Brad Olson re-elected as WFBF president

By Blake Jackson

Brad Olson has been re-elected as president of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation (WFBF). Olson, a crop farmer from Frederic in Polk County, has been an active leader in the organization. Alongside him, Joe Bragger from Independence in Buffalo County was re-elected as WFBF Vice President.

Olson and his wife, Vicky, manage a 600-acre crop farm and are members of the Polk-Burnett Farm Bureau. They are proud parents and grandparents. Olson joined the WFBF Board of Directors in 2022, representing District 9, which includes Barron, Dunn, Chippewa, Pierce, Polk-Burnett, Rusk, St. Croix, Sawyer, and Superior Shores counties. He became WFBF president in 2023.

Brian Preder from Weyauwega in Waupaca County has been elected president of Rural Mutual Insurance Company, with Robert Nigh from Viroqua in Vernon County serving as first vice president. Preder, a custom harvester, has been on the Board of Directors since 2019, representing District 7.

The WFBF Board of Directors consists of nine district representatives and two committee chairs. This year, several new leaders were elected:

• District 1: Jim Renn of Waukesha County, a beef and crop farmer, was elected to a three-year term, succeeding Dave Daniels.
• District 3: Robert Nigh, a dairy farmer from Viroqua, was re-elected for a three-year term.
• District 5: Pete Badtke of Green Lake County, a beef and crop farmer, was elected to a three-year term, replacing Kevin Krentz.

Two committee chairs also joined the WFBF Board for one-year terms:

• Promotion and Education Committee: Steve Mueller from St. Croix County succeeded Brenda Dowiasch.
• Young Farmer and Agriculturist Committee: Kendall Riskedal from Jefferson County succeeded Kat Peper.

Board members not up for re-election include Joe Bragger, Arch Morton Jr., Dan Meyer, Brian Preder, Kim Bremmer, and Brad Olson.

These elections highlight the dedication of Wisconsin farmers and their commitment to advancing agriculture through strong leadership and collaboration. The WFBF Board continues to represent the interests of farmers across the state.

Photo Credit: wisconsin-farm-bureau