917 W. EXCHANGE STREET, BRODHEAD, WI 53520
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2025
PRSRT STD U.S. Postage Paid The IndependentRegister
Shopping News
DNR seeks public input on duck hunting season zones, splits proposals..............................................5
**ecrwss Postal Customer
Independent•Register
FREE! TAKE ONE
High school graduation rates reach record high.............................3
Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative offers $10,000 in scholarships...6
608•897•2193
USDA releases DBI funds following industry advocacy
sentative Derrick Van Orden of Wisconsin.” In early March, WCMA led a comprehensive advocacy campaign for the release of DBI funds, with staff and dairy processors meeting with Congressional leaders in Washington, D.C., joined by partners from International Dairy Foods Association. WCMA directly communicated with USDA leadership and coordinated a letter to the agency from 120 businesses in 29 states. There are four DBI centers across the country, housed in California, Tennessee, Vermont, and Wisconsin to serve dairy farmers and processors regionally, supporting them with technical assistance, market analysis, research and development, as well as direct-to-business grants. All four DBI centers have now been notified of the USDA release of funding, and reimbursement requests PHOTO SUBMITTED Rock Valley Publishing from businesses may resume Pictured from left: Laura Purtle, The Old Stone Creamery; Tagen Vaughn, Sargento Foods; Rob Rosado, Interimmediately. A total of 420 national Dairy Foods Association; Travis Martinez, Land O’Lakes; Rebekah Sweeney, WCMA; and Scott Fields,
See USDA, Page 2
Organic Valley.
78th Alice in Dairyland top candidates revealed Natalie Roe from Monticello one of the top six candidates for position
The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) has announced the six top candidates to become the 78th Alice in Dairyland. The candidates are Allison Foster, Michelle Stangler, Mikayla Flyte, Natalie Roe, Olivia Lulich, and Sarah Hagenow. Prior to being selected, the top candidates completed an application and preliminary interview. During the next two months, they will participate in a rigorous interview process that will allow them to showcase the communications and public relations skills required to be the 78th Alice in Dairyland. All top candidates will receive media and speaking training and earn a DATCP marketing and communications certificate. This training process will prepare the candidates for the Alice in Dairyland Finals, scheduled for May 15 to 17 in Crawford County. The three-day finals include agribusiness tours, media interviews, an impromptu question-and-answer session, candidate presentations, and more. The selection of the 78th Alice in Dairyland will be announced at a public event on May 17 at the Performing Arts Center in Prairie du Chien, and she will begin her term on July 7, 2025. “Serving as Alice in Dairyland is the ultimate goal of this process for these young women, but the skills they will develop along the way will take them far in life no matter where they go,” said Halei Heinzel, 77th Alice in Dairyland. “I look forward to discovering where each candidate shines as we move toward selecting Wisconsin’s 78th Alice in Dairyland!”
Candidate Biographies Allison Foster, Waupun, is an enthusiastic food scientist with a passion for sharing the story of agriculture and Allison food with others. Foster Foster is a Scientist II at Grande Cheese Company where she works to improve cheesemaking processes and create new products. She holds a Bachelor of Science in dairy science from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, where she gained experience in research and communications. In addition to her work, Foster coordinates care package services for Operation Not Alone and manages her own Jersey cow herd. Foster combines her technical expertise with strong communication skills to bridge the gap between farmers and consumers. Michelle Stangler, Watertown, grew up on her family’s dairy farm and was active in 4-H and FFA. She earned Michelle a Bachelor of Sci- Stangler ence in journalism and agricultural marketing communications in May 2024 from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, where she held leadership roles in Collegiate Farm Bureau and other agricultural communication organizations. Stangler completed internships with Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, Mid-West Farm Report, Brownfield Ag News, and WEAU 13 News; served as the 2024 Dodge County Fairest of the Fair; and studied abroad
