Award Recipients Honored at WFBF Annual Meeting

Thursday, December 18, 2008 7:34 AM CST

The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation held its 88th annual meeting earlier this month at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells. The organization recognized multiple award recipients for year’s of service and dedication to agriculture.

Distinguished service

Retiring State Representative Barbara Gronemus was presented the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation’s “Distinguished Service to Agriculture" award.

Rep. Gronemus (D-Whitehall), known to everyone under the capitol dome simply as “Bobby,” proudly calls herself “a farmer’s daughter.” She received the highest individual honor in recognition of service to Wisconsin agriculture that Farm Bureau bestows.

“Bobby has always been a passionate voice and rock solid vote for agriculture in our State Assembly,” said Paul Zimmerman, Farm Bureau’s executive director of public affairs. “She was a true leader in passing several important pieces of farm legislation such as the landmark use value assessment of farmland and the right to farm laws.”

“Bobby was a great legislator because she always had the needs of farmers and rural Wisconsin at heart,” Zimmerman said. “She was always willing to go to bat for farmers and be very tenacious when needed. The Legislature will not be the same without her presence, and we at Farm Bureau are going to miss her tenacity, leadership and passion.”

Rep. Gronemus was first elected to represent the 91st Assembly District in 1982, and was elected every two years since. The 91st district consists of all of Trempealeau and Buffalo counties, and portions of Pierce, Pepin and Jackson counties.

Rep. Gronemus holds the distinction of being the first woman to chair the Assembly’s Agriculture Committee, and the longest serving member of the Mississippi River Parkway Commission. In 1985 she served as the chairperson of the Assembly Committee on Rural Development.

Born Barbara Barry on Nov. 21, 1931 in Norwalk, she was raised on a family farm until graduating from Ontario Public High School in 1949. Prior to serving in public office, Rep. Gronemus farmed with her husband, Lambert, and worked as a nursing home activities director. She has three children, five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Rep. Gronemus did not seek re-election in November, and officially retires when the new legislative session begins in early January.

Farm Bureau service

Carl Casper was presented the “Distinguished Service to Farm Bureau Award”. The award is given annually to a Farm Bureau member who has provided exceptional leadership and support to Farm Bureau’s efforts.

Known by some as “Mr. Farm Bureau” in Dunn County, Casper comes from a family who were charter members of the Dunn County Farm Bureau. He remembers his parents taking him to Farm Bureau meetings as a child. Through his own volunteer efforts that began in the 1960s, Casper has left a distinct mark on the statewide farm organization.

“My greatest friends are my Farm Bureau friends,” Casper said recently.

“Farm Bureau has been a true priority for him,” said Jim Holte, a Dunn County farmer who now serves on the Farm Bureau’s state board of directors.

Holte says it was Casper who first invited him to attend a Dunn County Farm Bureau meeting in the 1970s, and he credits Casper with being a mentor ever since.

“The thing about Carl is not just that he’s been so active; it’s the way he has supported, encouraged and lifted up so many other people to be better Farm Bureau members,” Holte said.

Casper, 65, won the Farm Bureau’s state discussion contest in 1970, and represented Wisconsin at the AFBF annual meeting in Houston, Texas that year. He has attended over 20 AFBF Annual Meetings since then.

“That’s probably more than anyone else in the state,” Holte remarked. “There’s hardly a role or committee that he has not been a part of at some point.”

Casper has been both president and vice president of the Dunn County Farm Bureau. He helped with the creation of the Farm Bureau’s FFA Farm Forum, and has served on several state committees, including the state Young Farmers Committee from 1965 to 1970.

In addition to his lengthy Farm Bureau resume, he served on the Resolutions Committee of the Dairy Farmers of America cooperative for nine years, and was Dunn County’s delegate to the Accelerated Genetics Annual Meeting for 20 years. On the local level he held public office on the Town of Menomonie Board of Supervisors for 28 years, with 20 of those years as chairman.

The retired dairy farmer sold his farm to his cousin, Sam Casper. Carl still helps Sam and his wife, Stephanie, with some chores on the 55-cow farm that has been in their family for 135 years. Casper remains very active at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Menomonie, and serves on the board of directors at the Bremer Bank.

