Governor’s Auction Celebrates Youth In Ag
This year, the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction awarded $55,000 in scholarships and contributed an additional $30,000 to support Wisconsin State Fair Junior Exhibitor Showmanship, Knowledge Master Showman, and Reserve Champion awards.
The auction raised an impressive $381,350 for junior livestock exhibitors at the Wisconsin State Fair.
“The funds raised through the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction directly benefit Wisconsin State Fair youth livestock exhibitors,” says Jenny Gehl, President of the Blue Ribbon Sale of Champions Foundation. “It’s incredible to see how this support helps them grow as leaders and future contributors to our ag community.”
Scholarship Recipients
$5,000 Recipient — Julia Lenz
$3,000 Recipients — Megan Doherty, Ethan Kohlman, and Ellen Robinson.
$2,000 Recipients — Clara Henderson, Annamarie Aue, Macy Cross, Landon Rehberg, Hannah Oleson, Kylie Garner, and Judy Jentges.
$1,000 Recipients — Emma Inman, Luke Schubert, Atley Potterton, Kaila Cross, Summer Rake, Brooklyn Jones, Makayla Kammes, Mallory Cepress, McKinley Krueger, Bryn Meyer, Lillianna Berget, Maggie Kershner, Abby Anderson, Ella Roehl, Ty Thorson, Kaycee Lindner, Dani Graff, Brynn Hannes, Alison George, Landen Leibfried, Sam Wolf, Kendyll Theobald, Annie Robinson, Payton Heins, Sydney Cherney, Mariyah Creaser, and Isabella Dannenberg.
Leadership Awards
At the Wisconsin State Fair, excellence is built on hard work, leadership, and a commitment to community. Each year, the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction recognizes outstanding individuals in Junior Beef, Swine, Sheep, and Market Goat categories.
Selected by their peers and leaders for their leadership, sportsmanship, and dedication to livestock care, these honorees represent the best of Wisconsin’s youth in agriculture.
Beef – Karlie Marks of Hortonville
Goat – Payton Heins of Mineral Point
Sheep – Morgan Van Schyndle of Cuba City
Swine – Madisyn Henderson of Union Grove
The Governor’s Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction is more than a showcase of champion livestock; it’s a celebration of the young people who represent the future of Wisconsin agriculture.
See a recent story on the winning bids: https://www.midwestfarmreport.com/2025/08/07/grand-champion-steer-goes-for-35000/
Two Field Days In Arlington Coming Up
The UW-Madison Arlington Agricultural Research Station will host two field days near the end of August. The UW Organic Agriculture Research Field Day will take place on Aug. 26, and the UW Agronomy and Soils Field Day will be on Aug. 27.
Both events are free and will take place at Arlington station, located at N633 Hopkins Rd near Arlington, Wisconsin.
Organic Ag Research Field Day
Hosted by the Organic Grain Resource and Information Network (OGRAIN), the event will run from 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Aug. 26. The day features tours and talks about the latest in organic systems research. Attendees will learn about reduced-tillage corn and soybeans, advances in food-grade grains, emerging crops, biocontrol agents, on-farm soil health research, and more. The day is designed to appeal to certified organic farmers, farmers interested in exploring certified organic production, and farmers interested in cover crops, soil health, and diversified crops and markets.
Register here: go.wisc.edu/organicagfd
Agronomy & Soils Field Day
From 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. on Aug. 27, attendees will visit four field tour stops via tractor ride to learn about research on crop management, manure nutrients in soil, innovations in forage systems, and pest management. Participants are encouraged to stay for lunch (meals will be available for purchase), followed by a demonstration session about drones. The majority of the event will take place outside, and morning field tours will leave promptly at 8:30 a.m.
Register here: go.wisc.edu/agronomysoilsfd
Arlington Agricultural Research Station is situated on more than 2,000 acres in Columbia and Dane Counties and is the flagship of the university’s Agricultural Research Station system. Crop research projects focus on agronomic and vegetable crops, bioenergy crops, pest control, precision ag technologies, and more. The station has 84 acres of certified organic land. The station also hosts research on dairy, beef, sheep, and swine.
The Latest H5N1 Milk Testing Update
In the last 30 days, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), or H5N1, in:
- No cases in poultry in any state.
- Four cases in livestock in one state.
Access the lists of detections in poultry and livestock.
To date, there have been no H5N1 detections in livestock in Wisconsin.
Wisconsin and the National Milk Testing Strategy
With help from industry partners, Wisconsin is sampling milk at the farm level for the mandatory USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) National Milk Testing Strategy (NMTS) with the goal of testing each farm approximately every month. DATCP expects to continue to be able to utilize samples that are already collected for routine milk testing to streamline the testing process.
To date, more than 8,800 milk samples have been tested as part of the NMTS. H5N1 has not been detected in any of the samples. These tests represent nearly all licensed dairies in Wisconsin, with remaining verifications underway to ensure complete statewide reach. The DATCP H5N1 in Dairy Cattle webpage will continue to be updated weekly as the testing continues.
