The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation has presented its 2022 Distinguished Service to Wisconsin Agriculture award to one of its former leaders. During the organization's annual meeting in Wisconsin Dells on Sunday, retired WFBF President Jim Holte of Elk Mound was recognized for the contributions he made to the organization and the state's agricultural industry.
Jim began milking cows prior to transitioning his farm to a beef and grain operation in rural Dunn County. He was first elected to the WFBF board of directors in 1995, where he represented District 9. In 2012, he was elected president of WFBF and Rural Mutual Insurance and continued in that position for seven years. He was also a board member of the American Farm Bureau.
During his tenure, Holte provided testimony to the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on modernizing the Endangered Species Act in Washington, D.C., and appeared dozens of times on RFD-TV and other media outlets. He was also a member of Wisconsin Rural Leadership and served on the board to keep the program a mainstay to develop leaders for rural Wisconsin.
As a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, Jim was named Wisconsin Distinguished Agriculturist by the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences in 2015.
Receiving the group's Distinguished Service to Farm Bureau Award were Rosalie and the late-Randy Geiger of Manitowoc County.
The Geigers began farming in 1969 and later moved to a farm near Reedsville in the early 1980s that has been owned by Rosalie's since 1867. Ran-Rose Dairy was known for a fine herd of registered Holsteins where cows, heifers and embryos are marketed around the world. The family grew 360 acres of corn, soybeans, alfalfa and wheat.
Besides the county and state Farm Bureau and the agricultural community, many organizations benefited from Rosalie and Randy's knowledge and dedication including the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, World Dairy Expo, National Milk Producers Federation, Wisconsin Agri-Business Council, Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Holstein Association and the National Dairy Board, among many others.
Randy passed away in September 2019 after serving the dairy industry directly for over 50 years of his life.
Meanwhile, the organization also paid tribute to former WFBF President Donald Haldeman, who passed away on November 20 at age 85. He served as president from of the group from 1971-1991, before moving into the role of CEO of Rural Mutual Insurance Company.
The Wisconsin Farm Bureau annual meeting concludes on Monday.
Categories: Wisconsin, Business