UW-Extension partner

Nolan Andersen, Dane County UW-Extension agriculture agent, was presented the “Partner in Agriculture” award by the Wisconsin Farm Bureau at the organization’s Annual Meeting on Dec. 7.

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

“As a former dairy farmer and agriculture education instructor, Nolan understands the importance of education and helping people understand their options and choices related to ag issues and regulations,” said Dane County Farm Bureau President, Pat O’Brien. “Over the years, Nolan has been on countless farms learning, listening, observing and working with farm families.”

“Nolan has been a true supporter of Farm Bureau efforts in Dane County,” said Darlene Arneson, director of the Farm Bureau Foundation and past president of Dane County Farm Bureau. “Over the years, he has worked with the county to organize Farm Safety Training for farmers and emergency personnel, has hosted many winter meetings, has provided resources and meeting space for Farm Bureau meetings, and has worked with the county Farm Bureau Board on many issues, committees and activities. His involvement has had a very positive effect on Dane County and the success of the county’s Farm Bureau.”

A Farm Bureau member since 1993, Andersen is patient, well spoken and has the ability to help the non-farm public understand agriculture.

Anderson has been very active with farm safety and has assisted the Dane County Farm Bureau in putting on a series of eight EMT and firefighter farm accident training meetings around the county. His specialty is animal accident rescues and he does a great job explaining animal behavior, reactions and control to the farm and non-farm public. He has also worked closely with the county Farm Bureau on land use, zoning, and water management issues.

Anderson also works closely with youth through the county fair and other breed and commodity organizations. He and his fellow UW-Extension staff offer a variety of workshops, meetings, farm tours and certification programs through the year for farmers.

Andersen resides in Walworth County, but has been most active with the Dane County Farm Bureau. He received a $250 cash award to be used for professional development. Dane County Farm Bureau also received $250 to be used for county UW-Extension programs.

Ag instructor partner

David Gliniecki, an agricultural teacher from Wisconsin Rapids, received the “Partner in Agriculture” award.

“David Gliniecki is among our state’s best teachers when it comes to growing the next generation of agricultural leaders through his work in the classroom and by partnering with Farm Bureau,” said Bill Bruins, Wisconsin Farm Bureau president.

The Farm Bureau annually recognizes an agricultural instructor for their leadership on agricultural programs, and their promotion of, and partnerships with, their county Farm Bureau.

Gliniecki, 57, has taught agricultural education for 32 years at Lincoln High School in Wisconsin Rapids. He regularly works with the Farm Bureau’s Ag in the Classroom program to provide books and speakers to promote Wisconsin agriculture in elementary schools. He also provides the Wood County Farm Bureau with booth space and volunteer help at Lincoln High School’s annual Ag Day program.

Gliniecki’s courses emphasize a variety of careers in the agriculture industry. In a school district where less than 1 percent of the population is involved in production agriculture, the number of students taking ag education courses has grown in the past decade.

He encourages his students to participate in the FFA Farm Forum held annually in Wisconsin Rapids. The Farm Bureau sponsors the event where FFA members from around the state are educated on major issues impacting Wisconsin’s $51 billion agriculture industry.

“David has been a tremendous supporter of Ag in the Classroom, the Soybean Science Kit program, and helping to promote agricultural literacy,” said Darlene Arneson, Farm Bureau’s Ag in the Classroom Coordinator. “His efforts and enthusiasm have been demonstrated in his work to organize the donation of agricultural books to various schools, hosting an annual National Ag Day event that reaches hundreds of people, and helping people of all ages to learn where their food comes from.”

As recipient of this award, Gliniecki received a $250 cash award to be used for the chapter’s agricultural education program. The Wood County Farm Bureau also received $250 be used for local agricultural education programs.

Gliniecki, who resides in Stevens Point, is a 1973 graduate of UW-River Falls. He taught for two years in Farmington, Minn., before moving to Wisconsin Rapids.

Young Farmer Achievement

Manitowoc County dairy farmers Brent and Beckie Sinkula were selected the winners of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation’s Young Farmer Achievement Award. The Achievement Award goes to a young farmer who has excelled in their production farming operation, understanding of current issues affecting agriculture, and their leadership and involvement in Farm Bureau and local community.

