Wisconsin Custom Operators members elected two new directors and officers during its annual meeting at the Midwest Forage Symposium Feb. 21 at the Chula Vista Resort, Wisconsin Dells, Wis.

Bryce O’Leary, owner of O’Leary Brothers Chopping Service LLC in Janesville, was re-elected for his second term as an operator-director and also as the group’s president. Ray Liska, owner of Apollo Vale Enterprises, was elected as vice president. Bill Smith, owner of Smith Custom Farming in Darlington, was newly elected as an operator-director.

O’Leary has been active in WCO since the early days of the organization and was first elected to the board in 2015. With a passion for safety and policy, O’Leary was among WCO’s first group of Safety Certified operators. He has also chaired the Safety and Regulations Committee since 2016.

Liska owns and operates Apollo Vale Enterprises and custom-raises poultry for Gold’n Plump Farms. He was very active in FFA and is a 10-year member of Wisconsin Farm Bureau, where he has served as young farmer chairman, membership chairman and a voting delegate, and is a graduate of the Farm Bureau Leadership Institute. Liska was elected to the WCO board in 2017. He replaces Cole Olson of Diversified Farms Ltd. in Alma.

In addition to Smith Custom Farming, Smith farms 2,000 acres of grain in the Darlington area. He is a member of Midwest Forage Association, Lafayette County Farm Bureau and the National Federation of Independent Business, and he supports local FFA and 4-H activities. Smith Custom Farming has a strong presence on social media, with more than 2,000 people following its Facebook page. Smith and his wife, Jamie, have two sons.

Corporate representative Chuck Rabitz of Denmark State Bank in Denmark was re-elected as treasurer, and corporate representative Josh Bartholomew of Oxbo International in Clear Lake was re-elected as secretary. Other directors and honorary representatives include Bill Arneson, Matt Digman, Derek Ducat, Bryan Luck and Kevin Shinners. Maria Woldt is executive director.

Retiring board member Cole Olson of Diversified Farms Ltd. in Alma was honored for his service to WCO.

WCO is an organization comprised of individuals throughout the state who derive their income in whole or part from providing custom farming services. To learn more about Wisconsin Custom Operators Inc., including membership and event registration, go to wiscustomoperators.org or email [email protected].

Source: Wisconsin Custom Operators