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

Home >> Accomplishments >> Our Graduates >> Interview: Patty Laskowski

Patty Laskowski: Back to School

Job Hunting

Patty Laskowski and her husband Bill Morren smile for the camera In 1999, Patty Laskowski was looking for a job. She had recently moved to Wisconsin, and attended Farm Progress Days to see what kind of employment prospects she could drum up. At the very last tent she met Dick Cates, director of the Wisconsin School for Beginning Dairy and Livestock Farmers. Patty had already earned a Master's Degree in Environmental Biology and knew she was looking for a job - not more schoolwork.

Future Meetings

Patty didn't pursue the school at the time, but three years later in October the future of Patty's family's farm was becoming uncertain. She decided with a little effort she could take it over - and if she did she would want to run it as a grazing operation. By coincidence, she and her husband Bill Morren had just moved to Madison where she was near the school. Though it was getting to be time for the semester to begin she decided to get in touch with the school to see if she could be allowed into the grazing seminar on short notice.

Taking the Grazing Seminar

Before she took the course, Patty felt that she could have learned everything she need to know about grazing on her own. However, the course went way beyond her wildest expectations. It provided her with the experiences of a wide variety of farmers that had been grazing for years. It hooked her up with all sorts of resources that she had never considered before attending the class: using the Internet for research, talking with other students in similar situations, listening to the speakers and professors from the university talk about why grazing matters.

The Business Plan

The most important thing Patty took away from the course was the business plan she developed as part of the semester long project. "It forced me to think about the possibilities and think of contingencies that can help if 'plan-b' ever comes up." She and John are putting theirs into effect right away as they rebuild their farm in an environmentally sustainable manner. "We're making the land part of the business, and designing our business plan to reflect our conservation plan."

"There's a sense of inertia," Patty says, "we'd been thinking about it for seven years or so… this gave us the confidence to say 'yes we can do this!'"

"(The school) gave us the confidence to say 'yes we can do this!'"

Patty Laskowski, class of 2001



Home \| Program Offerings \| Accomplishments \| Our Community \| How to Apply \| CIAS Home
Home >> Accomplishments >> Our Graduates >> Interview: Patty Laskowski Patty Laskowski: Back to School Job Hunting In 1999, Patty Laskowski was looking for a job. She had recently moved to Wisconsin, and attended Farm Progress Days to see what kind of employment prospects she could drum up. At the very last tent she met Dick Cates, director of the Wisconsin School for Beginning Dairy and Livestock Farmers. Patty had already earned a Master's Degree in Environmental Biology and knew she was looking for a job - not more schoolwork. Future Meetings Patty didn't pursue the school at the time, but three years later in October the future of Patty's family's farm was becoming uncertain. She decided with a little effort she could take it over - and if she did she would want to run it as a grazing operation. By coincidence, she and her husband Bill Morren had just moved to Madison where she was near the school. Though it was getting to be time for the semester to begin she decided to get in touch with the school to see if she could be allowed into the grazing seminar on short notice. Taking the Grazing Seminar Before she took the course, Patty felt that she could have learned everything she need to know about grazing on her own. However, the course went way beyond her wildest expectations. It provided her with the experiences of a wide variety of farmers that had been grazing for years. It hooked her up with all sorts of resources that she had never considered before attending the class: using the Internet for research, talking with other students in similar situations, listening to the speakers and professors from the university talk about why grazing matters. The Business Plan The most important thing Patty took away from the course was the business plan she developed as part of the semester long project. "It forced me to think about the possibilities and think of contingencies that can help if 'plan-b' ever comes up." She and John are putting theirs into effect right away as they rebuild their farm in an environmentally sustainable manner. "We're making the land part of the business, and designing our business plan to reflect our conservation plan." "There's a sense of inertia," Patty says, "we'd been thinking about it for seven years or so… this gave us the confidence to say 'yes we can do this!'"	"(The school) gave us the confidence to say 'yes we can do this!'" Patty Laskowski, class of 2001