The couple operates a 400-cow dairy that they own with his parents, Ervin and Cheryl Sinkula. Brent, 35, is a graduate of the dairy herd management program at Lakeshore Technical College in Cleveland, and is currently the president of the Manitowoc Dairy Herd Improvement Association.

Brent will be a member of the 2009 Farm Bureau Institute, a leadership program for the organization’s emerging leaders. He served on the Farm Bureau’s state Young Farmer Committee from 2002 to 2005, and was its chairman in 2005. He also was a member of the Farm Bureau’s Farm Bill Task Force.

Brent serves locally as a volunteer fireman and as a supervisor of the milk house at the Wisconsin State Fair in West Allis. He is a past president of the Wisconsin Junior Dairyman Association, and received the American FFA Degree.

Beckie, 31, is a promotional model and works in cosmetology. The couple has three children: Mason, 12, Gavin, 5 and Savannah, 3.

The Sinkulas will compete in the national Achievement Award contest at the American Farm Bureau Federation's 90th Annual Meeting in San Antonio, Texas, Jan. 11.

The Sinkulas will also be guests of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation at next year’s WFBF Young Farmer Conference to be held Dec. 4-6, 2009, in Wisconsin Dells. They also received a $250 gift certificate from GROWMARK, Inc. and will be guests at its annual meeting in Chicago in August. Dodge Truck provided a $500 cash award, FABCO Equipment Inc. provided 40 hours use of a FABCO 226 skid-steer loader, DRN AG1.COM provided one year’s use of network services with a 6001 series electronic information unit, and Rural Mutual Insurance provided a free financial plan.

Excellence in Agriculture

Alissa Grenawalt of Rock County was selected the winner of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation’s Young Farmer Excellence in Agriculture contest. The Excellence in Agriculture winner is selected based on their leadership, involvement in Farm Bureau and their local community, understanding of current issues affecting agriculture.

Grenawalt, 32, has worked as the 4-H and youth agent for UW-Extension Green County for the past seven years. She helps coach youth events such as livestock judging and quiz bowl. She also oversees Green County’s popular mobile educational display on a trailer called The Family Farm Adventure.

Grenawalt grew up on a 700-acre cash grain and beef cattle farm in Rock County’s Town of Newark. She currently lives south of Orfordville in rural Rock County, where she raises her own small herd of registered Red Angus beef cattle.

Grenawalt serves on the Green County Farm Bureau’s Board of Directors, and chairs its Ag in the Classroom, and farm safety committees.

A former winner of the 4-H’s prestigious Key Award, she was also recognized by her peers at the National Association of Extension 4-H Officials with its Achievement and Service Award, which spotlights emerging leaders in her field of work.

Grenawalt will compete in the national Excellence in Agriculture contest at the American Farm Bureau Federation's 90th Annual Meeting in San Antonio, Texas.

Grenawalt will also be guest of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation at next year’s WFBF Young Farmer Conference. She also received a $250 gift certificate from GROWMARK, Inc. and will be a guest at its annual meeting in Chicago in August. Dodge Truck provided a $500 cash award, and Rural Mutual Insurance provided a free financial plan.

Discussion Meet contest

Nicole Reese of Rock County was selected winner of the 2008 Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmer Discussion Meet contest. The Discussion Meet contest is a panel discussion in which young members are judged on their ability to express their ideas and opinions and reach a solution on current issues affecting agriculture.

Reese is employed as an agriculture education instructor and FFA advisor at Milton High School in Milton. She grew up on her family's 70-cow dairy farm in Sheboygan Falls.

Reese graduated in 2006 from UW-Madison with a degree in agriculture education. She has served as a Wisconsin State FFA Vice President and as Wisconsin's 59th Alice in Dairyland.

Reese will compete in the national Discussion Meet contest at the American Farm Bureau Federation's 90th Annual Meeting in San Antonio, Texas.

Reese will be the guest of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation at next year’s Young Farmer Conference. She received a $250 gift certificate from GROWMARK, Inc. and will be a guest at its annual meeting in Chicago in August. Dodge Truck provided a $500 cash award, Midwest Stihl awarded a chainsaw and Rural Mutual Insurance provided a free financial plan.

Other state finalists in the Discussion Meet were Katie Weir of Eau Claire County, Liz Gartman of Sheboygan County, and Corey Kuchta of Marinette County.

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