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Four farmers from Calumet, Dane and Walworth counties received awards on March 27.

Fran O'Leary, Wisconsin Agriculturist Editor

April 2, 2019

1 Min Read
2019 Wisconsin Master Agriculturists
2019 MASTERS: Earning the Master Agriculturist honor this year are Wisconsin farmers Sue Bellman, Delavan (left); Joe Henry, Dane; Rick Adams, Elkhorn; and Joe Brantmeier, Sherwood. Harlen Persinger

The Wisconsin Agriculturist — in partnership with Growmark FS; Twohig, Rietbrock, Schneider and Halbach S.C., of Chilton; and Compeer Financial — presented the 2019 Master Agriculturist award to four top achievers in farming, community service and leadership.

Recipients were Rick Adams, Elkhorn; Sue Bellman, Delavan; Joe Brantmeier, Sherwood; and Joe Henry, Dane. They were honored on March 27 at La Sure’s Hall in Oshkosh. The winners were selected for their proven ability and accomplishments as progressive farmers, as well as for the time, effort and leadership they contribute to community, church and agricultural organizations.

Gary Sipiorski was the keynote speaker. Before becoming dairy development manager for Vita Plus in Madison, Sipiorski worked for 17 years as president and CEO of Citizens State Bank of Loyal. Attorney George Twohig also spoke about the importance of farming and family. There were more than 100 guests in attendance.

The Master Agriculturist award is given to honor not only the selected individuals, but also their families.

The Master Agriculturist program is the oldest farm awards program in the state, and is one of the longest-running career-achievement honors programs in U.S. agriculture. The award dates to 1930, when Wisconsin Agriculturist first started honoring top Wisconsin farmers for their hard work, dedication, success in farming and exemplary leadership.

Nomination forms are already available for the 2020 awards. To obtain a form, call 920-346-2285, email [email protected], or write to: Master Agriculturist, Wisconsin Agriculturist, 112 S. Prairie St., P.O. Box 236, Brandon, WI 53919. The deadline for nominations for the 2020 awards is Dec. 5.

About the Author(s)

Fran O'Leary

Wisconsin Agriculturist Editor

Even though Fran was born and raised on a farm in Illinois, she has spent most of her life in Wisconsin. She moved to the state when she was 18 years old and later graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater with a bachelor's degree in journalism.

Fran has 25 years of experience writing, editing and taking pictures. Before becoming editor of the Wisconsin Agriculturist in 2003, she worked at Johnson Hill Press in Fort Atkinson as a writer and editor of farm business publications and at the Janesville Gazette in Janesville as farm editor and feature writer. Later, she signed on as a public relations associate at Bader Rutter in Brookfield, and served as managing editor and farm editor at The Reporter, a daily newspaper in Fond du Lac.

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