GREENLEAF, WI – Farmers, agricultural professionals, and project partners will be gathering for the 10-year anniversary of the Lower Fox Demonstration Farm Network (“Fox Demo Farms”) on Wednesday, November 15, 2023 at Brickstead Dairy in Greenleaf, WI. The Fox Demo Farms is a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) funded project utilizing Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GRLI) funds. The project is designed to showcase and demonstrate the effectiveness of conservation practices on participating farms located in the Lower Fox River watershed. The project aims to reduce erosion and sedimentation, restore soil health, and improve water quality by reducing phosphorus from entering the bay of Green Bay.
The program was signed into existence on November 13, 2013, and consisted of four original demo farms, a partnership between the NRCS, the Great Lakes Commission, and Brown County Land and Water Conservation Department. Since then, the project has grown to seven farms in the Lower Fox watershed and new partnerships with local and state organizations. The Fox Demo Farms was the first project of its kind in the Great Lakes basin. As a result of its success, the demo farms concept has expanded both in Wisconsin and the Great Lakes region. There are currently seven demo farm networks in Wisconsin and networks in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana.
The event will include remarks from the following people:
- Troy Streckenbach, Brown County Executive
- Melissa Bartz, NRCS Assistant State Conservationist – Financial Assistance
- Brent Petersen, Brown County Land & Water Conservation Department, Fox Demo Farms Project Manager
- Barry Bubolz, NRCS Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) Field Coordinator
- Dan Brick, Brickstead Dairy, Owner and Operator
- Matt Otto, National Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) Coordinator
- Congressman Mike Gallagher, United States House of Representatives, (Video recording)
This event is open to the press and invited guests.
Event details:
Location: Brickstead Dairy, 1734 Wayside Rd. Greenleaf, WI 54126
Date: Wednesday, November 15, 2023
Time: 10:00 AM
The Fox Demo Farms is a collaboration between farmers in the Lower Fox watershed, as well as local, state, and federal partners.
Fox Demo Farms:
- Dan Brick, Brickstead Dairy
- Larry Dufek, Dairyland Farms
- Greg Nettekoven, Nettekoven Farms
- Mark and Joe Van Asten, Neighborhood Dairy
- Derek and Dave Van De Hey, New Horizons Dairy
- Tom and Bill VandeWetering, VandeWettering Farms
- Matt and Nick VanWychen, VanWychen Farms
Other farms recognized for their contribution to conservation agriculture in northeast Wisconsin:
- Pat Kane, Kane Family Farms
- Stan Kaczmarek, Kaczmarek Farms
Project partners:
- NRCS
- Brown County Land & Water Conservation Department
- University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension
- Outagamie County Land Conservation Department
- NEW Water, the brand of the Green Bay Metropolitan Sewerage District
For additional information on the Fox Demo Farms and to stay up-to-date on events:
- Project website: www.foxdemofarms.org
- Facebook page: www.facebook.com/foxdemofarms
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