Service, Partnership Awards Presented By Farm Bureau

Thursday, December 6, 2007 4:58 PM CST

Four awards were presented this week for service and partnership with the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation at the organization’s 88th annual meeting in Madison.

Service to Agriculture

Richard Daluge, director and assistant dean of the UW-Madison’s Farm and Industry Short Course, was presented the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation’s “Distinguished Service to Agriculture" award.

The Farm Bureau’s "Distinguished Service to Agriculture" award is the highest individual honor in recognition of service to Wisconsin agriculture.

“He has certainly committed his life to making sure that young people going into production agriculture are well equipped,” said Bill Bruins, Wisconsin Farm Bureau president. “Throughout his career he has opened many doors to opportunity in agriculture for people across the state.”

Daluge is the longest serving Short Course director in UW History. He also serves as the secretary-treasurer of Wisconsin Agriculture and Life Sciences Alumni Association, which he grew from 200 members to nearly 2,000 members.

Born and raised on a Rock County dairy farm near Janesville, he received a bachelor’s degree in ag education from UW-Madison in 1971. He first worked as a 4-H agent in Buffalo County in the early 1970s, before being named assistant to the dean and director of career services for CALS. He later received a master’s degree in ag extension and a PhD in adult education from UW-Madison. He was selected to his current post with Short Course in 1983.

Daluge is vice president of the Wisconsin Rural Leadership Program Board of Directors. He also serves on the Wisconsin FFA Sponsors Board and as an advisor for the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity. He is a member of the Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ and the Madison West Lions Club, of which he is a past president. He was also a board member of the Wisconsin 4-H Foundation.

Among the other awards he has accumulated are the Spirit Award from the Wisconsin Alumni Association, Man of the Century Award from the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity, Volunteer of the Year (Ruth Gordon Award) from the Madison Area Service Clubs Council, as well as honorary State and American FFA Degrees.

Daluge and his wife, Peggy, have two children and two grandchildren. Together they own Daluge Travel, which specializes in international group tours with an agricultural emphasis. In his spare time he enjoys downhill skiing, traveling, playing the piano and participating in his church choir.

Service to Farm Bureau

Doug and Jane Mueller, Fall Creek, were presented the "Distinguished Service to Farm Bureau" award.

The “Distinguished Service to Farm Bureau” award is given annually to a Farm Bureau member who has provided leadership and volunteer support to Farm Bureau’s efforts.

“Doug and Jane certainly represent the best of what we call the fabric of rural Wisconsin. I can’t think of another couple who has done more for Farm Bureau at the local level, and at the same time volunteered countless hours for state Farm Bureau initiatives,” said Bill Bruins, president of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau.

Doug is the past president of the Eau Claire County Farm Bureau. He and his wife, Jane, have provided solid leadership for the Farm Bureau and other organizations in which they have been involved.

Doug and Jane Mueller have been members of the Farm Bureau for 27 years. They own and operate Mueller Hilltop Farms Inc. with his mother, Kathleen. Their three children: Meg, 24, Peter, 19, and Steven, 15, all help with the farm. Their farming operation consists of milking 60 Holsteins and raising 385 acres of alfalfa, corn, soybeans and oats south of Eau Claire. Their picturesque farm has been in the Mueller family for the past century.

Doug served on the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Dairy Advisory Committee, and as a county membership chairman. Doug was a district president of the Associated Milk Producers Inc. Recently; he served on the USDA FAS Office reorganization study committee. He was also the president of the Eau Claire County Dairy Promotion Committee, while Jane remains a dairy ambassador. Both have served as president of the Eau Claire Memorial FFA Alumni. Jane has served on the WFBF Strategic Planning Committee and recently completed serving two terms on the Ag in the Classroom Steering Committee. Jane represented District 9 on the WFBF Health Care Task Force.

The Muellers also both are graduates of the Wisconsin Rural Leadership Program: He in Group 9 and she in Group 10. Jane is the general leader of the Pleasant Valley Clover 4-H Club and Doug is a project leader. Both were honored this month by Eau Claire County 4-H as “Partners in 4-H and Distinguished Leaders.” Doug also served on the Town of Washington Comprehensive Planning Commission and as congregation president of the Zion Lutheran Church in Cleghorn. Jane is the cantor and director of the Contemporary Choir at St. Raymond of Penafort Parish in Brackett and serves as chairperson of the Liturgical Ministries Committee.