Baby Calf Bellies Need Special Attention
At birth, a calf’s rumen is underdeveloped – it relies on the abomasum for digestion, the fourth stomach of a ruminant. As the calf grows, the rumen develops, and its capacity increases. At Purina, a major focus is on making sure the rumen functions correctly and provides the calf with the best immune response.
Dr. Jill Soderstrom is the dairy young animal solutions specialist for Purina Animal Nutrition. She helps dairy operations select and coordinate prebiotics, probiotics, enzymes, and other technologies available for a healthy calf.
Soderstrom explains that creating the correct balance in that calf’s gut is like mustering troops for war. Sometimes, you don’t need all the weapons, but when calves come under stress, you do.
“I think that all calves really should be on some sort of gut health technology,” she says, whether it’s replacement heifers or crossbred calves.
Healthy microbiomes will improve digestion and prevent pathogens. It also enhances a calf’s stress response. Calves experience stress even on the best-managed farms, Soderstrom explains. Simple things like the weather can cause heat stress or cold stress. Most calves live outside, so they are encountering pathogens. Even farm management to keep calves healthy, such as dehorning, castration, or vaccination, can cause some stress, too.
“When our calves experience this stress, and we trigger the immune system, our naive immune system in that calf is really slow, and it can be energetically costly,” she explains. “If we don’t feed any of these technologies… we put our calf at risk of a more costly immune response.”
A 100-lb calf will use a quarter or a half pound of just glucose to fuel its immune system, Soderstrom puts into perspective. About a quarter of the milk fed to the calf will be pure glucose. If the immune system is using that glucose, that calf needs a lot of energy.
With prebiotics, probiotics, enzymes, and other technologies, a calf’s naive immune system can go to war against stress and pathogens more effectively, without using its body reserves or risking feed efficiency.
Bankers Warn Of “Spoofing”
The Wisconsin Bankers Association has seen increased bank fraud and encourages citizens to continue their efforts to spot scams. Criminals are seeking to obtain bank accounts or personal information.
With greater frequency, Wisconsin banks see a variety of fraud activity targeting consumers, including recent attempts by bad actors to defraud customers through calls impersonating the bank. Many instances include “phone number spoofing,” which makes the call appear as if it were from the bank itself. If a call seems suspicious, hang up and contact the bank directly using a verified number.
WBA President and CEO Rose Oswald Poels says Wisconsin banks go to great lengths to protect customers by investing in anti-fraud tools and account security, but criminals are clever.
“Criminals are sophisticated in their spoofing of bank names on Caller ID and creating fake websites or text messages with bank logos to mislead customers into providing account access information or transferring money,” she explains. “Bank customers must be vigilant to protect bank account and personal information from criminals.”
The Wisconsin Bankers Association offers the following tips to help protect customers against scams or financial exploitation:
- Watch for these red flags of phishing in emails, calls, and text messages:
- They ask you to open a link you were not expecting
- They use urgent or fear-inducing language
- They send an attachment
- They request personal information like PINs, passwords, or social security numbers
- They pressure you to log into, or send money with, payment apps
- Write safer checks:
- Use permanent gel pens when you write a check
- Avoid blank spaces so criminals can’t fill them in instead
- Withhold personal information on your checks
- Take your mail directly to a U.S. Post Office location; do not use your mailbox at home or a free-standing blue drop box to send mail
- Attentively monitor your account activity on your online banking platform
- Regularly review your paid checks on your online banking platform, including ensuring the endorsement is correct and reflects the intended payee and amount
- Switch to your bank’s payment app or online bill pay instead of writing a check
- Follow up with payees to confirm they received and deposited your checks.
Grand Champion Steer Goes For $35,000
Youth in Wisconsin’s agriculture industry were the big winners at this year’s Governor’s Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction. The auction raised an impressive $381,350 for junior livestock exhibitors at the Wisconsin State Fair.
The annual event, hosted by the Blue Ribbon Sale of Champions Foundation and Wisconsin State Fair officials, continues to celebrate and invest in the future of agriculture.
“Every year, I’m amazed by the generosity of our buyers, sponsors, and supporters,” says Jenny Gehl, President of the Blue Ribbon Sale of Champions Foundation. “The funds raised through the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction directly benefit Wisconsin State Fair youth livestock exhibitors. It’s incredible to see how this support helps them grow as leaders and future contributors to our ag community.”
In attendance were Governor Tony Evers, Wisconsin State Fair CEO Shari Black, Wisconsin State Fair Park Chairman John Yingling, and Secretary of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Randy Romanski. In true Wisconsin fashion, the evening kicked off with entertainment from the UW-Madison Marching Band and Bucky Badger.
The auction started strong in the Coliseum with auctioneer Ryan Adams facilitating the sale of the Grand Champion Steer exhibited by Josie Lorentz, which sold to Kenosha Beef International for $35,000.
