listen to the consumers' and producers'
needs while enhancing the image of, and
ensuring a growing outlet for, Wisconsin
dairy products. I want to see the dairy
farmers' promotion dollars get more mileage.
The long-term focus of the Wisconsin Milk
Marketing Board should be a better income
for the milk producers of our state.
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| District
14 (Jackson, La Crosse, Trempealeau) |
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Leon Pfaff (incumbent)
N8694 County Trunk Highway DD
Holmen, WI 54636
County: La Crosse
Spouse: Ruth
Children: Brad, Shawn, Tracey
Began farming in 1970
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| Affiliations: |
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Board member
of Foremost Farms |
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Board member
of Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board |
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Member of Wisconsin
Farm Bureau Federation |
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Member of La
Crosse County Farm Bureau Federation |
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Member of Wisconsin
Farmers Union
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| Leon and Ruth
operate a partnership that farms 400 acres
and milks 60 Holsteins. Milk is shipped to
Foremost Farms U.S.A. in Baraboo.
Statement
It has been my honor to serve as a representative
on the WMMB. I respectfully request your
support for re-election.
Many producers are involuntarily
exiting the dairy industry due to low producer
pay prices. While there are many reasons
for the low price, the dairy industry must
continue to research, develop and market
products that are both wanted and needed
by the nation's consumers.
Once re-elected, I will
work to ensure that dairy vending machines
– including milk, ice cream and yogurt
– are more widely available in our
state public schools. Continued efforts
will be taken to ensure that a larger variety
of dairy products are offered in school
breakfast, lunch and after-school programs.
The consumption of dairy
products by our nation's youth is important
for the industry's long-term survival. As
a WMMB member, I will continue to advocate
for the increased marketing of our products
to this important audience.
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District
17 (Calumet, Manitowoc)
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Tom Braun
15908 San Road
Reedsville, WI 54230
County: Manitowoc
Spouse: Pam
Began farming in 1970
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| Affiliations:
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Wisconsin
State Forage Council |
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Manitowoc
County Forage Council |
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Pro-Agriculture
Manitowoc County |
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Dairy
Business Association |
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Professional
Dairy Producers of Wisconsin |
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Corn
Growers Association |
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Soybean
Association |
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FFA Alumni
Association |
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National
Federation of Independent Business |
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Tom and Pam operate in a partnership
that farms 6,400 acres and milks 740
Holsteins. Milk is shipped to White
Clover Dairy in Kaukauna.
Statement:
I have always believed that we as
farmers need to be better marketers
of the products we produce. On our
farm we have developed a business
plan that tries to capture as much
profit as we can from what we produce
(i.e. forage and TMR sales to other
dairies, raising bull calves to finished
beef and, when possible, selling to
end users). I would like to think
that I bring some of this experience
and customer satisfaction to the board.
I'm also excited about the possibility
of promoting milk and cheese, some
of the healthiest, tastiest food we
can eat. I would support the interests
of all sizes of dairies and realize
that all are a vital part of this
industry.
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Rosalie M. Geiger (incumbent)
4227 Hickory Hills Road
Reedsville, WI 54230
County: Manitowoc
Spouse: Randall (Randy)
Children: Corey, Angela
Began farming in 1969
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Affiliations:
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V.P. of DMI's
Cheese Committee |
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Country Horizon
Coop |
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National Dairy
Board |
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Manitowoc County
DHIA |
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Farm Bureau |
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Manitowoc
Cty. Dairy Promotion Committee |
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Wisconsin Women
in Agriculture |
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Manitowoc County
Expo Board |
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National Dairy
Shrine |
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Calumet County
Dairy Promotion Committee |
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Wisconsin State
FFA Alumni Lifetime Member |
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Wisconsin Program
on Ag Technology Board |
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National and
State Holstein Association |
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Rockland Sunshine |
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WI
State Scholarship Commit. (Holstein Assn.) |
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4-H
Past Dairy Leader |
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Reedsville
FFA |
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Manitowoc County
Junior Holstein Advisory |
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Alumni Secretary |
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Manitowoc Milk
Produce Co-op |
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Equity Livestock
Association |
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Rosalie and Randall operate as a sole proprietorship
that farms 300 acres and milks 60 Holsteins.
Milk is shipped to Verifine Dairy in Sheboygan.
Statement:
We as dairy farmers produce nature's most
perfect food – milk. I truly enjoy
milking our cows and working the land. As
much as I enjoy that, it's just as important
to tell everyone we know about our state's
high-quality dairy products like cheese,
milk and butter. To have a future and to
compete with the Coca Cola's of the world,
we need to promote and advertise. If we
don't, who will? Consumers must hear our
message, and that's where WMMB comes into
play. It's paramount to continue to promote
our top two products: cheese and milk. Cheese
consumption in the United States has nearly
doubled since the dairy check-off has been
implemented. Milk consumption by kids is
at the highest level in more than 10 years.
We need to continue to promote for future
growth. Our innovative approaches are paying
off. That's why I'm running, so producers'
dollars are, and continue to be, spent efficiently
and effectively.
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District
20 (Richland, Sauk)
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Bradford McCauley
15257 County Trunk Highway A
Viola, WI 54664
County: Richland
Spouse: Ginger
Children: Gretchen Kanable, Gina Young,
Brody, BriAna, Gavin
Began farming in 1972
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| Affiliations: |
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Accelerated
Genetics Delegate |
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AMPI
Delegate |
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Corporate
Resolutions Member of AMPI |
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Badgerland
Farm Credit Director |
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Consumers
Cooperative Director in Richland County |
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Vice
Chairman Consumers Cooperative Board
of Directors |
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Bradford and Ginger
operate a partnership that farms 450
acres and milks 105 Holsteins. Milk
is shipped to Associated Milk Producers
Incorporated in New Ulm, Minnesota.
Statement:
My family has been in the dairy
business for three generations, and
I would like to see that the next
generation might have the opportunity
to carry on the heritage. If I were
elected to the WMMB, I would work
to reduce the board size, redistrict,
and get industry people on the board
as outside directors. These improvements
would make it possible to coordinate
our program dollars better.
In Wisconsin we
have seen a lot of milk come into
our state to fill our plants with
milk proteins to make them run more
efficient. I believe we should ask
California or other western states
if they might consider sending the
promotional dollars with the proteins
to aid in selling more Wisconsin cheese.
I am confident that it would add to
all DAIRY FARMERS PROFITS!
Thank you for your
consideration, and I would greatly
appreciate your vote.
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District
23 (Iowa, Lafayette)
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Jay M. Stauffacher
(incumbent)
16323 Meylor Lane
Darlington, WI 53530
County: Lafayette
Children: Aaron, Eric
Began farming in 1989
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The Wisconsin Department of
Agriculture will mail ballots to all licensed
dairy producers who reside within the districts
up for election. Producers who do not receive
a ballot by May 8 should call Noel Favia at the
Department at (800) 942-5140. Eligible producers
must return their ballots in certified envelopes
by May 24.
WMMB's 25 board members supervise WMMB policies
and procedures and approve WMMB's long-range business
plan and annual budget. All WMMB programs, funded
by check-off dollars from Wisconsin dairy producers,
are designed to increase demand for Wisconsin-produced
raw milk.
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