Wisconsin

The 2015 Cooperative Extension State Conference was held at the Monona Terrace in Madison, Wisconsin, November 11-13. The state conference is held to provide opportunities for colleagues to share professional knowledge, skills, and networking, and to come together and learn about other Extension programs and resources. Attendees were Cooperative Extension professionals. AgrAbility of Wisconsin participated in the Cooperative Extension Resource Fair where the program's purpose and services, along with an emphasis on the importance of partnership with Extension, were highlighted for those in attendance.

The AgrAbility of Wisconsin advisory council met on Wednesday, November 4th. Twenty-eight members were present, and included AgrAbility and Easter Seals staff, media representatives, and partners, including the Wisconsin Farm Center, the National Farm Medicine Center, Wisconsin FFA, UW-Extension, and the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board. A recap of the previous year was given, and it was reported that 580 farmers were served, a record in Wisconsin.

Planning for the coming year included plans for fundraising and a celebration of the upcoming 25-year anniversary of the AgrAbility of Wisconsin program. Development ideas included working with local coops as well as commodity groups for outreach.

Larry Wathke, a client from Fall Creek, WI, attended the meeting and gave a presentation on the work that Easter Seals and AgrAbility performed on his farm, noting to the council his gratitude for AgrAbility's assistance.

Submitted by Abigail Jensen