A product of the Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems and the Farm and Industry Short Course

Dairy and Livestock Farming in Wisconsin

The Wisconsin School for Beginning Dairy and Livestock Farmers can give you the edge you need to succeed in the pasture-based dairy and livestock industries. It is the only program of its kind in the nation, and your best resource for an education in pasture-based dairy and livestock farming.

Holstein's on the Tomandl Family Farm The school has been designed to provide the opportunity for motivated individuals to educate themselves about pasture-based dairy and livestock farming. We offer our specialized training through traditional classroom activities, hands-on internships, and farm tours of pasture-based farms managed by successful graduates and mentors. We strongly emphasize the business and financial planning knowledge required to run a successful farm business. Classroom instruction at the school runs from the middle of November through the end of March — and our students typically participate in internships from April through July, though those dates are flexible.

Community

Nothing surrounding the Wisconsin School for Beginning Dairy and Livestock Farmers is ever a solitary effort. The School gives you access to a network of experienced pasture-based dairy and livestock farmers with a passion for helping new farmers get started. Years after your graduation, you'll still be able to pick up the telephone and call the friends you made at the school - students and instructors - for advice, assistance, or even just to chat.

Locations

A White Barn on Bert Paris's Dairy Farm The school has grown out of cooperation between the Farm and Industry Short Course program and the Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems at the University of Wisconsin - Madison, a university considered by many to have the finest agricultural tradition of any institution in the country. Participating in the School for Beginning Dairy and Livestock Farmers gives you all the opportunities afforded any other student at the UW - including access to the top-notch athletic, library, and computer facilities on campus.

A distance education option allows students to enroll and participate via live interactive webcast and audio feed at one of four other Wisconsin locations: Wausau, Reedsburg, Spooner or Phillips.

A local facilitator leads the distance education seminar at each site, provides networking with area farmers and resource personnel, and conducts a discussion session each week.

Contact information

Madison: Richard Cates, WSBDF Director, 608-265-6437 or 608-588-2836; rlcates@wisc.edu or Jennifer Taylor, WSBDF Assoc. Director, 608-265-7914; jtaylor4@wisc.edu

Wausau: Tom Cadwallader, UW-Extension, Lincoln and Marathon Counties, 715-536-0304 or 715-261-1240; TCadwallader@co.lincoln.wi.us

Reedsburg: Doug Marshall, MATC-Reedsburg, 608-524-7727; dmarshall@matcmadison.edu

Spooner: Otto Wiegand, UW-Extension, Washburn, Sawyer, and Burnett Counties, 715-635-3506; otto.wiegand@ces.uwex.edu

Phillips: Mark Kopecky, UW-Extension, Price County, 715-339-2555; mark.kopecky@ces.uwex.edu

Support the School for Beginning Dairy and Livestock Farmers

Your support can help the School for Beginning Dairy and Livestock Farmers train new farmers. Gifts received will be used to create an endowment to sustain the program and also will immediately go to work in a variety of ways, including:

Tuition scholarships
Student conference travel scholarships
Honoraria for farmer-speakers
Two- and four-month internship expenses
General program operations

For more information, see our brochure on Becoming a Friend of the Wisconsin School for Beginning Dairy and Livestock Farmers (PDF document).

The Ride to Farm is another way to support the Wisconsin School for Beginning Dairy and Livestock Farmers. On June 13-15, 2008, about 24 riders will peddle about 200 miles from near Green Bay to Oconomowoc. For more information, download the Ride to Farm brochure and pledge form.

Get in Touch With Us

If you're interested in pasture-based dairy and livestock farming, we invite you to investigate the Wisconsin School for Beginning Dairy and Livestock Farmers. We love having interested and motivated individuals attend our classes and join our network. We can help you jumpstart your career in pasture-based dairy or livestock farming.

"The most amazing thing has been the enthusiasm and willingness to share information that comes from the grazing community"

Patty Laskowski, Class of 2002

The School for Beginning Dairy and Livestock Farmers is sponsored by the UW-Madison Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems and the Farm and Industry Short Course, both within the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences; with additional support from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Environmental Quality Incentives Program, the Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative, and the Pesticide Use and Risk Reduction Project.