The Grand Champion Barrow (Crossbred) exhibited by Amanda Miklaszewski of Franksville, went for $22,500 to Interstate Parking Company and Statewide Fencing.
Meijer purchased the Grand Champion Market Lamb (Hampshire) exhibited by Sydney Cherney for $19,000.
The Grand Champion Market Goat (Boer) exhibited by Wyatt Nixon of Delavan went for $14,000 to Molson Coors.
See the list of winning bids:
Funding Secured For Agriculture & Veterans
Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, released the following statement after including several key priorities for Wisconsin businesses, farmers, servicemembers, and veterans in Senate-passed legislation to fund the Departments of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Agriculture (USDA) among other agencies for the upcoming Fiscal Year 2026. Last week, the Senate advanced these funding bills on strong bipartisan votes, rejecting many of the deep cuts proposed by President Donald Trump and in stark contrast to the House’s partisan bills.
“I’m proud to help write bipartisan funding bills that give Wisconsin farmers, military families, veterans, and rural communities a seat at the table. Despite the President trying to slash and burn lifelines for our farmers and ranchers, we are investing in our dairy businesses, farmer mental health, and clean water in rural communities. We also are ensuring veterans, including those eligible for the PACT Act, get the support they need, from investing in services at the VA to increasing investment in caregivers for veterans, mental health and addiction support, childcare, and homelessness prevention,” said Senator Baldwin. “I worked with my Democratic and Republican colleagues to advance two bipartisan bills that address the needs of our farmers, veterans, and rural communities for the upcoming year. I’ll be working to protect this critical funding as we get these bills over the finish line in the House and passed into law.”
Dairy Business Innovation Alliance Grants Open
Applications are open now for direct-to-business grants across two programs offered by the Dairy Business Innovation Alliance (DBIA). A total of approximately $3 million in funding is available for small- to medium-sized dairy farmers, manufacturers, and processors in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
Applicants interested in diversifying on-farm activity, creating value-added products, or enhancing dairy byproducts are eligible to apply for the Dairy Business Builder program. Businesses pursuing projects focused on exporting or sustainability with a potential impact on the broader industry can apply for the Dairy Industry Impact grant program. Applicants may apply to both grant programs and are eligible to receive awards of up to $100,000 from each offering. For large equipment expenditures, awards of up to $150,000 may be made due to rising equipment costs.
Application materials for both grant programs are available online now at dbia.wisc.edu. Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. (CT) on September 30. An informational webinar hosted by DBIA staff will be recorded and accessible online throughout the application period.
Investing In The Next Generation of Leaders
The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation is grateful to receive a $50,000 contribution from Mike and Shirley Duerst of Verona. The gift will establish a fund to support future participants of the WFBF Leadership Institute. It will do so by offsetting participant fees and program expenses.
The Leadership Institute is a year-long leadership training program with the mission to develop lifelong ambassadors of agriculture and effective county Farm Bureau leaders. Participants gain skills in communication, advocacy, collaboration and strategic leadership. Graduates are encouraged to put their training into action by engaging within their county Farm Bureau and taking on greater leadership roles within Farm Bureau, the agricultural industry and their communities. Program alumni can be found in a range of agriculture and agribusiness leadership roles, including business owners, presidents and CEOs.
“We are very thankful for the Duersts’ contribution to this vision which ensures members have the opportunity to grow as leaders and bring their voices to the table. Our graduates are equipped with the skills needed to make a difference in agriculture and beyond,” said Senior Director of Member Relations and Leadership Institute coordinator Wendy Volkert.
While some individuals may have their Institute participation fee covered by a sponsoring county Farm Bureau or employer, those who do not receive such support will be able to apply to the newly created fund. This option will be incorporated into the Leadership Institute application for the 2027 class, opening in summer 2026. Further details will be available at that time.
Dairy Processor Grant Applications Open
The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) invites Wisconsin dairy processors to apply for Dairy Processor Grants by noon on September 17, 2025. Due to the ongoing success of this program in supporting innovation at dairy processors across the state, Gov. Evers and the state legislature reached a bipartisan agreement to include additional funding in the 2025-2027 biennial budget. Dairy Processor Grants aim to foster innovation, improve profitability, and sustain the long-term viability of Wisconsin’s dairy processing facilities.
Eligible applicants must operate a licensed dairy processing plant in Wisconsin that is engaged in pasteurizing, processing, or manufacturing milk or dairy products. Funding from these grants can be used to address a wide range of dairy business needs such as food safety, staff training, plant expansion or modernization, and professional consulting services.
DATCP will choose awardees through a competitive selection process to receive grants of up to $50,000 per project. Recipients need to provide a match of 20% of the grant amount.
Applications must be submitted to DATCP by 12 p.m. on Monday, September 17, 2025. Grant recipients will be announced in December 2025.