By Blake Jackson
The Wisconsin Farm Bureau’s Promotion and Education Committee recently hosted its Cultivate & Connect Conference, a one-day event designed to inspire and educate agricultural leaders.
Held on February 15th at the North Star Conference Center in DeForest, the conference aimed to provide attendees with innovative learning experiences and networking opportunities.
Cultivate & Connect, an initiative by the committee, focuses on empowering Farm Bureau members and agriculturists to advance Wisconsin’s agriculture industry. The event drew over 50 participants, including Farm Bureau members, collegiate members, committee members, and industry professionals.
“I wanted to attend Cultivate & Connect because of the speakers and topics,” shared Dodge County Farm Bureau member Danelle Miller. “This was a great event to learn how to reach customers. It is so good to know what organizations I can go to for resources to communicate with our customers.”
The conference began with a pre-conference activity at Sassy Cow Creamery on Friday evening. Attendees toured the family-run farm and creamery, met co-owner James Baerwolf, and enjoyed networking and product samples.
Saturday’s program featured a keynote presentation by Tricia Sheehan from Dairy Management, Inc., who discussed effective consumer communication and practiced scenarios on animal agriculture.
Brandi Buzzard, a rancher and creative strategist from Kansas, followed with a keynote address on building consumer trust and advocating for agriculture.
“You don’t have to have a million followers to make an impact,” Buzzard shared. “Every interaction you have in the grocery store, at a community event or in the classroom makes a difference.”
Afternoon workshops included “Cultivating Consumer Connections” led by American Farm Bureau’s Lynn Leahy and Wisconsin Farm Bureau’s Rachel LaCount, and a session by the WFBF Promotion and Education Committee encouraging attendees to apply their new knowledge in their communities.
“I know attendees left this conference equipped with new resources, fresh ideas and innovative practices to conduct impactful consumer outreach activities in their communities,” shared WFBF Promotion and Education Chair Steve Mueller. “Together, we can cultivate growth and success for Wisconsin agriculture.”
The next Cultivate & Connect Conference is scheduled for February 21, 2026, in Neenah, Wisconsin.
Photo Credit: wisconsin-farm-bureau
Categories: Wisconsin, Business