With nearly all of their farmland classified as highly erodible, the Muellers began incorporating conservation tillage practices in 1983 and have followed an annually-updated conservation plan ever since. Their work earned them the West Central Land Conservation Farmer of the Year award. They have also previously been recognized by the Wisconsin Forage Council, Eau Claire Chamber of Commerce, AMPI and as finalists for the Wisconsin Farm Bureau’s Young Farmer Award.

The Muellers have opened their farm to many Farm Bureau events, including a state budget signing ceremony in 2001. During the 2004 presidential campaign, Doug participated in a town hall meeting discussion with President George W. Bush, where they spoke about repealing the death tax and expanding the use of biofuels.

Doug Mueller currently suffers from prostate cancer which has spread into his bones. A true leader, he now asks others to get an exam if they are 50 or older and an annual PSA count because the disease is treatable if caught in the early stages.

The Mueller children accepted the award on behalf of their parents.

Partner in Agriculture - Agent

Tim Jergenson, Barron County Agriculture UW-Extension Agent, was presented the “Partner in Agriculture” award by the Wisconsin Farm Bureau and the organization’s annual meeting.

The Farm Bureau’s Partner in Agriculture award recognizes a county agriculture UW-Extension agent, along with the county Farm Bureau that nominated them, for their leadership on agricultural programs, leadership, promotion of Farm Bureau and partnership with the county Farm Bureau.

Jergenson has served on the Barron County Farm Bureau since 2003, and has provided input as to how the Farm Bureau can be more involved in the county. He has initiated several projects such as having the county Farm Bureau make public service announcements for local radio stations to promote farm safety and highway safety during the fall harvest. The Barron County Farm Bureau also contributed to the purchase of an ‘Enviroscape’ display for middle school students to promote what farmers do to protect water supplies. He has also assisted as a teacher in local schools to explain modern farming practices.

“Tim Jergenson has been a great advocate for agriculture and revived an Extension agricultural program when Barron County was close to losing the agricultural agent,” said George Busse, Barron County Farm Bureau president. “He has been a leader in bringing information about biodiesel production and alternative crop options to the ag producers in our county.”

Jergenson received a cash award to be used for professional development by the UW-Extension agent. Barron County also received a cash award to be used for county UW-Extension programs for nominating him and for their partnership with Farm Bureau.

Partner in Agriculture n Teacher

Tari Costello, agricultural teacher at Waupun High School, was presented the “Partner in Agriculture” award by the Wisconsin Farm Bureau and the organization’s annual meeting.

The Farm Bureau’s Partner in Agriculture award recognizes an agricultural instructor, along with the county Farm Bureau that nominated them, for their leadership on agricultural programs, leadership, promotion of Farm Bureau and partnership with the county Farm Bureau.

Costello has been the agriculture advisor for Waupun High School for 10 years, during that time she has dramatically improved the involvement of the students in the overall FFA program. Significant strides have been made in the Food for America and Ag in the Classroom programs. Waupun High School regularly has students participate in the FFA Farm Forum, and has several students involved in a variety of career development events.

“Tari has been an enthusiastic supporter of educating youth and the non-farm public about agriculture,” said Darlene Arneson, Farm Bureau’s Ag in the Classroom Coordinator. “Her efforts with Food for America and Agriculture in the Classroom programs have reached hundreds of students, community members and producers over the years.”

Costello has served on the Farm Bureau’s Ag in the Classroom Steering Committee, and has participated in the Ag in the Classroom teacher training program. She also helps conduct an activity where her FFA chapter works with an area farmer to conduct tours with elementary schools in the area.

“Under Tari’s leadership, FFA members have been trained to present exciting, informative and educational programs for the Waupun and Fond du Lac County area,” Arneson added. “Waupun FFA is a leader in Food for America in our state and has been recognized by the Wisconsin FFA Association for their achievements.”

As recipient of this award, Costello received a cash award to be used for the chapter’s agricultural education program, and the Fond du Lac County Farm Bureau received a cash award to be used for local agricultural education programs.

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