Conservation Bus Tour: Southwest Region

All Aboard! Join us for an exciting adventure as we criss-cross Driftless fields and farms learning about different conservation practices that the women stewards of Wisconsin have implemented on their land, as well as their farming styles, from grazing to vegetable production and everything in between. Our Conservation Bus Tour will include scenic drives through rural Wisconsin and stops at photo-worthy points of interest! From the bleating of goats under managed grazing to the importance of native plants, come, see it all!

All women farmers, landowners and conservationists from Vernon, Crawford, Grant, and surrounding counties are welcome to attend-- wherever you are in your journey, from beginners to experts!

Farm Hosts: 

Sheri Scott, Good Thunder Farm

Located in the beautiful Driftless hills of Ho-Chunk land, Sheri and Karin lovingly steward almost 70 acres, mostly wooded with about 5 acres of old pasture and a prairie remnant that they have seeded and burned several times. Over the past 15 years, most of their focus has been on improving the health of the woodland. They enrolled in MFL and have received WHIP, EQIP and Wisconsin DNR grants to address invasives, and last year received a CSP grant to plant 1200 oak seedlings.

“We are excited about moving into active “forest farming” to improve the understory, especially with medicinal plants. And we are also just beginning an agroforestry/regenerative ag adventure. We initially prepped 2.5 acres with cover crops, and then planted ¾ acre of elderberry (this will be our first year of harvest!), with plans to add other fruits and nut trees as the years unfold."

Rachel Parker, Parker Family Farmstead

Rachel and husband Mark are the 5th generation of Parkers farming their land just outside of La Farge, which is now just under 600 acres (275 tillable/crops and the balance pasture and woodland). The 5th of 10 children, Rachel grew up on a farm in the Driftless and has a degree in Finance. She met Mark, a neighboring farmer, 33 years ago and they've raised 4 children, and many animals and crops since. They, along with their son, graze dairy and beef cattle, and a small number of pigs and chickens. A few years ago they added an on farm store featuring products from their farm and locally—FarmerSown Market. Certified organic in 2007, they’ve since added solar panels and more sheep and goats.

“We strive to improve our sustainability practices each year. We’ve implemented many conservation practices and carbon offsets- such as rotational grazing, tree plantings, water recycling, woodland management, contour strips, flood prevention dams, manure and nutrient management,soil building, and pollinator habitat – to name a few.”

Wisconsin Women in Conservation Host:  Elena Byrne, Renewing the Countryside

Resource Experts Attending: 

Laura Bybee, Vernon Co. NRCS 

Crystal Bailey, Richland Co. NRCS

Harriet Behar and Joy Miller, WiWiC Coaches

Location:  The tour will begin and end at Kickapoo Valley Reserve (WI-131, La Farge, WI 54639)

Agenda Overview:

• Welcome/introductions
• Good Thunder Farm
• Parker Hill Century Farm
• Discussion on the return trip
• Evaluation & farewells

Food:

• Coffee/tea & light breakfast fare before boarding the bus
• Obligatory snack after turning in your event evaluation!
• Please share any food allergies or dietary restrictions with Elena by 8/16 at 12:00pm. (elena@rtcinfo.org)

Event Details:

• Event is charged at a nominal fee of $10 per person; space is limited.
• Women, all who identify as such, are welcome to attend – from landowners to farmers to conservationist enthusiasts. Our WiWiC events provide time and a safe space for story sharing, networking and collaborative learning. We all have something to both share and learn together.
• Dress for the weather.  Bring a sun hat, sunscreen and good walking shoes. Food/ snacks/ water will be provided.
• We ask that all attendees at field days where livestock are present observe biosecurity practices. Wear clean shoes or boots that have not been worn on other farms with livestock or livestock buildings, or around a dense population of wild birds. We will provide optional booties for participants.
• Buses will leave from and return to the same location. The hosts have made sure that there is sufficient parking available at this location.
• We will get in and out of the bus at two locations and will have step stools to help.
• Photos will be taken at this event and used for educational purposes only by WiWiC and the partner groups.  If you do not wish to have your picture taken, let the on-site WiWiC host know.

Children:

Children are welcome at all WiWiC events. While we want to support women with children to attend our events, due to capacity issues, this event can accommodate only up to 10 kids. If you plan to bring your kid(s), please register early, and let the event host know by email.

Email (of the coordinator):  elena@rtcinfo.org

We ask that the kids are accompanied and SUPERVISED AT ALL TIMES by the parent/guardian. WiWiC does not take responsibility/ liability for the kids at any time/ event.

Wisconsin Women in Conservation (WiWiC) is a state-wide collaborative effort led by the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute in partnership with Wisconsin Farmers Union, Renewing the Countryside and Marbleseed.  A five-year multi-faceted project funded by the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), WiWiC brings together Wisconsin's women landowners, farmers, farm workers, urban growers, and conservation professionals to connect and share about conservation practices, resources, and funding opportunities.