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First Forum in Future of Farming and Rural Life in Wisconsin Project Focuses on Food Systems, Innovation
Six regional forums on The Future of Farming and Rural Life in Wisconsin are coming to communities across the state in 2006. The forums are among the major activities in an 18-month project of The Wisconsin Academy. The forums will provide ample opportunity for participant input on topics of local and regional concern. Topics that may be appropriate for discussion at forums include: Commodities, culture, arts and entertainment; farm programs and trade issues; food retailing; hunting and fishing; immigration; labor force training; land ownership and management; organic and natural foods; population diversity in the labor force; regional economic units; regionalization; state government; technology; tribal activities; vegetable and food processing.
Regional forums, dates, times and locations are:
Northwest Region
Monday, May 23, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
University of Wisconsin-Stout
Menomonie
Principle themes: Food systems, innovation
Southeast Region
Friday, June 16
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Oconomowoc Lake Club
Oconomowoc
Principle themes: Land use, working lands, urban/rural interface
Far North Region
Friday, July 21
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Northland College
Ashland
Principle themes: National forests, timber/wood production, recreation and tourism
Northeast Region
Friday, August 25
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
UW-Fox Valley
Menasha
Principle Themes: Rural health care, rural education, state and local government
Southwest Region
Friday, October 13
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
UW-Platteville
Principle Themes: Natural resource conservation; domestic renewable energy; land ownership, preservation, use
Central Region
Tuesday, October 24
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
North Central Technical College
Wausau
Principle Themes: Production agriculture, domestic renewable energy
For more information on the Future of Farming and Rural Life in Wisconsin Project, watch your local media and visit the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences Arts and Letters Web site at www.wisacademy.org.
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CONTACT
Bill Berry, Project Communications Specialist, 715-341-9119, billnick@charter.net
OR
Wilda Nilsestuen, Project Director, 608-263-1692 ext. 12, wnilsestuen@wisconsinacademy.org