Birmingham, Deirdre

Deirdre is starting an organic apple orchard in Iowa County. She is beginning with specialized British apples for high-quality, traditional (hard) ciders. She initiated and runs the Upper Midwest Organic Tree Fruit Growers Network. She also helps nonprofits and farmers apply for various grant programs. She is on the boards of directors of the REAP Food Group and the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF), serving as its vice-president. She has experience running an educational nonprofit and working in international development. She holds a Joint Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Land Resources and Adult Education. deirdreb@mindspring.com

Breneman, Bob and Karen

Bob and Karen operate a 90 cow, grass-based dairy in Columbia County. They used a conventional, free-stall dairy for twenty years, and made the switch to grass in 1993. They are members of Columbia County Graziers and their farm is part of the Discovery Farms program. rbreneman@centurytel.net

Clark, Larry

Larry owns and operates Lodi Sausage Company, which is a retail meat market and slaughterhouse in Lodi. His summer sausage has won numerous state and national awards. Larry is a past president of the Wisconsin Association of Meat Producers and the Wisconsin 4H Foundation. He is interested in producing innovative natural and organic products. lodisausage@charterinternet.net

Cook, Sid

Sid Cook is a fourth generation Wisconsin Master Cheese Maker with over 40 years of cheese making experience. More than 50 kinds of cheese are made in two cheese plants that he owns and manages. He has won 48 national and international awards for his cheeses in the last two years and his developed many American originals, only made at Carr Valley Cheese. sid@carrvalleycheese.com

Doetch, Ron

Ron began as Executive Director of Michael Fields Agricultural Institute in April 2003. Previously, he worked with the food division of Itochu, a large Japanese trading company, for 8 years designing origination programs to connect Japanese consumers to American farmers. This “expansion” plan involved both organic and commercial grain. Since 1996, Ron has been directly involved in sustainable agriculture projects that focused on using a small grain crop to address grain quality and grower profitability and reduce negative environmental impacts. rdoetch@aol.com

Gamble, Janet

Janet is the coordinator for the Student Garden Program at the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute. She manages Stella Gardens, a 17-acre CSA garden, and she is developing second and third year student training programs. She is active in the development of CRAFT (Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training) in southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois. Through her work, she aims to give aspiring farmers a chance to learn skills and gain hope that they can make a difference. jgamble@michaelfieldsaginst.org

Munsch, Jim

Jim raises organic beef on pasture at Deer Run Farm in Vernon County. He has been in the beef business since 1981, and his operation was certified organic in 1999. He markets his beef in partnership with a large organic vegetable CSA. Jim works part time with the Vernon County Conservation Department as a pasture specialist, and he is also a business consultant to local organic vegetable producers and both organic and conventional beef producers. He has degrees and experience in agricultural engineering, industrial management and international business. Jim is interested in preserving a viable and diverse agricultural base in his county and region where farmers produce a wide variety of food, make enough money to stay on their farms, and the soils and environments on those farms are no worse off from the activity of making that money. jmunsch@mwt.net

Paris, Ron

Ron grew up on a small dairy farm south of Madison. After graduating with a degree in Dairy Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1977, he went on to work directly with farmers as an advisor for feed formulation, a manager of a local supply cooperative, and a loan officer. He started his own tax and investment sales business in the late 80’s, and in 2000 made the switch to Sugar River Dairy. He built a 38 x 40 building next to his home that serves as a Grade A dairy plant where his wife and family produce fruit-on-the-bottom yogurt. They market their yogurt through local grocery stores and several small distributors. rcjbparis1@tds.net

Racette, Michael

Michael and his wife, Patty Wright, own and operate Spring Hill Community Farm in Barron County. They formed Spring Hill in 1992 and now have over 200 members. Michael also serves as president of the Prairie Farm Board of Education. He firmly believes that sustainable agriculture has an important place at our national table. As climate change, dynamic farm economics and changing consumer demands increasingly influence agriculture practice and policy, it is important to have realistic voices supporting alternative agriculture endeavors. springhill@chibardun.net

Secher, Dale

Dale has raised apples, strawberries, raspberries, grapes, and other small fruit for over 30 years at Carandale Farm. He markets his fruit locally through pick-your-own, farm retail, and farmers’ markets. Dale is extremely interested in sustainable agriculture and has practiced integrated pest management (IPM) for over 30 years. He has served as president of the Wisconsin Berry Growers Association. carandal@chorus.net

Tomandl, Joe and Deb

Joe and Deb have been long-time supporters and champions of grass-based agriculture. Along with their son, Mike, they operate a 60-cow grazing dairy in Taylor County. Their experiences with managed grazing have been so positive and rewarding that they find it personally fulfilling to help others get started in this practice. Over the years they have hosted many pasture walks and have been involved in GrassWorks, GLCI, mentoring projects and international education. jdtomandl@hughes.net

Walker, Orville

Orv is Professor Emeritus at the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management, where he taught marketing for more than thirty years after earning a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Since 1995, he and his wife Linda have developed and managed Great Oaks Vineyard—a three acre vineyard near Maiden Rock with 1,300 vines producing eight different varieties of wine grapes. Their grapes are processed, bottled, and marketed through Northern Vineyards—a grape growers’ cooperative in Stillwater, Minnesota. Orv has a continuing interest in both cold-climate viticulture and the effective management of producer cooperatives and their marketing programs. owalker@csom.umn.edu

Wrchota, Tom and Sue

Tom and Sue Wrchota are the owners and operators of Cattleana Ranch near Omro, Wisconsin. They comprise a very small segment of North American livestock producers who call themselves sustainable grass farmers, or graziers. They have used an environmentally and economically viable cattle feeding system called Management Intensive Rotational Grazing for over a decade. Tom has developed cattle genetics for 100% grass feeding and finishing, using no grains in the animals’ diet—he is one of the first to accomplish this in Wisconsin. The Wrchotas also raise pastured poultry and chemical free, naturally fertilized vegetables during the summer months.

In 1994, Tom was instrumental in the development of the Fox River Grazers, one of approximately 15 active rotational grazing networks in Wisconsin. He has been a board member of GrassWorks, Inc., and has written articles for a professional grazing magazine, GRAZE. He and Susan have received two sustainable agricultural research grants. wrchota@athenet.net