What is the purpose of The Future of Farming and Rural Life project?
Who is the Wisconsin Academy?
How can I participate in Future of Farming and Rural Life project?
Who attended the forums?
Where does the financial support for the project come from?
Are there other ways to get involved?

What is the purpose of The Future of Farming and Rural Life project?
Over the past few years, the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters has led an initiative to develop a new vision for the future of agriculture and rural life in Wisconsin. The initiative has brought academics, experts, rural leaders, and interested citizens together to examine current status and trends, explore constraints and opportunities, develop specific action and policy recommendations, and energize implementation strategies and action networks that will lead to a more sustainable, diverse and economically viable future for Wisconsin's agriculture sector, the state's rural communities and economies, and ultimately for all citizens of the state.
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Who is the Wisconsin Academy?
The Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters connects people and ideas for a better Wisconsin. Since 1870, the Wisconsin Academy has provided a place where people who care about culture, nature, and the challenges of our times can gather for fruitful discourse and meaningful action. Wisconsin Academy programs include the James Watrous Gallery at the Overture Center for the Arts, a gallery by and for Wisconsin artists; Wisconsin People & Ideas, our quarterly magazine about Wisconsin thought and culture; Academy Evenings, our statewide series of public forums; and the Wisconsin Idea, our public policy program which focuses on "The Future of Farming and Rural Life in Wisconsin."
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How can I participate in Future of Farming and Rural Life project?
Citizens with all backgrounds and all interests (personal and professional) in rural Wisconsin's future have participated in our past project-sponsored events, principally the six regional forums and final statewide conference. Currently there are three main ways to engage with the ideas put forth in this project:

1. Visit the Voices of Rural Wisconsin Project pages at Portal Wisconsin and listen to the authentic and authoritative voices from our rural regions.
2. Pick up a copy of our project report, The Future of Farming and Rural Life in Wisconsin
3. Explore The Future of Farming and Rural Life portion of the Wisconsin Academy website and view the historical archive of past forums and discussions.

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FORUMS

Six regions were identified and forums were held throughout the state from May-October 2006. Each forum included fact-based presentations by experts and also provided an opportunity for interested and knowledgeable citizens to offer perspectives and feedback to inform the ongoing project work. The forums also sought ways to highlight regional innovation, entrepreneurship, and cultural or youth-oriented programs.

• Northwest Region, Tuesday, May 23 University of Wisconsin-Stout, Menomonie Principle themes: Food systems, innovation
• Southeast Region, Friday, June 16 Oconomowoc Lake Club, Oconomowoc Principle themes: Land use, working lands, urban/rural interface
• Far North Region, Friday, July 21 Northland College, Ashland Principle themes: National forests, timber/wood production, recreation and tourism
• Northeast Region, Friday, August 25 UW-Fox Valley, Menasha Principle Themes: Rural health care, rural education
• Southwest Region, Friday, October 13 UW-Platteville Principle Themes: Natural resource conservation; domestic renewable energy; land ownership, preservation, use
• Central Region, Tuesday, October 24 Northcentral Technical College, Wausau Principle Themes: Production agriculture, immigration

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Who attended the forums?

Participants:

Forum	Location	Attendance
NW	Menomonie	99
SE	Oconomowoc	181
Far North	Ashland	108
NE	Menasha	102
SW	Platteville	131
Central	Wausau	119

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Media:

TOTAL of 21 Outlets attended one or more forums, including: The Country Today, Appleton Post-Crescent, The Freeman, Oconomowoc Enterprise, Wisconsin State Farmer, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, The Daily Times, Wisconsin Eye, BusinessNorth.com, The Inter-County Leader, Star News, Midwest Features, Wisconsin Public Television, CBS 5-Green Bay, Wisconsin Agriculturalist, Agri-View, The Dodgeville Chronicle Newspaper, Telegraph Herald, Wisconsin State Journal, Wausau Daily Herald, Channel 9 News in Wausau.
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Exhibitors:

42 Organizations, including youth development organizations, nonprofits (concerned with health, conservation, rural development, land conservation, immigration issues, education), government agencies, for-profit organizations, university education and outreach programs, and others attended the forums (many exhibitors attended multiple forums).
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Focus on Local Foods:

The Dairy Business Innovation Center has gone above and beyond in supporting the Future of Farming project- from donating cheese from local producers to providing staff time to arranging donations of local food and beverages and sharing information about each of the producers with forum participants. We are grateful for their assistance!

• 11 Local cheese producers (Havarti, Gouda, Goat Cheese, Stravecchio…)
• 14 Local beverage producers (wine, cider, beer, spritzers…)
• 5 Local meat producers (elk, ham, beef, sausage…)
• 3 Caterers utilizing local produce
• Local breads, nuts, fruits, pumpkins, olive, eggs, cranberries, jams, and white fish
• Over 40 local producers represented.

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Cultural Components:

• Author readings of their work (poetry and nonfiction - Ben Logan, Justin Isherwood)
• Art displays
• Tap dancing
• Music (pianist, flute and cello duo, bluegrass band, family string trio, guitarist)
• Presentation by Warren Nelson of Big Top Chautauqua

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Where does the financial support for the project come from?
This initiative is truly a collaborative effort. Funding and support for the Future of Farming and Rural Life Project comes from over 40 organizations, foundations, businesses, governmental agencies, and individuals. Contributions include direct monetary support and in-kind donations. More information about our supporters can be found in the link under Future of Farming Partners.
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Are there other ways to get involved?

1. Post your group's program, events, classes, or cultural opportunities on Portal Wisconsin.
2. Engage students or youth groups in a project that will help them explore some aspect of the issues that will impact on the quality and sustainability of agriculture or rural communities.
3. Partner with librarians in your local community to develop reading lists and discussion groups about issues that matter to your community.
4. React to the Future of Farming project report or submit a request to the editor to cover a rural issue in Wisconsin People & Ideas magazine.
5. Participate in the Voices of Rural Wisconsin project when it comes to your area. Interviewers will record samples of memories of rural life and hopes and expectations for the future. Help us remember the past as a guidepost for the future.
6. Create a writing or poetry contest, a performance piece or community production that deals with issues important to the future of Wisconsin's environment, changing demographics, competing land use priorities, the rural/urban interface-or any other issue of importance to you or your community in Wisconsin's changing future.
7. Work with teachers or youth development leaders to develop a project that illustrates the inevitability of change and the need for thoughtful and intentional management of change in every era.
8. Forward Future of Farming project e-mail announcements to colleagues and friends.
9. Ask questions or notify Future of Farming project staff about resources, opportunities, programs, or individuals that could inform or enhance the project. Contact the Wisconsin Academy at 608-263-1692 or e-mail Jason A. Smith.

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