Mr. Diercks, along with his father, owns and operates 2800-acre potato and vegetable farm in Coloma, Wisconsin. Mr. Diercks has been farming since 1993 and received his bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Agriculture Engineering. Mr. Diercks was elected President of the Wisconsin Agricultural Stewardship Initiative in July 2001 and was elected President of the Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association in February 2002.

Richard (Dick) L. Cates, Jr., Ph.D., and his wife, Kim, co-own and operate the Cates Family Farm near Spring Green, Wisconsin, a managed grazing farm that has been in the family since 1967. The Cates family raises grass-fed beef and sells directly to restaurants, stores and households.

Dick holds a faculty position in the Department of Soil Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is director of the Wisconsin School for Beginning Dairy and Livestock Farmers, a program for training and mentoring start-up farmers which he helped create in 1995. He also co-teaches courses in grassland- and agro- ecology.

Dick serves an appointment by US Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns to the USDA Advisory Council for Beginning Farmers and Ranchers. He also serves as a member of the River Valley School Board and the Spring Green Lions Club. In addition, Dick works internationally as a volunteer consultant with farmer-to-farmer assistance projects, most recently in Azerbaijan, China, Honduras and Moldova.

His first book, “Voices from the Heart of the Land: rural stories that inspire community” (2007; The Guest Cottage Books), is conversations with elder rural citizens that communicate the value set of our forebears around land, community, and character in America.

Dick counts his good fortune in the abundance of the farm, the love of his family and friends, and in the opportunity to determine one’s own destiny in a free and democratic country.

Mr. Dummer along with his wife Kathy, daughters, Amy, Beth and Tracy, his parents and brothers, manage a farming operation that includes livestock, cash grain, grain elevator and custom combining and commercial composting business in Holmen. Mr. Dummer served as president of the Wisconsin National Farmers Organization for seven years and was Southwest District NFO president in 1997. Dummer is currently the Director of Marketing and Service for the Equity Livestock Credit Corporation. Mr. Dummer has served on several local and state committees including the DNR Animal Waste Advisory Committee; Agriculture, Technology and Family Farm Institute Advisory Committee; DATCP Grain Council and Marketing Division Advisory Committee; and the Consortium for Animal Agriculture Resource Development.

John, who has a degree from Cornell University, operates Koepke Farms Inc., Oconomowoc, in partnership with his dad Jim and uncles Alan and David. Koepke Farms milks 330 Holstein cows, raises replacement heifers and has 970 acres dedicated to corn, soybeans and hay. John and his wife, Kim have three sons and are active members of the Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin. In 2003, John was named Watertown Area Outstanding Young Farmer and also received a citation from the Wisconsin Assembly for dedication to excellence in dairy management and a commendation from the Office of the Governor for distinguished dairy management. In 2009, the Dairy Farmers of America selected Koepke Farms as an American Dairy of Distinction, one of seven farms nationwide chosen to receive the honor. Since 2004, Koepke Farms continues as an active participant in the Discovery Farms program. John also serves as a town board supervisor for the Town of Oconomowoc. He is also a Waukesha County Farm Bureau board member and past president of the Waukesha County Milk Producers Cooperative.

Miranda Leis, a project manager for CROPP Cooperative/Organic Valley in LaFarge, is presently Director of the Monroe County Farm Bureau. She has been an active member of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau since 2005, currently serving on the Policy Development Committee. Previously she held the position of Young Farmer and Agriculturalist Chair on both the county and state Farm Bureaus. Miranda is also involved with the La Crosse Chapter of the Project Management Institute and received her degree in animal science with an emphasis in dairy production and nutrition.

Mark Schleitwiler of Green Bay, is current Vice President of Operations for BelGioioso Cheese, Inc.. He serves on the Board of Directors for both the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association and the American Producers of Italian Type Cheeses. Additionally, Mark is Treasurer for the Fox Valley Unitarian Universalists Fellowship and is affiliated with the Kraft Credit Committee and the Kraft Purchasing Committee. He has professional experience with both accounting and managerial related positions.

Dennis Badtke of Rosendale is currently Chief Appraiser for Badgerland Financial. He also raises cash crops along with his brother on their family farm near Rosendale. Dennis is on the Board of Directors for the Wisconsin Chapter of the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers and serves on the Plan Commission and Board of Appeals for the Town of Springvale in Fond du Lac county. He is an appointed member of the Fond du Lac County Condemnation Commission and serves as a Council Member and Treasurer of the Rosendale United Church of Christ. Dennis holds a B.S. and M.S. degree from UW-Platteville.

Dean Strauss of Sheboygan Falls is managing partner of Majestic Crossing Dairy. Dean, his family and partners milk 1900 cows and farm 3000 acres dedicated to alfalfa, corn, wheat, and soybeans. Dean is past President of the Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin and previously served on the Wisconsin Beef Council board of directors. Currently, Dean serves on the Executive Board for the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board and is the current chair of the Dairy Policy Committee for the Wisconsin Farm Bureau. Dean received his bachelors of animal science from the University of Wisconsin Platteville.