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Dairy and Livestock Farming in Wisconsin The Wisconsin School for Beginning Dairy and Livestock Farmers can give you the edge you need to succeed in the pasture-based dairy and livestock industries. It is the only program of its kind in the nation, and your best resource for an education in pasture-based dairy and livestock farming. The school has been designed to provide the opportunity for motivated individuals to educate themselves about pasture-based dairy and livestock farming. We offer our specialized training through traditional classroom activities, hands-on internships, and farm tours of pasture-based farms managed by successful graduates and mentors. We strongly emphasize the business and financial planning knowledge required to run a successful farm business. Classroom instruction at the school runs from the middle of November through the end of March — and our students typically participate in internships from April through July, though those dates are flexible. Community Nothing surrounding the Wisconsin School for Beginning Dairy and Livestock Farmers is ever a solitary effort. The School gives you access to a network of experienced pasture-based dairy and livestock farmers with a passion for helping new farmers get started. Years after your graduation, you'll still be able to pick up the telephone and call the friends you made at the school - students and instructors - for advice, assistance, or even just to chat. Locations The school has grown out of cooperation between the Farm and Industry Short Course program and the Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems at the University of Wisconsin - Madison, a university considered by many to have the finest agricultural tradition of any institution in the country. Participating in the School for Beginning Dairy and Livestock Farmers gives you all the opportunities afforded any other student at the UW - including access to the top-notch athletic, library, and computer facilities on campus. A distance education option allows students to enroll and participate via live interactive webcast and audio feed at one of four other Wisconsin locations: Wausau, Reedsburg, Spooner or Phillips. A local facilitator leads the distance education seminar at each site, provides networking with area farmers and resource personnel, and conducts a discussion session each week. Contact information Madison: Richard Cates, WSBDF Director, 608-265-6437 or 608-588-2836; rlcates@wisc.edu or Jennifer Taylor, WSBDF Assoc. Director, 608-265-7914; jtaylor4@wisc.edu Wausau: Tom Cadwallader, UW-Extension, Lincoln and Marathon Counties, 715-536-0304 or 715-261-1240; TCadwallader@co.lincoln.wi.us Reedsburg: Doug Marshall, MATC-Reedsburg, 608-524-7727; dmarshall@matcmadison.edu Spooner: Otto Wiegand, UW-Extension, Washburn, Sawyer, and Burnett Counties, 715-635-3506; otto.wiegand@ces.uwex.edu Phillips: Mark Kopecky, UW-Extension, Price County, 715-339-2555; mark.kopecky@ces.uwex.edu Support the School for Beginning Dairy and Livestock Farmers Your support can help the School for Beginning Dairy and Livestock Farmers train new farmers. Gifts received will be used to create an endowment to sustain the program and also will immediately go to work in a variety of ways, including: Tuition scholarships Student conference travel scholarships Honoraria for farmer-speakers Two- and four-month internship expenses General program operations For more information, see our brochure on Becoming a Friend of the Wisconsin School for Beginning Dairy and Livestock Farmers (PDF document). The Ride to Farm is another way to support the Wisconsin School for Beginning Dairy and Livestock Farmers. On June 13-15, 2008, about 24 riders will peddle about 200 miles from near Green Bay to Oconomowoc. For more information, download the Ride to Farm brochure and pledge form. Get in Touch With Us If you're interested in pasture-based dairy and livestock farming, we invite you to investigate the Wisconsin School for Beginning Dairy and Livestock Farmers. We love having interested and motivated individuals attend our classes and join our network. We can help you jumpstart your career in pasture-based dairy or livestock farming.	"The most amazing thing has been the enthusiasm and willingness to share information that comes from the grazing community" Patty Laskowski, Class of 2002 The School for Beginning Dairy and Livestock Farmers is sponsored by the UW-Madison Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems and the Farm and Industry Short Course, both within the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences; with additional support from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Environmental Quality Incentives Program, the Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative, and the Pesticide Use and Risk Reduction Project.