in Europe. She now contributes to the Ag News Daily and Positivity in Ag podcasts. Mikayla Flyte, Coloma, is completing a master’s degree in exercise science with a concentration in sport psychology from Ripon Col- Mikayla Flyte lege. She graduated with her bachelor’s degree in English and education from Ripon College in spring 2024 after student teaching at Berlin Middle School and Laconia High School. Flyte competed for five years on the college’s cross country team and is now a graduate assistant coach. She is active in her family’s central Wisconsin fruit and vegetable farm, managing an ice cream truck, selling produce at the Dane County Farmer’s market, and assisting with retail, marketing, and agritourism events. Natalie Roe, Monticello, grew up on a 5,000-acre cash crop farm with a commercial grain elevator. Roe graduated Natalie Roe from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in December 2024 with bachelor’s degrees in dairy science and life sciences communication and a certificate in digital studies. After holding many summer internships in agriculture and communications roles, Roe now works full time with broadhead as a social media coordinator. In this role, Roe combines her love of agriculture and communications,
See CANDIDATES, Page 2
Ag tourism members nominated for award The Wisconsin Agricultural Tourism Association is celebrating innovation, dedication, and excellence by nominating four outstanding organizations for 2025 Governor’s Tourism Awards. These nominations highlight the transformative impact of agricultural tourism across the state, showcasing their contributions to economic growth and visitor experiences. • Skelly’s Farm Market – Nominated for the Innovation Award, Skelly’s implemented groundbreaking use of technology to enhance the visitor experience. A pioneer in corn maze design since 1998, Scott Skelly has continuously pushed the boundaries of visitor engagement. In 2022, Skelly developed a cutting-edge mobile app that integrates smartphone-based gaming with the corn maze experience, transforming traditional farm attractions into interactive, video-like adventures. By 2024, Skelly and his wife Laura further advanced the app to include multi-level challenges and the nation’s only known escape room within a corn maze. Skelly’s Farm Market is a model of how technology can drive tourism, strengthen rural economies, and ensure farm sustainability. Their innovations attract tens of thousands of visitors annually, making the farm a deserving nominee for this prestigious award. • Food + Farm Exploration Center – Nominated for the Bright IDEA Award, the Food + Farm Exploration Center is committed to providing exceptional inclusivity, diversity, equity, and accessibility in tourism. This interactive destination ensures accessibility through innovative features like an ADA-compliant Ag Simulator, a wellness room for individuals with sensory sensitivities, which allow visitors of
all abilities to experience farming firsthand. Additional accessibility enhancements include wheelchair-accessible exhibits, Braille signage, cane strikes, adjustable-height tables, and expanded ADA-compliant spaces. The center has made a significant community impact through initiatives like free U-Pick Harvest events (donating 5,500 lbs. of produce), field trip grants for underserved students, and collaborations with ADRC and ODC to create adaptive cooking activities for seniors and individuals with disabilities. As a Museums for
All partner, F+FEC offers discounted admission to families receiving SNAP benefits, further removing financial barriers to access. By setting a new standard for inclusive agritourism, F+FEC strengthens Wisconsin’s reputation as an innovative, welcoming destination. • Busy Barn Farm Adventures – Recognized with a nomination for the Rising Star Award, owners Mitch and Afton Krysiak have transformed Busy Barn Farm Adventures into one of Jefferson County’s
See TOURISM, Page 2 468424
— Serving all day—
Beer-battered walleye, bluegill, cod Jumbo Shrimp, homemade potato pancakes.
Special “Early-Bird” price before 3 p.m.
206 E. Beloit St., Orfordville, WI • 608-879-2011
St. Patrick’s Day Monday, March 17 — Serving 4:30 to 9 p.m. —
Corned Beef & CaBBage dinner Mint Oreo Grasshopper
also serving full Menu Reservations suggested.
Ding-A-Ling Supper Club County H • Hanover, WI • 608-879-9209
469048
On March 7, Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA) applauded news that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is releasing Congressionally-directed funding for the federal Dairy Business Innovation (DBI) Initiatives. USDA froze DBI grant monies earlier, triggering grave concern for hundreds of dairy farmers and processors, and sparking a national advocacy push. “The release of this critical grant funding comes as an enormous relief to dairy farmers and processors who had earned grants and needed reimbursement from USDA for business improvements already made,” said Rebekah Sweeney, WCMA Senior Director of Programs and Policy. “We want to express our thanks for USDA’s expedited review of this program and today’s decision, and thanks to the dairy leaders who pushed to secure all committed funds, and to the members of Congress who championed our cause – in particular, Senator Tammy Baldwin and Repre-